Rights and wrongs of shelf pricing.

Worked in retail for 20 years….doesn’t matter what the price label says …it’s the price the till recognises that matters! That being said, any decent manager would have given you the cheaper price , as long as the label did say ‘Gaviscon’ on it! ( customers been known to swap labels!)
Price changes come down every day , and the labels printed off…staff then have to change labels. But the bigger the shop and the scarcity of the staff, mistakes happen!!
Gaviscon is my tipple …and the price is extortionate …try sainsburys own brand ! It’s half the price and just as effective.

Whatever the legal situation, shops use bar codes and shelf prices to avoid having to price items individually. I make the decision to buy that item at that price at the point I put it in my shopping basket. I don't expect to then have to barter to get it at that price when I get to the till.

One major issue is that items are not always being put in the correct place by the staff. I have noticed this in Boots and Sainsburys. The last thing I want when I reach the till is to dispute an expected price and then told to go to Service Desk in the case of Sainsburys or to walk back across the store with a shop assistant in Boots to where the item was found. Mistakes are easy to make but stores should be keeping a closer eye on how shelves are priced and stocked.

Your rights depend on which country you are in, and Wellbeck is no doubt right as to what applies in the UK.

However, in many countries you would be entitled to demand that the shop sold the product at the price marked on the shelf, or on the packet, as the shop owner is obliged to change the price on the shelf before it is legal to sell goods at a higher price.

Did they say what regulation prevented sale over the counter?
The Boots in our much-depleted town centre looks as though it’s hanging by a thread. The main reason people go in is the pharmacy really, as we have numerous discounters selling make-up and toiletries. They should be encouraging, not deterring customers.

Tesco have given me a refund a few times when they have changed the reduced price back to ‘ normal ‘, but shelf price not changed. They also then give the item free. Only, presumably, applies to groceries.

I think Boots have an own brand equivalent. Wilko certainly do with an identical formulation.

No rights you have no rights even if it said free a shop doesn’t have to sell you anything at any price. annoying but that’s the fact. Most shops will act on good will because they know it makes good business.
On a completely didn’t notE if you need Gaviscon regularly please check with your doctor. My doctor dismissed my heard burn for years when I changed my doctor she sent me for Gastroscopy. I had a hole in my oesophagus. Heart burn can be harmless but it can also be a symptom of many other things. Also Gaviscon and antacids can stop the body from absorbing vitamin B so if you take long term get your levels check. Sorry to side line but I would hate for anyone to suffer like I did ( I manage the condition now).

In 2019 I was looking for an oval Le Creuset casserole on the manufacturer's webside and saw that you got a 30% discount if you bought more than one product. I put two HUGE casseroles in my basket to see what I could save and saw to my delight that instead of costing £540 they were coming up at £105 so I bought them both. (Today the full price would be around £650).
The next day I got an email saying that there had been a glitch but I pointed out that they'd taken my money so had actually already sold them to me. After a day or two and a bit of to-ing and fro-ing they agreed to send the goods.
I do love a bargain and really appreciate that they were honest enough to honour the sale.
They are large enough to hold a leg of lamb or a really big chicken and I also use them (with lids) to bake beautiful loaves.

Thankyou Jane
I will look into that.

Thanks for that info exwife and BlueBelle, oh I’m really surprised at that TheExwife as yes that’s right. Oh I didn’t realise that either BlueBelle. I will take note thank you

A friend is approaching a special birthday and absolutely loves tea. I've been searching different teas and stumbled across a bottle of Rosè sparkling tea from Fortnum & Masons. Online the price was £8.49 but when I went to buy some at their shop in the Royal Exchange, London it was marked as £17.50 a bottle.
I queried it and they knew it was half price but hadn't changed any labelling on the shelf ticket(s) but were more than happy to serve it at the reduced price.
Just hope my friend loves it

ANNESIXTY, go to home bargains, their own brand is only £5.49p just as good too

It can of course work the other way. Occasionally I have chosen an item in a shop at a certain price, but at the till it was found to be cheaper.

Ever since I learned about it years ago, I have always been amused by the famous ‘All to mother’ case GSM!

HeavenLeigh there are a few medications that I haven’t been able to buy at Boots because of my age, but I have walked across the street to Superdrug and bought it
one being chloraphenicaol for eye infections

HeavenLeigh The pharmacist said that thrush is a symptom of diabetes which is common over 60 so they are not allowed to sell thrush treatments without a test for diabetes. makes no sense as you can buy treatments off the shelf.

I now realise if that had not been the only item I bought I wouldn’t have known until (or if) I checked my bill that I would have realised I had been charged a higher price.
The saying “ buyer beware “ is very true.

Welbeck is correct!

I sell antiques and the "shelf" price is (often) merely a point at which bargaining begins. The sale is not concluded until I accept the buyer's payment.

I’d of said it’s not for me TheExwife. I’ve never heard of that before, do they usually ask your age!

Wellbeck is right. It’s also the case you can get to the till, have everything in your basket run through, and then offer to pay £10 less. The store probably won’t but that is your right and you can walk away and not make a purchase.

They are not obliged to sell at the lower price, or at all - but if it’s a habit that a particular shop has Trading Standards would be interested.

I am surprised that shops are not obliged to sell at the price advertised. I have had this situation many times with Tesco and Lidl and they have always allowed me to have it at the lower price. Not long ago I bought a tin of golden syrup from Lidl. The shelf price was £1.99 but I was charged a staggering £2.50.A refund was given with no problem. I must have been lucky.

Ironically, the leading case as to whether a shop is obliged to sell an item at a particular price or at all is Boots Cash Chemists (Southern) Ltd (1953) …. imprinted on my mind from 50-odd years ago.

In January, I needed a wrist support. After researching on line prices at Boots, I went to buy one. The exact same product on line was £12.67, and on the shelf was £19.00.
I found an assistant, who went in search of a more senior one. She was surprised to say the least, so looked it up on her own iPad, and eventually sold me the product at the on line price.
But such a difference in pricing is not acceptable.
Boots seem to be the main culprit from this thread.

I have answered too quickly!
Apologies.
I am guilty of my pet hate!
#Readthewholethread
🙄

I went to Boots to buy thrush treatment, on the shelf there was only canestan at £12, behind the counter there was Boots own make for £6 however they refused to sell me the cheaper one as I am over 60 so they are not allowed to sell to me from the pharmacy. Ridiculous system when I can buy the same product off the shelf.