How much incorrect pricing are you willing to tolerate/let go?

Merch

Im not willing to let much pricing error go,
I've noticed this a bit more lately, grocery shopping and being overcharged for items, usually on items that were marked down.
this is in stores that dont have a policy on double the difference or your money back, otherwise Id pay and follow it up after.

In one store its happened a number of times and on one sale a number of items. Im beginning to wonder if the store has an unwritten policy of mark items down, but then not update it on the checkouts intentionally, assuming most people will not notice, especially as this store does not offer receipts unless asked, even then I think if people notice, most people wont say anything, not realising that a few euro error every shop a few times a week adds up over the year and defeats the benefit of buying items on offer.
Whats more annoying is I have to ask for a receipt to check that I was billed correctly.

Has anyone else noticed this on the increase?

LowKeyReturn

Nope I look at the scanner which is telling you how much each item is and covering them. I also don't have a problem interacting with my fellow human beings.

Along with the words please and thank you I can also muster a can I have a receipt please? I pretend I'm saying can I have a bag please and then blurt in receipt instead. I'm sorry to be flippant but this thing of 'have to request a receipt' like it's something even approaching inconvenience, when 99% of people never look at the bloody things annoys me.

Any way rant aside - it's not an active policy it's poor merchandising. It's either a case of leaving items on sale over offer period or putting them on before. The shops EPOS systems will be updated automatically, where as the spotty youth who's been asked to change that display might not be as efficient. It's on the increase as shops have less staff due to cut backs. Not a valid excuse I grant you, but not a sinister plot either.

Merch

LowKeyReturn wrote: »

Nope I look at the scanner which is telling you how much each item is and covering them. I also don't have a problem interacting with my fellow human beings.

Along with the words please and thank you I can also muster a can I have a receipt please? I pretend I'm saying can I have a bag please and then blurt in receipt instead. I'm sorry to be flippant but this thing of 'have to request a receipt' like it's something even approaching inconvenience, when 99% of people never look at the bloody things annoys me.

Any way rant aside - it's not an active policy it's poor merchandising. It's either a case of leaving items on sale over offer period or putting them on before. The shops EPOS systems will be updated automatically, where as the spotty youth who's been asked to change that display might not be as efficient. It's on the increase as shops have less staff due to cut backs. Not a valid excuse I grant you, but not a sinister plot either.

I try to keep an eye on the till, if its pointed in my direction, but while trying to pack its easy to miss, if I want I'll ask for the receipt if I think I've been incorrectly charged, I prefer to be offered the receipt, some places its seems to be an inconvenience to get one.
If I ever dispute the price, I do so politely, firstly why not, just manners, they may be unaware of the error and ranting wont help , secondly if I was wrong, I can simply say, my mistake, have a nice day and no big deal.
I suspect it is not a conspiracy but I wonder is it considered in some places?
Either way, if Im right I'll stand over it as I've had a number of errors in the same shop and a number of errors in a recent transaction, it adds up.
What I understand less is, other people seem uncomfortable to ask for such refunds of errors or even seem uncomfortable about it or huffing and puffing because you are holding them up.

LowKeyReturn

I wouldn't tolerate any pricing errors to be fair. A good way to do it is separate the deals into the front of the trolley and put them through first checking the prices.

To be honest all the big multiples give receipts as a matter of course so I assumed you where talking about as basket of bits from Spar/Centra/londis.

Merch

LowKeyReturn wrote: »

I wouldn't tolerate any pricing errors to be fair. A good way to do it is separate the deals into the front of the trolley and put them through first checking the prices.

To be honest all the big multiples give receipts as a matter of course so I assumed you where talking about as basket of bits from Spar/Centra/londis.

For the most part I do separate the deals, unless some of the deals are meat, then I have to separate them from the deals.

Its not from any of the big multiples, Im referring to one of the above you mentioned, but Ive also had pricing errors in one of the two German shops (which I have to say Im mostly happy with) basically grocery items marked down and then with the tills backed up, pain in the arse to get it followed up as someone has to go and check it, so I just left it, that happened a few times.
Mostly Im talking about a tenner of messages and getting a 10-20-25% error.

If I just paid €50 euro for shopping I wouldnt bother about small errors.

Im wondering with the discomfort other shoppers express, am I being pedantic over say a euro? I dont think so, relative to what I spend, I wouldnt follow up a small relative amount, unless it was Tescos then I am doing them a favour/their job so getting the pricing fixed is in their benefit and my benefit is the item (although havent seen any in a long time)

allthedoyles

Was in alarge supermarket this evening and , saw label ' 2 litre milk - €1.69 '

So I pick up the milk and discover that all cans of milk under this label is 3 litre .

Got me wondering if it was on purpose , to kid people into spending more.

allthedoyles

Saturday night was in another brand name supermarket , and bought 3 cans Carlsberg for €5 and bottle wine €7 .( total € 12.00 )

So when I arrived at checkout - I was asked for €14.09 .

Brought it to the attention of assistant that the bill was only €12 , and she said that she had forgotten the 3 for a fiver .

regress

Have had it happen to me a few times. Usually on deals. Thought for a while it might be accident but now think that it is deliberate. Usually two for price of one or three for lower price than if bought individually. I think most people are either not numerate enough to realise that they are being scammed or too embarrassed to make a fuss for the sake of a few euros. It usually takes about 10-15 mins to have error corrected. I point it out and wait. Just on principle.

kc90

LowKeyReturn wrote: »

Nope I look at the scanner which is telling you how much each item is and covering them. I also don't have a problem interacting with my fellow human beings.

Along with the words please and thank you I can also muster a can I have a receipt please? I pretend I'm saying can I have a bag please and then blurt in receipt instead. I'm sorry to be flippant but this thing of 'have to request a receipt' like it's something even approaching inconvenience, when 99% of people never look at the bloody things annoys me.

Any way rant aside - it's not an active policy it's poor merchandising. It's either a case of leaving items on sale over offer period or putting them on before. The shops EPOS systems will be updated automatically, where as the spotty youth who's been asked to change that display might not be as efficient. It's on the increase as shops have less staff due to cut backs. Not a valid excuse I grant you, but not a sinister plot either.

This.

Even if you can't watch every item, ask if the price/offer has been applied after it's been scanned. I'll never understand why anyone who thinks the bill is incorrect pays anyway. It makes things a lot easier if it's sorted before money crosses hands.

kc90

Merch wrote: »

Im wondering with the discomfort other shoppers express, am I being pedantic over say a euro? I dont think so, relative to what I spend, I wouldnt follow up a small relative amount, unless it was Tescos then I am doing them a favour/their job so getting the pricing fixed is in their benefit and my benefit is the item (although havent seen any in a long time)

Not at all. You may not make any friends by holding up a queue but you shouldn't be out of pocket because of a mistake on the stores part, regardless of the amount.

col.in.Cr

In my local Super Valu this is happening me all the time

foggy_lad

allthedoyles wrote: »

Saturday night was in another brand name supermarket , and bought 3 cans Carlsberg for €5 and bottle wine €7 .( total € 12.00 )

So when I arrived at checkout - I was asked for €14.09 .

Brought it to the attention of assistant that the bill was only €12 , and she said that she had forgotten the 3 for a fiver .

To me this appears like a deliberate attempt by the shopkeeper to make customers pay the full price, no shop assistant is going to remember all the offers available in an off-licence? why would that 3 for €5 offer not be entered into the tills?? all modern tills are capable of accepting all kinds of different offer combinations!

rubadub

kc90 wrote: »

I'll never understand why anyone who thinks the bill is incorrect pays anyway.

In tesco, you only get the money back policy if you pay and then complain.

If prices are small and wrong I sometimes will mention its the wrong price to the cashier, then they usually talk about getting it checked which can take ages so I often say "don't bother I will just overpay, I am just letting you know". I prefer doing this to managers on the way out, will show them things, and they might say "oh come with me and I'll check and get a refund", I would just say "it is definitely wrong, the refund is not worth my time, I am just letting you know" which sort of embarrasses them, knowing that their rigmarole for refunds is inefficient, and that people do know they are overcharging.

In tescos nowadays I find some offers do not appear. I just tell the cashier its wrong and leave the stuff there. I hate the fact in tesco many offers do not register until the shopping total is finalised.

I have a great memory for pricing, I am overcharged far more than undercharged so do not think its a 50/50 mistake going on. I honestly don't mind too much in tesco since I got my own back by taking advantage of their old policy of giving you a full refund and free items.

ABajaninCork

Tesco's are notorious for pricing errors. I always check the receipt before leaving the store. I once did a shop in Mahon Point and was surprised that the bill was about E7 more than I was expecting. When I complained to Customer Service, the assistant spotted yet more errors, and gave me double refund AND the goods for the lot!

Walked out E25 richer!

quaalude

Merch wrote: »

Im not willing to let much pricing error go,
I've noticed this a bit more lately, grocery shopping and being overcharged for items, usually on items that were marked down.
this is in stores that dont have a policy on double the difference or your money back, otherwise Id pay and follow it up after.

In one store its happened a number of times and on one sale a number of items. Im beginning to wonder if the store has an unwritten policy of mark items down, but then not update it on the checkouts intentionally, assuming most people will not notice, especially as this store does not offer receipts unless asked, even then I think if people notice, most people wont say anything, not realising that a few euro error every shop a few times a week adds up over the year and defeats the benefit of buying items on offer.
Whats more annoying is I have to ask for a receipt to check that I was billed correctly.

Has anyone else noticed this on the increase?

I've stopped going to the Spar on Bath Avenue in Dublin 4 because of this - I only used to go once every week or two for one or two items and the price was wrong occasionally. Now it is wrong every single time.
I'll watch the till like a hawk, and stand there while they run around "checking" before giving me my proper change but most shoppers probably don't notice, and if they do, are too embarrassed to call it.
I've told them I won't shop there any more because of the wrong pricing.

rubadub

quaalude wrote: »

I've told them I won't shop there any more because of the wrong pricing.

I never had the balls to do it, but I would love to just leave a big shop behind when a wrong price comes up, esp. if I pointed it out the day before or something, or if I spotted a few misprices going through, leaving them to restock everything. I would not do it with a queue behind me but would love if it was one of the few times a manager/supervisor is working the till.

There should be bigger fines for mispricing, you rarely hear of them being done for it.

convert

I've found Tesco are horrendous for doing this - the last time it happened to me I told the manager I wouldn't be shopping there, or any other Tesco, again as a result. He didn't seem that bothered. It's been over a year, and I've not set foot in that store since.

I always check my receipt just before I leave the shop as the number of shops which overcharge is amazing. As already mentioned above, it can add up to a small fortune over the course of the year.

gugleguy

I'll allow +1 euro if i did'nt catch discrepancy at the till. Approx 3 months ago bought 12 duracell 1.5 AA batteries from tesco. Was overcharhed at till about 2 euro above price displayed. Went to customer service. Given double difference between price charged and price displayed at the outcome. customer satisfied.

Get Real

Merch wrote: »

I'll ask for the receipt if I think I've been incorrectly charged, I prefer to be offered the receipt, some places its seems to be an inconvenience to get one.
.

While I agree with your overall sentiment, and with the fact that over charging/ incorrect pricing (especially when deliberate) is scandalous, there is one simple non "conspiracy" reason for not issuing receipts in certain shops.

If a person is overcharged and not given a receipt, it doesn't automatically mean the shop is deliberately overcharging and trying to hide the fact by not giving receipts. (Although this does go on)

But in the majority of cases shops that don't issue receipts unless requested do so in order to identify a mystery shopper.

This person is paid say 20euro to carry out the mystery shop, they ask for a receipt to claim back what they've bought as expenses. So if a customer requests a receipt it is easier to narrow down who the mystery shopper is, what time it occured at, was the shop clean etc, what the expected result will be.

Out of 100 customers, maybe only two or three will specifically ask for a receipt, especially in a convenience store/ buying one or two items, so it is easier to analyze the probability of having had a mystery shopper.

Eeden

How about not incorrect pricing, but misleading pricing? son wanted to buy a T-shirt in a certain shop recently. The price on top of the rack said, we thought,

Graphic Tee
....€9.99

but when he got to the till, it rang up at €17.99! He queried it, and the cashier went to check, then told us the sign actually said "From €9.99"

Yeah, but more like this:
Graphic Tee
from €9.99

ABajaninCork

And I bet there were no 9.99 shirts either...:pac:

Eeden

We were too annoyed to check...:mad:

Shelflife

There are numerous reasons for incorrect pricing.

At the start of a promotion cycle we will change all the rrps directly from the promotions book. sometimes we miss one or two, it shouldn't happen but it does.

Other times the product that comes in can have a different barcode to the one in the promotions book, happens frequently enough but hard to pick up until it comes to the till.

suppliers will simply stick a fixed price label on their product and miraculously expect the "computer" to know theirs a price change

Sometimes there will be an old offer label left up in error.

Sometimes the customer gets it wrong, mcguigan shiraz is on offer and they bring up mcguigan merlot to the counter and expect it at the offer price.

If a customer complains about a price, we check it out and if correct we give a full refund and the product is changed asap.

errors shouldn't happen, but they do, its highly unlikely that there's a conspiracy , usually its human error but a decent shop will give full refund and correct the error.

wmpdd3

rubadub wrote: »

I never had the balls to do it, but I would love to just leave a big shop behind when a wrong price comes up, esp. if I pointed it out the day before or something, or if I spotted a few misprices going through, leaving them to restock everything. I would not do it with a queue behind me but would love if it was one of the few times a manager/supervisor is working the till.

There should be bigger fines for mispricing, you rarely hear of them being done for it.

I agree it should be a fine per 10 misprices, in this day and age any issues with IT are inexcusable. The levels that the consumer watchdog accepts is way too high.

But leaving a trolly of shopping behind makes no difference at all. Everyday the equivalent of 3 trolleys of stock it dumped around the tills, this all has to be returned / wasted anyway, another trolley makes no difference. I've often seen 2 or 3 trolleys left at the till due to sudden illness etc.

Its no problem, that's what the staff are there for. It only costs payroll and waste, that's just added to prices anyway!

wmpdd3

Eeden wrote: »

How about not incorrect pricing, but misleading pricing? son wanted to buy a T-shirt in a certain shop recently. The price on top of the rack said, we thought,

Graphic Tee
....€9.99

but when he got to the till, it rang up at €17.99! He queried it, and the cashier went to check, then told us the sign actually said "From €9.99"

Yeah, but more like this:
Graphic Tee
from €9.99

I hate signs like that, they are completely useless. I never take any notice I look at each ticket separately especially kids clothes as they increase with age.

Sulla Felix

LowKeyReturn wrote: »

Any way rant aside - it's not an active policy it's poor merchandising. It's either a case of leaving items on sale over offer period or putting them on before. The shops EPOS systems will be updated automatically, where as the spotty youth who's been asked to change that display might not be as efficient. It's on the increase as shops have less staff due to cut backs. Not a valid excuse I grant you, but not a sinister plot either.

I can't remember where, and it might have been a dream (yes, I dream of retail stock control solutions) but I could swear I saw a shelving system with integrated oled displays that linked to the EPOS. Think it was in America, was more than a little bit impressed.

LowKeyReturn

wmpdd3 wrote: »

I agree it should be a fine per 10 misprices, in this day and age any issues with IT are inexcusable. The levels that the consumer watchdog accepts is way too high.

But leaving a trolly of shopping behind makes no difference at all. Everyday the equivalent of 3 trolleys of stock it dumped around the tills, this all has to be returned / wasted anyway, another trolley makes no difference. I've often seen 2 or 3 trolleys left at the till due to sudden illness etc.

Its no problem, that's what the staff are there for. It only costs payroll and waste, that's just added to prices anyway!

IT is the issue. It'll change prices faster that a shop can react. I managed a fairly small shop selling electronics and games, you could get over 150 lines changing in a single day. You're in 15 mins before the shop opens, not a chance it would be completed before people where in.

0.5% is around the industry standard for mispricing, or was many years ago. In Tesco imagine how many lines that will be. The key is keep a check yourself.

lala88

if ever there was a thread for foggy_lad this is it

whomitconcerns

col.in.Cr wrote: »

In my local Super Valu this is happening me all the time

This is a very common occurrence in more than one supervalu that I would use. Its the only place I have found this an issue to be honest

dudara

wmpdd3 wrote: »

I agree it should be a fine per 10 misprices, in this day and age any issues with IT are inexcusable.

The problem really often lies with the people who program the system and input data into the system. Not all the time, but it's often a good bet.

The_Conductor

How much incorrect pricing are you willing to tolerate/let go?

None.

On a point of principle I bring it to the attention of the customer service staff.
Most weeks I get 10-12 Euro back from Tesco- on one occasion I got over 200 Euro back.

The customer service staff in Maynooth know me well at this stage- and while they do check the errors I report- they are prompt and if there is any delay at all, don't keep me waiting.

On an average shop- I will notice 3 to 4 items at the incorrect price- sometimes by a ridiculous margin (e.g. Bassetts Liquorice Allsorts priced at 1 Euro, charged at 3.99 (and I bought 10, as they were such good value)).

They seem to have abondoned their double the difference and/or the product for free in Tesco- and simply give you back the difference between what you pay, and the price on the shelf. I've queried it several times- and have been told, its no longer applied (despite it being on the poster behind the customer service desk). This was by numerous staff members- including the Compliance Manager (whatever her role is).

Sigh.......

I can count on one hand the number of times I've been overcharged in Aldi or Lidl (and when I was- the manager came out, apologised profusely, and gave me the products gratis).

The customer service in either of our German multiples, eclipses the surly, arrogant, obnoxious behaviour I've come to expect from the other multiples.

Shelflife

Aldi and Lidl carry a fraction of the products that the other supermarkets do so their product file is easier to manage, they also have no local suppliers who flash products and don't tell the shop.

Not excusing it, just trying to explain.

Corruptedmorals

I worked EPOS in a large supermarket/department store but luckily it was drapery and non-food. Every fortnight I had to scan everything and there would be at least 5 errors- pricetag not changed to reflect (higher) actual price. It's one of those things where you're always up against the system, customers will get to the till and get the lower (actually incorrect) price before you get to that item. That is multipled so much with grocery because there are loads of price changes every day, offers beginning, offers ending. They have more staff than non-grocery but the sheer volume they have to get through and the fact they have to print out labels too means they're always behind. Not to mention the big problem understaffed stores are, which is why people are noticing it more now in the last few years.

Is it a scam? No. It's a combination of understaffed stores and poor management. Is product placement under offer signs intentionally misleading? Possibly, but it's more likely to be crappy stock rotation. 'We're out of 2L, stick the 3L there'- no mention of the sign for 2L. The 'from' is a common one. Plenty of people though do not read signs properly. 'Offer on DIET 7UP' so that means all 7UP. The best one I ever had though was a buy one get one free box of chocolates offer..customer did not want two boxes and wanted to know could she just take 'the free one'.

Don't blame the checkout girl, be polite about it. Not suggesting people are not polite but it's just that they don't have any responsibility for the error, most always they only work on checkouts. The only half decent way to register a complaint is head office. It's a tough one though, they're understaffed because sales are down. Dumping your trolley at the checkout acheives nothing except make people who already have fairly miserable jobs have a slightly worse day. You inconvenience the queue, since your shopping has to be voided out by a manager and taken out of the way. You inconvenience the people who have to either put non-perishables back, or write it off as waste. Increasing wastage- increasing overheads- increasing prices. Obviously prices are centrally controlled, but waste is a central problem. You'd be better off pushing the trolley to head office and wedging it in their doors as a protest.

ytpe2r5bxkn0c1

I have to admit every item in our weekly shop could be wrong and I'd never know. I pick them off the shelf, put them in a trolley, place them on the checkout, put them in bags and go home. I could not catch the prices as they are scanned through nor remember what each should be, nor be bothered checking till receipts afterwards.

ScottSF

It doesn't happen often but it does happen for sure and I always ask for a receipt and point out incorrect pricing at the til. Usually they have to check the shelf before they can fix the pricing mistake, but in Donnybrook Fair they always trust that I'm telling the truth. This is superb customer service but of course it can be abused easily.

Mistakes happen and I am fine with that, but the major issue for me is when they are not fixed in the computer. When I flag a pricing error the checkout person should make a written note of it and promise to fix it not just for me but for everyone. I have never seen or heard any indication that the price will be corrected in time for the next customer. Is that just a lack of training and proper business policy? Hard to say...

dudara

I am part of a consumer survey panel where I scan every item of grocery shopping at home. This means that for every shop, I get out the receipt and scan through my items. I've been doing this for several years now, and I rarely find pricing errors. I shop at a pretty wide range of stores (M&S, Tesco, Aldi, Lidl and local) and the error rate is extremely low. I mainly put this down to the fact that I check the T&Cs on offers before putting them into my basket.

The odd time I do find an error, I will head back to the store. I did have an error recently at M&S, but I spotted it at the till, and Customer Service sorted it out in no time for me.

Just my two cents worth.

Corruptedmorals

ScottSF wrote: »

It doesn't happen often but it does happen for sure and I always ask for a receipt and point out incorrect pricing at the til. Usually they have to check the shelf before they can fix the pricing mistake, but in Donnybrook Fair they always trust that I'm telling the truth. This is superb customer service but of course it can be abused easily.

Mistakes happen and I am fine with that, but the major issue for me is when they are not fixed in the computer. When I flag a pricing error the checkout person should make a written note of it and promise to fix it not just for me but for everyone. I have never seen or heard any indication that the price will be corrected in time for the next customer. Is that just a lack of training and proper business policy? Hard to say...

Almost always, they don't fix the price because there's nothing wrong with it. Prices are electronically updated every day before the shop opens, which affects the tills, computers and all scanners. The errors lie with the signage. Offer signs not taken down in time, lower price reverted to normal or just plain the wrong price displayed. When they fix the price at the till they have to manually override it, because it's wrong. They are obliging you by offering you the price displayed under the item. They don't have to do that and the till was not mistaken.

ScottSF

When they fix the price at the till they have to manually override it, because it's wrong. They are obliging you by offering you the price displayed under the item. They don't have to do that and the till was not mistaken.

I don't believe the signs are wrong 100% of the time, but yes I agree the signs are the problem a majority of the time.

HOWEVER, is it not the law in Ireland that you have to honour a price listed on the shelf or on the product? I have no idea. In the US it is the law that if there is a retail price listed whether correct or not, a consumer has the right to pay that price.

LowKeyReturn

ScottSF wrote: »

I don't believe the signs are wrong 100% of the time, but yes I agree the signs are the problem a majority of the time.

HOWEVER, is it not the law in Ireland that you have to honour a price listed on the shelf or on the product? I have no idea. In the US it is the law that if there is a retail price listed whether correct or not, a consumer has the right to pay that price.

Prices are an indication of what the retailer will accept, an invitation to treat, not an offer to sell. It's a different once it's gone through the till however, if there was one price and you were charged another. The display does cover them somewhat but most would provide a swift refund nevertheless.

P. Breathnach

It interests me that almost every case I have experienced has been that I was asked for more at the till than was indicated by in-store price information (yes, I'm one of those odballs who is just as ready to draw attention to an undercharge as to an overcharge).

I'd be more sympathetic to the cock-up theory if some of the errors were in my favour. There are a couple of retailers who have lost my business because I am convinced that they systematically overcharge.

Corruptedmorals

Well, it's often the case in non-food when sale items are missed and left in a full price area or sale items are reduced further than the tag indicates. But more unlikely in grocery, they tend to be very vigilant with putting up signs at the correct time to drive sales, not so much with ensuring they go back to normal when the offer/lower price ends.

I can't speak for all supermarkets but I am speaking for the 'because we're Irish' one. That is exactly how they operate and all price changes are done electronically before the store opens, in a batch file sent from head office. It's as important to check that has gone through as it is to remember to open the doors at opening time. It is almost always the case that the signage is wrong. Lidl/Aldi don't have this problem because their prices remain much more static.

Sulla Felix

Sulla Felix wrote: »

I can't remember where, and it might have been a dream (yes, I dream of retail stock control solutions) but I could swear I saw a shelving system with integrated oled displays that linked to the EPOS. Think it was in America, was more than a little bit impressed.

Seen some of these in Carrefour Belgium recently. Have no idea why we don't use them.
In my shop with 30,000 products there will be around 3000 label changes per week. Increases, decreases, ending offers, new offers and comparisons. And alot of these products will be in two places, promo and regular section. Good staff are hard to find so if even half a percent are missed, thats 15 per week

Corruptedmorals

I'm sure we'll introduce that at some stage. I'd say they'd balk at the initial setup cost but it would save in the long run..particularly Tesco with that offer they do when you bring up an error to customer service. They also won't need EPOS staff anymore, though that is a negative thing too of course. If it has reached the UK then maybe in the next 2 years..

The_Conductor

Corruptedmorals wrote: »

I'm sure we'll introduce that at some stage. I'd say they'd balk at the initial setup cost but it would save in the long run..particularly Tesco with that offer they do when you bring up an error to customer service. They also won't need EPOS staff anymore, though that is a negative thing too of course. If it has reached the UK then maybe in the next 2 years..

They do have wifi live in most stores now (well, Tesco, Superquinn and a lot of the Musgrave multiples)- all they need is a unique identifier (aka MAC address) for each sale tag on the shelf, and bobs-your-uncle, off you go.

It would have a high enough initial cost- however, they've already invested in technology in this area, capable of supporting this development- and unusually for the likes of Superquinn- they're not actually developing the tech.

With respect of the double the difference that Tesco suggest- they're not honoring it anyway- despite it being on the sign behind the customer service desk. It looks good- but its pretty meaningless.

DubTony

ScottSF wrote: »

I don't believe the signs are wrong 100% of the time, but yes I agree the signs are the problem a majority of the time.

HOWEVER, is it not the law in Ireland that you have to honour a price listed on the shelf or on the product? I have no idea. In the US it is the law that if there is a retail price listed whether correct or not, a consumer has the right to pay that price.

That's right. The price on the shelf does not form part of a contract, and a retailer can simply refuse to sell the product at the displayed price. Having said that, stores can be fined up to €3000 for EVERY incident of incorrect pricing.

Tesco Knows ... http://www.thejournal.ie/tesco-fined-for-misleading-pricing-247857-Oct2011/

gowley

The_Conductor wrote: »

None.

On a point of principle I bring it to the attention of the customer service staff.
Most weeks I get 10-12 Euro back from Tesco- on one occasion I got over 200 Euro back.

The customer service staff in Maynooth know me well at this stage- and while they do check the errors I report- they are prompt and if there is any delay at all, don't keep me waiting.

On an average shop- I will notice 3 to 4 items at the incorrect price- sometimes by a ridiculous margin (e.g. Bassetts Liquorice Allsorts priced at 1 Euro, charged at 3.99 (and I bought 10, as they were such good value)).

They seem to have abondoned their double the difference and/or the product for free in Tesco- and simply give you back the difference between what you pay, and the price on the shelf. I've queried it several times- and have been told, its no longer applied (despite it being on the poster behind the customer service desk). This was by numerous staff members- including the Compliance Manager (whatever her role is).

Sigh.......

I can count on one hand the number of times I've been overcharged in Aldi or Lidl (and when I was- the manager came out, apologised profusely, and gave me the products gratis).

The customer service in either of our German multiples, eclipses the surly, arrogant, obnoxious behaviour I've come to expect from the other multiples.

200 euro back on one shop. id love to know the details of that shop.

The_Conductor

gowley wrote: »

200 euro back on one shop. id love to know the details of that shop.

Tesco. They had a special on large tins of de-icer at 49c a tin.
It was August. I legitimately believed it to be accurate- given the time of year.
I cleared the shelf- all 25 tins.
I also bought a 3D Bluray player (which I'd been saving up for, clothes and my regular weekly shop- which included a lot of frozen stuff.
Entire bill came to EUR 250 or so. The check-out operator insisted it was accurate, and if I had an issue to go to customer service.
I went through the bill item by item- and found the deicer had been charged at 4.49, not 0.49. I had compared the detail on the shelf tag to those on the can to make sure I had the right one. The Manager was called. I walked with her back to the hard-ware section and showed her where I got it. She agreed- it had been an offer months previous, and for whatever reason the tag hadn't been changed (at least this was the explanation). She wanted to know why I bought all 25 tins- I explained where I live and how much I go through- and invited her to check my previous purchases of it during winter months. I have no idea whether she did or not. Anyhow- she told me I was 100% correct- brought me to the desk and asked for my credit card- and credited double the difference back onto the card.

Tesco Naas.

I'm not fond of Tesco Naas- its too big- its all well and good stocking everything- but if you can't find things, its a bit self defeating. I have to hand it to the staff though- they're far more courteous than the staff in other branches.

I was quite surprised that no-one else had stocked up on de-icer @ 49c a can- I thought it remarkable value (though not an inaccurate price- given it was being cleared in August).

I've still around 10 tins left- thanks to the mild winter we had- doubt it'll last me to Christmas though, this time round. On the lookout for some more de-icer, if I can find it at a reasonable price.

wmpdd3

I knew it was naas before I read the second line of your post.

The company policy is double the difference, end of. But i'm sure the duty manager isn't making up their own policy, must come from the store manager.

there's a list of reason codes for overcharges and the ask fall under about 10 different reasons. Most common are, item packed in wrong place or customer put i'm wrong place and pre priced product. Most issues can be managed out of a store if its run right.

danjo-xx

Why did they ask..... why did you buy 25 cans, even if you were going to sell on, thats neither here or there or any of their business.

Soundman

I'd say they were asked why they bought so much in case they knew full well that the offer had expired and were just chancing their arm at availing of the double the difference refund. That or just curiosity.

The_Conductor

Soundman wrote: »

I'd say they were asked why they bought so much in case they knew full well that the offer had expired and were just chancing their arm at availing of the double the difference refund. That or just curiosity.

Well- I've used between 12 and 15 so far- I guess I've around 10 left. I always stock up on winter things- I've also 50kg of salt for next winter, and 2 snow shovels that I got for next to nothing.