Major UK supermarket prohibits comparison shopping!

[frugalfranny]

I know that here in the US, Walmart does have a posted policy forbidding this if you are doing it for another retailer -

That's interesting. I did not know that...........but.........how would they know WHAT I am writing down. I always have my list and will
mark stuff off as I pick it up.

Main question.............How are they going to ENFORCE THIS???
What will it cost to enforce it? Do they REALLY have this kind of money to waste in this economy???

Always wonder when anyone makes some stupid rule how it will be enforced.............do they really have enough people to monitor every aisle?

[Persimmon Lace]

If it happened to me and I got stopped or something, I would say "Wow this will make a great post on Twitter, Facebook......whatever other social media, I can hardly wait to tell everyone I know!" With instant media technology and this economic environment it could make for some ummm, bad pr for these stores.

[wanderlusting]

wow, that's crazy! We lived in North Yorkshire, England for 4 years and I always wrote down prices for products at Morrisons, ASDA and Sainsbury and no one every said anything to me.

I remember Sainsbury had a promotion going on that they could beat competitor prices on some of their store brand items.

Tesco is one of the major grocery chains...sort of like Albertsons or Bakers in the states

It's crazy that they're trying to stop people from writing down prices!

ETA: You can do returns in the major grocery chains in the UK. I remember I bought something from ASDA (Walmart owned) and forgot to use my 1 British pound voucher from my pay parking spot. So I turned back around at the parking lot, returned the item and then re-bought it with the 1 pound discount

[NikoSan999]

I don't know how it is at Walmart now but when I worked there the rule was other chains/grocerys had to sign in and be recognized. After that they could do their thing.

I've wandered all over Publix and Walmart with a pad and pen. I didn't make any secret of what I was doing. Never stopped once or asked anything. One time in Walmart I price wrote probably about 2 hours or so.

[grammydoodle]

... recorder stuffed in to my bra ...

LOVE IT!

We have 3 grocery stores in town... ALL THE SAME CHAIN - Market Basket

There are a few the next towns over, more expensive than the local so it's not usually a problem. I do like Hannafords, not that I shop there, but they list their prices online. Market Basket doesn't even have a website, not even for the fliers... x2

I know what I buy, and I remember what the prices are, I do have a notebook with the common items in it, if they tell me I have to stop writing down the prices, I will tell them that I will give them the notebook as soon as they stop raising the prices and I -know- I can feed my family on my set budget every week!

I'm a frugaltarian... hear me ROAR!

Market Basket has a web site with the flier and coupons Market Basket Weekly Ciruclar, Coupons, Locations, and More.

[Lynn4]

Tesco has been ticking off British consumers with hiring practices, this is going to add to the fire!

[britbunny]

The thing with comparing prices is a bit of an odd one though as internet grocery shopping is huge here so all prices can be compared online - including special offers. Plus there are supermarket price comparison sites where you can input your shopping list and the site will tell you which of the big stores would be cheapest for what you want to buy.

[Holly]

I always have a list and mark the item off with price I paid.
I usually have limited funds and this keeps me under what I have to spend. If they told me I couldn't do it they would be putting alot of stuff back on their shelves... I also write down prices
of things so I can check the next weeks sale ads.

[bunnys]

I would just continue to do what I damn well pleased and continue to write the prices down.

If they asked me to stop or what I was doing I'd say "I'm not writing down prices" and keep moving. I'd keep writing prices and keep playing dumb.

What are they going to do, throw you out of the store? They're not going to lay a hand on you if they don't want a lawsuit.

Just keep writing the prices down, keep denying you're doing so and keep moving. And don't get angry.

It's just too stupid to waste time engaging with them.

[britbunny]

I would just continue to do what I damn well pleased and continue to write the prices down.

If they asked me to stop or what I was doing I'd say "I'm not writing down prices" and keep moving. I'd keep writing prices and keep playing dumb.

What are they going to do, throw you out of the store? They're not going to lay a hand on you if they don't want a lawsuit.

Just keep writing the prices down, keep denying you're doing so and keep moving. And don't get angry.

It's just too stupid to waste time engaging with them.

They're not in the slightest concerned about removing people and banning them from their stores. Many people have experienced over the top treatment for a number of things, especially what they consider misuse of coupons. Their argument is that the stores are private property and they make the rules!

[bunnys]

Really? Do they have someone posted at the front of the store scanning faces and comparing it to a "most unwanted" poster? I believe you, it just sounds preposterous to me.

But it that's the case then why would you want to shop at a store that would be so abusive to its customers?

Seriously, I'm all about saving money but not at the expense of my dignity.

Good luck. Hope it works out. They sound like total jerks.

[Missourimom]

I agree with you Bunny, I would keep writing the prices down as I pleased and even if they did catch you red handed, you could just say you didn't know about the rule and put your list in your purse and then the next time you shop there, repeat the above scenario until you have all the prices your little heart desires.

[Incognito]

So, the stores consider themselves "private property", yet are open to the public for business most days of the week.
Hugely funny!!! (LOL)


Bottom Line:
If they don't treat the customers right,
We will elsewhere be.