FIVE WAYS SUPERMARKETS MAY CHEAT YOU

If you are the family shopper, you know that inflation is getting worse instead of better. Supposedly, it’s running at 9%. But those of us who roam the aisles of the grocery stores know better. Especially at checkout time, when you’re hit with a whopper of a bill. I suppose the people who run big super stores are having the same problem at the wholesale level, so they’re desperately seeking ways to make a decent profit in order to stay solvent. Unfortunately, they’re resorting to some sneaky tactics to make that happen. Here are five ways that supermarkets may cheat you.

5 ways supermarkets may cheat you — FIVE WAYS SUPERMARKETS MAY CHEAT YOU” # Inedible fruit, Double scanning, couponing, false advertising, forgotten items.

1.Selling inferior or frankly inedible produce. This is a biggie, because most of us are trying to eat healthy. So, you buy a cantaloupe, or what some farmers call a “musk melon.” But you’re taking a big risk, because when you get it home and cut into it, you know you’ve been ripped off. In some cases, it tastes like squash. Or it’s half spoiled, or hard as a rock. So you throw it in the trash because it’s not worth spending $5 on gas to return a $3 melon. Other examples of bad produce are avocadoes that have turned black inside; green potatoes, mushy asparagus. The list goes on and on..

Are we supposed to believe that the head of the produce department does not realize they’re selling inedible fruits and vegetables? That they never taste the batches of melons that come in the back door? Sorry, I’m not buying that excuse. They know perfectly well that they’re cheating their customers, but they also know that most folks won’t go to the bother of driving back to the store to return it.

2 .Double scanning. This happens most at crowded stores with small checkout stands. While the clerk is busy talking to you or the bagger he/she runs a box of crackers or a bag of tomatoes twice through the scanner. You don’t’ realize it until you get home and check your receipt. By then, it’s too late to get your money back. Who’s to say you didn’t buy two boxes of crackers?

3. Couponing Before I retired, I never bothered with coupons. Didn’t have the time to fool around with them. But most retirees do try and save a few dollars by using the ones in the paper and those sent out by the major supermarkets. . Trouble is, you must read the fine print. At least half the time, they’re rejected because you were supposed to buy two or ten of the item, or they’re expired.

4. Misleading advertising. As an example, one store recently advertised a name brand ice cream on sale for $3.00. (which usually sells for around $6.00) A large sign on the freezer door boasted of this fantastic sale. If I hadn’t been careful enough to look at each price tag, I would have paid $6 for my vanilla ice cream. Turns out the sale only applied to “select varieties” which include some strange flavors like carrot/avocado.

5. Forgotten items after checkout. This happens most frequently in stores with carousel bag holders. There a shelf in the middle where the cashier places big items, or ones that are fragile. Sometimes, you get home missing bags of potatoes or oranges. I’ve seen cashiers stash these things under the counter. Do they return them for resale, or take them home? Either way, you’ve lost money. Recently, I have a friend who found a steak left on top of the carousel. When he tried to find the person who bought it, she had driven away. Didn’t the checkout clerk see the steak? Was she planning to put it back for resale?. We’ll never know.

Many shoppers are too tired and rushed to look out for these five ways that supermarkets cheat you. Most of the time, there’s not much you can do about it. But if I get a rotten melon, I take it back to the store—not for the money, but just so they know I’m onto their tricks.

February 28, 2020March 1, 2020

HOW TO FIX WHAT’S BROKEN

Remember when people fixed things instead of buying new ones? There were shoe repair shops all over town. Socks were darned. Broken crockery was glued back together. But now, we’ve become a throw-away society. Instead of repairing household goods and products, we simply toss them in the trash and buy a new one. But recently, I found a new product that works miracles in repairing numerous household and personal items. Here’s how I learned to fix what’s broken .

In a rental property I manage, a very nice built-in medicine cabinet had a cracked, yellowed lampshade.. Everyone told me there was nothing to do but buy a new medicine cabinet and lighting fixture. But I liked the cabinet, and didn’t want to yank it out of the wall, and hire someone to rewire a new medicine cabinet . Also, there would be a problem with new plaster or drywall.

You can repair a broken lampshade with moldable thermoplastic — Instead of buying a new medicine cabinet, I made a new lampshade. Here’s how to fix what’s broken.

Desperately, I searched the internet and home improvement stores to find a lampshade to fit. But alas, it was custom made and out of date. I tried to find someone who made custom lampshades, but no such luck. Then, I came across an article about moldable thermoplastic. It sounded like something way out of my realm of expertise. And yet, after watching a you tube video, I realized I could make my own lampshade.

Most artsy crafty people have been familiar with this stuff for years. I ordered some over the internet for $6.00, but you can buy it places like Walmart and Hobby Lobby. It’s incredibly easy to use and requires no special equipment. Just melt the little plastic beads in some hot water until it becomes soft and pliable and sticks together. Using the old shade as a mold, I pulled and stretched the gooey mass until it was.hard and tough. Within minutes, I had a new translucent lampshade.

It's easy to fix reading glasses with moldable plastic — Here’s how to fix what’s broken: use moldable thermoplastic to repair broken glasses

I had tons of the beads left over. It only took a few beads to repair some cracked reading glass frames. Then I fixed the cracked tip of my cell phone charger. It can also be used to repair cracked hairdryers, vacuum cleaners, or any household item made of plastic. Believe it or not, some people make their own false teeth! I don’t think I’ll go that far.

January 8, 2020January 8, 2020

Yucky Restrooms Repel Customers

Most of us avoid using public restrooms like the plague. But sometimes, especially if you’ve had too much coffee, you have to go. It amazes me that big supermarket chains and discount stores make so little effort to keep their restrooms fresh and clean. Remember the heyday of the big department stores? Part of their appeal was their attractive powder rooms. Yucky public restrooms repel customers.

We live 5 minutes away from three superstores who constantly try and outdo each other to attract sales. They spend a fortune on beautiful full page, color ads. They run unbelievable sales and loss leaders to lure you through their doors. Only one of them has clean, attractive public restrooms.

Store #1: Before you even walk inside the bathroom, you see two dull, grimy drinking fountains . Open the door and you’re greeted by a disgusting smell. This is not a one time thing. It ALWAYS smells this way. You have to wonder why. Because of backed up drains? Poor ventilation? Whatever. The walls are painted an ugly brown, with mustard yellow tiles. Makes you think of diarrhea and other nasty images. All of which goes along with the odor. They have two stalls, and one of them is usually plugged up with toilet paper.

Store #2: This is a big box store, so they have about 8 stalls. The odor isn’t so bad as store #1, but it comes close. Paper towels are scattered all over the floor and on the sinks. Usually, two or three toilets are stopped up, so it takes awhile to find one that works and doesn’t stink. Often, they’re out of toilet paper. Stalls are stainless steel, and walls are painted a grayish white. There is nothing remotely appealing about this place,

Store #3: Nice surprise because it doesn’t stink. No, it doesn’t look like the restrooms at the Hilton Garden Inn, but at least the walls are freshly painted and bright. The floors are mopped and free of litter. The sinks are clean. None of the toilets are stopped up. Stainless steel doors aren’t smudged with fingerprints. Locks work.

Guess where I’d rather shop for my groceries? Yes, it’s a mile further, but subconsciously, I’m attracted to the cleanliness, good lighting, and smell of the restrooms at Store #3. I probably won’t use their restroom very often, but I know it’s there, and I won’t have to hold my nose if I have to use it..

Clean public restrooms attract customers — Grocery stores that maintain clean public restrooms attract more customers.

Here’s my advice to all the big grocery chains: If you really want to compete, forget about offers to save a dollar if you buy five, and all the other confusing ads. Paint your restrooms pink or blue. You might even have some pretty murals or framed pictures. Install some soft lighting. . Make it smell fresh—not like bleach or disinfectant, but something really fragrant. Keep the mirrors clean. Take out those disgusting blow hand dryers that everyone knows spread bacteria. If a toilet gets plugged up, have a maintenance guy fix it pronto. You might be surprised what attractive public restrooms will do for your bottom line.

Yucky public restrooms repel customers.