Shopper exposes Coles' curious 'discount'—and employees are defending it!
- Replies 24
In a world where every cent counts, finding a good deal can feel like striking gold, especially for those of us who have bid farewell to the full-time workforce.
That's why many of us flock to the red and yellow 'quick sale' stickers in supermarkets, hoping to snag a bargain on our grocery runs.
But what happens when a discount isn't quite what it seems?
A self-proclaimed 'grumpy old man’ recently encountered such a puzzling situation at his local Coles supermarket.
He was on the hunt for savings during his weekly shop when he stumbled upon a 'Quick Sale' that left him more than a little confused.
The man found packets of tomatoes with 'Quick Sale' stickers marked down to $3.91 from the original price of $4.50, which would seem like a decent saving of 59 cents at first glance.
However, upon closer inspection, he noticed that the standard listed price for the tomatoes was actually $3.90—one cent cheaper than the 'discounted' price!
Taking to social media, the man shared his discovery with a mix of humour and disbelief, captioning his video, 'Coles not quite getting the hang of a quick sale price.'
The video quickly caught the attention of the online community, sparking discussions and speculation about the cause of this pricing blunder.
When the man sought clarification from the Produce Manager, he was met with a surprising response. The staff member allegedly said that they ‘saw no issue’ with the pricing and that it was ‘supposed to be the way it is’.
This interaction left the man, and later the online community, scratching their heads.
Discounts at supermarkets like Coles can be a bit of a maze to navigate.
There are 'Down Down' discounts that last for three months, 'percentage off' discounts that span a week or two, and 'Locked In' discounts that don't have an end date.
'Quick Sale' discounts, on the other hand, are typically reserved for items nearing their expiration date and are automatically calculated, with further reductions at the store's discretion.
A man who claims to be a Coles worker chimed in on the online discussion, explaining that, ‘The most simple explanation is that a team member doing the markdowns made an error. They might have got distracted and applied the wrong markdown sticker to the wrong product.’
A representative from the store suggested that it was likely that the store had applied a markdown to the tomatoes a day prior to implementing the subsequent price reduction.
They emphasised Coles' commitment to ensuring ‘clear and accurate pricing information on tickets’, urging customers to notify them if anything seems awry.
Regarding the specific discrepancy highlighted in the social media video, the spokesperson attributed it to potential human error at a particular store.
They explained, ‘As we can’t identify the specific store from this video, we are taking this as an opportunity to send a reminder to our team members of the correct markdown process.’
This incident has sparked a broader conversation among shoppers about the state of supermarket discounts.
Some feel that the value of markdowns has declined over the years, with stores appearing reluctant to reduce prices enough to clear stock.
Others have shared their experiences of inconsistent markdown practices across different stores, with some supermarkets being generous while others are stingy.
We understand the importance of getting the most bang for your buck. That's why we encourage our members to always double-check prices, especially when it comes to sale items.
If you ever encounter a confusing discount like the one at Coles, don't hesitate to speak up and ask for clarification. It's your right as a consumer to understand exactly what you're paying for.
If you’re looking to save money where you can, we also encourage you to check out our discount directory for our discounts!
Have you ever come across a discount that didn't add up? Or perhaps you've found a fantastic deal that you'd like to share with fellow seniors? We'd love to hear your stories and tips on navigating supermarket savings.
That's why many of us flock to the red and yellow 'quick sale' stickers in supermarkets, hoping to snag a bargain on our grocery runs.
But what happens when a discount isn't quite what it seems?
A self-proclaimed 'grumpy old man’ recently encountered such a puzzling situation at his local Coles supermarket.
He was on the hunt for savings during his weekly shop when he stumbled upon a 'Quick Sale' that left him more than a little confused.
The man found packets of tomatoes with 'Quick Sale' stickers marked down to $3.91 from the original price of $4.50, which would seem like a decent saving of 59 cents at first glance.
However, upon closer inspection, he noticed that the standard listed price for the tomatoes was actually $3.90—one cent cheaper than the 'discounted' price!
Items on promotion at supermarkets can sell up to 70 times their normal rate. Image Source: Reddit / grumpyoldmanbrad
Taking to social media, the man shared his discovery with a mix of humour and disbelief, captioning his video, 'Coles not quite getting the hang of a quick sale price.'
The video quickly caught the attention of the online community, sparking discussions and speculation about the cause of this pricing blunder.
When the man sought clarification from the Produce Manager, he was met with a surprising response. The staff member allegedly said that they ‘saw no issue’ with the pricing and that it was ‘supposed to be the way it is’.
This interaction left the man, and later the online community, scratching their heads.
Discounts at supermarkets like Coles can be a bit of a maze to navigate.
There are 'Down Down' discounts that last for three months, 'percentage off' discounts that span a week or two, and 'Locked In' discounts that don't have an end date.
'Quick Sale' discounts, on the other hand, are typically reserved for items nearing their expiration date and are automatically calculated, with further reductions at the store's discretion.
A man who claims to be a Coles worker chimed in on the online discussion, explaining that, ‘The most simple explanation is that a team member doing the markdowns made an error. They might have got distracted and applied the wrong markdown sticker to the wrong product.’
A representative from the store suggested that it was likely that the store had applied a markdown to the tomatoes a day prior to implementing the subsequent price reduction.
They emphasised Coles' commitment to ensuring ‘clear and accurate pricing information on tickets’, urging customers to notify them if anything seems awry.
Regarding the specific discrepancy highlighted in the social media video, the spokesperson attributed it to potential human error at a particular store.
They explained, ‘As we can’t identify the specific store from this video, we are taking this as an opportunity to send a reminder to our team members of the correct markdown process.’
This incident has sparked a broader conversation among shoppers about the state of supermarket discounts.
Some feel that the value of markdowns has declined over the years, with stores appearing reluctant to reduce prices enough to clear stock.
Others have shared their experiences of inconsistent markdown practices across different stores, with some supermarkets being generous while others are stingy.
We understand the importance of getting the most bang for your buck. That's why we encourage our members to always double-check prices, especially when it comes to sale items.
If you ever encounter a confusing discount like the one at Coles, don't hesitate to speak up and ask for clarification. It's your right as a consumer to understand exactly what you're paying for.
If you’re looking to save money where you can, we also encourage you to check out our discount directory for our discounts!
Have you ever come across a discount that didn't add up? Or perhaps you've found a fantastic deal that you'd like to share with fellow seniors? We'd love to hear your stories and tips on navigating supermarket savings.
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