Grocery store "specials"

[BedokAmerican]

I'm not sure if this should go in the wine/dine section or here, but here goes...

I was at Fair Price Finest this week and my basket had 8 pieces of dragon fruit. When I got to the clerk, she said I had to either buy 5 or 10 because the price was something like 5 for $2.35. I asked her to charge me for 5, then prorate the next 3 (around 45-50 cents each) and she wouldn't do it. I was shocked, but was nice about it and said ok.

Someone else told me that's done for non-produce items as well. If something is 2 for $5.00, you have to buy in increments of 2 (so you can't buy 1 for half that amount).

Anyone know if all stores do this or just Fair Price? Which ones (if any) don't do this?

[x9200]

This is very common especially for fruits but not only. It can not be prorated for anything in between because you likely pay lower price per pcs because you buy more. Pretty typical practice so I am not sure why you found it is so shocking. Besides, I strongly doubt an average shop assistant can do such calculations.

[offshoreoildude]

Cashiers here are pretty simply folk... they just don't want to break any rules.... so if it's "3 for $5" they need you to show up with 3.

[vishalgupta2]

Cashiers here are pretty simply folk... they just don't want to break any rules.... so if it's "3 for $5" they need you to show up with 3.

I also find it shocking. I am more used to something like 1 for 2$, 3 for 5$, so when you don't buy the fixed quantity you pay more. Selling only in fixed quantities is odd to me.

[BedokAmerican]

Ok, thanks for the feedback. I guess what surprised me was that the cash registers aren't programmed to do this automatically.

I worked in a grocery store almost 20 yrs ago when in college in the US and the machines automatically adjusted and they still do today. If something is 3 for $5 and someone buys 1, it would ring up as $1.67.

I'd think in this day-and-age that major grocers in a high-tech country like Singapore would be able to do this. However, I now know they don't and I guess that's ok. I learn something new all the time.

[Brah]

Here's another way to look at it.

After coming here from Japan, where there are no exceptions / substitutions on menus, and finding here much less Draconian, I am still in the go-with-it mode.

This comes from years of banging my head against the table about the ridiculousness of such adherents to the norm.

I see you're American from your handle, we are used to going to diners and restaurants and asking for substitutions and this all goes very easily without batting an eye, partly because these people know it's not a big deal, partly because they are more flexible to following a script.

It just doesn't work that way in Asia, and try as we may, we won't change that.

Another way to look at, albeit snarky - don't trouble their simple brains with requests for deviations from the norm.

Love that deer-in-the-headlights pic, BTW.

[thismyvoice]

I'm not sure if this should go in the wine/dine section or here, but here goes...

I was at Fair Price Finest this week and my basket had 8 pieces of dragon fruit. When I got to the clerk, she said I had to either buy 5 or 10 because the price was something like 5 for $2.35. I asked her to charge me for 5, then prorate the next 3 (around 45-50 cents each) and she wouldn't do it. I was shocked, but was nice about it and said ok.

Someone else told me that's done for non-produce items as well. If something is 2 for $5.00, you have to buy in increments of 2 (so you can't buy 1 for half that amount).

Anyone know if all stores do this or just Fair Price? Which ones (if any) don't do this?

Not just Fairprice. Their motivation is to sell in bulk, thus the cheaper price.

[zzm9980]

Had the same problem at Fairprice Finest recently. I tried to buy the last three items of an item that had a "Two for XX" sale, with a pretty steep discount, almost 40%. They wouldn't let me have the third (and last) one at the price. So I bought two of the last three only.

[JR8]

Had the same problem at Fairprice Finest recently. I tried to buy the last three items of an item that had a "Two for XX" sale, with a pretty steep discount, almost 40%. They wouldn't let me have the third (and last) one at the price. So I bought two of the last three only.

I find this rather puzzling. 'Two for X' means two, not three @ X/2*3.

Maybe expecting this flexibility is an American thing? I wouldn't expect it in Europe.

[sundaymorningstaple]

We don't expect it in the US either. At least not where I'm from anyway.

[BedokAmerican]

What I was trying to say was that in the US at stores such as Safeway or Kroger affiliates (and even Publix), was that if something is 3 for $5, the register will automatically ring up the first for $1.67, the second for $1.67 and third for $1.66. Many people don't pay attention to this because they'll automatically buy 3 because of the sale sign. Usually stores will do that to make people buy more, but won't penalize you if you don't buy the advertised amount. I've lived on the east and west coasts of the US and its the same.

I guess it can be compared to a sign that says apples are $2 per pound. If you buy a half pound of apples, you pay $1.

The only stores that don't offer flexibility are 7-Eleven types, but they usually say on a sign (for example: 2 for $2 or $1.29 each). In that case, the first would ring up $1.29 and the second would automatically ring up 71 cents. So in that case, you're penalized for buying 1 but you know in advance because the sign warns you.

As far as some produce that doesn't have barcodes, the cashier puts in a PLU code and the machine either asks quantity or will automatically weigh the item. (I found out quickly that stores here don't have scales at registers). It's even this way at self checkout registers. Anyway, if grapefruit is 2 for $1 and you buy 1, when clerk puts in code, machine asks quantity and clerk puts in 1 and you're charged 50 cents.

Americans, next time you're back in the US, check your grocery receipt. You can even ring up your own groceries at the self check out registers that are becoming more popular there at major grocers.

Sorry to drag this out. LOL.

[Brah]

We're not puzzled.

But locals continue to dazzle themselves by perpetuating the misnomer "one for one".

Which we all know, grammatically speaking, is one.

The rest of the world gets that right with "two for one".

Which we all know is two.

Had the same problem at Fairprice Finest recently. I tried to buy the last three items of an item that had a "Two for XX" sale, with a pretty steep discount, almost 40%. They wouldn't let me have the third (and last) one at the price. So I bought two of the last three only.

I find this rather puzzling. 'Two for X' means two, not three @ X/2*3.

Maybe expecting this flexibility is an American thing? I wouldn't expect it in Europe.

BA, methinks you didn't grok my last post.

[sundaymorningstaple]

Most things in NTUC have two prices on them as well, an "each" price and a "bundled" price if a bundle is being offered.

Maybe they don't "unbundle" the rest because the Island is pro family, so geared to buying in bulk as that might be seen as catering to the singles?

[x9200]

We're not puzzled.

But locals continue to dazzle themselves by perpetuating the misnomer "one for one".

Which we all know, grammatically speaking, is one.

The rest of the world gets that right with "two for one".

Which we all know is two.

The first is, one free for one paid. The second, two for the price of one. Both semantically correct IMHO.

[sundaymorningstaple]

I tend to agree. Both are correct. Just we think in one context while they think in another. Net price is identical.