While I’m in a ranting mood, I want to say something about the current marketing strategies of supermarkets, in particular their “sale” pricing programs. It’s obvious to anybody but the most blithering idiot that the sale price is the price the product ought be sold at and the regular price is there to make the sale price look like a bargain.
Nobody can convince me that the can of tomato sauce that’s being sold this week for $2.09 can be sold next week for 99 cents. $2.09 for a can of tomato sauce? Give me a flippin’ break. But I’m forced to play the game and only buy my tomato sauce every other week.
The idea is to make us think that we’re saving all kinds of money by stocking up when the price is low. We’re part of a club. We get a card, which, if you don’t have with you they’ll even let you use the phone number you have on their file to get your rightful savings as a member. Then, the cashier will hand you your receipt and say something like, “You saved fifteen dollars and forty cents today, Mr. Dunca.”
Saved? Not really. I just wasn’t overcharged fifteen dollars and forty cents today. Hopefully I won’t need toothpaste on regular price week. Otherwise, stand back when you talk to me.