5 for 5 sale's

[MrGreenJeans]

Does anyone else get tired of getting ripped off by false adds. Our local grocery always has sales on and off but most of them are the 5 for 5,5 for 10, thing and so on, when ya want to buy one it's full price. It does not say in the add if you buy one it's full price, i know ya can get some good deal's on thing's. If you add up the deals in the paper you would have to take a loan out to hit most of it. I like to shop and get the best price on things to, i just hate to be forced into buying a lot of stuff i don't need or will not keep that long to get a deal on it, and these sales always come the week before the food stamp thang. So when they get them the poorer folk have to pay full price and no i don't get them. I know it makes sense from a profit end of it. Well there is my little rant lol. I guess it's the old buyer be ware thang.

[GoodDaughter]

About the only things I will buy that way are canned items or frozen ones that I will use in a reasonable amount of time like snap peas, brussels sprouts or broccoli. Kroger has 10 for $10 pretty frequently, but most of it is either junk food or stuff I just don't buy. They had their canned salmon 10 for 10 bucks so I did buy those, it was a pretty good deal. Another local store has 5 for $20 but their stuff is gross-- stuff like onion rings, chicken nuggets, frozen waffles, frozen peas and carrots, etc., and absolutly NOT worth $4 bag for ANY of it. Yet, they sell rafts of it all the time.

[NCLee]

GoodDaughter, your viewpoint is much like mine. Our local paper comes in on Wedsday, so I check the ads for loss leaders that we can use. Often, there isn't a darn thing in that handfull of sales papers that we can use in a given week.

So many of the "specials" are for junk food type goods that we don't buy. No way I'm going to buy 10 bottles of ketsup in order to save $.50. We might use one bottle in 6 months. So, I'm actually better off paying full price for just one.

MrGreenJeans, it depends on the particular store policy. Some will sell just one at the discounted price. I've been burned, too. That is until I learned which ones charge full price for 1 or 2 out of a 10 for $10. And, I've also learned, that sometimes the sale isn't really a "sale".

One of the "marketing" gimmicks is:
Regular price is $.25 per can
Sale price is 4 for a $1.00 displayed on an isle end shelf or in a basket in the isle.

Lee

[momma_to_seven_chi]

Does anyone else get tired of getting ripped off by false adds.

That irritates me so much. I hate all the bait and switch type tactics. Another thing that really bothers me is when the price on the shelf is not what rings up. I watch everything ring up, and when they don't match, I bring it to their attention. I'm sure most clerks think I am difficult.

WM had a 90% clearance on Christmas decorations. Many things were not ringing up correct, and the checker guy said, "we have to go by what the register says....." I demanded a manager. I know I made the checker mad, but I did get the right prices.

[Pokeberry Mary]

Often when you check the store's policies you will find that if something is on sale in a multiple the price will work for a single. For instance the stores I visit if its 5 for $5, 1 is $1.

Still all in all the prices are going up all the time. I shop with coupons as well and in the past I got more of what I consider good deals than I get now.

I even noticed about a 5% increase on canned goods and some other items at Aldi this week. Aldi is a discount store that up until recently I could buy canned goods for .49 that were regular priced.

Our garden is going to be much bigger this year, for good reason.

[momma_to_seven_chi]

I even noticed about a 5% increase on canned goods and some other items at Aldi this week. Aldi is a discount store that up until recently I could buy canned goods for .49 that were regular priced.

Our garden is going to be much bigger this year, for good reason.

I didn't realize Aldi's had raised prices? But I haven't had to purchase very much this winter. I know Dollar General's food prices raised outrageously last summer.

[Mom5farmboys]

Here when a store runs a 10 for $10 sale the price has always come up at $1 when I have purchased just a single item. They also advertise here that you can mix & match all 10 for 10 items to get the sale price, so you wouldn't have to get 10 of just one item. One other thing one of the stores does is they run a 10 for $10 sale and give you the 11th item free.

[Pokeberry Mary]

The stores I generally go to will usually let you just get one a single or other amount on 10 for $10s or just get one at half price when its a buy one get one free. They won't let you get the sale price on things when they have a buy one get 2 or a buy 2 get 3 sort of thing.

You need to ask what the policies are and check receipts. Most chain stores have websites and if you look around on them you can find their written coupon and sales policies.

As for Aldi--yes-- here the prices went up a bit. the 49cent canned veggies are now 53 or 55 cents ( I forgot which) -which is still lower than other stores--unless things are on sale. I'm seeing sale prices on store brand veggies at something like 75 cents a can-- on sale! tomatoes are higher. soup is ridiculous but I never buy that anyhow. Homemade is so much better.

[Sheila]

Yup, Green Jeans. I sure do get tired of all the false ad hype. Anything to sell something and the truth be darned. There's an old saying - Caviat emptor. Meaning Let the Buyer Beware. I really am tired of the lies and having to seive through ads to find legitimate offers. What nonsense!

Even worse are the credit card companies, banks, car dealers, insurance companies, etc. They call daily trying to sell "products" and promise you anything and then of course give you --- well you all know the drill.

Probably the best thing we can do is compare by unit in the case of foods and staples and just not answer the phone when the others call to sell us garbage.

[ScrubbieLady]

You need to ask what the policies are and check receipts. Most chain stores have websites and if you look around on them you can find their written coupon and sales policies.

.

No, the it doesn't depend on the store policies. They are legally required to sell at the ADVERTISED PRICE. If they say 5 for $5 and don't also say that the price for one is different, then that price applies. I don't buy things if they don't adhere to that. It is considered false advertising and good places don't do it. Frequently, you will find that cashiers are not properly trained and will try to do this. Insist on a manager and if they insist, tell them to put the stuff back. It gets the message across.

I usually see 10 for $10 at Kroger's. For stuff, that I don't buy or that I don't pay that much for anyhow.

[leera]

OK,coming from a retail standpoint 5 for $5.00 SOUNDS like a deal,and that's all it's meant to be....just like putting a 4 for $1.00 sign on the 25 cent item....it's all marketing ploys,and nothing more than that...

I do browse the adds,and compare prices,and having been working in retail for 20+ years,I can tell the deifference between a deal and a sign....

The majority of items you find at those prices are things they get by the truck load and dirt cheap prices to try and get you in the door.

I don't buy frozen anything accept veggies (and an occasional pizza),and only when I can get them on sale with my coupons for $0.40 or less(not the pizza though).....I buy meat in bulk,from a local store,and I get filet mingion for $2.99 a pound that way...

Try this the next time you go shopping,or just go to look....all the name brand or store brands with the highest profit margins will be precisely at eye level all throughout the store..
On the higher shelves will be other various brands,and maybe some store brands slightly cheaper.Now look on the bottom two shelves.....and compare the price of similar items to those at eye level and above....it doesn't work for everything but,but for a LOT of things...don't shop by size either,shop by cost per serving or cost per ounce....that's the best way to determine what is actualy a good deal.

As for pricing and things not ringing up correctly....put your foot down and stand your ground....as much as I hate it when people do it to me at work,it's your best defense against getting ripped off by bad pricing.Although if you are polite and to the point you are more likely to get what you want versus someone who yells and rants.

[MrGreenJeans]

No, the it doesn't depend on the store policies. They are legally required to sell at the ADVERTISED PRICE. If they say 5 for $5 and don't also say that the price for one is different, then that price applies. I don't buy things if they don't adhere to that. It is considered false advertising and good places don't do it. Frequently, you will find that cashiers are not properly trained and will try to do this. Insist on a manager and if they insist, tell them to put the stuff back. It gets the message across.

I usually see 10 for $10 at Kroger's. For stuff, that I don't buy or that I don't pay that much for anyhow.

You would think so but in very small print ( not responsible for misprints in these adds ) a very easy way of sliding out of, well we don't print them they just messed up. Yep i,ve walked off from a cart of groceries one time because of out right lies and not honoring what they said. Guess i,am just hard to please sometimes.

[Dawgus]

Other than buying our groceries in bulk, we buy a LOT at those 10/10, 5/5 type sales. The 2 places we shop at list the regular price in the ad, along with the amount saved. We watch those carefully to see if they are worth the price and trip, and shop accordingly. Yesterday was a perfect example. A local chain had 4 packs of TP on sale at 10/$10. Regular price is $2.29. That saved us 12.29 on the 40 rolls.(they had a limit 10 per customer, so lisa got 10 and I got 10-we often shop that way with 2 carts) That's even cheaper than the 40 count case we normally buy at Sams for $18.99 by almost $9. Some things that go on sale 10/10 we only get once a year, like mustard, catsup, etc. Others we take advantage of and stock the pantries on a constant rotation. Luckily we have yet to run across one that draws us in only to realize we'd be saving 50 cents.
Both of us read the ads carefully, and only shop when we see great deals, whether its just a good price, a buy1/get1, or a 5/$5. Thanks to shopping this way, and storing lots of items we got on sale, we have a LOT of food stored, nearly a years worth as I type. Since we rarely buy just ONE of anything, we take well advantage of 5/5 or 10/10 and fill the cart when we can. This has not only saved us money on sales, but saved our a$$ses with me approaching the 1 year mark of this layoff.
Today is the end of the month, so we'll do the same as always. We'll check the pantries and see what need's re-stocked or new things we want to get. We'll sit down with the ads from the paper and the ones we get in the mail, and list out who has what on sale, compare sale prices from store to store, list savings, then plan a shopping trip. There will be ads with things circled, a notebook listing what store has what item and it's price, and we can almost always list out our shopping trip including taxes down to within pennies. Our usual Sunday dinner guest friend always laugh at our over-organization of sales, but when we tell them how much we generally save, they get their eyes opened just a little more each time. They're the type that just waits till they're out of something, and just goes to get it. Now that they're BOTH layed off, they always ask how we can afford to have so much food on hand with me not working. I kinda laugh and point to the pile of sales flyers and notebooks- "thats how". Two or three times now, we've fed them a large dinner and sent them home with a few bags of groceries and home canned soups and vegetables. Can I really afford to give away food? No. But I refuse to sit by and watch friends eat hot dogs and ramen noodles for dinner, even if it's their fault because they don't shop smart. We give them groceries, and our kids sometimes come here to "shop" as well. Sometimes we'll get sale items that we normally wouldn't get for ourselves, but know that the kids would eat/use it.

[ScrubbieLady]

Guess i,am just hard to please sometimes.

You and me both.

[Travis]

I hate the small print in companies adds and I work for corporate America and try and let customers know up front all the fees. Makes life a hell alot easier.


I like the 5/5 or 10/10 sales but like said you need to know the prices or you can loose money. Mt local store does weird sales all the time like a case(24) soodas for $8.00 but I can get 12 packs for $3.50 same store but the sign reads "SAVE $4.00 ON A CASE". Last time iI checked 12 and 12 is 24 and 3.5 and 3.5 is 7.

[skwentnaflyer]

I've found that Family Thrift is bad about putting produce items 10 for $10 and throwing in a couple of items that normally are less than a dollar to begin with----I've seen it on cukes and onions that I can remember. It's easy to get happy with the 10 for 10 and forget what stuff normally goes for...

[Junie]

Our store allows you to buy any number of items when it's 5/$5 for $1 apiece. What aggravates me about it is that it's seldom REAL food. I really don't need a bag of chips or a 2 liter of pop for $1. I'd rather have 5 lbs of potatoes or a jug of juice for that price. Reasonably priced milk, eggs, or cheese would be nice, too.

[Pokeberry Mary]

Other than buying our groceries in bulk, we buy a LOT at those 10/10, 5/5 type sales. The 2 places we shop at list the regular price in the ad, along with the amount saved. We watch those carefully to see if they are worth the price and trip, and shop accordingly. Yesterday was a perfect example. A local chain had 4 packs of TP on sale at 10/$10. Regular price is $2.29. That saved us 12.29 on the 40 rolls.(they had a limit 10 per customer, so lisa got 10 and I got 10-we often shop that way with 2 carts) That's even cheaper than the 40 count case we normally buy at Sams for $18.99 by almost $9. Some things that go on sale 10/10 we only get once a year, like mustard, catsup, etc. Others we take advantage of and stock the pantries on a constant rotation. Luckily we have yet to run across one that draws us in only to realize we'd be saving 50 cents.
Both of us read the ads carefully, and only shop when we see great deals, whether its just a good price, a buy1/get1, or a 5/$5. Thanks to shopping this way, and storing lots of items we got on sale, we have a LOT of food stored, nearly a years worth as I type. Since we rarely buy just ONE of anything, we take well advantage of 5/5 or 10/10 and fill the cart when we can. This has not only saved us money on sales, but saved our a$$ses with me approaching the 1 year mark of this layoff.
Today is the end of the month, so we'll do the same as always. We'll check the pantries and see what need's re-stocked or new things we want to get. We'll sit down with the ads from the paper and the ones we get in the mail, and list out who has what on sale, compare sale prices from store to store, list savings, then plan a shopping trip. There will be ads with things circled, a notebook listing what store has what item and it's price, and we can almost always list out our shopping trip including taxes down to within pennies. Our usual Sunday dinner guest friend always laugh at our over-organization of sales, but when we tell them how much we generally save, they get their eyes opened just a little more each time. They're the type that just waits till they're out of something, and just goes to get it. Now that they're BOTH layed off, they always ask how we can afford to have so much food on hand with me not working. I kinda laugh and point to the pile of sales flyers and notebooks- "thats how". Two or three times now, we've fed them a large dinner and sent them home with a few bags of groceries and home canned soups and vegetables. Can I really afford to give away food? No. But I refuse to sit by and watch friends eat hot dogs and ramen noodles for dinner, even if it's their fault because they don't shop smart. We give them groceries, and our kids sometimes come here to "shop" as well. Sometimes we'll get sale items that we normally wouldn't get for ourselves, but know that the kids would eat/use it.

I have kids who shop in our pantry sometimes before payday too. They're just starting out and need to learn the ropes--its going to take them a long time to get up a pantry on their incomes too.
I've kept a pantry for many years. At times my husband was out of work over the years and since he usually worked contract we didn't get unemployment most of those times. I almost always could manage til the next job came along by feeding us and our 4 kids from the pantry. There were times though when I couldn't. I can recall friends coming and bringing us groceries a couple of times and our folks sometimes helped us in the early years too.

It seems right to do the same back and I still keep a pantry and like you shop carefully and stock up when the price is right. I shop at all manner of stores to get the best deals and I track prices at 2 stores-- Sam's club and Aldi--so I will know if a price at any other store is worth stocking up when it is lower or close to the Sam/Aldi prices.

This year we are back owning our own place again and I am gearing up for a huge garden and plan to preserve more of our own food than usual. The prices out there are getting too high for me. Would't it be grand if our income would go up by a 3rd or half as quickly as groceries do? :eek:Good grief--I don't know what to think sometimes, most of us are lucky to have an income at all, and if we do--lucky to get a 3 -5% raise every other year or so--but prices jump in much bigger percentages. How can we NOT try to grow some of our own?

[Prairie]

That irritates me so much. I hate all the bait and switch type tactics. Another thing that really bothers me is when the price on the shelf is not what rings up. I watch everything ring up, and when they don't match, I bring it to their attention. I'm sure most clerks think I am difficult.

WM had a 90% clearance on Christmas decorations. Many things were not ringing up correct, and the checker guy said, "we have to go by what the register says....." I demanded a manager. I know I made the checker mad, but I did get the right prices.

We have a "Scanner Code of Ethics" up here. If the price scanned does not match the price on the shelf, either you get the item for free, or you get another item for free up to $10. It encourages the store to get it right.

[Pokeberry Mary]

Having worked as a cashier I can tell you a lot of what you get at the register has more to do with management and corporate than it does with the individual person who is scanning your stuff.

In some stores the corporate folks set policy and this can be good or bad-- If the local store manager follows it--he will see to it his cashiers do certain things-- When I was at Harris Teeter it was impossible for a cashier to change a price or ring up some coupons etc without getting a customer service person. However the corporate policy at that store mandated the cashier treat the customer like gold no matter what. So-- though you would have to wait for customer service there you would almost always, as a customer get what you asked for--even if you were wrong.

At the Walgreens I worked at the local manager was close to retirement and his attitude was less than enthusiastic. He saw people who bought with coupons and such like as somewhat 'parasitic' which is not the corporate policy at that chain. Now at the store I worked at, then --dunno about now--the cashiers DID have the ability bypass things and tweak the cash register to make sure deals turned out right. They could do refunds w/o help however.

You will find there are stores where Corporate has a very low opinion of cashiers and the registers are set so that the cashiers CANNOT do one single thing to alter what the scanner says. Walmart appears to be such a place. In this case a manager always has to be called.

The biggest problem is holding up a line.

Cashiers --most of them-- do not want to let the line slow down. Its is not a bit in their control if the store has enough lines open or enough customer service people or managers on duty to come when called. They are at the mercy of the whole thing. They are the point of sale person that the customer sees and talks to-- if the register doesn't do the job right-- they're stuck there waiting for someone to come help them.

Sadly some stores have cashiers who are just 'slow' or have bad attitudes--sometimes this is the result of poor management making bad hiring decisions but often it is the result of cashiers being beaten down over time by uncaring management & corporate.

Although I don't always get what I think I should at the cash register--unless the cashier has an uncaring or rude attitude I ALWAYS make an effort to treat them as well as I can--even if there is a mistake.

I know they aren't trying to screw me and that they are overworked, under paid, unappreciated and often powerless to do what needs to be done to keep their customers happy.

If you want to get mad about bad policy at a chain store--shoot an email to the corporate customer service folks --I've done that. They will sometimes react by sending me gift cards, apologizing, and even sending someone to a local store to check into it.

Almost always it isn't really the cashier that is the problem--and even if it is--its still a management bad.

my big 2 cents as an ex-cashier.;)

[Pokeberry Mary]

first correction-- at walgreens the cashiers can NOT do returns w/o help.

Second-- Grocery stores and drugs stores have very frequent sales cycles.
if you work in retail you know this is not so easy to get 100% right.

In a grocery store there can be as many as 5 or 6000 price changes in an average week.

Knowing that I don't lose my cool over mistakes in price scanning. When it happens a good store will simply try to fix the problem and apologize. That is good enough for me.

We live in such a high pressure 'give it to me how I like it now' world, I think we forget that kindness and patience are virtues that never go out of style.

Cashiers with any kind of sense won't think a customer is a bad if they point out mistakes without also getting angry.

Golden rule for shoppers is the same as it is in any other situation-- treat others the way you would like to be treated. Most of the time they'll do the same. :)

[MrGreenJeans]

I agree the cashier is not at fault, this local store has a new manager and i know she is under pressure by owner's to. I fully understand no profit no store. It is getting bad there on outdated dairy and other stuff. They are setup that every time you want the right price or a coupon ya have to get manager. It is very convenient for folk's here or drive to get to a Foodcity. I guess it all comes down to me getting lazy and not watching things as close as i should have. A scanner code of ethics would be right nice here. They have to give it at the correct price but it is not always clear what that is. I bought some candy for dads girlfriend to fix val. bags for grandkids, m&ms one box 75 cents a pack the other 85 a pack register price 95 a pack. LOL! Small thing but at 10 items that's $2.00. Just shows how much small things can add up. Everyone just trying to make a living i reckon. Yep buyer beware.

[Pokeberry Mary]

Here's a bit of a pet peeve I have. Even when I actually worked as a cashier in one store I had a hard time figuring out what the darn receipts actually meant!
When they do the math for discounts, sales, and coupons they often juggle it around on the receipt so you can't even figure out what you just paid for a particular item without studying each item along with every 'like item' and then trying to apply the sale/coupon/etc.

Even I had a hard time understanding if a customer was actually getting the sale price-- I can imagine how hard it must have been for the customers.

crazy stuff!

[Junie]

...When it happens a good store will simply try to fix the problem and apologize. That is good enough for me.
Me, too.

Golden rule for shoppers is the same as it is in any other situation-- treat others the way you would like to be treated. Most of the time they'll do the same. :)
Good advice for most of life.