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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

Do you ever pay full price?

119 replies

Thewiseoneincognito · 26/04/2021 20:58

I was walking around Tesco this afternoon getting some bits and bobs and remembered I needed some Alpro Almond milk. I didn’t get them because it’s £1.80 when I only buy it when on offer for £1. Luckily I have some UHT ones at home so I declined the opportunity to pay full price 😏

My question is, do you ever pay full price for branded items that are usually on some type of offer rotation at varying supermarkets? Same with Lenor Unstoppables washing seeds, full price they’re like £8 for a tube of them or £4 when on offer- does anyone actually ever pay that full price? Dishwasher tablets are another one that cost the earth full price.

It just baffles me why they can’t just be the offer price all the time? I realise it supposedly adds brand value and tricks you into thinking its worth the inflated price but it just annoys me now surely consumers are wise to these tactics and refuse to pay up?

OP posts:
WorraLiberty · 27/04/2021 00:56

@TotheletterofthelawTHELETTER

Ribena is £2.79 in Asda, I only buy it when it’s on offer for £1.50. Even though it’s my favourite squash.
Ribena is my DH's favourite drink.

It's £3.75 for 1.5L in Morrisons or 2 for £4 when it's on offer. Needless to say we only ever buy it on offer!

Pinkyavocado · 27/04/2021 01:12

I only buy the coffee I like when it’s on offer. Tesco usually have it for £4 a jar rather than £8.

BarbaraofSeville · 27/04/2021 05:01

Modern day definition of more money than sense is paying full price for any of the endless list of non perishable products that are always on a deal somewhere.

Pringles, dishwasher tablets, tinned tomatoes, certain petfood, the list is endless.

It doesn't really take more time either. After all there's no law that says you have to buy the same things from the same supermarket on a weekly schedule.

So if you have access to more than one supermarket, rotate round to get the offers and also have a quick look while you're doing your top up shop. Saves a significant amount over time.

For those who miss Mysupermarket, I think there's now a couple of replacements, eg

www.latestdeals.co.uk/app

Jekere6 · 27/04/2021 05:22

I prefer not to and try and stock up if things are on sale. But I only have access to one small supermarket, so can't shop around, if I need the product and its at full price I just have to pay for it begrudgingly

waitingpatientlyforspring · 27/04/2021 06:19

Depends what it is but sometimes I have to but try to stock up on things that regular go on offer. For example, I like the small tins of tonic that are usually £4.90 but regularly go to £3.50. I currently have 4 boxes in which I hope will last until they are next on offer.

The lenor we use is £5 but often on offer for £3. For quite a while I was ok offer just as we needed it.

BorderlineHappy · 27/04/2021 06:32

No, I just but whatevers on special.
My kids aren't fussy and I've no brand loyalty.

I mostly shop in Lidl or Also.
But once a month I shop in Iceland.

BillyIsMyBunny · 27/04/2021 07:05

If I notice favourite brands are on sale I will stock up, especially if they are things that don’t need to go in the fridge and can go in the store cupboard. To be honest there aren’t many products where I have brand loyalty so I will buy another brand if it’s cheaper we, but for the few brands where I have a strong preference (Eg: Ecover, Oatly Whole) then if I need more and there isn’t an offer I will still buy. I don’t shop at multiple supermarkets each week to search out the offers. Actually I think the only thing I don’t buy if it’s not on offer but like over other brands is Nescafé Azera, I do usually try and wait until it is on offer as it is so expensive otherwise.

FairyDust123456 · 27/04/2021 07:10

I wait for offers on the majority of things, such as th following:
Deodorant (£4 for Dove now! You can always find a half price offer on either Dove, Sure, Nivea)
Cereal (Rice Krispies, offer usually found)
Shower gel (radox or Palmolive £1 somewhere)
Breakfast bars
Toothpaste (always Colgate Total, always when on offer)
Cheese (can always find a "2 for" offer)
Butter (can always find Clover for £1)
Fabric conditioner
Fairy liquid (can always find for £1 sonewhere)
Apart from butter or cheese, I usually have 3/4 of the above items at home and if I see it on offer I'll just keep them stocked up.

Iamtooknackeredtorun · 27/04/2021 07:14

I often wonder who would be mad enough to pay £2.49 for a tube of Pringles. They are only ever purchased on offer.

Fluffycloudland77 · 27/04/2021 07:26

I bulk buy when the offers are on. I don’t buy branded cleaning products because they test on animals so that saves me a lot of cash.

reluctantbrit · 27/04/2021 07:45

I don't have time to go around the shops looking for offers, so we shop at one store and then we buy what we need then.

I may buy some items only when they are on offer, more like treat items. DD loves Appletiser but I refuse to pay the normal price but will get a bottle if on offer. Similar for wine, I look for offers of my usual ones unless I really fancy a particular one.

Other things I may buy to stock up when on offer, especially things like laundry or cleaning products. But I have limited storage space for food so no point in buying what I don't use short-term.

qualitygirl · 27/04/2021 07:51

No I don't as I shop at lidl/aldi. Even when I buy clothes, shoes etc I ALWAYS manage to get at least 10% off! I bought a new small fridge (for the garage) a few months ago and it was reduced from 249 to 199 and I managed to get it for 169 (15% off)
I ALWAYS ask for money off or I shop where I have a voucher or can use a student card (I do courses paid for by my work so it's all beneficial for me... free course and 10-20% of goods!)

felulageller · 27/04/2021 07:52

No and I'm shocked so many on this thread do!

Every time I supermarket shop I hunt the bargains.

I feel like a failure/poor planner if I have to buy full price if it's something I know is often on offer.

Mylittlesandwich · 27/04/2021 07:54

I don't really do brand loyalty. If it's on offer I'll get it, if it isn't I'll buy something else.

Badbadbunny · 27/04/2021 08:03

Nope, I have always rotated supermarket shops and only buy from those with offers (for the things that are constantly on offer somewhere). Heinz beans, loo rolls, McCoys crisps, chocolate bars, etc are always on offer somewhere, as are my usual branded toothpaste, butter, etc. Obviously, some things are never on offer anywhere, so I just remember which supermarket has then cheaper normally.

I've been doing it for at least the 25 years we've been married, and now it's even easier with online shopping as you can see prices online, even if you're not having it delivered, you can still be prepared as to what's on offer, and where, to help make your decision as to which supermarket to go to each week.`

You just need a bit of storage as you have to buy in bulk for a few weeks when things are on offer, as you can't do the "just in time" method of shopping as you really wouldn't want to go round all the supermarkets every week.

ThemilkybarsRonme · 27/04/2021 08:10

I stock up when I see my usual purchases are on offer. I'll pay full price if I really need something I don't have in stock, but that doesn't happen often. It's such a small habit but the savings really add up.

Badbadbunny · 27/04/2021 08:11

@TheSmallAssassin

Have you never heard of "loss leaders"? You're not paying over the odds when things are their normal price, supermarkets will price some things at a loss to get you through the door so you spend your money with them rather then somewhere else. Trouble is for some products they pass the loss onto their suppliers, milk is often used as an example.
No it doesn't work like that with supermarkets. The "deal" price is the "right" price. It's the non-deal prices which are inflated. Someone above mentioned Pringles crisps. There's no way on Earth that they should cost £2.49 for a tube. The manufacturer and shop don't expect to sell them at that price (obviously some are sold), but the whole point is to make the customer think it's a bargain when they're "only" £1 per tube. Supermarkets aren't losing money when they sell Pringles at £1 per tube, they're making the same margin percentage as they get "retros" from the manufacturer to make up the difference and keep the margin percentages the same.

Staples like bread may be different, but even so, they're not "losing" money, they're probably just making a smaller margin on their own bread.

BrownEyedGirl80 · 27/04/2021 08:11

Pringles.Never pay more than 1.50.

BlusteryLake · 27/04/2021 08:12

I do my weekly online shop and put in the things I want that week based on my meal plan. If I notice that a non-perishable item I usually buy is on offer, then I tend to stock up. That generally means that I buy household and long life stuff on offer nearly all the time, but not fresh/occasional items.

Justcashnosweets · 27/04/2021 08:12

Yes, but only because I live rurally, and don't have the luxury of choice when it comes to supermarkets. I just get what we need whether its branded or supermarket own brands. I do try to only buy whats on offer if its items I need.

Proudboomer · 27/04/2021 08:23

I always buy what’s on offer or reduced and will stock up if it is something I use regularly. My larder has a shelf full of toilet rim blocks in christmas pine I bought reduced in wilkos after Christmas for 25p each. Usually buy the bloo ones which when on offer are £1.50 each.

purpledagger · 27/04/2021 08:31

I try and stock up when something is on offer. There are times when it isn't possible eg time limitations, but I'd rather the savings be in my pocket than theirs.

Twoforthree · 27/04/2021 08:38

I stock up on things when they are on offer.

Some things I'll never, ever buy at full price in tesco, like pizza express pizza. £2.50 doesn't seem too bad but I'm not paying a fiver for a tiny pizza. I'd rather pick up a buy one get one free, lovely dominos pizza for that. It's not much more for two of them, and if you get the lunchtime deal it's only £6.50 each for a large one. Much better value than that pizza express pizza from tesco at a fiver each full price.

NoSiree · 27/04/2021 08:42

Almost never pay full price for branded items. Certainly with oat milk and other plant milks, the UHT isn't much worse than the fresh, so I only get fresh when it's on offer. Usually the UHT is 3 for...

DH only likes Heinz ketchup and baked beans, but we still tend to get it on offer. We normally have one in the fridge and one in the cupboard so we don't run out and feel like we have to buy it full price.

greenlynx · 27/04/2021 08:43

I always check branded items online before going shopping and then stocking them up if they are on sale otherwise I wait or go for non branded replacement. We are lucky as we have a few supermarkets around.
I never buy yogurt full price - I buy the one on sale, DD likes a few brands and at least one of them is always on sale somewhere. I only buy things for DD full price: biscuits for her lunch bag, pads, her favourite juice drink and washing powder suitable for her eczema. I could probably buy Hellman’s full price and Baileys original as I’ve tried to replace them in the past and it’s impossible.

Lockdowns changed things a bit and I was even forced once to order Lurpack online for the full price but I’ve sticked to the rules on yogurt.