Coles Products: down down... and Staying down?

Lord Fart Bucket on 14/01/2018 - 17:37
Last edited 15/01/2018 - 01:36 by 2 other users

Mrs sent me to do the shopping regularly… and yes, Coles is the closest.
Sure, I go to the local fruitshop (better quality for similar price), Aldi (for some stuff) but Coles is also in the list of regular places to visit.

Now, it occurred to me as i was scanning items through the self checkout that the western star spreadable butter was $5.50 or $5.70 or so… and I noticed the tag with the red hand was gone. Did a bit of digging, and my suspicions were confirmed shows that this butter was $5 EVERY DAY.

I understand the butter prices have gone up… but should Coles be held to its own promises?

Poll Options

  • 37
    Yes
  • 8
    No
Food & Grocery

Related Stores

Coles
Coles

Comments

  • ascorbic on 14/01/2018 - 17:48

    Coles shouldn't be allowed to advertise something as $5 "every day" one week then switch to $5.70 the next. If they want to increase the price, they should remove the "every day" label while keeping the $5 price for a month or so before increasing the price. Hard to tell which approach they took as the catalogue linked is from June 2016.

  • mysterytal on 14/01/2018 - 17:52

    That was June 2016. Prices go up…

    • outlander on 14/01/2018 - 18:44

      Not in a well functioning economy they don't

      • sph on 14/01/2018 - 18:50

        Define well. A moderate amount of inflation is generally wanted to help drive consumption and drive down debt. It helps drive the economy.

        • Kangal on 14/01/2018 - 19:09
          +7

          "Anyone who thinks that you can have infinite growth, in a finite environment (Earth) is either a madman…. or an economist." -David Atten'bro

        • sph on 14/01/2018 - 20:08

          @Kangal: I can’t argue with that!

        • outlander on 14/01/2018 - 20:56
          +1

          In a good economy, people work together to produce more than they need. A portion of the excess is spent on R&D, which reduces the cost of production, which leads to more product for the same price, which leads to lower cost for consumers. Every good RTS player recognizes that, but if you ask most people they think its normal and some how sustainable that prices perpetually increase while wage growth is flat.

        • khued on 14/01/2018 - 22:46

          @Kangal: Why environment is finite? To the Moon and beyond!

        • Kangal on 15/01/2018 - 00:33

          @khued:
          What happened to your previous account, Elon?

        • joungs on 16/01/2018 - 05:58

          @Kangal: Is technological advancement finite though? And if it is we are a long way off yet

      • Ozpit on 16/01/2018 - 02:43

        As robots take over the world and costs related to human labour dwindle, prices can only go down, down, down.

  • JIMB0 on 14/01/2018 - 17:55
    +5

    They make a lot of noise when prices are dropped, but they've been quietly raising the prices of various items for years. I've also noticed they will have pre-packaged fruit that is 750 grams instead of 1kg. A lot of people would pick it up thinking they are getting 1kg of fruit.

    • ascorbic on 14/01/2018 - 18:11
      +2

      A lot of size reductions also coincide with a "new look pack" or similar to distract people from realising they're getting less for the same price.

    • Lord Fart Bucket on 14/01/2018 - 19:54

      That's logic… best not to draw attention to prices going up… marketing 101.

  • kahn on 14/01/2018 - 18:28
    +2

    That "spreadable" product isn't actually butter, it's much worse.

    • follow on 14/01/2018 - 18:40

      what do you recommend? is there a "pure" butter?

      • Quantumcat on 14/01/2018 - 18:51

        Something that comes wrapped in a rectangular prism is likely to be good butter, but has to be kept out of the fridge (in a butter dish so flies can't get it).
        You can tell good butter when it stays yellow as you spread it until it goes transparent from melting, rather than going white.
        I don't think there's anything wrong with western star, I like it. Might not pass the "yellow test" but tastes good

    • Lord Fart Bucket on 14/01/2018 - 20:01

      I agree. Which is why i don't use it… but she does. I use mustard to make the cheese stick to the bread. And it's redundant for most other spreads (peanut butter, nutella, etc).

  • capslock on 14/01/2018 - 18:54

    Google says there is currently a butter shortage. A price increase is better than no stock at all.

    • kahn on 14/01/2018 - 19:09

      That may be true, but the OP was referring to "spreadable butter" which isn't actually butter. It's a different product, only used in similar ways.

      • [Deactivated] on 15/01/2018 - 18:51

        Spreadable butter has been affected in price as well. Aldi have raised their spreadable butter at least twice. It used to be $2.99 and is now $3.99 per 500gm tub.

  • spackbace on 14/01/2018 - 19:33
    +1

    Hasn't been a 'down down' since 24-4-17 (Source). Since then it's been a catalogue special.

    Woolworths did the same thing (Source)

    • Lord Fart Bucket on 14/01/2018 - 19:59

      The down down is still used though… (example https://www.catalogueau.com/coles/coles-catalogue-10-january…). And the slogan was that "prices are down down and staying down" (http://www.facebook.com/coles/videos/1453567478040596/). While they seem to have ditched the song (Thank God!)… the hand, the down down is still there…

      • spackbace on 14/01/2018 - 20:34

        Hey, look!

        Thanks for your patience, Lesley. Our Merch Team have advised that although we're committed to reducing the average cost of our customer's shopping basket, we occasionally have to make changes to our pricing. In this case, it was due to a significant cost increase from our supplier. We're really sorry for the hassle.

        And an interesting reply here:

        Hi Josh, thanks for the feedback. When we launch a Down Down product we commit to keeping that price down for at least 6 months. Over 5,000 product prices have been reduced since we launched Down Down two years ago. Most of these products have stayed down and in some cases the prices have been reduced even further. Unfortunately, there are some instances, such as in this case, where supplier cost increases (wages, transport, taxes etc.) mean we are forced to increase the shelf price. Whenever this happens we look to absorb these costs first and only increase the price when absolutely necessary.

        • Lord Fart Bucket on 14/01/2018 - 20:54

          Hey, look

          And the response in the end to the coles rep says it all:

          Ok so the prices are not staying down…. Thanks for clearing that up

        • spackbace on 14/01/2018 - 21:06
          +3

          @Martijn:

          Well, do you expect the price to stay the same for the next 20 years?

        • Yttrium on 14/01/2018 - 21:16
          +1

          @Spackbace:

          Further reductions would be acceptable.

      • CacheHunter on 05/02/2018 - 05:19

        But used to be $0.53 for 450g. https://guides.slv.vic.gov.au/whatitcost/groceries
        I just wish Coles had introduced down, down back then. But perhaps then either butter would be unavailable, or Coles would be broke.

  • Dibbers on 15/01/2018 - 09:06

    Make your own So much cheaper!

  • TransportPosters on 15/01/2018 - 09:09

    When the "down down" stuff first started happening, I was a regular buyer of the 3-litre Coles orange juice. Then they went out of stock for about two weeks and the product returned at the same price but now as 2.4-litre size. Since then, I've kept my eye on the regular things I've bought from supermarkets and have seen heaps of stuff slowly creeping up.

    Basically they drop one thing and do a big song and dance about it while they quietly raise another item. It probably all balances out in our checkout totals over time and is just a psychological thing to get us excited and into their shops.

    I am sure it won't be long before the Coles 224 tissues will be $1 a box.

  • [Deactivated] on 15/01/2018 - 09:12

    This is a direct result of our trade deal with China , as our dairy products have become popular prices of the premium product have gone through the roof.
    Those of us who like to drink the nicer milk ( like organic ) will also have noticed the cream content has disappeared.
    What supprises me is you all don't know this.
    Same reason most countries won't let foreign interests buy up prime agricultural land and resources .
    Time to look at the new NZ example

  • MrBear on 15/01/2018 - 09:23
    +1

    The Coles brand 1.25L soda water and tonic water were 75c everyday prices. Just before Xmas they went up to 90c.

    Mysteriously, Woolies prices also went from 75c to 90c.

    I'm not suggesting collusion or anything… no, not at all.

    • Krsne on 15/01/2018 - 10:23
      +1

      Isn't that due to the recycling tax thing. The price is still 75c in Perth.

  • Birchy on 15/01/2018 - 10:52

    Still 75c in Adelaide and we have the recycling deposit thing.

  • HeWhoKnows on 15/01/2018 - 13:29

    I go through both Woolies and Coles catalogues and pick out all the specials that I NEED.
    Both stores are close where I live so easy to compare "regular" prices when justified

  • texanboy on 04/02/2018 - 08:56
    Merged from Coles - Up, Up, Prices are Up

    Just an observation on a couple of everyday staple grocery items - Coles brand - which shot up on Australia Day at Coles.

    Coles Buttery Blend Spreadable - Was $4.50, Now $5.15 (+14.4%)

    Coles 250g Butter - Was $2.79 Now $2.95 (+5.7%)

    Prices from grocerycop.com.au - which is a great website for checking price histories @ Coles & Woolworths.

    This combined with the general cleanliness in my local Coles going downhill in recent months - the floors are disgusting, windows not regularly cleaned, etc. More reasons to shop at Aldi!

    Wondering if anyone else has noticed price increases in recent weeks?

    • try2bhelpful on 04/02/2018 - 09:29
      +7

      No offence, but every Aldi I've ever been in looks like it is owned by an elderly hoader aunt who has stopped giving a toss about what her house looks like.

      • [Deactivated] on 04/02/2018 - 10:40

        I agree aldi is shit

    • tsunamisurfer on 04/02/2018 - 09:51
      +8

      There is a world shortage of butter. Chinese buying up. The French are lamenting there isn't any for making croissants.

      • cloudy on 04/02/2018 - 10:21

        This is true. I’d be surprised if other supermarkets didn’t raise butter prices too.

        I read the shortage is not due to higher demand, it’s due to low milk prices, as butter is made from milk by products, and producers of milk are giving up due to low (global) prices. Don’t blame $1 a litre supermarket milk, as these are global pricing issues.

      • iforgotmysocks on 04/02/2018 - 10:22
        +10

        That's what big butter wants you to believe

      • texanboy on 04/02/2018 - 10:36
        +6

        Thanks for clarifying that!

      • Baysew on 04/02/2018 - 10:37
        +5

        The French are lamenting there isn't any for making croissants.

        Sacré bleu.

    • bobbified on 04/02/2018 - 09:58
      +3

      Alright.. You sound like you're on a vendetta.
      Did Coles refuse you a refund or something?

    • djkelly69 on 04/02/2018 - 10:30
      +7

      So out of their tens of thousands (??) of items, the price of two has gone up? What did the ACCC say??

    • [Deactivated] on 04/02/2018 - 10:41
      +3

      Blah blah blah
      2 items more expensive, the world is ending in OPs eyes

      • barbarella on 04/02/2018 - 12:06
        +3

        no need to be so sarcastic :/
        I have noticed these sorts of comments a lot lately - no need for them :/

    • Daabido on 04/02/2018 - 10:42

      I noticed that their previously excellent frozen crumbed chicken tenders went from 72% chicken to something in the 60s%. They are also now all a uniform shape rather than the old pack with a variety of more natural looking sizes. It is still better than Steggal which is under 50% chicken, but I do not like it when products are reduced in quality to reach a price point.

    • KaTst3R on 04/02/2018 - 10:50
      +2

      This isnt a coles issue, there is global butter shortage.

    • Godric on 04/02/2018 - 10:50
      +2

      Prices go up not down

    • subywagon on 04/02/2018 - 11:15
      +1

      Margarine for the win then :P

    • Cheeper on 04/02/2018 - 11:24
      +2

      It has always been the same… for every price drop of one item that they proudly promote there are 9 that increase unannounced.
      Prices are down… ha ha ha.
      I would like to see them back their prices are down down claim by publicly presenting their routine price change list..

    • try2bhelpful on 04/02/2018 - 11:57

      I'm willing to accept a price increase if they will stop playing that annoying jingle.

  • chumlee on 04/02/2018 - 12:15
    +1

    I thought this was going to be an x rated post but turns out it's just about butter not going down down

  • retiredfeline on 04/02/2018 - 12:21

    You really should be more concerned about your wages flat flat and staying flat.

    • Lord Fart Bucket on 05/02/2018 - 12:31

      Thanks… but luckily, not a concern atm.

  • pennypincher98 on 05/02/2018 - 10:03

    Down, down and then up they go…
    Sometimes they'll be an "every day" price for a couple of years, then sell at the same price as the competitor.

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