We've all seen the yellow tags. "Special!" "Price Dropped!" "Down Down!". But does a yellow tag always equal a good deal? We analyzed data from Grocery Tracker over 90 days and found some interesting patterns.
1. The "Was" Price Trap
Retailers often raise the price of an item for a few weeks just to drop it back to the "standard" price and call it a "Special". Legally, the item must have been sold at the higher price for a reasonable time, but it still tricks your brain into thinking you're getting a bargain.
2. The Cycle of 6 Weeks
Toiletries, cleaning products, and non-perishables often operate on a 6-week discount cycle. Dishwashing tablets might be $50 this week, but they will almost certainly be $25 (50% off) in 3 weeks. Never buy these items at full price—stock up when they hit the bottom of the cycle.
3. Shrinkflation Awareness
A "Price Drop" might accompany a size drop. A chip packet goes from 200g to 170g, but the price stays the same or drops by only 10 cents. Tracking unit prices (per 100g) is the only way to spot this.
4. Multi-Buy "Deals"
"2 for $5" sounds good, but if one is $2.60, you're only saving 20 cents, yet you're spending double what you intended. Only use multi-buys for non-perishables you will definitely use.
Verdict: Use price history tools like Grocery Tracker to see if today's price is actually a historical low, or just a marketing gimmick.