It seems that all of the grocery stores around here are running a lot of multiple unit specials, such as 10 items for $10, or 6 items for $8, etc. Sometimes you can get some good deals with these sales. but unfortunately, most of the time you can get taken. Often, the sale price of the 10 for $10 is more than the item is without a sale! And even if the price is less with the deal, chances are that you can find the item in a better sale or find a generic version of the product for a lot less.
The way to shop these sales and make sure that you are getting the best deal is to know what the price of the item is normally. You can check the shelf to find the regular price and then compare. It is even better if you keep a price book, so you know exactly what the lowest sale price usually is.
Be wary of canned goods and jarred pasta sauces. 10 for $10 may sound like a good deal, but if that can of corn is normally 79 cents, then you are paying extra when you take advantage of the sale. Recently I saw pasta sauce at a 2 for $4 deal. But, two weeks later, that same brand was on sale for $1.59 a jar. And, the regular price of a competing brand was only $1 a jar, half as much cost as the deal.
Stores do these multiple item deals because they work. People think that any sale must be a good deal, and the pricing can get hidden when the deal involves multiple products. It also caters to people’s hoarding instinct and the need to stock up, especially when shoppers are nervous about the economy.
Finally, be aware of the policy on these multiple items. Can you just buy two of the item and still get the sale price on the 10 for $10? Can you buy multiples of the same item or do you need to buy only one of each type of item (sometimes you’ll be told to pick and choose from a range of products)? If you aren’t aware of these policies you could think that you are saving money when you are really paying full price.
Mary Ann Romans writes about everything related to saving money in the Frugal Blog, technology in the Computing Blog, and creating a home in the Home Blog. You can read more of her articles by clicking here.
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