Ripoff Britain

[OldBoy]

Originally Posted by Stormsong

Well talk about rip off - what a lot of companies have done, is to increase prices dramatically under the pretext that it is the VAT increase (up 2.5% to 20%). Sainsbury's, six weeks ago, charged 49p for a 1kg bag of their basics frozen vegetables. They are now 72p for exactly the same product. Do the maths . . . B*stids.

I have written to their head office to complain, because that is extortionate let alone exhorbitant, but will probably get the usual 'sorry about the inconvenience and here's a £5 voucher'. I'm sorry, my loyalty is worth more than that.

Regards
Denise

Err, there is no vat charged on food except sweets and any biscuits that contain chocolate, as they are classed as sweets.

[KeithT]

Originally Posted by Stormsong

Well talk about rip off - what a lot of companies have done, is to increase prices dramatically under the pretext that it is the VAT increase (up 2.5% to 20%). Sainsbury's, six weeks ago, charged 49p for a 1kg bag of their basics frozen vegetables. They are now 72p for exactly the same product. Do the maths . . . B*stids.

I have written to their head office to complain, because that is extortionate let alone exhorbitant, but will probably get the usual 'sorry about the inconvenience and here's a £5 voucher'. I'm sorry, my loyalty is worth more than that.

Regards
Denise

Denise, one of the problems we are facing with hikes in food prices is the weather conditions we have experienced over the last two years. Droughts and flooding have decimated crops, both here in the UK and around the world. Grain prices have more than doubled. On top of that there have been hikes in motor fuel which means greater transport costs via sea, road and air. I'm not sticking up for these giant retailers, but they have to maintain a profit level to exist, because on the whole they keep margins to a fine cut and rely on volume to make their millions. We are all going to have to face the fact that cheap food is a thing of the good times past and those times are coming to a close.

[Stormsong]

@ OldBoy, yes I know that, but how many other people like ourselves do? Companies use the VAT increase as an excuse to hike prices unfairly, is all I was trying to say. @ KeithT - the futures traders in the stock markets have a lot to answer for as well.

Regards,
Denise

[Pastieman.Steve]

Originally Posted by Stormsong

@ OldBoy, yes I know that, but how many other people like ourselves do? Companies use the VAT increase as an excuse to hike prices unfairly, is all I was trying to say. @ KeithT - the futures traders in the stock markets have a lot to answer for as well.

Regards,
Denise

Companies are not as you claim hiking prices up unfairly under the disguise of the VAT increase, they are doing so (if at all) to cover their overheads and to keep in business. Parts, transportation etc are costing more, that has to be past on to the consumer whether we like it or not. I work for an electrical retailer and the only price increases we have made are either due to the VAT or have come via the manufacturers. Retailers know there is not the money about at the moment for people to spend out on new TV's etc, most people are buying to replace old or broken appliances because they have too. Companies cant afford to put prices up just for the sake of it, if they did they would soon be out of business because people would soon shop elsewhere.

What irritates us sales people is when customers come in and think they can get discount on everything because they are buying and who have an arrogant attitude, one example is I had someone come into our store last week wanting to buy a washing machine which was already £102 off in a sale, the customer asked how much discount I was going to give them if they brought it today, when I told them £102 they said that was the sale price in an "I AM going to get extra discount" kind of way, I just told them we are a business not a charity and asked them if they didnt think 25% off the RRP was enough? They then went on and said "well if Dom was here you would give him extra", to which I replied "No I really wouldnt". I then asked him if he would ask for extra discount when he go's to Tecso and does his shopping, No he replied, so why do you do it here then on something which is already 25% off I asked him to which he had no answer. He walked off leaving his very embarrassed and apologetic for his attitude wife behind him.
It gave me great satisfaction the following day when he came back to buy the same machine to tell him the offer had now ended and I had to charge him full price for it, he was not best pleased, his wife just looked at him and said, "that will f***ing teach you wont it, can you order one for me please".

Companies are in business, they dont put prices up for the fun of it especially in these hard times, hard times for both consumers and companies.