Superstore tactics costing us dear
'Savings' offered by big supermarkets are not all they seem.
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
