I tried scanning apps in Tesco, Asda and B&M to find hidden bargains with up to 50% off
I’VE always ignored the handheld scanners in my local Tesco, but when I heard they could actually save me money, I decided to put them to the test.
Shoppers have reported finding food items, drinks, clothes and even homeware scanning for much less than their price tag suggests.
Chris EadesI put the scanners to the test at supermarkets Asda, Tesco and B&M[/caption]
Chris EadesI scanned hundreds of items at three stores to see how much I could save[/caption]
Chris EadesAsda’s Scan & Go handsets were easy to use as I shopped[/caption]
I saved an extra £11.57 on my shopping by using the supermarket scanners
Getting a good deal is more important than ever as households grapple with the rising cost of living, so shoppers are always looking for ways to get bigger discounts.
Food prices have soared over the past few years and are set to keep rising, with bread, eggs and cheese now predicted to rise in price following Budget tax hikes.
Eager to find my own bargains, I headed to my nearest Tesco to grab a scanner off the shelf.
Before I can get started, though, I’m asked to scan my Clubcard to prove I’m a member.
Although there are many discounts to be found, I’m disappointed to discover they are only available to members of Tesco’s reward program.
As I start browsing the shelves looking for discounts, I spot several rows of meat items that are reduced to clear.
I’m not one to ignore a yellow sticker bargain, so I rummage through the crates of still fresh sausages, joints of beef and burgers.
I scan a couple of items, but have no luck getting a bigger discount.
Just as I’m beginning to lose hope, I pull out a Tesco Finest Sharing Pork Cutlet.
At £12.42, there’s no way I would normally have picked it up when doing my weekly shop.
But a yellow sticker on the front shows it’s now down to a more reasonable £9.09.
I scan it with the handheld device and am thrilled when a price of £8.28 pops up. Result!
The meat goes straight in my basket.
Next, I head to the fruit and veg aisles, where there’s a large selection of reduced to clear produce.
Shoppers have formed an ad hoc queue as they take it in turns to dig through the boxes of peppers, oranges, potatoes and fruit medleys.
I scan a bunch of bananas, but sadly, they scan at the price on the label.
How do supermarket scanners work?
SEVERAL major supermarkets including Tesco, Asda and Sainsbury’s offer free scanner handsets and smartphone apps.
Tesco and Sainsbury’s customers must be part of the supermarkets’ loyalty schemes to use the scanners.
They work by reading barcode stickers which are attached to products.
The technology allows customers to scan each item as they go, which means they can check out their shop faster.
They are ideal for people who want to keep track of how much they are spending as they shop.
The scanners can also help you to find discounts and savings in store.
To use them simply hold up the barcode on an item to the scanner to register it on the handset or your mobile phone.
Sometimes the price on the item or shelf can be different to the scanner price.
This is because items are constantly being put on or taken off promotion.
If an item scans for cheaper than the display price then it could be that it is on promotion but the pricing stickers or shelf tags have not yet been updated.
For example, shoppers have raced to get their hands on laundry and cleaning essentials scanning for just 65p each.
Meanwhile, Sainsbury’s customers have raced to buy clearance items scanning for just 10p.
A bag of cauliflower and broccoli florets also scans at the yellow sticker price of £1.29.
You have to be patient when bargain hunting, I think.
As I scan a pack of four Jaffa Oranges, my heart races as I spot a different price on the handheld device.
But wait – in this case, it’s actually showing more.
The yellow sticker on the bag says the oranges originally cost £2.10 but have been reduced to £1.76. But my scanner has not recorded this price reduction.
If I had not spotted it, I would have paid an extra 34p for the bag – a lucky escape.
The same thing happens with a large bag of Tesco Root Ginger.
It originally cost £7.23 but its price had been cut to £3.60 with a yellow sticker.
Yet when I scanned the bag the price flashed up as £3.62 – more than the yellow sticker.
I quickly put it back and feel disheartened to learn that the scanners could actually end up costing me more money.
Over in the clothing section, however, greater discounts are to be had.
There’s already a sale on, with many items on offer for just a couple of pounds.
I spot an F&F black t-shirt which will be perfect for warmer nights in the summer.
It would have set me back £10 originally, but is on sale for £6. Yet, when I scan it, the price falls even more to just £3. I grab one and add it to my shopping.
I’m eager to see if the same is true with children’s clothes.
An adorable white blouse and check pinafore dress catches my eye. It originally went on sale for £15 but the price was cut to £9 in the sale.
When I scan it, the price plummets even further to a bargain £5.
It’s a similar story with children’s accessories.
A pom pom hat from the Fred and Flo range originally cost £7.
It’s been marked down to £5 on the tag but scans for £3.50 – a 50% saving.
Overall, I would say non-food items have a greater success at Tesco, and I would advise shoppers to be wary and always double check the label too, to avoid paying over the odds.
Bargains at B&M
I’ve heard stories that you can save big with a scanner at B&M, so I call into my nearest shop next.
It’s a slightly different system at B&M as the chain has a Barcode Price Check app instead of a handheld scanner.
We explain how it works in more detail here.
To use it you hold an items barcode up to your phone camera, which acts as the scanner.
It takes a bit of getting used to and I scan several chocolate bars, drinks and bags of crisps with no luck.
Then I spot a 600ml can of Vanish carpet foam deep cleaner.
It originally cost £4.99 but has been reduced by 50p to £4.49.
But when I scan it using the app the price pops up at £3.99 – saving me £1 on the original price.
Sadly, I am not as lucky with a 58 wash bag of Ariel Original All-In-1 Pods.
They originally cost £12.49 but the shelf price said they were reduced to £10.99.
However, when I scan them with the barcode scanner, the price pops up as £11.79.
This is likely because the promotion it was included in has ended, but the shelf price has not yet been updated – always disappointing for shoppers.
But it’s in the toy aisle where the real bargains are to be had.
Plushies have been all the range this year and there’s a huge selection on offer at B&M.
Among them are the Zuru Medium Snackle Plush toys, which come in ten different characters.
They would have originally set you back £12.99 but a ticket on the shelf says they are on offer for £11.
When I scan them with my smartphone the price falls even further to just £9.99 – saving me £3.
Meanwhile, a Lilo and Stitch Disney Classic keyring set retails for £3.50 but is now in the reduced to clear section as part of the set is missing.
At £1.75 I think it’s a pretty good deal but when I scan it the cost drops to just £1. A steal.
Disappointment at Asda
On the way home, I decide to make one final pitstop and see if I can strike lucky at Asda.
Last month, one customer revealed they had found secret discounts and toys scanning for just 2p with an in-store scanner.
I spot numerous discounts and reduced to clear items in the store, but when I scan them all there are no additional savings to be had.
I have no luck in the clothing, cosmetics or household aisles, so I cut my losses and head home.
Conclusion
As I unpack my shopping, I’m pleased with my purchases and how much I’ve saved across the different stores.
My shopping would have set me back £65.90 if I had bought all the items full-price.
With the discounts, I would have paid £46.33 – a saving of £19.57.
But with the scanner, the total cost of my shop fell to £34.76 – meaning I saved an extra £11.57.
I think overall, a scanner is a good idea if you’ve got the time to hunt for a bargain, but it definitely wasn’t a quick way to find deals.
It also in some cases gave me an even worse deal than the label suggested, so it’s definitely not a foolproof trick.
I’ll be picking up a scanner the next time I head to the shops and I’ve got the time to find the best discounts, but I’ll be making sure to check it is at least as cheap as the labels.
How to save on your supermarket shop
THERE are plenty of ways to save on your grocery shop.
You can look out for yellow or red stickers on products, which show when they’ve been reduced.
If the food is fresh, you’ll have to eat it quickly or freeze it for another time.
Making a list should also save you money, as you’ll be less likely to make any rash purchases when you get to the supermarket.
Going own brand can be one easy way to save hundreds of pounds a year on your food bills too.
This means ditching “finest” or “luxury” products and instead going for “own” or value” type of lines.
Plenty of supermarkets run wonky veg and fruit schemes where you can get cheap prices if they’re misshapen or imperfect.
For example, Lidl runs its Waste Not scheme, offering boxes of 5kg of fruit and vegetables for just £1.50.
If you’re on a low income and a parent, you may be able to get up to £442 a year in Healthy Start vouchers to use at the supermarket too.
Plus, many councils offer supermarket vouchers as part of the Household Support Fund.
Chris EadesI found many bargains among Tesco’s reduced fruit and vegetables[/caption]
Chris EadesReduced to clear areas are a great place to find items scanning at a discount[/caption]
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