I went into the CVS pharmacy across from my place of work, to buy some Little Debbie apple pies. These pies have “suggested retail price - 75 cents” printed on the box. Up until about October, they were 59 cents, then went up to 79 cents. Last week, I noticed the suggested price had been reduced to 75 cents, on a couple of pies that I bought in a different state.
So I picked up four pies, and brought them to the counter. The cashier started scanning the pies for the UPC. I was half expecting the scanned price to come up at 79 cents, so when it did, I politely pointed out that the price printed on the pie was lower. I was expecting she would just nod and change the price.
Wrong.
She told me - “Oh, that’s a misprint.” and when I just looked at her in disbelief, she said “I’ll get my manager.” The manager came up and repeated the misprint statement. I told her that I had just bought some 100 miles away, and I doubted the company misprinted all their pies. Her response?
“Well, that price is just the suggested price”.
I said “So, you’re going to change MORE than what the item says? Bye!” And I left. No need to encourage that kind of behavior in a store.
There may be some transatlantic cultural difference going on here, but this is pretty much what I would have said. It’s the suggested price, they can put whatever price they want on it… so what?
I’ve had this happen at Walgreens and gas stations, too (a few months ago, Mars was running specials on their candy bars, and printed a price on the wrappers that was a good 50 cents cheaper than the stores were charging). Wrigley’s 25 cent gums (proudly printed on each wrapper) were usually 40 cents, too. Drug stores make their profits on the high costs of impulse items and OTC stuff, not on their prescriptions, but the ultra-high markup isn’t always obvious until something like this happens.
I’ve always wondered why manufacturers would preprint prices on labels/wrappers for goods that are commonly sold at higher-than-MSRP. Coordinate with the chains to lower the price for a sale, save the prepriced product runs for discount chains, change the SKU and quit filling orders for the normal product with the “sale” version, or simply save the costs of special label print runs and just don’t price the items at all.
Usually in the US items will sell for the suggested price or lower. For some items, like cameras, the SRP is a sky-high number and you would have difficulty finding a place that would try and sell it to you for that much.
Actually, here in Alberta if an item rings in more than the price advised the store is mandated to give you the item for 1 cent if it’s under $10, or take $10 off the selling price if it’s more.
The customer isn’t even supposed to have to say anything - it’s supposed to be automatic.
Although, I haven’t seen prices printed on gum or bars as described in years. I wonder if the manufacturers changed things up here for that reason?
In my store on the rare occasions when we sell something (fewer stuff it as MSRP on it) we’re supposed to trot out the old pricing guns (left over from the pre-scanning era) and cover the MSRP with the new price. I would not have bought the pies either.
If I was behind you in line at the grocery store and there was a tizzy over 16 cents which required getting the store manager to come handle it, I would have offered to pay the 16 cents for you so that we could all get on with our day.
I never pay any attention to the “suggested price.” I figure that’s a merketing gimmick that “suggests” a price so high that any retailer can sell it for less, look like a good guy and still make money. If the retailer wants to sell it for more, well, that’s between him and me. If the pie is worth a dollar to you, then pay the dollar and enjoy the pie. If not, leave the pie on the shelf (where the store’s price was, no doubt, clearly marked) and leave. But to argue with the help over the pricing – well, that’s kind of walking on the butt-ish side of things. I mean, nobody really owes you an explanation as to why things are priced the way they are, and any assumptions you make based on another retailer’s pricing are entirely your responsibility.
I have to third/fourth/whatever this post too. It’s just the suggested price. I could open up a store and charge $5 for Little Debbie pies if I wanted to. If you don’t want to pay what the store is asking, don’t waste everyone’s time arguing over it. Nowadays most stores don’t haggle with their customers.
But that issue aside…yeah, making a regular snack of fried apple pie is going to kill you, so it’s really for the best that you walked out.
So let me get this straight. You hassled some poor clerk, on Christmas Eve, about 16 cents. Bet you feel all self righteous and full of those principles you mentioned.
I agree with the others posting here that it doesn’t matter what others are charging. And a suggested retail price is just that. They could sell it for more, for less, or for right what’s on the package.
What made you think that a clerk has the power to change a price? What makes you think that the suggested retail price has any kind of significance to it?
Where did you go to school that 4 x 4 = 4? I’ll have to use your math next time I do my taxes.