SaskWatch Newsletter

Is It Really a Bargain? How to Check Unit Pricing and Be Sure

by Patricia Lewis

When shopping for groceries everyone wants to make sure they get the best value for their money. Comparing prices is often the best way to save money. One tool to help consumers compare prices is unit pricing. The unit price can be calculated as the price divided by the number of units of measurement, such as weight or volume.

Comparing products listed above, based on unit price:

Cereal – The largest sized package is the cheapest when the cereal is not on sale. The medium sized package is slightly cheaper than the smallest sized package. However, the medium sized package is considerably cheaper when it is on sale. Ground coffee – The largest package is cheaper than the smaller sized package, even when the smaller package is on sale. Crackers – The largest sized package is the cheapest.

Orange juice – The store brand is the cheapest. The sale price of an item may be the lowest price. However, it is always wise to check the unit price just to make sure. The sale price may not be cheaper when compared to the same product in a different size, often a larger size. Buying a larger sized container is economical only if you can use all of the contents, before they spoil. Stretchflation is a term that refers to the practice of increasing the quantity of a product and at the same time increasing the price disproportionately. This is a subtle approach to raising prices on large sized containers. By using unit pricing, it will be easier to discover this intentional price increase.

Unit pricing can also identify Shrinkflation, where a product is sold in a smaller package for the same price as the original larger sized package. You should also compare the price of name brand products to the store brand products. The store brand product may very well be cheaper. Unit pricing also helps with decision making when a store offers products with random weights.

In this scenario, it is always cheaper to buy the package with the largest weight, as the unit price will be the lowest. Unit pricing is a voluntary program. The federal and provincial governments do not have legislation requiring grocery stores to post unit pricing. Unit pricing is often found in larger grocery stores but may not be found in specialty or smaller grocery stores. You will usually find the unit price included in the signage on the shelf. Because there is no standardized format for unit pricing, it may look different at each grocery store. The font size is often small and can be difficult to read, especially on the bottom shelf. This is where you can use your smart phone to take a picture of the bottom shelf. The picture can be enlarged so you can see the unit price better. Unit pricing provides a base price that allows you to compare different sizes and brands of the same product, allowing you to make a more informed decision.

Sources:

Government of Canada, Innovation, Science and Economic Development Canada, https://ised-isde.canada.ca/site/office-consumer-affairs/en/modern-marketplace/comparing-food-prices-unit-pricing

Saskatoon Star Phoenix, August 13, 2024, https://epaper.thestarphoenix.com/saskatoon-starphoenix/20240813

Consumer Reports

What Legal Issues are Saskatchewan Consumers Facing? A New Report Holds the Answers

by Brea Lowenberger, Heather Heavin, Dr. Lisa Jewell, Dr. Bryce Stoliker

In 2023, CREATE Justice, with the Centre for Forensic Behavioural Science and Justice Studies, announced the release of the final reports of the Legal Data Scan and Needs Assessment (the reports), the first of its kind in Saskatchewan, made possible through the support of the Law Foundation of Saskatchewan and the Law Society of Saskatchewan. The purpose of the reports are as follows:

• The Legal Data Scan (2023): scans existing justice data being collected by legal and non-legal organizations in Saskatchewan to determine the usability of that data to identify gaps in the justice system, inform service delivery, improve access to justice, and establish a data commons; and
• The Legal Needs Assessment (2023): captures lawyers’ and legal and non-legal service providers’ perceptions of access to justice issues and legal needs within communities across Saskatchewan, and intends to compliment and bolster user-centered information on access to justice issues and legal needs, sourced through national- and provincial-level surveys (e.g., the Canadian Legal Problems Survey (2022), conducted by Statistics Canada on behalf of the Department of Justice Canada).

The topic of consumer issues arose in both the Legal Data Scan and Legal Needs Assessment reports. Relatedly, as readers may be aware, from a global perspective (World Justice Project, 2019), one of the most prevalent justice-related problems include those pertaining to money, debt, or consumer issues (30%). In Canada’s latest national study on legal problems (Canadian Legal Problems Survey, 2022), large purchases or services (15%) was also found as one of the most common serious problems or disputes.

Read future SaskWatch newsletters for local consumer findings from these reports!

CASK News

Introducing The President

By Lou Hammond Ketilson

The 39th Annual General Meeting of the Consumer Association of Saskatchewan was held in Saskatoon on June 4th 2024. The AGM featured Denny Huyghebaert, Executive Director, Consumer Protection Division, Financial and Consumer Affairs Authority of Saskatchewan as the keynote speaker. His topic, a Regulatory Update on Consumer Protection, was informative and very timely. I am very pleased to be serving Saskatchewan consumers as the incoming President of CASK. Now retired from my faculty position in the Edwards School of Business, consumer education and advocacy has long been an interest of mine. My involvement in the Consumer Association of Saskatchewan has provided an opportunity to continue working in this very important area. I would like to thank our outgoing President, Patricia Lewis, for her leadership and dedicated efforts over the past three years. She took on the role at a very challenging time and has steered the organization through significant changes. CASK has emerged stronger and more sustainable as a result of her efforts. In Ms Lewis’s last report as President, she identified the organization’s goal for the coming year strengthened effectiveness for the benefit of Saskatchewan consumers through

• an improved website and increased presence on social media, and
• an expanded network of collaborators.

I look forward to the coming year as we work toward these critical objectives.

Lou Hammond Ketilson

Consumer Resources

The Little Black Book of Scams is a compact, easy-touse reference guide aimed to increase awareness of the many different kinds of scams targeting Canadians. It provides information on how to recognize scams, how both consumers and businesses can protect themselves, contact information for reporting a scam, and offers a step-by-step guide for victims to reduce their losses and avoid becoming repeat victims. Every year, Canadians lose millions of dollars to scammers who bombard us with online, mail, door-to‑door and telephone scams targetting people of all backgrounds, ages and income levels. The best way to fight fraud is to avoid becoming
a victim. Learn more at competition-bureau.canada.ca.

211 Saskatchewan is a free, confidential service that connects individuals to resources in the province by telephone, text, online chat, or through a searchable website. It offers a database of over 6,000 community, social, non-clinical health, and government services across our province, connecting people to information about: basic human needs (such as housing, food banks, shelter, clothing depots); services of children, youth and families; physical and mental health services; assistance for people with disabilities, seniors and newcomers to Canada; and employment support. When you call or text 2-1-1, or start a web chat session at sk.211.ca, you are connected with a trained Service Navigator, 24/7, that will help determine which services are available and most appropriate to meet your individual needs. Alternatively, you can search for services through their website: https://sk.211.ca.

NotifyNow. In the event of an emergency caused by extreme weather or a man-made event, whether it’s citywide or area specific, NotifyNow will contact you with important information on what to do, where to go, and what to expect. You will receive either a voice message to your home, work or cell phone, an email, or a text message depending on your preference. To receive notifications, you must have some form of contact information entered into their database. Sign up at: saskatoon.ca/notifynow or regina.ca/residents/notifynow/. Disaster can strike with little to no notice, so the best way to be ready for any emergency is to have a plan. Public Safety Canada offers valuable information on being prepared: www.getprepared.gc.ca.