Tesco

HairMare

I'm sure these type of issues have been probably covered before - but so annoyed have to rant.
Tesco do their own brand frozen chicken curry - bought it regularly over last 3 to 6 months at the advertised / shelf price of €1, never a yellow label or special offer just always a €1. Yesterday evening when to but same and now they are €2.50, how in the name of anything holy can they warrant or justify such an increase of 150%, are chickens becoming extinct or something ???

endacl

Their shop. They can charge what they like. You don't have to buy it.

snubbleste

It was an introductory offer. They've put them all up to €2.50.
Still £1 in UK though.

RipoffIreland forum is dat way -->

HairMare

Fair enough, but an awful way to treat customers. At €2.50 its way over priced I wouldn't buy it in a fit. At a €1 or even €1.50 ish it would be ok ish.

endacl

Take advantage of brexit. Order a load of them from the UK.

HairMare

snubbleste wrote: »

It was an introductory offer. They've put them all up to €2.50.
Still £1 in UK though.

RipoffIreland forum is dat way -->

it was never listed as an introductory offer thats my issue with it. they did the same a few years back with what were called ultimate chicken nuggets (could be wrong on name) they started at €1.59 and within twelve months were €3.99

HairMare

endacl wrote: »

Take advantage of brexit. Order a load of them from the UK.

that will be their next excuse for ridiculous prices

snubbleste

HairMare wrote: »

it was never listed as an introductory offer thats my issue with it. they did the same a few years back with what were called ultimate chicken nuggets (could be wrong on name) they started at €1.59 and within twelve months were €3.99

It was a new product priced low for you to buy it. I highlighted in BA
Maybe write to Tesco HQ and whinge

HairMare

snubbleste wrote: »

It was a new product priced low for you to buy it. I highlighted in BA
Maybe write to Tesco HQ and whinge

all of that is fair enough, but its all done to mislead customers and its shocking
I am going getting on to tesco because its beyond belief at this stage.
It might sound so trivial to some

snubbleste

There is no misleading.
Price has shot up massively, that is all.

ytpe2r5bxkn0c1

HairMare wrote: »

all of that is fair enough, but its all done to mislead customers and its shocking
I am going getting on to tesco because its beyond belief at this stage.
It might sound so trivial to some

I don't think you can, in any sense of the word, accuse them of misleading customers.
A price was set low on a new product and has now shot up. Big deal! As Tom Jones sang - it's not unusual.

Trivial? Certainly.

VincePP

at €1 or £1 in UK, its a bargain. Not every introductory offer is actually marked as an introductory offer.

Compare it with similar in other stores and how does it compare?

Its actually made here in Ireland (IE factory stamp listed)

daveharnett

HairMare wrote: »

Fair enough, but an awful way to treat customers. At €2.50 its way over priced I wouldn't buy it in a fit. At a €1 or even €1.50 ish it would be ok ish.

Hang around for 30/60 days until 2.50 is established as the RRP, and it will be "50% off" at €1.25

This is our fault as consumers - we are more attracted to a discount than a permanent good price. Tesco is just responding to it's incentives.

HairMare

well they have lost me at this stage, i'm sure they will lie awake thinking about it

Buffman

snubbleste wrote: »

RipoffIreland forum is dat way -->

Yep, and they even have their own thread there.
Tesco outrageous price hikes

HairMare wrote: »

well they have lost me at this stage, i'm sure they will lie awake thinking about it

Ha, ye, if you want an example of how worried Tesco are about losing customers check out the Tesco mobile forum regarding them cutting people off. This thread says it all.

_Tombstone_

They're doing you a favour OP since their was no chicken in it to begin with.

Now you can go eat something recognisable.

rubadub

Well at least the word "overnight" was not used, I always cringe at that.

HairMare wrote: »

Fair enough, but an awful way to treat customers.

if you were in charge how would you have handled it. Incremental increases over several months?, which would have to start earlier to offset the losses. Would you have signs up notifying customers that the price will rise next week? or how much notice is reasonable. How many increments would you rise it in, 25 cent ones? which would mean doing out several more shelf pricing labels and associated min costs.

never a yellow label or special offer just always a €1.

Some of the best value items in tesco are have no special offer sign. I see people blindly filling trolleys with supposed offers, they subsidise the genuine offers for me.

€1 was ridiculously cheap, and it was in bargain alerts.

HairMare

I think your missing the issue, how can any store warrant something becoming 2.5 times initial selling price, its madness, pure madness would be paying the new price. At a euro it wasnt exceptionally cheap. It was a bog standard ready meal.

ThisRegard

People think €1 for a ready meal isn't cheap?!? Try make it for that price.

HairMare

Its very easy when your a massive company with a manufactoring facility or subcontract same. Deals have chilled readymeal for 1.50, aldi likewise, im sure either are larger than tesco offering. Its the massive price hike that I have the issue with.

HairMare

Tesco line is it was introduced at an incorrect price point, which has no being corrected in line with other similar variants...

rubadub

HairMare wrote: »

At a euro it wasnt exceptionally cheap. It was a bog standard ready meal.

Can you please share some ready meals you have found which were cheaper than 1 euro then, similar to this but obviously it should be cheaper. It has quite a low % of chicken in it at just 12%. You could share these in bargain alerts if you know of several.

HairMare wrote: »

I think your missing the issue, how can any store warrant something becoming 2.5 times initial selling price.

when the inital price is extremely low then 2.5 is not as impressive or outrageous sounding. Its common in threads like this, people shy away from the original price and use percentages. I remember one thread about tesco 5 pack of donuts going from 1 euro to 1.50, phrased as a "50% inrease, OVERNIGHT!!:eek::mad:"

I imagine if I went up to someone and said "do you know how much a frozen chicken curry is in tesco, 2.50" I doubt there would be any raised eyebrows at what you now consider "pure madness" to pay.

I was asking how you would have implemented it yourself, if you were working for tesco?

HairMare wrote: »

Tesco line is it was introduced at an incorrect price point, which has no being corrected in line with other similar variants...

It was and still is £1 in the UK.

The only "madness" in this is to presume all products are priced in line with each other and all working off similar margins. This product was very cheap for what it was, now it is possibly a little more than similar ones dunnes or supervalu might sell. I would not consider anybody "mad" for buying it at 2.50. Personally I would have checked the ingredients and copped on to the low chicken content. The packing makes it appear like a "regular" and not a "value" range product, and many fall for this. Again I like that people fall for this, it subsidises my cheap basket in tesco.

VincePP

HairMare wrote: »

Its very easy when your a massive company with a manufactoring facility or subcontract same. Deals have chilled readymeal for 1.50, aldi likewise, im sure either are larger than tesco offering. Its the massive price hike that I have the issue with.

Christ, you are having some fit over some crappy ready meal. Buy a cook book, cook it yourself. Problem solved.

HairMare

Theres so many high horses here were only short of show jumping. Look Its a ridicuous price thats all, if a box of cereal or pack of loo roll by the same jump it would be the same issue.

L1011

HairMare wrote: »

Theres so many high horses here were only short of show jumping. Look Its a ridicuous price thats all, if a box of cereal or pack of loo roll by the same jump it would be the same issue.

Products go from promotional prices to non promotional in similar jumps all the time. Goodfellas frozen pizzas that are >€4 were a quid last week.

€1 is basically below cost selling; it was never a full time price.

colm_mcm

HairMare wrote: »

Theres so many high horses here were only short of show jumping. Look Its a ridicuous price thats all, if a box of cereal or pack of loo roll by the same jump it would be the same issue.

It was a ridiculous price before, now it's just cheap.

LunarSea

Honestly, they're doing you a favour by dissuading you from eating that stuff. The cardboard packaging is probably more nutritious.

But to the issue at hand - even at €2.50, how many premade items can you find that constitute a "meal"? Assuming you're an adult and/or buy your own food, surely you're aware of how much everything costs? €1 is clearly below the going rate.

HairMare

The issue is not the chicken curry, issue is tesco hiking up prices.

RossieMan

30 posts later.....


It was a promotional offer, it was to get people to try it.

You don't seem to be able to get that, it's not a price hike. It was probably it's intended selling price.

LunarSea

HairMare wrote: »

The issue is not the chicken curry, issue is tesco hiking up prices.

Yeah I can see that - read the rest of my post.

I agree that a 150% increase in price is a hike, it's not like it originally sold for 3 quid and now you're paying 7.50.

It was €1 (which again to anyone that does their own shopping is obviously well below the going rate), now it's €2.50. If you eat these things, €2.50 is still dirt cheap for a meal.

HairMare

Then should state same thats all, arent loss leaders in breach of consumer law anyway ?

HairMare

LunarSea wrote: »

Yeah I can see that - read the rest of my post.

I agree that a 150% increase in price is a hike, it's not like it originally sold for 3 quid and now you're paying 7.50.

It was €1 (which again to anyone that does their own shopping is obviously well below the going rate), now it's €2.50. If you eat these things, €2.50 is still dirt cheap for a meal.

I do my own shopping and do know the price of things, its an issue that bugs the crap out me with tesco. Constant hiking. 1.00 was only 50 cent max cheaper than similar elsewhere.

LunarSea

So if you do your own shopping then you know that €1 is below the going rate and it is now in line with similar products that Tesco sell?

L1011

HairMare wrote: »

Then should state same thats all, arent loss leaders in breach of consumer law anyway ?

Not for many, many years. It was removed due to being anti-consumer

If you don't like shops "hiking up prices" in manners like this, you should campaign to get promotional offers banned. Don't expect to get much support.

madanall

HairMare wrote:

The issue is not the chicken curry, issue is tesco hiking up prices.

You are making a meal of this !!

HairMare

LunarSea wrote: »

So if you do your own shopping then you know that €1 is below the going rate and it is now in line with similar products that Tesco sell?

At 1 euro it was 33% less than comparable, where at 2.50 its 66% more expensive than comparable

rubadub

HairMare wrote: »

Then should state same thats all, arent loss leaders in breach of consumer law anyway ?

NO

HairMare wrote: »

I do my own shopping and do know the price of things,

Then can you please give me an answer to my previous question, I am very interested to where to get these bargains you have apparently seen. Again

rubadub wrote: »

Can you please share some ready meals you have found which were cheaper than 1 euro then, similar to this but obviously it should be cheaper. It has quite a low % of chicken in it at just 12%..

I am also still curious to know how you would have preferred to have dealt with it if you were in charge.

Seems to me your real annoyance is you did not cop on what a bargain it was and did not fill your freezer.

LunarSea

HairMare wrote: »

At 1 euro it was 33% less than comparable, where at 2.50 its 66% more expensive than comparable

Good lord, then go and buy the cheaper ones so - you're splitting hairs over this.

I'm piss broke at the minute, and even I'm not that tight when buying food (then again, I don't subsist on the salt/sugar/calorie bombs that pass for food in those ready "meals")

HairMare

rubadub wrote: »

NO


Then can you please give me an answer to my previous question, I am very interested to where to get these bargains you have apparently seen. Again



I am also still curious to know how you would have preferred to have dealt with it if you were in charge.

Seems to me your real annoyance is you did not cop on what a bargain it was and did not fill your freezer.

Sorry will respond to your queries, with 24 hours as per tesco policy

L1011

HairMare wrote: »

Sorry will respond to your queries, with 24 hours as per tesco policy

What on earth is your issue here?

A promotional price product was increased to normal price. You have flown off the handle about it in a manner which no reasonable person ever would.

If you are THAT incensed about it either stop shopping at Tesco or look for promotions to be stopped so you never get so worked up again. Or learn how promotional pricing works and how to control your emotions.

HairMare

L1011 wrote: »

What on earth is your issue here?

A promotional price product was increased to normal price. You have flown off the handle about it in a manner which no reasonable person ever would.

If you are THAT incensed about it either stop shopping at Tesco or look for promotions to be stopped so you never get so worked up again. Or learn how promotional pricing works and how to control your emotions.

Seriously the 24 hr reponse time was pure tongue in check, on a cross country drive and loosing signal constantly so hard to reply in order. My emotions etc are well in check. Your looking for how I handle it as tesco, simple dont sell goods at a price thats not going to be consistent or at very least mark it as a promo or intro offer.
In terms of other offers else where aldi are 1.49 if not less for frozen meals such as sweet and sour, possibly even as low as 1.29. Deals are 1.49/1.50 for chk curry and rice. Havent been in dunnes or super valu in ages so cant comment, so yes plenty of cheaper and cheaper alternatives. Im sure loads more out there...

ted1

HairMare wrote: »

I'm sure these type of issues have been probably covered before - but so annoyed have to rant.
Tesco do their own brand frozen chicken curry - bought it regularly over last 3 to 6 months at the advertised / shelf price of €1, never a yellow label or special offer just always a €1. Yesterday evening when to but same and now they are €2.50, how in the name of anything holy can they warrant or justify such an increase of 150%, are chickens becoming extinct or something ???

Do you really think a chicken curry that costs a euro is good thing to be eating ?

HairMare

Ted1 not the point im making at all, the issue is the price hike not the product in question. To be honest a few have already questioned my meal choices but thanks for caring :-)

njs030

HairMare wrote: »

Ted1 not the point im making at all, the issue is the price hike not the product in question. To be honest a few have already questioned my meal choices but thanks for caring :-)

It's been explained to you multiple times that it was an introductory/promotional offer to get customers interested in the product before it was increased to its "correct" price. Tesco don't mark every single item on promotion, as previously said it'll probably come back down again as a half price offer sooner or later.

How is it a consumer issue?

HairMare

How is it not ?

ted1

notjustsweet wrote: »

How is it a consumer issue?

I'd be concerned that what your getting doesn't classify as chicken

LunarSea

HairMare wrote: »

Seriously the 24 hr reponse time was pure tongue in check, on a cross country drive and loosing signal constantly so hard to reply in order. My emotions etc are well in check. Your looking for how I handle it as tesco, simple dont sell goods at a price thats not going to be consistent or at very least mark it as a promo or intro offer.
In terms of other offers else where aldi are 1.49 if not less for frozen meals such as sweet and sour, possibly even as low as 1.29. Deals are 1.49/1.50 for chk curry and rice. Havent been in dunnes or super valu in ages so cant comment, so yes plenty of cheaper and cheaper alternatives. Im sure loads more out there...

In your OP you said your were buying them for 3 to 6 months at the price - that's pretty consistent in my book.

I'm astonished at your reaction to this. Massive supermarket had item cheaper than competitors, now it is more expensive.

I think you need to learn how to not sweat the small things.

HairMare

Ted1, That doesnt bother me, its the amount of people that just accept the price hikes and practically defending tesco

HairMare

Yes it was consistently 1.oo for that period of time, and now has been hiked, tesco calling it a pricing error which is laughable ... cant paste email from my phone.

L1011

Tesco customer care are in the UK and haven't got the slightest idea what is going on in Ireland. Ever. Not as bad as Aldi customer care thinking Scottish law applies everywhere but not far off.

People are not defending Tesco - just countering your ridiculous allegations. It could be any store you were making them against and they'd still be as ridiculous and unhinged.

This was clearly a below cost promo price which has been raised. Other 1.20 or similar prices are also below cost promos. This is 100% legal and a common tactic. It is done to thousands of products a year - you just haven't got so surreally attached to the price of one of them

Either wait til the price goes back down "on offer" or stop buying the product altogether, if you think the alternatives that are currently sub 2.50 are equivalents. You are getting ridiculously worked up and defensive over absolutely nothing beyond a lack of understanding of how supermarkets price things.

If you aren't convinced that its below cost - even if Tesco somehow claim the ready meal is 0% VAT rated; there is no way you can practically produce them even in extreme bulk for €1, or €1.20. If its 23% VAT rated (which is much more likely), cost comparisons go out the window and practicality of producing for that price becomes ever more impossible. You are going to be comparing the cost of 0% raw ingredients with a 23% product.

HairMare

L1011 wrote: »

Tesco customer care are in the UK and haven't got the slightest idea what is going on in Ireland. Ever. Not as bad as Aldi customer care thinking Scottish law applies everywhere but not far off.

People are not defending Tesco - just countering your ridiculous allegations. It could be any store you were making them against and they'd still be as ridiculous and unhinged.

This was clearly a below cost promo price which has been raised. Other 1.20 or similar prices are also below cost promos. This is 100% legal and a common tactic. It is done to thousands of products a year - you just haven't got so surreally attached to the price of one of them

Either wait til the price goes back down "on offer" or stop buying the product altogether, if you think the alternatives that are currently sub 2.50 are equivalents. You are getting ridiculously worked up and defensive over absolutely nothing beyond a lack of understanding of how supermarkets price things.
If you aren't convinced that its below cost - even if Tesco somehow claim the ready meal is 0% VAT rated; there is no way you can practically produce them even in extreme bulk for €1, or €1.20. If its 23% VAT rated (which is much more likely), cost comparisons go out the window and practicality of producing for that price becomes ever more impossible. You are going to be comparing the cost of 0% raw ingredients with a 23% product.

As you said, tactic. I just think its a shocking way to do business and were worse for taking it. But to finish it a product is on sale for 3 to 6 months at one price, then to change same is to hike it. I think the bigger point is lost on you