Coles Price gouging.

[Deleted member]

Here's my dilemma. I'm shopping at Coles because woolies have dropped the ball, and reading other threads on this site , I realised I don't pay enough attention to how things are priced & what constitutes a bargain.

This is one only example , I haven't done a detailed analysis.

Red capsicums are $6.98 per kg



Yellow capsicums are $6.98 per kg



Green capsicums are $3.50 per kg



The "Traffic light set" are $12.00 per kg ($6.00 per bag)



I decided to weigh the traffic light bags ( not all of them) and they come in over 500g but under 600 g

So assuming uniform size and assuming the bags are closer to 600 g the cost of said traffic light bag should be around $3.50.
I remember the days SGN buying "bulk" I.e. More than one of something , suggested a saving.
This brazen attempt to extract more cash from the mathematically challenged is an affront. Forget GST on fresh food. How about a fair go?

No capsicums were hurt or injured in this investigation

 

[Mal]

You will be paying a premium because special handling and packing, including additional packaging occurs for the traffic light packs. They also may be specially sized capsicums and thus have additional cost in selecting the right ones.

Just about always the case when you have a level of processing done to any fruit or vegetable.

 

[Deleted member]

I thought someone would say that.
However close to double the price. I don't think so !!

 

[RooFlyer]

I noticed the same trick at Officeworks (also owned by Coles/Wesfarmers) - 4 printer ink cartridges required for my printer (ie various colours) bought separately was $X. The same 4, bundled together with 'free' 10 sheets of photo print paper was 1.5 x $X.

And yes, when I queried it, the attendant said it was priced higher for 'convenience'.

 

[Mal]

I thought someone would say that.
However close to double the price. I don't think so !!

Here's a UK example:
Shopper stunned to find £1 bag of Asda bananas would cost just 54p if he bought them loose...and supermarket blames the 'ripening process' | Daily Mail Online

" The MySupermarket website shows that vegetables and fruit bought from Asda tends to be cheaper when bought individually rather than in a packet. "

(as an aside - A pack of traffic light capsicum in the UK would cost me under £1, with yellow, red and green capsicums costing around 60p/kg )

 

[drron]

And I have seen the same sort of pricing for capsicums in Woollies.
Which is why my curries only have green capsicums except for the rare occasion when red ones are on special or I buy them from a farmer's market.

 

[RB]

Here's my dilemma. I'm shopping at Coles because woolies have dropped the ball, and reading other threads on this site , I realised I don't pay enough attention to how things are priced & what constitutes a bargain.





No capsicums were hurt or injured in this investigation

I think I understand the spirit of your post! But really how far must retailers go to help people-the photos show that a price per kilo allows comparison in all cases.


Can I also suggest you don't look at the pricing of the various toothpaste types/sizes:shock:.

At the local fruit/vegie shop here he has around 6 different apple options that can range in price from 85c a kilo to around $5 a kilo-I always wonder what sort of % breakdown there is of who buys what

Glad to know no capsicums were hurt-the biggest problem around here is all the mauling done by the shoppers before they pick their particular fruit/veggie

 

[Deleted member]

Well I think there is a slight difference.
Manufacturing is a little different from the fresh food issue.
Besides I believe the capsicum issue is at odds with their supposed pricing ethos

 

[TomVexille]

Yes, we do find that Coles are more expensive on average.

 

[opusman]

However close to double the price. I don't think so !!

How much would you charge an hour to put capsicums in a bag?

 

[JohnK]

To be fair have you compared how Woolworths prices the same pack?

 

[burmans]

Well I think there is a slight difference.
Manufacturing is a little different from the fresh food issue.
Besides I believe the capsicum issue is at odds with their supposed pricing ethos

You do realise that pricing "ethos" is just marketing spin?

 

[Captain Halliday]

Have you tried getting a bag and putting one capsicum of each colour in? You'll still finish up with three capsicums of traffic light colour and by doing it yourself you won't have to pay the traffic light convenience tax.

With three different coloured capsicum in the one bag the poor register operator will be out on stress leave, but that's another matter entirely.

 

[mooingchicken]

With three different coloured capsicum in the one bag the poor register operator will be out on stress leave, but that's another matter entirely.

Thats where self service comes in haha.

All labels show the price per kg also on the label where you can clearly see the bag of 3 is $12/kg and the others are $6/kg...yes the font is smaller but its there.
This process is also the same with things like avo's which are put into packs of 2 and 3 sometimes, bags of a lot of fruit and veg are like this. Often the packages seem to be of better quality etc also more handling and processes by humans which cost need to be covered.

 

[Deleted member]

To be fair have you compared how Woolworths prices the same pack?

Not yet.

 

[Deleted member]

I have had my wee rant. I feel better now

 

[Mal]

To be fair have you compared how Woolworths prices the same pack?

According to their online site (obviously I can't pop into a local Woolworths)
$7.98
$2.66 / 1EA

Ouch!

 

[OzEire]

Shoppers also pay for other specially packed items like "Disney character pack of bananas", at double the cost of similar bananas about 6 feet away. Or bananas that have been dipped in wax.
Supermarkets wouldn't sell 'em if shoppers didn't buy 'em !

 

[asterix]

The Woolworths at Macquarie Centre currently has regular bananas for $1.49/kg or you can buy the prepacked odd bunch bananas 1kg bag for $2.99. Who in there right mind would buy the reject bananas for more than the regular ones?

 

[basso]

To be fair have you compared how Woolworths prices the same pack?

For a hoot in Woolworths, take a look at, say, chicken thigh fillets in the deli department, then go to the meat department and have a look at the price. Then wonder how the meat department ever sells chicken.....