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Today’s skyrocketing prices make shopping specials a must for consumers who want to keep grocery costs down.
Understocking of those specials, however, often results in shortages which mean losses for shoppers, said Virginia Tech Extension specialist in consumer education, Glen H. Mitchell.
When shortages of advertised sale items occur, most major grocery stores offer “rainchecks” allowing shoppers to purchase the items at sale prices when they are back in stock.
“Rainchecks are not required by law but are offered as a courtesy to customers," Mitchell said.
They are not a solution to the problem, though, because many consumers shop only once a week and plan their menus around advertised specials. „c.
Shoppers may not be going to the store tomorrow, and they may not need the item next week,” he said.
“As far as consumers are concerned, rainchecks are not a substitute for adequate stocking of sale items. Consumers often have spent • their time and the cost of running their auto.”
Federal Trade Commission (FTC) rules require that stores stock advertised items in quantities sufficient to meet reasonable anticipated demand in each store covered by the ad during the sale period. The items, the rule says, must be conspicuously and readily available for sale at prices at or below those advertised. The FTC has successfully taken legal action against nine food chains for violations of the rule since it was promulgated in 1971. Though .shortages of sale items are widespread, few consumers seem to know what to do about them. If a sale item was unavailable, 32 per cent of these questioned said they would inform the nearest store clerk, 25 per cent that they would ask for a raincheck, and 20 per cent that they would tell the checkout cashier of the problem. Only 4 per cent indicated they would complain to the store manager and none that
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