YOUR articles on fair prices for farmers and supermarket pricing policies were very interesting.

Since the price per kilo has been displayed by products, I notice what can only be deliberately misleading pricing.

Take sliced ham: sold in packs of two, four or six slices. You would expect the six-pack to be the cheapest - but no - when I bought this ham from LeClerc in Pontivy the price per kilo for four slices was considerably cheaper than that for six.

Between €8 and €9 for the four-packs and well over €11 for the six packs. The same ham but with added packaging.

This happens with other products too but is particularly common on pre-packed charcuterie. Sometimes the prix spéciale for multi-packs is only spéciale because it is higher than if one bought individual packs.

Spéciale is such a useful, non-specific, yet enticing word. I think it is worth a look.

LeClerc could perhaps say that the prices are clearly displayed but how many busy shoppers read the fine print?

Shirley McCann
by email

I enjoyed your leader on the supermarket rip off but what about blatant price fixing by manufacturers colluding with suppliers?

For some time I have been trying, without success, to get the EU Competition Commission to look at the retailing of razor blades.

I have bought blades in France, UK and the US and, allowing for the exchange rate they were all the same price but for a few centimes.

Plus, there are rarely promotions on any major items apart from product launches.

Then there is discounting to get you to switch - and the new ones never work with the company’s other razors.

Finally, if you waste a few hours checking supermarkets you will find the price is invariably the same.

Rod Francis
by email

SUPERMARKETS say some of their mark-up is for "preparing the goods for sale" yet my experience is different.

Intermarché had black printer cartridges but no price and the office set a price at €5. The colour cartridge was only €6. Bargain.

Then the real prices were put on: €24 and €30 - up 500% from what must have been the wholesale price and, with no preparation for sale in pre-packaged items, it was a rip-off.

Carl Sims, Moulin de Peyre, Tarn-et-Garonne