The Bi-Lo supermarket chain includes among it’s specials this week, a box of Arnott’s Shapes biscuits for $1.37, which seems like a good deal but as so often happens, activities we get involved with end up with a SPOTD report.

We went there this evening to buy some groceries, and bought a couple of boxes. We noticed there were two boxes of a new flavour - Chicken Drumstick - that were promotional packaging, different to the regular sized boxes. These two boxes were clearly marked: 30% EXTRA FREE - TRIAL PACK in a bold font, with letters roughly one inch tall.

Wonderful, we thought, seeing not only a good price anyway, but the additional bonus of extra product for free. Gotta be happy with that. Alas, it was too good to be true. When the boxes were scanned at the register, the price indicated was $2.09 instead. Naturally we drew the register operator’s attention to this error, because they should have been at the lower price indicated in the first sentence.

She looked at us like we were stupid and patiently explained that it cost more to buy because it was “a bigger box”.

Us: “Yes, it’s bigger because it’s free. So it’s the same price.”

SPOTD: “No. It’s a bigger box. You got to pay more ‘cos it’s bigger.”

Us: “But it’s a trial pack with EXTRA FREE. It should be the same price as all the other boxes.”

 She called a guy from the floor to come and check the price. Off he went to the aisle and returned briefly to inform us that yes, we were correct and the price should be the lower price, not the one it was scanning at. However, he apologised, he did not have the authority to change the price.

Our cretinous register operator then waved them in the air at us, clearly taking great pains to provide us with the least amount of customer care she could muster, and barked

SPOTD: “So do you want ‘em or not?”.

Naturally, we declined.

So there’s a lesson for us all - at Bi-Lo, it’s only free if you pay extra. Somewhat ironic since the store slogan is “Why Pay More!”…

Categories: SPOTD