While price increases have slowed, grocery costs are still high throughout the United States.
As a result of these high prices, many shoppers have taken to hunting for deals at their local grocery stores and restaurants. Some have scoured different grocery stores to find the cheapest in their area; others have noted various discount codes that can be applied at different stores.
Now, a user on TikTok has offered her own tip for discovering grocery deals—but users aren’t convinced that she’s correct.
In a video with over 1.5 million views, TikTok user Emmaline Childs (@emmalinechilds) shows a “two for $4” display at a grocery store.
“I don’t know who needs to hear this, but if it’s two for $4. It’s also one for $2,” she states. “You don’t have to get two if you don’t need two!”
@emmalinechilds This works for MOST grocery stores – not all. But its a great tip for people looking to save a few bucks, or may end up wasting food that goes bad. #protip #groceryshopping #moneysavingtips ♬ original sound – Emmaline Childs
She says that this arrangement applies to larger promotions as well.
“10 for $10, or one for $1,” she says, looking at another display. She then jokes, “Unless it’s cheese—then, just get all the cheese.”
“This works for MOST grocery stores – not all,” Childs adds in the caption. “But its a great tip for people looking to save a few bucks, or may end up wasting food that goes bad.”
While Childs’ tip may seem like good advice for shoppers, commenters aren’t sure that it actually works.
“Stores near me won’t give the sale price on sales like that. It’s all or nothing,” wrote a user.
“Not where I’m at. you buy one it’s more expensive. it doesn’t discount till you scan the second,” offered another.
“It depends on the store sometimes it is say 2 for 4 or 1 for 3 or 3.50,” echoed a third. “You need to read the sign.”
Childs is not alone in believing this, however, and there’s some evidence to suggest that, while this may have been more widespread in the past, companies are now catching on to this issue and making it so one must purchase all of the items to get the stated deal.
In a 2016 blog post for MousePrint, author Edgar writes, “For several years now, supermarkets have tried to get you to buy more with offers like ‘10 for $10.’ Savvy shoppers know when you see offers like that, you are not required to buy 10 units to get the $1 each price.”
“Drug stores like Walgreens and Rite Aid have gotten a bit more clever by advertising ‘2-fer’ or ‘3-fer’ offers like 2 for $10 or 3 for $2, but then in small print indicate if you only want one, you will pay more, sometimes significantly more,” the post continues.
This appears to be the same issue to which commenters were referring.
“It used to be this way everywhere, but now even Walmart by me makes you buy it all,” explained a TikTok commenter.
“I swear this used to be true.. now you HAVE to buy all 4 to get 4 for 4,” repeated a second.
Update 10:30am CT, Nov. 1: In an email to the Daily Dot, Childs provided more information about the circumstances surrounding her video.
“The store that I made this video in is a prominent grocery chain here in the Twin Cities and it’s true, that unless otherwise clearly stated, if the sale is 2 for $4, you can also buy 1 for $2,” she wrote. “In fact, I bought one carton of the strawberries shown in the video, and indeed paid $2 for them.”
“Minnesota requires very conspicuous signs for grocery pricing and sales,” she continued. “It sounds like this isn’t the case in a lot of places which is unfortunate. It also sounds like a lot of stores have rolled back this policy in the last few years, and while I have experienced it a little bit, I find that most of the stores I shop at have not changed too much over the last few years.”
She also noted that this advice may not be universal, especially once one leaves the United States.
“TikTok has a way of making videos go viral that could cause controversy,” she explained. “Of course, grocery store policies in New Zealand or Canada or New Jersey are going to be different than in Minnesota, so I encourage people to be sure to read the small print and be sure you understand what you are about to pay for!”
