19.2.12 Smart Price Scandal

I have already posted details of the abuse by supermarkets of the pricing of 'value' items.  As the economy struggles, hard-up shoppers continue to switch to lower priced items on supermarket shelves. However, the lower priced items are not as low as they once were.  In fact, the cheapest items in supermarkets are going up in price much more rapidly and the general rate of inflation.  This was fantastically confirmed by Sainsbury's this weekend.  It is nothing short of a fucking scandal!

The 'Basics' range at Sainsbury's includes a 300g packet of Milk Chocolate Digestives, at 49p.  This is the exact same packet of biscuits that I purchased from the same fucking shop not six months ago for 39p.  Within six months, there has been a 25.6% increase, about 52% per annum then . . . . slightly more than inflation, I think.  However, this was trumped by the shocking increase in the price of the 'Basics' Baby Wipes, which have in the last 12 months (again in the same shop) jumped from 18p to 51p.  I make that an increase of 183.3%.  Criminal, don't you think?

But Sainsbury's has surpassed this ludicrous level of increase on its 'Basics' Nappy Sacks, with a rise in 12 months from 9p to 29p.  This means an increase of -

222%

Sainsbury's ought to be ashamed of itself, but I know it won't be.  All supermarkets are at it; conning us.  Fuck off, all of you, especially Sainsbury's.

Note: I scored a fantastic result at Morrisons in the week, with the purchase of Schwartz Pepper Sauce which was on offer.  Yes, Morrisons had printed some massive shelve labels to announce the amazing discount being applied to the product, taking the previous 50p to the new temporary low level of 49p.  Fucking madness and bollocks.

Finally: Price fixing is rife - the 'smart / value price' toothpaste has, until four weeks ago, been steady at 17p or 18p, in all four main supermarkets.  However, four weeks ago, the going rate for the cheapest stuff suddenly jumped to 30p.  Yes, at Sainsbury's, Morrisons, Asda and Tesco, the 75ml budget toothpaste is now 30p across the board - that's price fixing.

Hats off to Wilkinson, whose own brand budget offering is still at 17p, although I wonder if there will eventually be a move towards conformity in the market (?) which would be a shame.

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