Without any particular exaggeration, I believe I was at the origin of the trade/consumer news of the week…: the increased prices of Casino on Sunday (review the summary of my investigation here). All the “JT”, all the radios, many newspapers took over the info, encouraging (that’s why I’m telling you behind the scenes today), therefore encouraging Casino to backtrack.
At the origin of the investigation, several months ago, various testimonies on various forums (that Casino might have, should have seen) evoking fluctuating prices depending on the day. The subject of Casino and the prizes having always fascinated me to see… fascinated, I check on a few observations before starting a larger-scale investigation.
In November/December, from Aix to Lorient, I collected hundreds of prices on Saturday AND Sunday, leaving Casino to understand voluntarily that I was “looking”. How ? Via SATURDAY CONSO, where I clearly mentioned going to the same Casino store on Saturday AND Sunday, which should have been enough to put a flea in your ear. Why leave it up to Casino to figure it out? Simply to record (or not) a possible position before the publication of what was like an ongoing investigation ???? First denial.
In December, I send Casino the results of the investigation. Conversation at a good level (understatement) to assume the commercial policy of Sunday and even claim it. As already written here, Casino’s arguments are “technically” understandable: service rendered, value of a variable product depending on the time of purchase, additional costs, existence of yield management in other sectors, etc. On the other hand – and the conversation had amazed me on this point – no vision of the societal non-acceptability of the practice. Food (essential) is not air or hotel (discretionary spending) on which the yield maganement is commonplace and known. Second denial.
At the beginning of January, the publication of the complete results in VIGIE GRANDE CONSO (study with selective distribution that we have been publishing for 15 years) does not give rise to any reaction from Casino. Denial always, even if the subject creates amazement among professionals in the profession. And once more at a good level. I have the precise memory of a “top 1” doubting my observations so much he might not bring himself to believe it…
Last Wednesday (and as I sometimes do for the VIGIE GRANDE CONSO studies), I revealed the survey here on the blog. Which makes it visible to my fellow “general public” journalists who themselves do not fail to see the subject… Resumption, excitement, multiple requests (all of which I refused on Wednesday and Thursday so as not to be the one who feeds the machine media): the increased prices of Casino are everywhere, even in the evening news. And, there, clearly appears that there is no societal acceptability of the practice. For once, Casino can not blame me for having seen clearly on the subject and… for having shared with them, before the runaway. It was in December, but that was not an issue then. It has since become so, including internally if I judge by the few messages received. All with the same tone: the relief that a practice ceased, because obviously nobody or almost nobody was comfortable with it. Fascinating. Really fascinating topic “Casino and prizes”.