Misleading advertising at Foodsco and other supermarkets

[rworange]

Just to alert the easily confused like myself about what I'm noticing more and more. Advertising a sale price but you must buy a certain quantity to get the deal.

Foodsco words this as buy 10 save $###. I don't know if this link works for everyone or how long it will be up, but this is the current ad. They do it every week.

http://foodsco.mywebgrocer.com/Circul...

So the promotion says "Buy 10 and save $5".

Ok, that is MAYBE clear for the items to the right of the ad ... juice, waffles, energy drinks, Pepsi, toilet paper, paper towels, bleach and fabric softener.

But does that mean every 10 for $$$ means that. Seriously ... 10 loaves of bread? Even the frozen waffles, how many people have that much space in their freezer?

I buy a lot when things are on sale ... but 10 bottles of bleach at the same time?

The first time I noticed this was with Philly cream cheese. It was 98 cents on sale and my single cheese was rung up as way over $2. When I pointed out the sale, the clerk said I had to buy 10. .I told her never mind.

I've been watching people since and two things seem to happen.

- People don't notice they aren't getting the sale price

- Those that notice and question the price, usually keep the item. They are at the check out. They have the item.

It seems like a clever money maker for Foodsco

At another store today I bought a baked good that was on sale at 3 for $1. I was charged 75 cents, the regular price. When I pointed out it was on sale, I was told only if I bought 3 This time the ad said NOTHING about having to buy 3.

At both stores I wonder how many times I got charged regular prices for an item that 'appeared' to be on sale.

I have personally taken action by talking to managers and contacting the companies. I'm considering contacting agencies that police supermarket pricing. So I'm dealing with it as it happens in my little world

I just thought I'd pass this on for people who might not be aware of this poiicy at stores. Watch those receipts.

To me doing this is confusing and seems misleading. To others probably not. I'm not looking to debate how people view these type of ads, only to report this type of advertising exists.

[rworange]

Sometimes calling it to the attention of the company works.

The '3 for $1, 50 cents each" market now includes "50 cents each" in the ad. I'm impressed with them because I got to think I'm the only person grouchy enough to complain about this. So good for them. I'm happier shopping there now ... but I'm still going to keep an eye on the receipts for a while.

While I never got a response from Foodsco, for the past two weeks they have dropped the "buy 10 to get the sale price". Maybe enough people complained. Maybe they weren't getting any bang for the buck out of it.

[iluvcookies]

Good for you! You may have made marketing much simpler for many of your neighbors as well.

[LindaWhit]

Good for you, rworange! Sometimes it helps just passing the word up the food chain gets them to realize that if word got out about their sly marketing practices, it might lose them some sales. I mean, marketing is marketing is marketing. There will always be some slyness. But why not just be open about the pricing and avoid pissing off the customers?

[smtucker]

This is illegal in MA. You must be given the sale price even if you buy just one. Very few states have much in the way of consumer protection.

[LindaWhit]

Just what I was thinking, smtucker. I know there's oftentimes I only buy one of the "Two for $5.00" items - and they only charge me the $2.50 sale price on the one item, not the original price of $2.99 or whatever it is.

[Maximilien]

People, in general, never read the "documentation" either the software/hardware manuals, promotions flyers, EULAs, ...

so they get stuck with bad deals ...

Stores and other kind of business will use this knowledge to make things a little bit unclear; just enough to confuse people, but not enough to have the consumer groups on their tails.

The "3 for one" is the classic example ... they use that scheme to get produce moving quickly; and leave the burden of throwing past-due items to the clients.

Max.

[susancinsf]

My local Raleys has ads that say something like: 'regular price, XXX. Buy at least ten, and save more: price for ten or more, xxx.'. That is more clearly written than the ads you describe. As for '2 for xxx', it always rings up at the sale price even if I buy only one. I don't love my local Raleys, but at least their ads aren't misleading.

Indeed, I was under the impression that (at least in CA) if you needed to buy 3 to get the sale price that the ad is supposed to say such. I would have complained about the baked good situation to the manager of the store. (Did you in that instance? did you get a reply?).

[rworange]

>>> I would have complained about the baked good situation to the manager of the store. (Did you in that instance? did you get a reply?).

Yep

They answer was it should have said so. Ooops, its a mistacke in not doing that. However, they wiould sell me the baked good at the price I assumed.

I said no. I wasn't looking for that. I wanted ads that promised what they said. I would be sending a letter to their parent office and looking into reporting them to the appropriate agency.

It wasn't about the few cents for that transaction. It was being able to shop in that store without worrying about having to check ever single item on my receipt I have neither the patience nor the time to be doing that.

Even though I had just started shopping, I gave her my cart with what I bought so far and said this cost you this business and the other items I had planned to buy.

[iluvcookies]

Our local Pathmark and A&P do something similar. They feature a bunch of items and if you buy 10 items from the group (10 of the same thing, or 1 each of 10 different, or 5 of one 5 of another) then the items will be $1 each. If you buy 11, then the first 10 are $1 each and the 11th is at regular price.

Not sure what the limit is because I usually don't need more than the 10 anyway and I always mix and match.

And a local chain (Stew Leonards) always makes it so that if an item is marked 2 for $5, you have to buy 2---first item is scanned at reg price and second item at the discount.

[rworange]

Ok. So do people like this policy?

Even given it is mix and match, I prefer the sale price on each item. Really, this is too much work for me.

Do I have 10 of the approved item? Did I go over or under by one? Did I gove over the limit of allowed items? Do I need to scrutinize my receipt to to see if all of the above happened?

It still seems like a penny grabber from the store to me How many people buy that 11th item and just don't notice. How many have bought 8 or 10 and didn't notice? How many exceeded the limit?

It seems like game playing to me and I'm not playing. I just haven't bought those items and I don't plan on playing the mix and match game if that is what is going on at Foodsco. I;ll only buy those items clearly labeled in that store and take my business for anything else .. elsewhere.

[iluvcookies]

The stores and ads are pretty clear about this. They ususally have displays at the endcaps and signs galore to promote it so I don't think it has been a problem (not for me anyway).
But when I checked your link I thought the ad was not too clear. The save $5 is a little confusing.

The other thing I hate is the "buy $75 of products from this select group and get a free $10 gift card" and it's never things I would buy $75 worth in a year anyway.But my local markets keep doing it so it must be bringing in the $$ for them.

[meatn3]

My Kroger does this too. I don't care for it - it's just too much work. Most times there's only one or two products from the list I'm interested in and they aren't things that I want that many of due to space or perishability.

I do find many stores that have signage showing the savings of multiples where you do get a single at the sale rate. I suspect they sell more items since people assume they must purchase the product in the defined quantity.

[ipsedixit]

I'm sorry, but how is that misleading?

And, yes, as Cathy says, you can mix-and-match and qualifying 10 items to save the $5.

[rworange]

As i said, I'm not debating that point ony that it happens. From the number of shoppers I see questioning prices, it seems there are others that aren't clear on the concept. The answer from the checker is always the same. "you have to buy 10". I've yet to hear them clarify mix and match.

At any rate, it didn't apply at the market with the bakery as that was the only item in the ad with a 3-for.

[Cathy]

I just looked at the website. Foodsco is part of Kroger, which is the same parent as Food4Less.

Find the fine print on the ads. It is there. They don't give an example, but the way I read it, it was clear (to my brain anyhow). I just can't see it all online and don't have my ad anymore.

[Cathy]

Food4Less out here does a similar thing. Buy ten of the marked items. It can be one of each; 2, 3, and five of three different items, two and eight, etc.. But has to be ten of the marked items, not ten of any one item.

If you buy 11 or 12 of the marked items, two are at the higher price. Must buy in groups of ten.

I did read the fine print and also questioned at check out.

Then again, my job involves reading lines, forms and instructions.

[rworange]

Hmmm ... I never considered that the 10 was a mix of say juice, waffles, energy drinks, Pepsi, toilet paper, paper towels, bleach and fabric softener.

Haven't heard back from the companies yet, if ever. Neither manager I talked to indicated that, but I shop at off hours when the A team isn't around. I'll have to ask if I don't hear back from the head offices.

Thanks

[janetofreno]

Our local Smith's does the 10 for 10 a lot....of a mix of items. To me it is clear in the advertising that it is any mix of the 10 (It says something like "any 10 of these items for 10 dollars") that being said I have never taken advantage of it...there seems to be a reason the things are on sale..ie no one (including me) wants them.

I will say this, if they say 3 for a dollar, you can get one at that store and pay 33 cents. I think the "you must buy 3" thing to be VERY misleading.

If it was 10 for 10 of ANY of the items, not just the creme cheese, that should have been explained to you better. And you're right; sometimes I think they just hope no one will notice......