Grocery store tricks

[crosses]

I've noticed that my local grocery store has been placing a lot of sale items on the ends of aisles, but when I go and check in the regular area, there are other brands that are much cheaper. It seems like "sale" is a very relative term at the grocery store. You really have to be on the lookout for tricks like that.

[34saving]

I actually did some research on one of our local grocery stores in college and they used to put end caps of completely unrelated items in the middle of a section. They were almost always more expensive than other options, but since they were in the "wrong" section people either assumed they were a good deal or picked them up as an impulse purchase. There's a whole science to how grocery stores (and I suppose all other stores) are set-up. It's kind of scary.

[loveofpets]

You're right - all stores follow a science to lure you in and encourage impulse purchases. There is a book called "Why W Buy" by Paco Underhill that talks about this in-depth. It's really amazing...and very eye-opening.

[Jenlee]

I was a Store Manager for Kroger way back when and there are many things we did (and still do, I'm sure) to enhance our sales. Suffice it say that you have to know what a good deal is in order to get a good deal. I haven't started a price book yet, but I am considering it for something that I don't buy on a regular basis.

Btw, at one point, even the musical selections we played were in a specific order to encourage buying.

[CRFSaver]

My favorite is still taking items that are not selling at 25 cents a piece and selling them 3 for a dollar. People think they are getting a bargain.

[Acoustic]

Not only for grocery stores but discounters as well. The "Dollar Days" sales. Items that usually are on sale for 97¢ are on sale for a $1.

Andy.

[cicy33]

One thing I HATED at our Krogers was when they tried to play "related" music to different areas. Like some chicken song in the dairy aisle, there were others. but they were annoying. It wasn't actually a song, more like a childs nursery rhyme rythym. very annoying.

[Acoustic]

One thing I HATE about Krogers... Dillon's in my town.. is there buy one get one free sales with very inflated 'regular' prices. This makes the 'sale' price an 'ordinary' sale price (I keep a price book)... plus you have to buy two.

Andy.

[mom-from-missouri]

Milk and bread are put in the back. That way you have to walk thru the entire store when all you needed was a gallon of milk. That increases your chances of picking up more items that way. Some discount stores and grocery store , management teams tell the house pharmacy that they are not to fill a prescription in under 30 minutes. That way, you will wander around and buy more. If the pharmacist tells you it will be longer than 30 minutes, chances are the customer will take the prescription and leave to get it filled later (and possible elsewhere) or leave not buying anything and come back later and only getting the prescription. (Ever notice that old time pharmacys have a place to sit and wait for a few minutes while the newer ones dont? Thats because they want to keep you on your feet. Research shows you are more likely to walk around while waiting and pick up other items than standing in one spot to wait).

[BillsGirl]

you can also notice that one store will sell something cheaper than another, like i buy my meat at one store and other items at another store for added savings

[karie]

I do the same Billsgirl. ~K

[heatherlst]

I play the raincheck game. My husband only gets paid once a month, so I do a really big shopping the first week, and then only really cheap stuff and milk the other weeks. So I don't miss out on good sales, I get rainchecks. How I do this...I wait until the last day of the sale, go in that night, usually after 8 or so. Often they're sold out of whatever was a good sale, or the staff has already cleaned out the area to make room for new sales. I then pick up what small items I was already going to buy, and then get rainchecks for the stuff they were out of. I can then use that raincheck later with coupons, hopefully during super double coupons, during that first week of the month. Using coupons and rainchecks, I've gone from $450 a month for our family of four to $200-$250.

[Tree0164]

That is why using a pricebook is so important!

[CRFSaver]

Walmart does something similar. I get my oil changed there cause it is a real good value. But it also takes an hour to get done. Guess what you do for that hour? Wander the store. Luckily I just rent a couple rooms at friends house so I dont have room for any of the junk I am sure I would buy. Haha!

[Fern]

Acoustic, that's what Big Y does here, one reason i don't shop there unless time is critical.
They'll say buy 1 whole chicken, get 1 free, but they inflat the price per pound so really not a good deal.

[nickie33]

meijers puts stuff on sale and doesnt put the sale item in the register. you have to watch real close when the cashier rings the stuff up and they get real mad when you tell them the right price, 90% of your order will ring up wrong, i believe the store depends on people not watching the register, that gets real frustrating but it can save you atleast 30% on your order, i believe all stores do this

[Ima saver]

The mistakes always seem to be in the store's favor.

[Firefly]

I am missing something. What is a price book?

[DivaJen]

Originally Posted by Firefly

I am missing something. What is a price book?

It's where you record what you buy, the price you paid, where you bought it, and the unit price (if applicable). It's a way to track prices to be sure you're getting the best deals.

[laceshawl]

One store in our town displays the price in much bigger numerals when it is on sale - that is, it always used to be on sale with the previous owner. Since the new owner has taken over, I notice the big price is often just the regular price, but people still think it's on sale.