scrubbedexpat094

I've noticed that they are doing unit prices on some things here, so I tend to look at those first. I buy the English recipe Heinz Beans. Still expensive but at least they aren't packed full of sugar like the Watties ones.

Margaret Parkinson

Sorry as I said earlier it does not always work that way.

June

crap coffee

we don't have countdown /paknSave here. but cheap mince with yellow sticker...

I actually believe that ppl who eat those cheap mince - they are stupid enough.

If I go to cowntdown/paknsave then I'd just buy toilet paper or milk such.(when only appear cheaper than NW....) no mince or chicken or fresh foods as they are appalling quality.

all I ever need from British section - sarons vinegar, and the rice pudding... and I know I can live without them.....

well I realized recently,,,(from my study) loads of ppl here in this country,,, have below average IQ... (of course including criminal)

MOSO

Absolutely June. This is not an NZ issue. It happens everywhere. In the UK I checked prices and offers and I do the same here and more importantly I've taught my kids to do the same thing in the same way they look at magazine covers at the check-out and comment on who they think has been air-brushed!

There's a whole tv programme on the issue from BBC Panorama, on air about a month ago. It's available on iplayer. http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b017yvfp

The write up says: With their price drops, roll-backs, brand matches - as well as that old firm favourite, the two-for-one offer - our leading supermarkets are doing battle for our cash. They claim their price war is good news for shoppers in these tough times, but are their money-saving offers all they seem?

Sophie Raworth takes her trolley round the aisles of Britain's biggest supermarket chains and reveals some nasty surprises at the checkout.

If you don't have access to iplayer, here's an article on the various techniques supermarkets use http://news.bbc.co.uk/panorama/hi/fr...00/9652944.stm This includes examples of the smaller/larger packet debate:
At Asda, a 1kg tub of Clover spread was £3.20, 20p more than buying two 500g tubs of the same.

At Morrisons, the "value" pack of the same spread was £1.70 more than the two smaller packs.

At Tesco, the Vanish stain remover was £12 for the "big value" size - a full £3 more than the if you just bought three smaller containers with the exact same amount of product.

.

Catchafire

Orange juice is now orange juice "with apple base" (it actually taste nicer, but that's not the point).
Chillies cost a $100/kilo in my local New World
The fact something is on "special" has my alarm bells ringing
We have "Fresh Choice" supermarkets in the South Island, they are really bad at charging full price when they are displayed at discounted prices (I get really shitty with store manager when this happens)
I always check the weight of veggies and fruit and compare that to what I have been charged, you would be surprised by the some of the differences in weight (usual excuse is the checkout operator put their hand on the scale)
4c a liter fuel discount is sweet FA
Vanilla Ice cream, rarely has vanilla in it.

We shop at the butcher, baker (beautiful artisan bread for same price as a loaf of Vogels), green grocer. Fish we get from the local Iwi, they run their own fishing boat and van. Everything is better, fresher and usually cheaper. We have to go to the supermarket once a week, but we keep our purchases to a minimum.

Justcol

Blimey that's a bit harsh....I just fancied knocking up a quick spag bol

MOSO

Classic from Tescos....

Bo-Jangles

Ahh, so that makes it all absolutely fine then and Countdown should be commended for being up there with the rest of them.

I feel soooo much better knowing that I could be equally shafted by the likes of Asdas and Tescos.

Bo-Jangles

You'd be bloody hard pushed to find a quality brand of cordial in NZ for the equivalent of one quid and I think therin lies the salt rubbed into wounds feeling that a lot of us have with regards to food prices.

signature range concentrate orange & barley cordial 750ml


was $4.29 on special $3.99


ribena concentrate blackcurrant 1l



was $10.99 on special $9.69 * Hahaha!!

Before anyone yells at me and calls me stupid, Ribena is made in NZ - costs GBP2.89 in Tescos

chippy64

When my boys really fancy Robinson's No Added Sugar Apple and Blackcurrant, we go to Riccarton Market and buy 3 1l bottles for $10 (gbp4.20 in UK). So, around a quid more which is not so bad.

MOSO

There are 2 points being made in this thread. The OP was commenting on marketing strategies used by PaknSave. Myself (and others) have pointed out that shops in the UK, and all over the world for that matter are 'shafting' consumers. That is a different argument to the high cost of food in NZ.

As for cordial, (again the picture was only an example of a marketing strategy) you will notice that most kiwi families will buy powder (raro) and not bottles and that is on a par with Tesco's prices. Whether or not you like the powder having grown up with cordial is a matter for personal taste.

love30stm

Oh shut up whinging and get over it Christ

Drink wine it's good here

Justcol

Oh my, what have I started !!!

If its any consolation the spag bol was nice and the salad I used the celery for was lovely.

simonsi

True of shops the world over, its really not a NZ/Countdown 'thing'

MOSO

Exactly.