There are some people who love to spend time shopping at a grocery store, while others want to get in and out as fast as possible. But rushing through a trip to the supermarket can result in shoppers making some huge mistakes that they aren’t even aware of.
Well, Thrillist talked with grocery store workers in five different states to find out the biggest mistakes shoppers are making during their trip to the supermarket, and some of them may surprise you.
Mistakes you’re making in the supermarket include:
- Not looking high and low – Supermarkets know that most people shop at eye level so they put the most expensive things where you’re eyes can see them easiest. There’s a better chance of finding discounted items if you look at either high or low shelves, with generic brands usually at knee level, and just as good as the well-known brands.
- Missing “by volume” pricing – The price listed on the shelf usually lists the actual price as well as the price per unit, which will tell you whether you’re getting a good price by per item. This is particularly helpful with bulk items.
- Failing to negotiate – Believe it or not, it is possible to negotiate a better price on items either with the manager or the checker. This usually works on items that may be dented, fruits that look old, old bakery items, etc.
- Buying meat from the front of the fridge – While meat usually has an expiration date, some markets may not stick to it. The insiders say some will just smell the meat and if it smells fine slap a new date on it, and then put it in the front of the display hoping it will sell faster. They suggest going towards the back of a display to get the freshest stuff.
- Not bringing baby wipes – Those carts you are using probably have a lot of germs, so using them without wiping them down first is just plain gross.
- Not checking a store’s health inspection – While restaurants have to post their inspection ratings, grocery stores don’t. There’s no way for the average shopper to know what’s going on behind the scenes at their store, unless they take the step to check out the ratings with the health department.
Source: Thrillist