Tesco fricking Club Card / two tier pricing

Is it not caring about the vulnerable if you donate your savings to a food bank @justteanbiscuits?

@justteanbiscuits

Can you not understand that most prices aren’t affected? Most products aren’t in the offers. It simply isn’t true that prices have been inflated across the store. That’s what I meant when I said you were making things up.

It’s completely unfair and a little unhinged to suggest that I “don’t care about the vulnerable” or some bullshit just because I occasionally like to save 50p on a packet of kitkats.

Don’t you know that all companies are bastards?! Every. Single. One. Every promotional offer ever is for the company’s advantage.

I've not asked for legislation against it. Or claimed Tesco are lying. I simply responded to someone who posted about legal restrictions around promotional pricing.

I'm saying Tescos new pricing structure is unfair to the most vulnerable in society. That's it. That's my only message.

Yes, I agree, but it's not really any different to the way that various shops sell a 4 pack of Kitkat for £1 but sell them individually at 85p each. It's clear the 85p each is gross profiteering, but there's no law against it.

Or the way that some branded items are always on "special offer" at one of the supermarket chains in a carousel, such as McCoys multipack crisps or multipacks of diet coke, or certain brands of washing powder.

The Tesco club card pricing (closely followed by others) is just a new version of those old tricks.

Or contracts for broadband, sky/virgin tv, landlines, mobile phones, power, etc etc where you have to sign up for a new contract at the end of the term unless you want to end up grossly over-paying on their "non contract" pricing.

Or new car dealerships where the "List price" is a work of fiction because no one ever pays the list price for a new car.

You can't legislate for everything. The likes of DFS claiming "50% off sales" was clearly misrepresentation as they were actually lying by saying that the price was previously £x when it wasn't, hence the more recent requirements to be able to prove it really was £x for the required number of days.

Tesco aren't lying, nor are Virgin, Sky, BT, etc - that's the difference.

Ah, yes, the important issue is the exact meaning of my word when explaining to someone that these deals aren't covered by the legislation.

Any loophole isn't covered by the law, which is why it's a loophole.

What they are doing, by inflating non club card prices is perfectly legal. My argument is around the morality of it.

It's not really a "loophole" though, is it? They're not saying that the price used to be £x and is now £y so it's a discount, offer, 50% off or anything like that. The law was all about firms lying, i.e. making out that there was a genuine "sale" by claiming they'd been at a higher price previously when they hadn't. The law was all about misrepresentation. Tesco aren't doing any of that. They're not saying it "used to be £x" - they're simply saying it's £x without a card or £y with a card - no misrepresentation there at all. They're free to set whatever prices they wish whenever they want - what is illegal is misrepresentation which is not what they're doing. It's not a loophole.

I think that is how Tesco get round it - using this loophole. They're not like DFS who claim their prices are sale prices.

The guidelines are for 'promotional pricing'. I don't think anyone would suggest that clubcard prices aren't promotional pricing.

My understanding is that Tesco don't claim it to be "discounted". By simply offering two prices (like, for example, in that camping and outdoors shop where you get a massive discount for having membership) they aren't bound by the "on sale" pricing rules for this. They simply state two different prices which is allowed.

There are legal restrictions in place when it comes to promotional pricing. If you think Tesco are breaching them, maybe you should go to the ASA and report them?

Fire example, from https://www.asa.org.uk/advice-online/promotional-savings-claims.html - this seems to cover what is alleged to be happening.

'Do not artificially inflate prices
Marketers should be cautious when making a savings claim based on recent prices. The ASA upheld complaints about a supermarket ad offering a multi-buy offer on cereals. The product was priced at 97p per box between January 2015 and 5 July 2015, and at £1.38 from 6 July 2015. On 7 July 2015 the product was then included in a mix-and-match multi-buy offer of three packs for £3. The ASA considered the offer misleading because the £1.38 was not the usual selling price'

Old was what???

@justteanbiscuits the old was has gone.... fact!

I have said many times, that the old system of getting vouchers, saving points etc in exchange for data was great. BUT the inflating of prices for those not using clubcard is not. If you fail to understand that then I am sorry.

I'm certainly no conspiracy theorist and am quite happy to be using store cards. Yes, indeed, I can see that the data they are collecting is more than just D.O.B. and email. Obviously they can make fairly accurate assumptions (although they are only assumptions) about all sorts of aspects of your life based on what you buy and when. So if you are buying newborn nappies, they can assume you have a newborn baby. They can make educated guesses on your income level and job type based on what groceries you purchase. They can make assumptions about your health based on what OTC medicines you buy or assumptions about your religion or dietary requirements/preferences based on which speciality foods you buy.

But, unless I am missing something, it is all assumption and not hard fact.

And being told I am just looking for drama because I care about my family members isn't rude?! Oh, probably not because you agree with it, so how can it possibly be rude. FFS.

@justteanbiscuits a cold heartless human .......

You are being totally ridiculous and extremely rude now.

No, it's not. I love data and am in no way concerned about the data Tescos get.

I am concerned about my elderly mother who, yes, it is one step too far in early stage dementia who is desperate to keep as much of her independence as possible, and is being over charged constantly. I am concerned about my autistic relative who is being taught life skills in order for him to be able to live outside the home in his 30's who can be taught what to buy and how to pay, but beyond that would be too much.

But yay. You get to pay less than them so that's excellent

You’re just making things up now, I’m afraid.

There are discounts available. The end.

How is having an extra card such a burden? Can you explain that? You don’t need an app or anything- I literally just scan a card. The same as paying.

I think you’re just looking for drama.

@justteanbiscuits stop with the faux worry about the independence etc.

It's your way at having a dig at people that won't acquiesce to your view on Clubcards.

The non club card prices can be, often are, twice the price of the clubcard price - the item's price is inflated for non club card.

But yet again, I'm really thrilled that you don't have any care for the independence and expense for the most vulnerable in society.

I use a VPN and an adblocker. I never see any online ads.

They haven’t got my date of birth or my email. I’ve had my Clubcard for decades, all they’ve got is my name and address. I don’t know how many times it has to be said but you can just make all this stuff up. I’ve bought online from sites requesting my date of birth, I’ve lied every time.

In the same way that this very website shows adverts based on the topics you view/contribute to and your overall googling history!

Perhaps those posters who object to Clubcard shouldn't be using MN??

Oh, and for anyone interested, Tesco have clearly raised prices for tubs of sweets - because heroes, quality street and roses are £3.89 this week with your clubcard. £5.50 at Sainsbury's.

Unfortunately not celebrations - which are the ones I might have been tempted by...