Maintain a notepad with sale items you need so it's handy when you go shopping.
By Lesliew
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I have learned that the best way to keep track of sales items is to circle or highlight the item on the sale flyer and take it with me to the store.
This way, if the sale price isn't reflected when scanned there is no debate, or if the sale item is sold out, I can ask for a raincheck.
With the sale flyer in hand, the information about the item in question is readily available for confirmation by the cashier or manager and convenient if a raincheck needs to issued. Always ask for a raincheck if a sale item is sold out, unless there is an advance disclaimer that limits quanity.
Doing this saves time and typically doesn't hold up the line if there is a question about the sale price.
I put a * by the item and also circle it in the sale flyer and take the flyer with me along with my shopping list.
Sometimes I type my list at the computer and print off. It's much neater and easier to read. Sometimes I start a list and send as an email to myself.
Several times the store clerks don't know what I'm searching for, so by showing the picture in their ad
I get what I'm after. Also, if there are savings coupons I might have missed in the flyer/ad, I have
I work at a grocery store. I've only been there a few months but I noticed some things. Once a month it has dollars days. Sometimes a deal (.50c for 1L pepsi or coke) or not (something that's usually 1.00 is "featured" for a dollar or it's a smaller size brought in especially for the flyer). Dollar days has never been the Weekly sale when 10% Tuesday rolls around (first Tuesday of every month). They have case lot sales on a regular basis as well. They have a real good item every flyer to draw you in. Last month they had butter on for 1.99 a brick, people where buying cases.
Second take the flyer with you when you shop or pick it up at the front door most stores keep extras there. Find a place to sit down and read it over. Even if you have to go back out to your car. Write down what you want and what price it's supposed to be and what page of the flyer (if you can do this at home and make yourself a shopping list as well). Circle the ads in the flyer and take it with you if there is a problem so you can show the cashier. Mistakes happen. We are not trying to cheat you we want you happy)
Third when shopping look at the tags for the whole section. The tags will usually have the price and the size. Compare prices and sizes. If your like me you have a few absolutes. (Ketchup has to be Heinz, soya sauce has to be China Lily) but don't really care about brands you are better off price wise. I can remember reading the package information on no name granola bars and name brand granola bars as a kid and finding out they came from the same factory. (they don't usually list that anymore but no name products usually come from the same factory that the name brand does). The best deals are usually below or above eye level. Scan eye level as well for good sales.
Lastly if your store has a loyalty card find out how it works and how you can redeem it. Our store just launched a new card and I can't believe how many people won't even listen. Our card is a point per dollar with bonus points on items ranging from 5 to 100 (big points are usually for meat). You can redeem your points three ways extra miles for your aeroplan card, Cash back off your groceries or items from our catalog (like tvs, ipods, and gift certificates).
If you do cash back you get $5 at 725 points $10 at 1350 points and so on. Every five dollar level up costs less points. Things are often on sale and on bonus points. I tell my customers to wait till xmas to use their cash back. We started the program late september and I see customers going through the till with $20 dollars back already. You are not about to stop buying groceries so find out if there is a card and what it can get you. Also ask about the privacy agreement (yes our card has one). What the stores get is loyalty first and foremost. They are hoping you'll chose our store to shop at so you can get points. Secondly they can track what you buy regularly and send you coupons for those items and what you don't buy as well. Say if you buy cat treats often here but never cat food that tells us our price is too high and we'll do some market research and adjust. but this is info they can track with your credit or debit card as well. As long as they have a privacy agreement loyalty cards can be to your benefit. Just remember to bring them. Memorize your number or write it down on the back of your debit card. Add it into your cell phones memory. Hole punch a safe area (no barcode or magnetic stripe) and put it on your keys. All my prices are Canadian btw.
I know alot of this info is already out there but I hope this help somewhat. Have a nice day.
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