Companies that do price gouging with Covid-19 related products

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#2448030 27-Mar-2020 14:13

MikeAqua:

I still don't understand what is wrong with doing specials, if limits are able to be imposed. maybe its the shag factor of organising and negotiating it all?

The effect of no specials is that groceries cost more, at a time when many people have less income than normal.

It's more important to have higher volume rather than cheaper product on the floor as well as fewer (non-staff) people in the store.

Most of the posters in this thread are just like chimpanzees on MDMA, full of feelings of bonhomie, joy, and optimism. Fred99 8/4/21

sbiddle

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#2448129 27-Mar-2020 15:36

MikeAqua:

Great explanation thank you. I still don't understand what is wrong with doing specials, if limits are able to be imposed. maybe its the shag factor of organising and negotiating it all?

The effect of no specials is that groceries cost more, at a time when many people have less income than normal.

It's really hard to run a promotional program when you can't guarantee stock. Just imagine the complaints when a supermarket advertises X brand on special and has no stock, but plenty of Y brand which isn't on special. The complaints from the very same people complaining about issues now would be far worse.

Senecio

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#2448134 27-Mar-2020 15:52

sbiddle:

MikeAqua:

Great explanation thank you. I still don't understand what is wrong with doing specials, if limits are able to be imposed. maybe its the shag factor of organising and negotiating it all?

The effect of no specials is that groceries cost more, at a time when many people have less income than normal.

It's really hard to run a promotional program when you can't guarantee stock. Just imagine the complaints when a supermarket advertises X brand on special and has no stock, but plenty of Y brand which isn't on special. The complaints from the very same people complaining about issues now would be far worse.

What @sbiddle just said. No stock available during a promotion is an absolute no no.

We have key account managers assigned to both the major Grocery retailers. Its absolutely critical that we do not leak information between them.

Eg.

If one of the major grocery customers got wind that we were running a promo in the competitors stores in two weeks then they would just ramp up there order taking all of our stock.

DarthKermit

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#2448154 27-Mar-2020 16:04

sbiddle:

It's really hard to run a promotional program when you can't guarantee stock. Just imagine the complaints when a supermarket advertises X brand on special and has no stock, but plenty of Y brand which isn't on special. The complaints from the very same people complaining about issues now would be far worse.

When it's done deliberately, it's called bait and switch.

yitz

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#2448186 27-Mar-2020 16:33

Senecio:

We have key account managers assigned to both the major Grocery retailers. Its absolutely critical that we do not leak information between them.

Or more importantly because then that would be price fixing 😛

I would say not all specials are due to "promotional" activity between the supermarket and its suppliers, there are non-advertised specials between rival stores locally perhaps to price match, so at least there does seem to be some competition. But I guess now is a convenient time to do away with all that, the CEO or spokespersons of both players have maintained throughout that there is no supply problem.

jarledb

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#2448372 27-Mar-2020 19:24

Newshub has a story about how to dob in price-gougers

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Bung

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#2448391 27-Mar-2020 20:07

Senecio:
We have key account managers assigned to both the major Grocery retailers. Its absolutely critical that we do not leak information between them.

Eg.

If one of the major grocery customers got wind that we were running a promo in the competitors stores in two weeks then they would just ramp up there order taking all of our stock.

If you were running a promo wouldn't you have already committed stock to it? For a lot of items regularly on special my rule of thumb is if it is not on special at New World check Countdown before paying top rate. They just seem to take turns.

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Wellingtondave

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#2448438 27-Mar-2020 21:24

The purpose of specials is not to save the consumer money, it's to make the company money!

At the moment the situation dictates that people must use a major supermarket for the most part, there is no other choice, advertising and all that malarkey needs to be banned for month.

elpenguino

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#2448495 27-Mar-2020 23:12

Wellingtondave:
At the moment the situation dictates that people must use a major supermarket for the most part;

While waiting outside countdown today I noticed a couple of people waiting outside the Asian market across the road.
The sign on the door said closed but there was activity inside as well as the queue.
I wonder if that's above board.

Most of the posters in this thread are just like chimpanzees on MDMA, full of feelings of bonhomie, joy, and optimism. Fred99 8/4/21

Senecio

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#2448540 28-Mar-2020 08:59

Bung:
Senecio:

We have key account managers assigned to both the major Grocery retailers. Its absolutely critical that we do not leak information between them.

Eg.

If one of the major grocery customers got wind that we were running a promo in the competitors stores in two weeks then they would just ramp up there order taking all of our stock.

If you were running a promo wouldn't you have already committed stock to it? For a lot of items regularly on special my rule of thumb is if it is not on special at New World check Countdown before paying top rate. They just seem to take turns.

We make stock to the forecast, which includes the additional promo volume. Once produced it all goes into one big shed waiting to be picked for orders. If we're running the promo in customer A but customer B gets in first and orders everything then there's little we can do to stop it. In FMCG we don't carry a lot of stock so by the time we've realised what's happen its too late to try to stop it.

IronH

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#2448615 28-Mar-2020 09:57

Senecio:

tchart:

Sorry I dont agree, its not asking for free stuff its about the greater good. Articles about your work rights under a lock down shouldn't be behind a paywall. Neither should I have to sit through an advert before I see a MOH update.

There are plenty of other "premium" (paywall) articles on NZ Herald so why put these behind a paywall.

Their business model is subscription based. Why not just find another source?

tchart the information is freely available directly from the government which holds more authority than any news agent, they dont have ads or paywalls, it is free, again i will post the link:

https://www.employment.govt.nz/leave-and-holidays/other-types-of-leave/coronavirus-workplace/

Kilack

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#2449087 28-Mar-2020 21:12

Even things like Coke Zero.. (essential item). The specials were always on it, it just rotates between the 2.25kg bottles and the 1.5kg bottles.

There have been no specials lately, $4.80 for 2.25kg bottle (insane). Even though the shelves were completely full today.

Supermarkets are making a killing.

And meat since the government essentially killed off the competition for supermarkets and they don't sell good cuts of meat..

So sad!

networkn

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#2449090 28-Mar-2020 21:18

Kilack:
Even things like Coke Zero.. (essential item). The specials were always on it, it just rotates between the 2.25kg bottles and the 1.5kg bottles.

There have been no specials lately, $4.80 for 2.25kg bottle (insane). Even though the shelves were completely full today.

Supermarkets are making a killing.

And meat since the government essentially killed off the competition for supermarkets and they don't sell good cuts of meat..

So sad!

I think you should exhibit some patience. I expect specials for return once things have calmed slightly. Perhaps this coming week. I supported their decision to focus on restocking shelves and logistics whilst stupid people shopped at 4 to 8 times thier usual amounts.

Stu

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#2449098 28-Mar-2020 21:36

My parents are in a retirement village, about half an hour from where we live. Apparently Bidfood is now available to provide food deliveries to residents. Pricing? Well, a couple of examples mum provided: Weetbix, 1.2kg, $~11 and some odd cents (Countdown currently $7.60). MallowPuffs, $6~ (Countdown $3.70).

I'm trying to get dad to sign up with Countdown and their priority assistance service. At least it will be cheaper.

People often mistake me for an adult because of my age.

Keep calm, and carry on posting.

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bagheera

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#2449100 28-Mar-2020 21:38

I like what a Danish shop doing to stop stockpiling goods - 1st item normal price, 2nd item $200would be happy to see that price gouging here on some items

https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2020/03/19/danish-shop-fights-stockpiling-charging-5-first-bottle-hand/

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