Systeme D

21 May 2007

Co-oponomics

This Lent I decided to give up supermarkets: no more Sainsbury's, Tesco, Asda or Morrisons. As I work opposite a large Sainsbury's this has been a bit trying at times, but I managed to last out Lent and have continued with it since then. It's actually kind of fun - not least because I've discovered the fishmonger, cheese stall and butchers at Burton market.

I do, however, still go to the Co-op in Charlbury, because boycotting a generally ethical organisation like the Co-op seems rather silly. One of the lovely things about the Co-op, which is generally a surprisingly savvy organisation which can both out-Finest and out-Value any Tescos within a 30-mile radius, is that they have this fantastic disregard for the laws of modern economics.

On the way to the Rose and Crown this evening (ahem), we stopped off to use the Co-op's ever-so-handy free cash machine. The cash machine promptly apologised for the fact that "£0 notes are not currently available". Well, damnit, I was going to spend no money in your shop, but now that no money is not available I'll have to rethink.

Opposite the cash machine was the 'reduced' shelf, offering a £2.09 pack of sausages for £1.04. To really make the best of this you have to understand the rare science of Co-oponomics. Though the sausages were initially £2.09 for a pack, they're on special offer at £3 for two packs. And when the Co-op makes such an offer, though it may be advertised as "two for £3", it's really "buy two, save £1.18". Which means that you can buy one pack of reduced sausages for £1.04, or two for, er, 90p.

I love the Co-op.


Comments

The Co-op aren't the only ones with reduced price oddities; it happens in several supermarkets. For instance, Waitrose often have exactly the same situation as you describe with the rather lovely Gu chocolate puddings, which is rather detrimental to my diet plans...

Posted by Sam Holloway on 8.6.07 12:00


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