I've had it. I worked in the Grocery and Retail business for over 20 years. When I did, never once was I allowed to NOT have an item sold to a Consumer on a display or floor shelf NOT have a price directly below that product. Well such is no longer the case. Especially when it comes to products sold at Mini Markets or Convenience Stores. Apparently they are allowed to just do as they please "Willy-Nilly". Unfortunately my biggest complaint just happens to fall in a area not popular to the masses. I smoke, yes shame on me! Yes the Tobacco companies were penalized because they hand in this unpopular vice and they have reimbursed all States greatly for their indiscretion, but so do I. Each and every day! The only problem is, is not only am I shunned for my bad habit I am subject to being repeatedly RIPED off and INSULTED by almost every Retail chain that sells Tobacco. For several years now, anyone who has gone into a gas station, mini-market or convenience store and tried to purchase a pack of cigarettes has encountered the famous "Buy-Two-Get-One-Free" scam. This scam is as such: You get to purchase Two packs of cigarettes at regular price and you get One pack for free. The only this wrong is that the REGULAR price is unknown or is the single pack price just so happens to be on display that price is NOT the everyday price. Some how the everyday PRICE is nowhere to be found. Let me give you an example: I wish to purchase two packs of cigarettes at, oh lets say Circle K. If they are on top of their jobs that day you might possibly see either the single pack price directly below the brand in question, but usually not. They ring up said items at $9.78 for two, showing a discount on your receipt of $1.80 for purchasing these two items together (this is because they offer a in-house discount on multiple packs). Actually the receipt would read as follows: 1 MARLB 100 5.79
1 MARLB 100 5.79
1 CIG PROMO MARLB -1.80
The clerk might realize after the fact that there is a current promotion for that vary product, where if you purchase Two packs you get the Third pack for free; ie. Buy-Two-Get-One-Free scam. So I as a penny watching consumer always interested in a deal say "Sure, why not!" The original purchase gets voided offer, discounts and all and the new item which happens to be conviently packaged together in a nifty display sleeve grouping all 3 pack together is re-rung, the only problem is the price for the 2 pack is now anywhere's from $12.26 to 12.89 give or that the day. Funny, I remake to the clerk, I thought there was a discount for dual packs? Where I would get a response that the in-house dual pack discount doesn't apply toward this promotion. You have to pay the everyday price for a single pack x 2. Okay, I'll accept that, but according to the receipt the price for a single pack should be $5.79 or at least $5.89 which just happens to be the price on the tag directly below the item. (usually the value that is under the product reflects the amount as if you were purchasing dual items, and never once have I ever seen a price reflective of a single pack while a promotions is going on, in fact I can't recall ever seeing the price for a single pack period) I have even been given a reason for the amount being so grossly inflated because you have to pay the sales tax of the item that is being given away free, WOW, what is the sale tax in Arizona these days? I thought it was around 8% or close to up or down! Apparently NOT at Circle K anyways. In fact I dare you to ask a clerk to quote to you the value of a pack of cigarettes, I bet you get a response like "I don't know" or if the clerk is really quick on their feet and can do simple math in their head, you might get the amount reflective of $12.26 divided by 2. My money is being put on "I don't know", it's a shoe in. What I want to know is WHY IS IT NOT POSTED ANYWHERE IN THE STORE THE PRICE OF A SINGLE PACK OF CIGARETTE?. Why? In fact, why is it that way everywhere through out the interior store. Let's just say I wanted to purchase a bag of potato chips and they just happen to be on special for Oh let's say 2 for $3.00, but I only want one. You would think the price per item would be $1.50 each.
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