The Good Shopper
Consumer Reports - Good Specials - Who Owns Who - What's Best
Clever Shopping - Money Savers - Do's & Don'ts & More
This link will be continually Updated.
Tuesday May 13
Australian television has reported that the two main supermarkets in Australia, Coles and Woolworths, have been found with fruit on their shelves up to 9 months old (apples) with many other fruit species certainly not fresh as advertised. Their recommendations were to not buy fruit late at night, buy from smaller fruit stores or fruit markets, if you are lucky enough to have one in your region. They stated that smaller retailers or fruit markets seemed to be more careful with their quality and selection.
Thursday May 8/08
Various sources have reported today that the ACCC has accused Coles, through their discount petrol dockets, of blatantly ripping customers off. Coles has been named as having the highest prices at a range of it's outlets. The ACCC said consumers should not think they were paying less because they used shopper dockets. "In all four eastern states Coles Express was setting the highest prices at a significant number of it's sites" the ACCC said.
(The takeover by Wesfarmers, owners of Bunnings, has had little effect to date. What is Bunnings' motto about low prices? E.J.B)
Who owns who.....At time of this inclusion the following paint and associated products were made by Orica Limited: Dulux Paints, Berger Paints, British Paints, Walpamur Paints, Cabots Timber Coatings, Feast Watson Timber Coatings, Intergrain, Acratex, Selleys Chemicals, Rota Cota Paint Rollers and Accessories, Poly Car Care Products, etc, etc. Question: Which is the Best paint brand out of the above? Why are like products differing prices?
The Coles Group
Now owned by Wesfarmers (Nov. 07) the owners of Bunnings Warehouses
Coles, Bi-Lo, 1st Choice Liquor Superstore, Liquorland, Vintage Cellars,
Officeworks, Target, K-Mart, K-Mart Tyre Auto Service,
Coles Express, Harristechnology, Pharmacy Direct plus all Coles Petrol Stations
Clever Shopping....The original cake of bath soap is (metric) 125 grams. You can now find many lesser sizes advertised "on special" i.e. 100 grm, 93grm, 90grm and even 70grm. Don't be fooled.
Clever Shopping....A stubby of beer has always been 375mls, exactly half of the original large long neck bottle of 750mls. Any size less than 375mls, advertised as a stubby, is surely false advertising.
What's Best, What's Fresh. Have you ever wondered throughout the food supermarket delicatessens , large and small, when freshly cut processed meats or other fresh foods are regarded as not fresh and thrown out. How long has that sliced ham been in the window? When were those "fresh chicken legs" placed on display? How old are those loose frankfurts? Can anyone help? Ask your local supermarket for their definition.
Conditions of Sale....Television adverts are notorious for make extraordinary claims of super discounts and prices yet many have a "dirty line" (or two or three), at the bottom of your large screen TV. Completely unreadable but these are the special terms or conditions. A simple rule should apply and that is that no print on an advert can be less than fifty percent of the largest block letters shown. Be very wary of advertisements with fine or very fine print on the bottom.
The word FRESH.....What is your interpretation. Fresh vegetables or fruits are "fresh" when just picked or cut.
Product Labeling.....I believe there is a legal ruling in Australia that all imported products must be clearly labeled with their country of origin. Ask your politician.
Product or Catalogue Labeling....."Bargain Warehouses" around Australia are allowed now to purchase or import "Parallel Products" or products with common manufacturers labels. These are sourced from other countries that have no association with the local product. Whilst the quality of these products can vary, the main government ruling is they must be easily identified from the local product, on the product and in the catalogue. The most popular are products like Colgate or Sunlight. Rarely the same quality in my experience, especially Sunlight dishwashing liquid.
Savings......When purchasing gardening products the larger supermarkets and hardware stores have generic brands. Sprays and fertilizers that are identical in structure to the name brands but at a much lesser price. Weed Killers, Rose Sprays, Insect Sprays, Complete Fertilizers, Granulated Garden Fertilizers, Lawn Seeds, Liquid Fertilizers, etc
Strange - How many times do we see "New and Improved" on products and in their marketing? If the product is "NEW" how can it be "Improved"?
Toilet Tissues - With the advent of "extra thick", "double layer", "triple layer", etc. Some of these may block your sanitary system.
Small Hardware Stores - Don't be misled that because the outlet is smaller than the huge warehouses, that all their prices are more expensive. Armed with your hardware warehouse catalogue, you will probably find the smaller outlet will at least match the price. May save a long drive. At least ring before deciding.
Bunning's Hardware Catalogues - Has anyone noticed......Bunning's catalogues do not have a closing date on their prices. Presumably you may claim last years prices or further back.
Shopping Dockets - Never throw a shopping docket away for at least a month for groceries, 24 months for electrical, 12 months for manchester and clothing, etc. They are simple to store in a plastic container and lid. If the product doesn't work....Take it back for a full refund. What about all those cleaners and their claims?
Good Quality, Good Prices - Have found that the Arlec branded AA Alkaline batteries outlast many of the other brands, and are far less expensive.
Supermarket Controlled Service Stations - Prices of over the counter general products do not necessarily compare with the parent supermarket. Watch your purchases carefully.
Petrol Pricing - When you purchase from a "shopper docket supermarket", who really is in control of the pricing structure of the petrol? Shell, Caltex, etc. or is it controlled by Coles, Woolworths or any other associated fuel supplier. It seems when the controversial pricing system arises, the petrol companies are fully blamed.
Australian Consumer Links
Consumer Affairs Victoria Office of Consumer & Business Affairs South Australia
Consumer & Business Affairs Northern Territory Office of Fair Trading Queensland
Consumer Affairs & Fair Trading Tasmania Office of Fair Trading New South Wales
Consumer & Employment Protection Western Australia Office of Fair Trading A.C.T
Australian Competition & Consumer Commission (ACCC) Scamwatch Aust. Gov.
Choice Magazine Consumers Online Website (Australian Government)
Consumer Protection Links Aust.Gov.(ACCC) Australian Bank's Consumer Protection
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