We both noticed they were for sale at the entranceway to our shop, Sainsbury’s, and shoppers were being encouraged, over the tannoy, to,
“Buy your fireworks here at the display at the front of the shop. Two for the price of one!”
What is this fixation shopkeepers have with “two for ones”?
Why can’t the item on sale be for the lesser amount? Why are we encouraged to buy two?
Here in England we might as well because buying one is twice the price and they won’t send you back for the “free” one as they do in America!
I bought a bag of little russet apples. When I got home and unpacked them I noticed the Red Sticker! It was pretty obvious, in LARGE PRINT, but I had my beautiful daughter with me so wasn’t paying much attention to any special offers that day. My special was standing next to me!
At home we both noticed the Red Sticker, it read, “Buy one, get one free.”
“Did you get your free bag Mum?”
“No I didn’t, and I’m going back, tomorrow, hand me my receipt.”
I checked it to see of I’d been given them for half price… but of course not…
So, the next day armed with my receipt and a lot of nerve, I returned, picked up another bag of apples with the Red Sticker and went up to the lady working at the customer service counter. I showed her my receipt, pointing to the bag of apples I’d laid in front of her and the charge on my bill,
“I wasn’t told at the till to go and get another bag of apples…in America…” and I launched into my two for one bagel story at Sam’s. How I’ve been sent back many a time to get my “free” bag!
“No, they wouldn’t do that here,” she said.
I knew that. Why was I was standing in front of her now?
“Well… can I have my free bag?” I asked.
“I’ll take it off your receipt and re-run the two bags,” she said obligingly .
I left a satisfied customer.
Employees and the electronic tills are programmed not to point out price specials and two for one reductions to us.
We, the British shopper, have to be wise in our purchases.
Yet, as a welfare state, thinking independently on some counts is taken away from us. In the mail I am sent notices that an appointment has been made for me to attend a screening for something I would never have thought of if left to my own devises. The latest round of screenings, not for my age group happily, is going to address our penchant as a nation to drink too much.
Putting that aside for now, and back to food shopping with lots of choices, I scour the fridges and shelves to buy the “3 for £10.00” or the “2 for £5.00” deals on offer. I find that most of the time, unless I want three packets of chicken, or two Christmas puddings, or a brace of asparagus spears, I have to buy one… at the higher price.
I am penalized for shopping for a small household!
Happily in America this does not happen as long as we have a shopper’s card for that store.
But I am not in America as my wheelie basket keeps reminding me!
Well hello there! My name is Vivienne McNeny.
I am an empty nester exploring life as a Boomer…you could say I'm happily Boomering along!
As a homeschooling Mum I have finally quit the job of role model and mentor to my four children. I do what I want to do, eat when I feel like it, enjoy life with my blue eyed cowboy and clean my house once a month or so whether it needs it or not!
In true English form I write about the emergence of my true identity now that I can no longer hide behind my children as their Mum.
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