FAKE OFF A viral video on Facebook denounces a scam in a Carrefour Market which admits an error
Lille, June 19, 2013. The nearby supermarket Auchan A 2 pas in the district of Wazemmes. — M.LIBERT/20 MINUTES
- In a video that has gone viral on Facebook, a user denounces a scam of supermarkets.
- Filming packs of milk in a Carrefour Market supermarket, the consumer explains that the product sold by the batch would be more expensive than the sale by the unit.
- At 20 Minutes, Carrefour admits an error. But according to a survey published by 60 million consumers, this observation could occur much more frequently than expected.
Are supermarkets ripping us off? This is what a video relayed massively on Facebook denounces. The scene takes place in the heart of a Carrefour Market, the exact location of which is not indicated. “I had seen a video on TikTok, I’ll go see if it’s true,” said the “whistleblower” In the middle of the shelves, a mountain of milk packs is arranged with a sign enticing the consumer: the set of ten bottles is sold at a price. 9 euro.
The storefront is presented as a promotion. However, it would be nothing. “I’m going to take a liter and see what “it gives,” says the woman in the supermarket. By scanning it at the price terminal, she discovers that the bottle at the unit returns to 0.72 cents. The pack of ten bottles of milk should therefore cost 7.20 euros, not 9 euros. If Carrefour Market admits to 20 Minutes “an error”, the problem could be much more global.
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Yes, there are many hiccups in the displays of certain supermarkets. To better understand how ç works, we contacted; the Carrefour brand, responsible for the poor display put forward by the Internet user. “Our policy is to practice clear and honest promotions vis-à-vis our customers,” assures the press service of the group.
But sometimes problems like that of milk packs can arise, explains the Carrefour Group. “Given the number of stores we have (more than 5,000) and the thousand of products and promotions that we offer to our customers. our customers throughout the year, errors may occur. As soon as we realize it, a rectification is immediately carried out, as it was done. the case for the promotion of the ten Lactel” bottles.
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A certain gluttony for promos
A mistake rectified, but a common mistake in supermarkets. This is what revealed the survey of the magazine 60 millions of consumers, published last January. By scrutinizing the promotions put forward on 63 products, the investigators observed several anomalies on the discounts promised by the brands studied (Lidl, Auchan, Carrefour, E.Leclerc, Intermarché and U Express. According to a study by the marketing firm Sogec, cited by our colleagues, they say they are actively looking for promotions. ;select a product if a price reduction promise is made.
Among the error families, 60 million consumersparticularly noted that products were sold at a higher price in batches than in batches. the unit. It’s the same example spotted on the shelves of Carrefour Market with bottles of milk. During its investigation, the magazine noted; that products sold in pairs were more expensive per kilo than the same product per kilo; the unit. With 60 million consumers, a sign explains that faced with competition between stores, supermarkets must reduce product prices… sometimes forgetting to adjust the prices of the lots.
Promotions, 20% of turnover
The investigators of 60 millions of consumers< /em>also noted other inaccuracies in certain promotions. A product highlighted by a promotional campaign or at the top of the gondola may sometimes not benefit from any discount. In other brands, confusion can also be made between the normal price and the promotion present in the same department, which could mislead the consumer.
Other hiccups are also revealed by the survey, including stock-outs have been noticed by some customers who denounce the unavailability of of a product from the first day of its promotion. According to the consumer code, this can be considered as a misleading commercial practice.
These techniques used by supermarkets are not insignificant. Today, brands are well aware of this: promotions represent a large part of their turnover. 20% according to 60 million consumers. Thus, all methods are good – and sometimes very misleading – to attract the customer to a product.