"More shoppers thinking twice in the checkout line"

**Palooka** · 08-24-2009, 12:45 AM

Originally Posted by MomToTwoBoys

Nah, I usually write the price down and add it up so that I stay in budget. If I get close, then I modify my list so that I stay in budget. I do ask for a verification on the price if it seems off to me.

That's pretty much what I do too.

**militlady** · 08-24-2009, 01:05 AM

I actually did that at Joanne's a couple months ago. Had the fabric cut and when I got to the checkout the register said it was $2 more per yard than it was supposed to be. The fabric was apparently put back on the sales rack and not on the rack it was supposed to be. The cashier/manager would not honor the sale price so I left it there and told them I would never be back. They lost a good customer over $4's total.

**Siebrie** · 08-24-2009, 07:36 AM

I know how much I can spend before I go into the store; then inside the store I keep track in my head of the total, and I'll watch the cash register at the end, and I'll check my receipt.

Where I used to live there was a store who would return your money if the item rang up differently from the price on the shelf. I think it actually saved them money, because instead of hiring someone to check all the tabs every day, the customer would point it out and get the money back (I would guess at an average of $3 per item?).

In other stores, I've left items at the till if they rang up differently.

**thefrug** · 08-24-2009, 08:32 AM

List
Paper
Pencil

I write down what everything costs and total it before I get to the lines. I also make sure of what the price is. It may take me longer, but this is our money we're talking about here and I don't throw it away like a lot of people I see do.

**savvy_sniper** · 08-24-2009, 09:54 AM

I don't even walk into a store unless there is something in particular I want to look at or buy. I always have a list of things I am looking for, price I am looking to beat, etc.

I only grocery shop with a list that has been worked up from looking at the sale sheets, have coupons for items, etc. I am always on the look out for things on sale, discontinued/discounted, etc. to add to my stockpile. I don't buy unless I know it is a VERY good price.

I do go to the salvage stores without a list. BUT I do have a list in my head of items I am interested in and the price to beat. You never know what they will have at the salvage store.

Example - Twice I have NOT purchased Arm & Hammer Super Washing Soda (for homemade laundry detergent) at the salvage store because I couldn't remember what the price was at my local store. I finally remembered to check the price, wrote it in my notebook, and next time I go to the salvage store I will buy ALL the Super Washing Soda because it is 50% less than my local store.

I will abandon an online shopping cart (as others have stated) because you have to start the checkout process to see the price of shipping.

**Trishagirl** · 08-24-2009, 10:45 AM

I was just at the store Friday and saw stuff on the shelves that shouldn't of ben there showing people changing their minds on buying that stuff like doritos on the pickle shelf. Strange that I remember seeing that.

**lilyrose** · 08-24-2009, 11:11 AM

If the price is not what I thought it would be, I have no problem leaving it there. I like the price scanners in the stores. I get to check prices 'before' I go to check out. This helps ALOT. Also, I prefer to go to self-checkouts when I can. I can scan a bit slower than a cashier would as I make sure everything is ringing up as it ought to.

**NewLeaf** · 08-24-2009, 11:48 AM

Sometimes I ask the cashier to price scan something BEFORE I start the check out process. There have been times I have seen something ring up for the wrong price and I ask them to delete it and put it back. And I have even asked the cashier to subtotal everything to see if I can afford that one extra item or have to put it back. Lucky for me I have really nice cashiers!!!

**Sassyclass** · 08-25-2009, 12:31 PM

Originally Posted by thefrug

List
Paper
Pencil

I write down what everything costs and total it before I get to the lines. I also make sure of what the price is. It may take me longer, but this is our money we're talking about here and I don't throw it away like a lot of people I see do.

This is how I've shopped all my life. I don't figure in the savings of coupons either. This way I know I will not go over budget. I have no problem leaving an item with the cashier. Either give me the sticker price on the shelf, the advertised price, fix it or restock it, I don't care, but I'm not paying more than what is advertised. The article basically shows people are just starting to shop the way they should have been shopping all along. As a consumer it is up to me to know what I'm buying and how much it cost. It's my money and my resposibility.

Cat

**CrazyHomemaker** · 08-27-2009, 06:55 AM

Originally Posted by shoiji

I started checking the register tape before leaving the supermarket. A couple of times I was being overcharged or charged more than I thought an item was. Say a can of artichoke hearts that I thought was $1.50 and rang up at $4.50 x 2!!!!! I would have never bought them if I knew they were that much!!!

This reminds me of a Wal Mart shopping trip I had a few years ago. I forgot about it until now.

I wanted to make some stuffed cubanelles. So I bought 4 niced sized ones for $3.95/lb. Not bad since they are very hard to come by in my area. I was going to stuff with sausage and cheese, beer batter them, deep fry and bake them with mozzarella on top. I love this recipe! Anyhow, I paid for everything and scanned the receipt before I left. Those buggers were $3.95 EACH and the sign said $3.95/lb. I stood in the Customer Service line and got my $16 back really quick! I even went and got the tag from the bin and they wouldn't honor it!

What's with that?! I should've stopped buying Wal Mart then and there!

**jettsmom** · 08-27-2009, 03:53 PM

I don't know how many times I've been in the store ready to buy something and then decided I don't need it yet. Especially if it's something that can wait.

I've not bought things because I know I have a good coupon for them. Since most of the stores are on my way to just about anywhere I go, I can afford to wait until I have my coupons.

There have been several times that I've backed out of purchases on-line just before I hit the submit button. I'm always thinking, "do I really need this?"

I've left purchases because they won't honor my coupon. The stores have become really picky about that. If it's not the product pictured, even though it says "any" on the coupon, they won't take it.

**TigerGirl1226** · 08-27-2009, 04:05 PM

I've never abandoned an entire cart, but I have definitely changed my mind on items.

**kitian** · 08-27-2009, 04:51 PM

Originally Posted by pollypurebred39

I've always been extremely careful in spending and know to penny what my tally should ring up to be before I even enter the checkout line,

Same here. I have my budget, keep a mental tally as I'm adding to my cart from my list, and I know immediately if the cashier has made a mistake.

Something interesting that I noticed in our local Super Target is that some of their smaller units are going in sale at prices better than their larger units. We rarely shop there (but we got a $50 gift card from family) because they only list the price, no unit price so there's no easy comparison with other stores in our area unless you're taking extensive notes. The example I'm thinking of was for Velveta Shells & Cheese. The larger "household" unit was regular price, but the small single size units were on sale for about 75% of the larger size. I think I've noticed a couple of other examples of this in Walmart too, with the smaller sized packages actually having a cost per unit that's cheaper than the larger family size that I would ordinarily buy.

I know that the Consumer Price Index looks pretty stable right now, but it feels a little different looking at the prices on the shelf. My boyfriend mentioned something to me recently about the CPI changing their definitions recently (butter changed to margerine, etc). Does anyone know more about that?

**Incognito** · 08-27-2009, 06:52 PM

Thanks to some intensive internet interaction on shopping-group websites, I'm a much more savvy shopper now than I used to be.
I've learned how to gather info from hot-tips & flyers before I shop, to hunt down the bargains I need, to order, trade and prepare coupons, to make lists and calculate the taxes in advance, to shop with my calculator and coupons, to check all of the prices, sizes, etc. on my items before I take them off the shelves, to check the sales receipts before I leave the store and make certain I haven't been over-charged, to negotiate with the cashiers if there are problems, and to get the most out of my money.

I will not be intimidated when I shop. I have left items on the counter if I felt dissatisfied with the purchase or purchase process.
But I've also learned to be very patient and aware at the check-out, to memorize or write down prices, coupon particulars & expiry dates and to be polite and cheerful to the cashiers as they process my transaction, because they are only doing their job and it's not an easy one.

Before this, I used to be a careful shopper, shopping only for basic necessities with some little splurges now and then, but otherwise unaware about the whole scheme of things. Nowadays, I am a much more informed and aware participant in the shopping process.
Knowledge is power!