Free Food

[SilvrT]

I posted the following from here... http://blog.yourmoney.ca/2009/11/price-scanner-free-food.html

 

 

Watch the price scanner to get your food for free

 

 

Standing in the supermarket checkout line waiting for your food to scan can be as much fun as watching paint dry. But if you watch carefully and spy a scanner price error, you could score that grocery item for free.

Mistakes on electronic price scans are common at the grocery store. The U.S. Federal Trade Commission has found that errors occur in 1 out of every 32 regularly priced items. Errors are more common on sale items, with 1 out of 28 items being overcharged to consumers. The cost of being overcharged at the till can add up to many dollars per month per family.

 

 

 

But in Canada, spotting a scanner error could save you up to $10 per item. The Retail Council of Canada has a Scanner Price Accuracy Voluntary Code that states:

• If the correct price of the product is $10 or less, the retailer will give the product to the customer free of charge; or
  
• If the correct price of the product is higher than $10, the retailer will give the customer a discount of $10 off the corrected price.
  

As a consumer, all you have to do to qualify is watch as your groceries are scanned at the checkout and verify that prices are accurate. If you see an error, don’t be afraid to ask the cashier to give you the item for free. If your cashier is unaware of the policy, ask for a manager or go to the customer service desk to claim your free food.

Over the years I've used the Scanner Price Accuracy Voluntary Code to my benefit. This year alone I've claimed at least $20 in free groceries due to price scanning errors. At times I've had to explain the code to confused cashiers, but many times I've walked away with free food by just asking. Many participating supermarkets post this code at checkout, so don't be wary of asking whenever you see a mistake. Being overcharged at the till can really add up!

The occasional free food item is great, but to help you keep weekly grocery costs down be sure to plan ahead with a shopping list.

 

 

 

Download this free Printable Grocery Shopping List to help you:

• Save money by curbing impulse food buys.
  
• Identify healthy and frugal foods on a single master list.
  
• Save time grocery shopping.
  
• Never forget another grocery item.
  

See the Retail Council of Canada for a list of stores that are committed to accurate scanner pricing with the Scanner Price Accuracy Voluntary Code.

Your Turn: Do you spy scanner price errors at the grocery checkout? Do you say something about it?

 

 

Posted at 04:15 AM in Food and Drink, Personal Finance, Saving, Tips | Permalink

Edited November 3, 2009 by SilvrT

[BoomerCPO]

I don't think we have that type of policy in place down heah in the States.....

 

Boomer.....who finds its even cheaper to eat a lot of food before you get to the cash register.

[hig4s]

My wife watches very closely and often catches mistakes. Both our local store will correct it without question, even if we catch it after we get home and go back. Last time we got over charged for deli chicken, didn't noticed until after we got home. The next day Mary went back and they deducted the entire amount we paid for the chicken from what she was buying then, and gave her another order of chicken free.

 

We use our debit card most of the time, and I have noticed that occasionally chargers will never get to my bank. About two or three a year will never come through.

 

As great as high tech stuff is, and as much as I like it, high tech things have their own set of problems.

[SilvrT]

As great as high tech stuff is, and as much as I like it, high tech things have their own set of problems.

 

heh ... yeah and every time a new version of some "high tech" thing comes out...along with it comes another set of problems LOL

[BigBoyinMS]

I'm sure it was just individual store policy but I remember in the '80's when they first started using the scanners in this area we used to get free items that way. I guess they were trying to convince us all that scanning was more accurate. Only once did we have a B#$@& checkout woman give us a hard time about it. It was posted that they would give you the item free if it scanned wrong and she was trying to refund us the difference. I would have been ok with that but she started out with an attitude, so...