Do you check out unit prices when grocery shopping?
By Judy Evans
@JudyEv (368207)
Rockingham, Australia
November 13, 2022 5:32pm CST
Following on from yesterday’s discussion about how our choices in the supermarket are manipulated by clever display and advertising, a segment on the news highlighted another ploy employed by manufacturers. I forget the technical name for the practice but it involves reducing the weight/number of items in a package but not reducing the price.
We’ve noticed this with boxes of matches. They used to hold 60 but now it’s down to 45 – or so the presenter said. Blocks of chocolate are lighter than they once were. There might be less biscuits in a pack than there once was. And so it goes. The presenter urged everyone to look at the unit price. We’ve been doing this for a while now. There can be a huge difference sometimes. And buying the large size doesn’t always equate with paying the cheapest price.
It's only been relatively recently that unit prices have been made mandatory on our price tickets. Are you able to see unit prices on your goods?
Photo is mine of pumpkins and capsicums I once grew.
21 people like this
21 responses
@DaddyEvil (164559)
• United States
13 Nov 22
Yup, yup! That's another good way to make the supermarkets richer at the consumer's expense.
Isn't it great that there are so many ways they can think of to beat the consumer out of money?
2 people like this
@JudyEv (368207)
• Rockingham, Australia
14 Nov 22
They're very clever, aren't they? You have to give them marks for that. I notice when the big stores put out their specials catalogue, over the items are soft drinks, confectionery, junk food items. There are very few real specials in it.
3 people like this
@DaddyEvil (164559)
• United States
14 Nov 22
@JudyEv Of course they are... The things that are on "special" are always things they got on sale from the manufacturers or special deals from the baking companies. They don't put anything out that they will lose money on.
2 people like this
@noni1959 (11769)
• United States
14 Nov 22
@JudyEv One thing a store here does is put a lower price sale but then in fine print will say must buy three or more. Some of these items would be way too much for a single person like me to buy and try to use up. For instance, milk was $1.99 instead of $2.89 if I bought three. That is only a savings for a huge family that drinks that much milk.
3 people like this
@wolfgirl569 (127235)
• Marion, Ohio
14 Nov 22
They have the unit price here. I look at it for some things. It partly depends how well the item will store.
2 people like this
@wolfgirl569 (127235)
• Marion, Ohio
14 Nov 22
@JudyEv Some things dont freeze or can well. So I only get what I will use of those. Paper goods I also dont buy up heavy as having them stored can be a great home for mice. And then besides having more of those pests they have also chewed up what you bought.
3 people like this
@JudyEv (368207)
• Rockingham, Australia
14 Nov 22
@wolfgirl569 With a nice new house we're not going to get mice here - unless we leave a door open too long! But we have had that problem in other houses.
2 people like this
@MarieCoyle (52853)
•
13 Nov 22
Many people buy the largest sizes of things, automatically thinking that is the cheapest way to go. It definitely isn't always. I always check unit pricing on things. If it isn't posted, most of us have a smart phone with a calculator, we can figure it out. Many times, there is significant savings to buy two regular sized items vs. the large sized item.
2 people like this
@MarieCoyle (52853)
•
14 Nov 22
@JudyEv I have noticed it more lately than I ever have before.
2 people like this
@kaylachan (81470)
• Daytona Beach, Florida
13 Nov 22
Sometimes I think. I know when we buy meat it'll say what it is per pound. And they have it when you want to by fruit or veggies. But everyday goods, I don't know. I know when we're comparing prices, George and I will kind of do the math to decide what's the better deal.
2 people like this
@LeaPea2417 (39357)
• Toccoa, Georgia
14 Nov 22
I read them sometimes not all the time.
1 person likes this
@crazyhorseladycx (39503)
• United States
15 Nov 22
so much deception, eh? we've 'd unit prices fer quite sometime. i miss the days when buyin' bulk saved a few coin, such 'tis most oft not the case these days. did purchase some ground turkey last week - buy one, get one free. which they should'a been coz 'twas $8.92/lb. i honestly dunno how folks 're feedin' their families these days with prices skyrocketin'!
1 person likes this
@crazyhorseladycx (39503)
• United States
21 Nov 22
@JudyEv fer certain, ridiculous the greed 'f corporations.
1 person likes this
@JESSY3236 (21274)
• United States
15 Nov 22
My mother does look at the unit prices, but I don't.
1 person likes this
@JudyEv (368207)
• Rockingham, Australia
15 Nov 22
We try to read the price per 100 grams but if the ticket is too close to the floor, we can't get down that far to read it. Well, to be honest, we could get down that far but we'd have trouble getting up again! lol
@aninditasen (17902)
• Raurkela, India
14 Nov 22
Here most vegetables are sold in kilograms or grams except of course bottle gourd, Cauliflower and cabbage.
1 person likes this
@aninditasen (17902)
• Raurkela, India
15 Nov 22
@JudyEv It's the same here but I can't buy in bulk as I stay alone and consume less.
1 person likes this
@Beestring (15377)
• Hong Kong
14 Nov 22
Yes, I check the unit price, it remains the same. But some items shrink in size, like the kitchen paper towel I use. Each roll has less paper.
2 people like this
@RebeccasFarm (91149)
• Arvada, Colorado
14 Nov 22
Oh yes but sometimes even though it may be a bit pricier, I go for convenience.
1 person likes this
@LindaOHio (209497)
• United States
14 Nov 22
Yes, we have unit prices displayed on the shelf. Sometimes it's more economical to buy a small package than a large...and many, many manufacturers have reduced the amount of product and still charge the same amount for the package.
1 person likes this
@porwest (111801)
• United States
14 Nov 22
It is the ONLY consideration for me, actually. Unit price is important to understand and keep track of. Even when it comes down to choosing between a 40-pack of bottled water and a regular 24-pack, I consider what the "case cost" is of the 40-pack and see if it is actually cheaper. Sometimes it is, sometimes it is not.
Especially when it comes to many processed foods, like say a pack of chicken strips or something, one would be amazed at how much per pound they are paying for chicken when you break it down.
1 person likes this
@JudyEv (368207)
• Rockingham, Australia
15 Nov 22
I agree totally - and it's surprising how much water is in bacon these days. 
@Treborika (18136)
• Mombasa, Kenya
14 Nov 22
I do my grocery shopping in the local market where the goods have no price tags on them but I usually ask for the prices of every items before I buy them
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@JudyEv (368207)
• Rockingham, Australia
15 Nov 22
I guess you don't have as many choices there as we have in our big supermarkets.
