Store prices rose as I shopped
Thursday 5th February 2009, 7:59AM GMT.
LETTER: On Sunday, January 11, we made our weekly trip to Morrisons supermarket, Shrewsbury, as usual.
Having been there for less than 10 minutes I witnessed what can only be described as blatant daylight robbery: One of the staff changing prices before our very eyes.
Fine, I suppose if it were to be done during closed hours – but not a care in the world in full view of the customers.
I picked up a bottle of Domestos bleach priced at 97p but mindful of what was going on I stood less than three feet away from the assistant when she changed the price of the bleach to £1.18, so in seconds that item had gone up by 21p.
I watched for 20 minutes as the assistant systematically went throughout the store ringing changes.
Two customers in front of us who purchased bleach were oblivious to what was going on behind them.
The gist of the story is when you go to Morrisons supermarket, be careful – the price you see on the shelves may not be the price you pay at the till. Keep looking over your shoulder, the prices will be changing near you, believe me.
So, throughout the country on that Sunday in question I wonder how much money “the price crunching Morrisons supermarket” made over and above its projected targets.
Answer: Enough to pay the staff treble time at the Shrewsbury branch.
On that particular Sunday, 105 items changed price. The pace of life, I can’t keep up with it any longer. Stop the bus I want to get off.
Yours financially worse off after my shopping spree!
DM Woodhouse
Craven Arms
Shropshire Star on Twitter
Keep updated with the latest breaking news and content on our Twitter feed.
Lifestyle
Interactive Dining Out map
Hundreds of reviews by the Shropshire Star and Express & Star's teams to help you decide where to eat.
Entertainment
All the film reviews
Before you plan a trip to the pictures, get our critics' verdicts on all the latest movie releases.
OUR NEW APP
Get the new Shropshire Star app
Download the Shropshire Star’s new app to your iPad or iPhone to get one week of access to our digital newspapers absolutely FREE.
shropshirestar.com
Popular sections
Useful links
this is very bad news for arguably britains best supermarket. any price rises should be altered out of business hours, and an increase from 97p to 1.18 is extortionate. a full explanation fron managemement is required otherwise people like me who shop at morrisons will be going elsewhere. black mark morrisons.
Report abuse
Has anybody else noticed the price of fuek slowly creeping back uo – diesel has risen by 5p/litre over the last fortnight and yet the price of oil/barrel is now lower than it has been in months and months – Are the supermarkets raising the price of fuel to compensate for loss of takings on regular items sold in-store or is there a genuine yet unexplained reason?
Report abuse
I do believe if the price is displayed differs from the price you paid then the supermarket has broken consumer law and risks heavy fines.
If I recall a few years ago there was a family banned from all Asda supermarkets in the country for deliberately exploiting this and then making compensation claims against the supermarket…
Report abuse
I don’t know this but suspect it may well be illegal to do this. Displaying a price to a set of shoppers who have already taken the product advertised and put it in their basket at that advertised price may be different at the checkout – how could that work?
Report abuse
I work for the mentioned company, (not this branch) and can tell you that price changes are supposed to put out when the store has closed. I also would like to point out that although the price was changed to the high price if you pay attention to your receipt that you are infact charged the lower price, the increase did not actually take effect until the monday morning!!! It in infact not illegal to display a higher price then charged as the customer is getting a product cheaper then thought. If it was the other way around then it would be illegal. I would also like to point out to the author of the original letter, that we are not paid triple time on a sunday. I feel that although this branch broke with the usual procedure, we are not all like this. I also wish i had 20 mins spare on a sunday to follow people around to watch what they are doing but in our job that would be harrassment.
Report abuse
Having worked in retail, it is not against the law to charge a different price at the till as long as it hasn’t been done on purpose, and I guess this isn’t the case for Morrison’s.
Oh, typical Britain, complain, complain, complain.
Report abuse
Shouldnt the letter writer be supporting a local shop ie Tuffins!
Not travelling 20 miles to go to shewsbury to shop at Morrisons
Report abuse
I couldnt help but laugh at this person who followed an assistant around the shop for 20mins watching what she was doing,glad they have nothing better to do with their time!
And as for the staff getting paid treble time I can asure you they dont,and if that item was too expensive why not buy a cheaper or the stores own brand which would save you money?
Like sarah said it is not illegal to advertise a price as being higher than what it is,the otherway around yes,what I would like to know is if it concerned D M Woodhouse so much why didnt that person go to the customer service desk,and ask to speak to the store manager to why this was happening,and checking their reciept after they went through the till?
All supermarkets and retail buisnesses have price changes every week,if you want to blame anyone for higher prices blame shoplifters,the suppliers,transport costs,etc etc.
Ifact there was more than 105 prices that changed on that weekend and they wernt all increases!
Report abuse
I work for the mentioned company and as said before, the prices do not take effect until Monday. So these poor, unassuming customers, aren’t being “robbed” they are actually paying less than the ticketed price, as only the increased prices are put out. Does everyone think it is a fantasic job, where we are paid fantasic wages?! It’s pure dillusion. We get nowhere near 3 times pay, on a Sunday and with all these “price wars” we have a ridiculous amount of work to do, in a limited time with a very limited amount of staff. Customers demand lower prices but don’t see the effect on the staff, whilst the companys gets richer. Maybe certain people should get their facts straight before complaining on such a well viewed forum!
Report abuse
Well said Sarah, a helpfull and factual comment. We don’t get many on here do we Ymab ??
Report abuse
How very sad of someone to follow a member of staff around the shop, adding up how many price change’s they are making, Ive got better things to do with my sunday I can tell you. I would like to point out that the price change’s the assistant was making where increase’s that dont actually change untill the store open’s on the monday morning, so any items brought by any customer that afternoon would have been chargeed at the original price. I would also like to point out that we in retail dont get paid treble time to work sunday’s, and I think “DM Woodhouse” would be hard pressed to find any where that will pay treble time for sunday working. Most of us get paid time and a half.
Report abuse
I would like to point out to the origional author of this rather ridiculose letter that to the best of my knowledge no retail staff get paid triple time on a sunday. i would be grateful to the author if he could tell us all where he knows of retail staff getting paid triple time on a sunday so we can all go and apply for a job there.!!!!!!!. I would also like to point out to him that most retail staff are paid just above the minimum wage and most usually work hard for their pittance of a salary. obviously he is paid a good wage as he can afford to travel to morrisons in shrewsbury given the high cost of fuel these days. !!!!! keep up the good work morrisons.
Report abuse
try using white vinegar for cleaning its much cheaper
Report abuse