photo: Redakce PrahaIN.cz/Sleva v Penny
The Consumer Protection Act states that for discounts, the trader must state the lowest price for the last thirty days. In supermarkets, we should learn several pieces of information from the label: the current price, possibly the price before the discount and the lowest price in the last thirty days.
Our editorial team went to one of Prague’s Penny Markets because the company has received the most fines for fake discounts from the Czech Trade Inspection in recent years. Immediately upon entering the store, we see orange and red signs, some report that it is a discount, others inform about a super sale.
Most customers hear the word promotion, most often they look at how many crowns the product is discounted. This information is usually written in large letters and is easily visible. We don’t look at the little ones that often anymore, but we definitely should. The discount, which at first glance may appear significant, is actually not that advantageous, sometimes the customer even pays extra for the goods in the sale.
We went through the whole store and stopped at all the shelves. From baked goods to general foods, alcohol, animal feed to drugstores. Sale goods are lurking everywhere, but if we look at the lowest price in the last thirty days, it has never been higher than when we were in the store. This means that the product is constantly getting more and more expensive.
“It’s on Sale”
But let’s be specific. For example, Karlova Koruna toast bread is discounted by 29 percent from the original price of 27.90 to 19.90 crowns. Its lowest price in the last thirty days was 19.90 crowns. Milka chocolate is in the same situation, one bar is reduced from 65.90 crowns to 24.90 crowns, the lowest price for the last month was also 24.90 crowns. Fidorka is also on sale, 50 percent shines on the sign in big letters. From the original price of 18.90 crowns, it costs 8.90 crowns, but in the course of the past month, the chain was able to offer it even a crown cheaper.
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We move to the alcohol section, a large orange card beckons for a 1.5 liter Braník beer in a plastic bottle. An elderly man packs an entire carton into the basket, explaining his purchase to his wife by saying that it is on sale. Although the beer is at a discount of 26 percent, it cost 4 crowns less in the past month. Until December 25, customers at Penny will pay 36.90 crowns for it. Its lowest price in the last thirty days was 32.90 crowns.
Gourmet cat food was also cheaper, a small can was sold for 9.90 crowns and is now on sale for 11.90 crowns, or alcoholic Frisco, which is on sale for 18.90 crowns, was on offer one crown cheaper during the past month .
However, we come across the “biggest discount” only at the checkout, where the seller apparently relies on the fact that the customer will be tempted while waiting in line and put the goods in the shopping cart.
Discounted goods used to be significantly cheaper
A large 100-gram Kinder egg costs 149.90 crowns, the label does not indicate its original price or how much it has been discounted. However, the lowest price in the past thirty days was ten crowns cheaper. The “absolute winner” is the Kinder Love chocolate, which now costs 49.90 crowns, but even it does not state how much of a discount it is. In the past thirty days, it cost almost half less, namely 24.90 crowns.
PrahaIN.cz turned to the press department of Penny Market with a question about how discounts are indicated in supermarkets and what are the differences between the individual colors on the price tags.
“Our goal is to offer customers quality products at favorable prices. In addition to the standard assortment, every week we offer hundreds of products as part of the promotional offer at a discounted price. Promotional offers are visibly marked on the shelves. In the case of products for which it is required by law, in addition to the regular selling price, we also list the lowest price for the last 30 days,” said Tomáš Kubík, press spokesman, for PrahaIN.cz.
Penny Pinching Madness: An Observational Comedy on Discounts
Ah, the beloved discount labels of supermarkets! They’re like the sparkling jewels in a crown of consumerism, only to find out they might be more like plastic costume jewelry worth about as much as a knock-off handbag. Our favorite backdrop for this stage of irritation? The notorious Penny Market in the heart of Prague. You see, this charming supermarket has been in the limelight for all the wrong reasons, racking up fines like they’re collecting Pokémon cards.
So what’s the scoop? A sneaky little thing called the Consumer Protection Act indicates that any trader—that’s fancy for ‘shopkeeper’—must declare the lowest price a product has had in the last thirty days before any discount. It’s like giving a magician a safety net; they might still pull a rabbit out of a hat, but it won’t be one you want to buy!
Discount Déjà Vu
As we waltzed through the bright orange and red sign jungle of Penny Market, we quickly discovered that those discount signs are like Tinder profiles: swiping right may look good, but you need to read the fine print! Yes, customers are dazzled by the big, bold letters—who doesn’t want to save a few crowns? But behold, not all is what it seems:
- The Karlova Koruna toast bread was touted as a 29% discount from 27.90 to 19.90 crowns. Spoiler alert: its lowest price in the last month? You guessed it: 19.90 crowns. Give it up for the thrilling world of bread savings!
- Then there’s Milka chocolate—oh, sweet temptation! It was slashed from 65.90 crowns to 24.90 crowns. But wait, the lowest price last month? Same ol’, same ol’: 24.90 crowns. What a heist!
- Bought yourself a slab of Fidorka? Ba-da-bing, a whopping “50% discount!” It was originally 18.90 crowns, now a paltry 8.90 crowns, yet just last week it graced the shelves for 8.89 crowns. A monumental victory for pennies everywhere!
The alcohol section was perhaps the most entertaining. An elderly gentleman, bless his cotton socks, was filling his basket like he was prepping for an apocalypse, convinced the 1.5-liter Braník beer was a steal at 36.90 crowns. Oh, darling, it was actually cheaper just last month at 32.90 crowns. If only they’d learn to read the pricing labels, dear old chap!
The “Legendary” Discount
Meanwhile, the peculiarities of gourmet cat food were not lost on me when I spotted a shiny label boasting a sale price of 11.90 crowns. Remember, folks, the normal price was a delightful 9.90 crowns. I mean, how much do these fancy felines need to be pampered? At this rate, even the cats might have better savings advice than a sales clerk!
And, of course, let’s not forget the pièce de résistance at the checkout: the “biggest discount” of them all, cleverly placed there to tempt us while we wait. If a chocolate Kinder egg costs more than your lunch, maybe it’s time to assess your loyalty to sugary delights!
When Discounts Were Kings
It gets better; one lovely **100-gram Kinder egg** priced at 149.90 crowns coyly fails to mention its original price. Last month? Only 139.90 crowns! It’s practically a heist in broad daylight! Imagine hiding that shiny new toy behind a curtain in the supermarket; when everyone stepped outside, they would ask, “Is this real life?”
In one dazzling spin, the Kinder Love chocolate jumps to 49.90 crowns, yet no indication of previous glory graces the shelf. Last month, our dear sweet friend only cost 24.90 crowns. An affordable romance, if only one could remember where the feelings of love went!
An Inquisition into Pricing Tactics
It would be rude not to summon the lovely press department of Penny Market to confront this smorgasbord of misinformation. Their response? A classic line about offering quality products at favorable prices while keeping discounts as clear as mud. They noted, quite charmingly, that visible promotional offers abound, tucked away amidst the supermarket labyrinth… almost like a scavenger hunt. We’re still on the hunt for those “deals,” dear reader!
So there you have it. A wild ride through the aisles of discount madness at Penny Market, where prices might just be wading through the murky waters of deceit. If only we could return to simpler times when a discount actually meant saving money! Until then, happy shopping—and remember, if it seems too good to be true, it usually is!
photo: Redakce PrahaIN.cz/Sleva v Penny
According to the Consumer Protection Act, traders are mandated to display the lowest price of an item over the past thirty days when advertising discounts. Shoppers in supermarkets should be on the lookout for several crucial pieces of information presented on product labels: the current price, the price before any discounts, and the lowest price recorded over the last thirty days.
Our editorial team visited a Penny Market in Prague, notably known for receiving a significant number of fines in recent years from the Czech Trade Inspection for misleading discount practices. Upon entering the store, vibrant orange and red signage caught our eye, with some announcing discounts while others touted super sales, effectively drawing customers’ attention.
Consumers often focus primarily on the discount amount in crowns, presented in large, bold letters. Frequently overlooked are the smaller details, which are equally vital to consider. Discounts that initially appear enticing may not actually provide any real savings; in some instances, customers may find that they are paying more for sale items than they would have otherwise.
As we navigated through the store, we scrutinized the shelves containing everything from baked goods to essential groceries, alcoholic beverages, pet supplies, and household toiletries. Sale items were plastered everywhere, yet when evaluating the lowest prices from the past thirty days, we found many items being sold at the highest prices recorded, suggesting a concerning trend of continuous price inflation in the store.
“It’s on Sale”
To illustrate, take the example of Karlova Koruna toast bread, marked with a 29 percent discount from its original price of 27.90 crowns, now available for 19.90 crowns. Yet, its lowest recorded price in the prior thirty days remained at 19.90 crowns, revealing no real price drop. A similar story unfolds with Milka chocolate bars, which are marked down from 65.90 crowns to 24.90 crowns, but in reality, their lowest price over the last month also sat at 24.90 crowns. Furthermore, Fidorka snacks beam with a “50 percent off” tag; originally at 18.90 crowns, it now prices at 8.90 crowns, although it had been available for an even lower price just weeks prior.
Moving to the alcoholic beverages aisle, a noticeable orange sign boldly promotes a 1.5-liter Braník beer in a plastic bottle. Observing a senior man filling his basket with an entire case, he explained to his wife that it was “on sale.” However, despite being labeled as discounted by 26 percent, this beer had been cheaper by 4 crowns just within the past month. Until December 25, Penny customers will be paying 36.90 crowns for it, while its lowest price over the preceding thirty days had been recorded at only 32.90 crowns.
Even premium gourmet cat food presented a deceptive price shift; previously selling for 9.90 crowns, it’s now on sale for 11.90 crowns, which clearly violates the expectations set by discount signage. Similarly, the alcoholic Frisco drink, currently priced at 18.90 crowns, was offered at one crown less during the last month, undermining the claim of a discount.
At the checkout line, we stumbled upon what was advertised as the “biggest discount,” likely banking on the impulse purchase tendencies of customers waiting in line, suggesting a strategy to tempt buyers to add unplanned items to their purchases.
Discounted goods used to be significantly cheaper
Among the more striking examples, a large 100-gram Kinder egg priced at 149.90 crowns lacked any information regarding its original price or claimed discount amount. Interestingly, the lowest price in the last thirty days had been a full ten crowns less. Particularly notable is the Kinder Love chocolate; while it is currently being sold for 49.90 crowns, the label fails to reveal any discount details, despite it having cost nearly half that amount at 24.90 crowns in the past thirty days.
In light of these observations, PrahaIN.cz reached out to the press department of Penny Market to clarify how their discount labeling complies with supermarket standards and what distinct meanings various colors on price tags convey.
“Our goal is to offer customers quality products at favorable prices. In addition to the standard assortment, every week we offer hundreds of products as part of the promotional offer at a discounted price. Promotional offers are visibly marked on the shelves. In the case of products for which it is required by law, in addition to the regular selling price, we also list the lowest price for the last 30 days,” said Tomáš Kubík, press spokesman, for PrahaIN.cz.
How can consumers determine if they are truly getting a bargain during sales when discount tags are used?
Indicating that consumers may actually be paying more during the sale. The situation raises questions about the validity of the discounts being marketed.
### Key Differences in Price Tag Colors and What They Mean
1. **Standard Price Tags**:
– These are typically displayed in a plain format, indicating the regular price of the item. This price serves as a baseline for consumers to evaluate discounts.
2. **Promotional Discount Tags**:
– Often in bold colors (like red or orange), these tags indicate a price reduction. They usually show the original price, the discounted price, and sometimes the percentage off. However, as highlighted, the actual savings can be misleading, as consumers must consider the lowest price recorded over the past 30 days.
3. **”Lowest Price” Tags**:
– For items where it’s mandated by law, these tags will list the lowest price of the item in the last month, giving consumers a comparison point alongside the current promotional price. These tags can also adopt noticeable colors to attract attention.
4. **Clearance Tags**:
– In many supermarkets, clearance items might have distinct colors (like yellow) to signify they are being sold at a reduced price to clear inventory. Again, these might not reflect the true savings compared to previous pricing.
5. **Seasonal or Special Offer Tags**:
– Items marked for seasonal sales (e.g., holiday promotions) often come in vibrant colors or styles that correspond to the theme of the sale (like green for St. Patrick’s Day). These can feature both a promotional price and a note of how much longer the discount will be available.
6. **Bundle Pricing Tags**:
– Sometimes price tags will show a deal price when buying in bulk or bundle (e.g., “Buy 2 for…”). These can also be color-coded but typically must show that the individual item price would cost more than the bundled deal if purchased separately.
### The Consumer Experience
In a place like Penny Market, the overwhelming use of vibrant and promotional tag colors aims to capture shopper attention. However, consumers are encouraged to be discerning and to look beyond the colors to assess if they’re genuinely benefitting from any deals. The key takeaway should be that while bright tags promise savings, the reality of pricing can sometimes be an illusion designed to entice buyers without providing real value.
while colors of price tags serve a marketing purpose by drawing attention to discounts, savvy shoppers should remain vigilant and informed about what those tags really mean regarding savings.
