In thinking that tesco and suchlike are being less than transparent with their labelling

[lucyellensmumagain]

Ive noticed this before and it bugs me.

Im on quite a tight budget so i dont just tend to throw things in the trolley - ok so im tight! So when it comes to veg i like to know im getting the best value i can - so, do i buy the value pack, do i buy it lose or do i buy the non value pack (there is often not that much difference in price).

So, for "ease of comparison" i suppose - on the price ticket on the shelf, you are given the price per pack, then you are given the price per kilo, OR pound, OR per 100g which then means a bit of mental arithmetic before you can compare with the loose products.

I think this follows with non veg items too, but can't remember.

AIBU to think that is ever so slightly devious - as most people don't want to be standing in tesco actually "thinking" about their shopping.

Why can they not just have a price per kilo on the ticket? Um, probably because it is significantly more expensive and people wouldnt buy it if it was put in black and white for them!!

YABU - never assume that what the supermarket says is a bargain, actually is. They just normally label they stock they need to move in such a way.

Tesco's IMO are usually pretty good at this. Am currently boycotting Sainsbury's as they're so shit at their pricing/offers labels.

certainly with m&s you have to watch out that their banded packs aren't more expensive than two separate packs of the same item.

Totally agree .... I personally don't find it too hard to "translate" various values into price per 100g but there must be, for example, many elderly people, perhaps with poor eyesight (for these things are often written in very small type) who do get confused and who do end up buying stuff which isn't the best value. Despite being able to do this, I really resent "having" to do it before making my selection as purchases should be transparent.

But I'm sure that's the whole point - they are banking - literally - on people not being bothered, or being incapable, and buying the more expensive choice.

they also bank on many of us being creatures of habit and not bothering to compare prices at all, just going for the pack we always buy

I do it online and use the lazy option of a calculator, or just type the pack weight into the thingy and it comes up with the price of X grams of loose produce, which is then easier to compare.

catsmother, thats right - its not difficult, but im quite good at maths. However, when trying to get the shopping done with four year old in tow - i want it as simple as possible!

I think Sainsbury's always give the price per kilo or per 100g, but that varies by product type. So within a choice of different pasta types, for instance, the price is always per kilo. I think!

I find it much more annoying, that when shopping online I can't see where the veg is coming from. In the store I always check the label and base my choices on it.

Oh, this winds me up. Even though I ought to be able to do the maths, DD is usually yelling in my ear - and I just don't want to, goddammit!

Another thing is that the pre-packed veg (eg tomatoes, courgettes) sometimes doesn't have a weight on it, so they offer 3 courgettes for £1.50, or over here, you can get courgettes at £3 per kilo. How much do three courgettes weigh?! And they've hidden the scales...

YANBU, they are all sneaky bastards after our £££ but here's the answer -

Shop online via mysupermarket.com. It'll do all the maths for you and suggest cheaper alternatives. If you are on a budget you canadd up exactly how much you spend/not be tempted by extras/google for a discount code (try martin's money saving forum) and thus offset the £4.50-£6 delivery charge. (I always use Tesco) If you are extra sneaky you can use a different email address each time and use the £10 discount for a first time shopper code (available in store) every time too. Well, they do say every little helps hee hee!

Works for me!

With loose produce they do stick weight per kilo on th elabel. I spend ages checking and comparing to the extent dh will not do a shop with me. unless it's for stock items or a very small shop.

Anything in a pack is more expensive than just buying loose items on a like for like (ie weight rather then item number) basis. You have to pay for the packaging, for a start....and you land up with more plastic waste, so always go for loose produce.

I think Sainsbury's are quite good actually, as the tickets on the shelf usually have a price per 100gm or whatever, so you can compare different brands. And also when things are ''on offer'', the price can still be more than an alternative brand/variation.

There is a website where you can put in your shopping list and it will tell you the cheapest place to buy it. But I have never used it - seems too much like hard work!

not always ehrl

Recently I've seen some instances where the pre packed has been cheaper than loose and I don't mean the value ranges either.

yup, diff, i've deffo seen that too. keeps you on your toes.

I've also noticed ridiculous price hikes too.

We were having a wander around sainsbury and their bags of 6 satsuma were £1.99. The next week they were on offer at half price, yet they were charging £1.19 as the half price price?

Tesco had one of the most blatant ones I'd seen the other day. I won't quote the exact prices because I can't remember, but I was looking at their usual 4 cans of tuna banded together. I then compared with the price of one can and the 4 together were significantly more, and mean about 50 or 60p more, than buying four separate cans. They are clearly banking on people assuming they're getting value for money and it's very very devious.

absolutely.

I have been know to tell more vulnerable shoppers that they are being ripped off.

This is why I hate it when DH does the shopping - despite being vehemently told by people on here a while ago that I should make him because he's a SAHD. He's a bloke and he just doesn't look. The shopping bill is always at least £10 extra when he goes shopping, sometimes more.

I'm so fucking sick of this! We have a £70 budget per week for food/nappies/everything. I actually do a 30 mile round trip to our nearest Tesco because it's SO much cheaper. FUCK Sainsbury's. I think Waitrose it cheaper!!!!!!

Pure - we are big fans of cheap and odd cuts of meat and anything on offer which I then find something to do with and also use Sainsbury's Basic range a lot, so our shop works out pretty cheap - c£40pw all in inc nappies for a family of 3 plus 2 cats (who eat LOADS!). Haven't tried Tesco's for years though - its a long way from us...

Meal planning also really helps keep costs down for us - we never throw food away now (any leftovers get frozen for a "leftover dinner night")

Sainsburys don't put price per kilo on the packaged apples, you have to go and weigh a pack, grr. Sometimes they are cheaper in a pack, sometimes loose, it is v.annoying. Twenty years ago I could have told you what a pound of apples looke like from buying them that way in the greengrocers, but thats skill seems to have deserted me now.

YANBU, supermarkets are really sneaky. I've been getting good at bargains since we've been on a stricter budget and I'm shocked at the way Tesco prices things. Some of the Tesco value stuff is more expensive than the regular versions but it's sold in different weights/sizes so people don't check [hmmm]

Oh, and before anyone accuses me of buying rubbish - by cheap, I mean cuts that people tend to avoid (like scrag end, hock, brisket etc), all of which can be made to taste delicious by some judicious cooking methods, not low-quality chickens for a £1. Freedom food and free range rules in this household. Ask the Sainsbury's meat counter to order stuff in for you if they don't stock it as standard - they've been very helpful to me.

We tried the local butcher - lovely meat, but about twice the price of Sainsbury's