←back to thread

Dollar-stores overcharge customers while promising low prices

(www.theguardian.com)
510 points bookofjoe | 1 comments | 07 Dec 25 14:37 UTC | HN request time: 0s | source
Show context
tgsovlerkhgsel ◴[07 Dec 25 21:55 UTC] No.46185584[source]▶
> listed on the shelf at $5, rang up at $7.65. Bounty paper towels, shelf price $10.99, rang up at $15.50

I'm sure the US obsession with not putting the actual price (tax included) on the shelf helps a lot with this. I would notice quite quickly if a store would systematically overcharge me in Europe. It'd be much harder in the US where I expect the price on the shelf to not match the price at checkout.

replies(1): >>46185643 #
venturecruelty ◴[07 Dec 25 22:01 UTC] No.46185643[source]▶
Those prices aren't because of tax; even the highest sales tax wouldn't cause $10.99 paper towels to ring up as $15.50.
replies(1): >>46185706 #
dotancohen ◴[07 Dec 25 22:08 UTC] No.46185706[source]▶
Yes, but the US consumers are conditioned to see one price and pay a higher price. You and I might see +40% and think "that's too high a percentage". Others see +something and think "just like every other time". If they even look - I'm sure these items are often in a cart with many other items.
replies(2): >>46185761 #>>46185893 #
1. venturecruelty ◴[07 Dec 25 22:24 UTC] No.46185893[source]▶
I'm pretty sure the problem is "companies try to screw over poor people", and not "the sticker price doesn't include the tax".