The weekly grocery store flyer is designed to grab your attention with big, beautiful pictures of delicious food and amazing deals. However, the picture on the ad is often just an illusion. The real details of the offer are hidden in the tiny, hard-to-read fine print below the image. In many cases, the picture does not accurately represent the product that is actually on sale. This is a classic bait-and-switch tactic that can lead to major disappointment at the store.
1. The Beautiful Steak That Is Actually Chuck Roast
The flyer will show a gorgeous, thick-cut, perfectly marbled steak under a headline like “Beef Sale!” The fine print below, however, will reveal that the actual item on sale is a much cheaper and tougher cut, like a chuck roast or bottom round. The picture is just a generic image of beef. It is designed to lure you in with the promise of a steak deal that does not exist.
2. The Overflowing Bowl of Berries
The ad will feature a stunning photo of a bowl that is overflowing with plump, perfect strawberries or blueberries. The fine print, however, will state that the sale price is only for a tiny, half-pint container. The picture creates the illusion of abundance. The reality of the deal is much less impressive.
3. The Fully Loaded Pizza
The flyer will show a picture of a frozen pizza that is loaded with a huge amount of pepperoni and extra cheese. The actual pizza that is on sale, however, might be the brand’s basic, plain cheese version. The picture is often a “serving suggestion” that does not match the specific product being discounted.
4. The Name-Brand Product Next to the Store-Brand Price
This is a very subtle but very effective trick. The flyer will show a picture of a popular, brand-name item, like Heinz ketchup. The price listed next to the picture, however, is actually for the store’s own, private-label brand. The store is using the familiar image of the national brand to draw your eye to the price for their cheaper alternative.
5. The Beautiful Shrimp Ring That Is Actually Small Shrimp
The ad will feature a picture of a beautiful shrimp cocktail platter with large, jumbo shrimp. The fine print below will reveal that the sale price is for a much smaller size of shrimp, like the medium or the small count. The picture is of a premium product, but the deal is for the budget version.
6. The Multi-Pack Pictured as a Single Item
The flyer might show a picture of a single bottle of a popular soft drink. The price listed next to it seems incredibly low. However, the fine print will state that the price is only valid when you buy a full 12-pack or a 2-liter bottle. The picture is misleading you about the unit that is actually on sale.
7. The Perfect Bunch of Asparagus
The ad will show a picture of thick, vibrant green asparagus spears that look perfect for grilling. The fine print, however, might state that the sale price is for the much thinner, less desirable asparagus stalks. The picture is of the premium version, but the sale is for the standard grade.
8. The Holiday Meal Deal
Around Thanksgiving, the flyer will show a beautiful picture of a complete holiday meal with a turkey, mashed potatoes, and all the sides. The price listed seems amazing. The fine print, however, will reveal that the price is only for the turkey itself. The picture is just a suggestion of what you could make with it.
Read the Words, Not the Picture
A picture may be worth a thousand words, but in a grocery store flyer, the few words in the fine print are the only ones that truly matter. The beautiful photos are just advertising. They create an emotional appeal. The real details of the deal are always in the text. By training yourself to ignore the pictures and to focus on the words, you can avoid the disappointment of a deal that is not what it seems.
Have you ever been fooled by a misleading picture in a grocery store flyer? What is the worst bait-and-switch you have ever seen in an ad? Let us know!
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The post 8 Store Flyers Where the Picture Doesn’t Match the Fine Print Deal appeared first on Grocery Coupon Guide.
