Supermarket pricematching

[singleseeder]

Just a thought.....

Asda will give you money if you go on line and check if you could have bought your goods cheaper in one of the other supermarkets. I always thought this was a bit cheeky; you do the work to access information that they already have. If you don't, does this mean you have been over charged?

Now Sainsbury do this for you at the checkout. But what's the point of this? If they are rectifying the price before you have left the building, why isn't the cheaper price charged in the first place?

PS.... I know that all of these prices are checked on a Monday morning by an independent company, so the supermarkets do have the information.

[Newton]

I think they print out the difference at the checkout as a positive reinforcement that you have shopped at the right supermarket.......

Mind you I suppose you don't get the print out if your shop was more expensive..........

[Maccabee]

No, you get a coupon for the difference. "If the products would have been cheaper in either Asda or Tesco we will give you a Coupon back for the difference at the end of your shop" from Sainsbury's website.

[rustylady]

Just a thought.....

Asda will give you money if you go on line and check if you could have bought your goods cheaper in one of the other supermarkets. I always thought this was a bit cheeky; you do the work to access information that they already have.

Actually, the only "Work" you have to do is enter a few details from your checkout slip. If you are due a refund you can then print out a coupon.

[Pa Snips]

On a slightly different, but still related, note. Tesco's website recently had their own-brand teabags listed at £0.20 for 80. We realised that this was almost certainly a mistake but their customers shouldn't suffer as a result of their mistakes. They had obviously noticed the error when we placed our order and, instead of contacting us about it, they decided to not send them along with the rest of our groceries, instead the paperwork stated that they were not available and that there were no alternatives. A supermarket that does not have any teabags in stock in boxes of 80? Nonsense!

We sent an email complaining about their poor way of handling the situation and their lack of customer care.

They sent an e-voucher for £5.00 to use against our next order.

Result!

I wouldn't dream of making false complains but if they truly mess up...always complain.

[Moo's Mum]

I work for Asda! You can either go on the Asda website from 6am the morning after you have shopped and enter a few details from your receipt. If other supermarkets are dearer than Asda you get the option to print out a coupon. You can also take your receipt to the customer service desk and the staff will do it for you.

You do have to have at least 8 comparable items on your receipt though, so there maybe certain BOGOF offers or other promotional items that don't apply to the price guarantee.

I don't actually go on the checkouts that often, but I haven't actually put a great deal of these coupons through. Whether that is because Asda ARE 10% cheaper or people in my area don't bother checking, I'm not sure.
I've done it myself a few times and have had a bit of money back. I do think anythiing that could potentially save you a bob or 2 (for not much effort!) is worth a go!!

[Moo's Mum]

I forgot to say...... every so often Asda do spend £40, get £5 off your next shop. Well it's back on very soon to celebrate the jubilee! This is NOT like Tesco where they give you the money off coupon at the till (plus Tesco is now £50 and get £5 off!). You have to go on line and follow the same proceedure as you would for the price guarantee and print out the £5 off coupon ready for your next shop. Also take the receipt back with you when you're going to redeem your £5 off, if you don't they wont always accept the coupon!

[singleseeder]

I'm not sure that I explained my point of view very well. I understand that checking your Asda receipt on line isn't much 'work', but none the less, if you don't check you are technically paying more for your goods than those who do. Now that Sainsburys give you the refund at the till, it seems to have got a bit silly. They charge you a higher price, the till says 'it's cheaper elsewhere' then you get a refund.

I realise that I've oversimplified it, but the point I'm trying to make is that if they know that they are dearer, just lower the prices in the first place.

I have 'worked in' supermarkets (both covertly and overtly) for over 25 years and have seen many changes, not all for the better.

[donnakebab]

I don't have an Asda and don't really want one but it will be happening soon. I shop at Sainsburys when my mom wants to. By choice I shop at Morrisons and Aldi (local).

I work at a local Co-Op convenience store. Less said the better.

[Hilary B]

Most of my shopping is in Waitrose (Tesco is the only other supermarket closer than 10 miles away, and there are local reasons I won't shop there). It isn't particularly cheap (unless, like me, you haunthe 'reduced for quick sale' section) but the quality is excellent, and they have a well earned reputation for being more environmentally responsible than is typical of supermarkets.
Occasionally we are close to the ASDA, and then we buy a few things that we like.
The reason Sainsbury don't keep changing their prices to be lowest instead of giving you a money-off voucher is that, if you get a voucher for the difference, you will be coming back another day to spend it there, it keeps the customers coming through the door! It's not a refund on the spot (as I understand it, there isn't one handy to us)....

[Linnea]

I agree with Hilary the whole point is to get you to come back another time. The chance is that when you return you will spend more than the amount of the coupon therefore they gain more money (and more "Market Share")

[Mikey]

I can understand why Sainsburys do it the way they do Singleseeder. If you constantly had to keep changing the prices in store as others were cheaper you'd spend an awful lot of time swapping over labels. Doing it at the till is a more cost effective way of doing it.

[veggiechicken]

Sainsbug's keep sending me weekly vouchers for £12 off when I spend £60, I have an almost continuous flow of them - but I find it hard to spend £60 in one go (I have simple tastes). Problem is that I then have to make it up to £60 by buying wine! I guess £12 of wine free just for the pleasure of shopping at Sainsbugs is worthwhile

[Alison]

I work at a local Co-Op convenience store. Less said the better.

The local CooP near us if pretty good, don't really use supermarkets but since they revamped I can buy pretty much anything there, slightly more expensive than the big supermarkets but walking distance and lovely people on the tills who talk to you