Reporter's Query of the Week: Call Out Sales Gimmicks

[Frugal Duchess]

Greetings,

For an upcoming Frugal Duchess column, I am targeting marketing gimmicks in stores. What tricks, so-called specials and bogus discounts have you noticed at stores, malls or other vendors? What should shoppers watch out for?

Leave an answer on this forum or e-mail me at FrugalDuchess@gmail.com.
It's okay to be anonymous, but I'll give you (and your website or blog) credit if you provide a name.

My column -- distributed by the Mclatchy-Tribune news service -- is picked up by different newspapers around the country.

Please keep in mind these tidbits:

If I select your tip, I need to quote you by your real name.
I can't guarantee that I'll definitely use an idea from this thread, but if I do I'll do my best to quote you.
Thanks!!

[Will]

Well, apparently you can't trust the customer service feedback survey for a certain K-Mart.

Found via Reddit. Not sure if it is a real picture or just a disgruntled employee screwing with us.

[Cidre Jones]

9/10, the gimmick really isn't a gimmick at all...it's a customer who can't be bothered to read a sign. If I had a dollar for every enraged customer who got in my face about bait-and-switch after me pointing out they they were wrong when I worked grocery, I'd be a very rich woman.

If you're going to go out broadcasting that stores are ripping off customers (not going to say it doesn't happen, cause it does) you might also want to mention the other side here too. It's not popular, but just because you see a gigantic sale sign doesn't mean everything within a 50 foot radius is included as most people I've encountered lately tend to think this.

[Will]

Sounds like you have some good war stories Cidre.

What are some of the most idiotic things you've heard from customers? What can customers do to make your job easier?

[Lee]

Confirm 'Offer' Pricing!

Virtually every week when I walk into my local supermarket (part of an international chain), their offers stand bold on the shelf edges. "BUY ONE GET ONE FREE!" or "3 for £5!" they proclaim.

That is all well and good until you see that the "3 for £5" items are priced at £1.20 each if bought individually. Buy (and put through) 3 of the same item at once and you'll be charged £5. Buy 4 and you'll only get charged £4.80...

Headline offers are not always what they seem.

[AquaAmber]

Something I see every time I go to the grocery store is the "fake sale."

For instance, last week I bought hamburger buns that were on "sale" 4/$5. The normal price of the buns is 4/$3. The difference between these two prices is nine cents.

The same thing happens throughout the store, typically with name-brand products. General Mills, ConAgra and such pay to have their products placed in the sale flyer and have little yellow stickers next to their products on the shelf, even if the "sale" available is only a few pennies off the regular price.

I don't blame the grocery stores or the companies for employing this (very successful) marketing tactic but it's definitely something I watch out for. It's also a very good reason to have a price book, even if making one takes a lot of effort.

[MoneyEnergy]

One thing I've seen is the Gap showcasing a "40% off sale" to get you in the store, when that sale just applies to the previous season's line of clothing. Most of the product currently in the store are new fall season outfits.

[Lee]

Another: "Up to 70% off!". So, most stuff will be nothing off, and a few might be up to 70%? It's all about getting you in the shop!

[Cidre Jones]

Originally Posted by Will

Sounds like you have some good war stories Cidre.

What are some of the most idiotic things you've heard from customers? What can customers do to make your job easier?

Flattery gets you nowhere and everywhere at once.

Weeellll...two of the responses above mine (at the time I'm replying to you) are pretty big pet peeves of mine. Dude, I'm dumber than a box of rocks and even I know that up to 70% off =/= the entire store is 70% off. Yes, those advertisements entice customers, but it's not lying. No one is pointing a gun to yer head and making you buy anything. By the time stuff gets marked down THAT much, it's obvious it's either the odd sizes, the unpopular/unpretty colors, and/or last season's merchandise. Common sense isn't so common, eh? The brand new leather motorcycle jackets and shiny holiday dresses that just came out on the floor are not going to be on sale, sorry. Stop screaming about it.

I've heard plenty of real idiotic things from customers. My big ones are don't complain about my co-workers to me cause I can't do anything about it and don't sit there and call our sales "retarded." I hate that word, you're using it incorrectly, and making yourself look a fool because you couldn't read the sign properly. It's really, really bad when the chick with a learning disorder can read the sign and understand it better than you can and you're brain-normal.

I don't expect customers to make my job easier. But it'd be nice if people a)held on to their receipts if they're planning on returning something, b)READ THE SIGNS, and c)had the decency to act like decent human beings while in the store. Meaning? Golden rule time, children. Treat others like you'd like to be treated. Don't talk down to store staff. And don't you dare threaten any of my co-workers (especially over the sale sign you couldn't be bothered to read.)

Cidre

[Cidre Jones]

And FD, I am so sorry for hijacking your post.