Caveat emptor — buyer beware, in any language

Caveat emptor translates into “Let the buyer beware.” Its means that you are buying something “as is” and that you should know that, should check it out and ask questions. The phrase was probably not intended for misleading labels, end caps or signs that read “assorted” or “selected” varieties only. For that, I’ll make up a term and call it “Don’t try to fool me into paying more for something by mislabelling, misplacing items or misleading me.” You will be making a big MIStake.
It’s hard enough to shop for a family, especially for food, on most of our salaries. I happen to enjoy grocery shopping. I cut coupons, circle sale items, patronized different stores — and I appreciate that we live in America and we can chose from 100 different kinds of cereal, diapers and whole-wheat breads. But what I take exception to is the trickery — what they used to call the old bait-and-switch.
I understand about product placement — eye level is a primo spot, as it anything near the cash register, especially candy. And I appreciate the effort of putting sale items on their own display — the “end cap” at stores. What I don’t appreciate is when management, or clerks, mix those sale items with other similar items that are full price. For example, the 10 oz. bag of chips is on sale for $2. Wow, great deal. But on the end display, there are other bags weighing 12 oz., or other flavors that may or may not be on sale. When I have questioned customer service, they usual say, “oh, a customer put that there by mistake.” Really? Twenty bags, by mistake? Signs that used to read “Must by 5” to get the sale price (which is a pain, maybe I don’t need five, but it’s an honest label) now say, in teeny-tiny words, “On 5.” Wow, who needs an optometrist when you have this small print to test your vision?
My request? C’mon stores, make it clear. We have senior citizens and moms with babies that can’t watch every item that goes by on the conveyor belt. And customers, it’s your money, you earned it, and you have the right to know what you’re spending. Watch the register, or better yet, use those price scanners around the store, and believe what they tell you.

Writing on the Wall took first place in its category for Best Column Writing by Suburban Newspapers of America for 2010. Comments? Email Mmalloy@liherald.com