If you weren’t aware, S&R is on sale from today, the 12th until the 31st of March. Unlike previous years, where the sale ran just 3, then 5 days with massive markdowns, this extended period special promotions thing is a new approach. Probably meant to avoid the pandemonium wrought by the previous years’ sales, this two week period of markdowns is apparently designed to spread out the mayhem, if any ensues at all. The deals on offer today were few and far between, and no where like previous years. I wasn’t even planning on going, as I thought the lines would be crazy, but we happened to drive by on my way elsewhere and noticed nary a person in line at all. Thinking this odd, I had myself dropped off and went straight into the Bonifacio branch to look around. There were more people than usual at 10 in the morning, but carts were only 3-4 deep at the cash registers, so I thought I would see what was on sale.
Televisions and electronics were on sale, but I didn’t notice any phenomenal deals, and didn’t need any electronics either. Some of the towels were on sale, but not all of them. I got two very thin bath mats for PHP99 a piece, and once home, noticed they had tags for “Best Western” hotels… I wonder if they were overruns or rejects, as I can’t imagine why S&R would be selling Best Western towels. The molcajetes I wrote about here, as I suspected, were marked down PHP200 each, so that is probably really the price they should be at, and I got another one for the beach. Doggie biscuits were on sale marginally, so a bag of those for the chocolate labrador. I noticed stainless steel tables (that I have purchased dozens of before) on sale… but on closer inspection, they were on sale at or near their previous full price. In other words, it seems the price of the new shipment was marked up say PHP1,500 then marked down that amount. So they weren’t a bargain either. I resolved to go through the store and only buy things we normally use, and if they were on sale. So into the cart went some toilet paper and paper towels, I stopped at the institutional sized (25lb) bag of U.S. flour (cheaper than local flour which is ultimately imported) but decided against that, got some canola oil, and that’s about it. I didn’t buy a single thing that wasn’t on sale. I understand that the peso has depreciated 10+% in the past few months, so goods will in fact rise in price in the months ahead, but if you normally head to S&R for whopping deals during their twice annual extravaganza, you may be disappointed this time around.
Correction: It seems this is the pre-sale for the bigger sale… a bit confusing, if you ask me. But thanks for clarifying that, Mike C, see third comment below. I always associated the sales with Sep and March, so it seems the sale period has now been stretched out even further… At any rate, my comments on sale prices up top remain valid.
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I went to SnR last Sunday and saw the announcement so I thought there was going to be an early bird sale.. pero wala. :( Unlike before sa early bird sale lang ako since I do not have the patience makipagsiksikan during the sale period.
As to the mark downs you mentioned above.. reminded me of the shoe sale in SM where one brand removed the original price tag… replaced “original” price with a higher one and the put a sticker sale price at the original price. I remembered because I was there a few days before the sale.
Wanted to tell the sales person — pinagmumukha mo naman kaming tanga… :(
Cris J, that kind of pricing in the U.S. violates some consumer laws I think. Here, I have noticed it a few more times lately, and you are right, it is offensive. You really have to know what the original price of an item is to see if it is TRULY marked down in a sale. After seeing that markdown on the stainless tables (which had the higher prices for a few weeks before the sale), I looked at all sale items far more critically, and my cart wasn’t full like in previous such sales…
Going further, I also get annoyed when a store advertises sales with splashy ads and signs in their windows like “UP TO 80% OFF!” and when you get in, and ask what is 80% off, they say there’s nothing left. To be annoying in return, I once lined up at a store with such an ad, got in amongst the first three customers, immediately asked the salespeople what was 80% off and they shrugged and couldn’t point to a single item. THAT TO ME, is DOWNRIGHT WRONG, if not illegal or FALSE ADVERTISING… :(
I think the current “March Big Deals” sale (March 12-31) is their smaller-scale sale, leading up to the bigger “Member’s Treat” sale, happening April 2-6. They started to do this around 1-2 sale events ago.
During this smaller-scale sale, new items go on sale every week. From previous experience, there are items that are actually cheaper during the “Big Deals” (less discount or not discounted at all during the Member’s Treat sale).
https://www.snrshopping.com/promos-a-events.html
:)
Mike C, thanks for clarifying that… now I have no reason to go to the “Member’s Treat” Sale as I’ve already done my shopping… :)
Sales promotions such as this are supposed to have approval from the Department of Trade & Industry (DTI). That gives the DTI an opportunity to look at the promo in advance to ensure that consumers are not being misled or cheated by false claims.
Does S&R have the necessary DTI license for this sale?
MM, I don’t usually comment but your purchase of the dog biscuits got my attention. Here in the US, we’ve had problems with toxic dog biscuits made in China. Quite a few people have lost their beloved dogs. And so recently, I’ve only bought dog biscuits and dog food made here in the US. I don’t really know what the alternatives are for the Philippines (perhaps made in the Phil?)
Ever thought of making your own dog biscuits, MM?
bettyq, Teen and I have thought about this… but without a cute doggone cutter, we set the idea aside? Do you have a good recipe, would love to try it…
Leah, the doggie biscuits from S&R are manufactured in Utah (just checked the bag)… so hopefully they meet safety standards in the U.S., but thanks for that heads up. :)
Yu bet, MM! These are my nephew’s and neighbour’s puppies favorite doggie biscuits. My go to recipe is the one from White on Rice couple blog. I have tweaked it to include bacon just because the puppies like bacon! Also I use duck stock or beef or veal stock …the bouillon is just loaded with salt. Besides, I treat my nephew’s puppies like they are my own nephews! So, nothing but the best for them!
Does Ginger like lechon? maybe use lechon stock then!!!
MM…ease up on the bacon…not all the time! Maybe once a year and only a smidgeon of it. keep the puppies healthy! I wonder if there is bacon essence?!? does Ginger like cheese?
could get you a brand new doggie biscuit cutter and mail it to you tom. morning. Prefer any size?
bettyq, thank you for the offer, but no need, will just make them in other shapes with cookie cutters we have on hand! Did you do the pumpkin and flaxseed ones, or other flavors? Maybe if I make lechon dog biscuits Ginger can sell them to the neighbors so she can build a trust fund for her mounting medical bills… :)
Not that one, MM. They have another one called BEST DOG TREATS EVER! It is beef flavoured from the addition of beef granules.
I think if you combine your Lechon stock with a touch of beef stock, it will be richly flavoured doggie biscuits. Dunk it in gravy, Gnger!…just kidding!
I agree MM – some of the deals they have for the early bird’s sale are better than the discounted items included for the member’s sale.
I went to the early bird’s sale last year to scout what items were being sold at a discounted price. Seeing that there were only a few costumers at the checkout lines, I opted to buy some items already. For some of the higher priced items (like the moisturizer I use) – I opted to wait for the member’s sale, hoping for a further mark down on the price. Come the member’s sale, all I got was a long queue to get in the store and an even longer queue to pay for my purchases. And the worst part, the moisturizer I planned on buying ran out of stock. I just lucked out on a single tub returned by another shopper while waiting in line. And the price was not further marked down.
Knowing better this time, I went ahead and bought my supply of moisturizer at the current discounted price. No long lines to get in the store and to pay for my purchases at that. ;)
A little late to the party but positively guffawed at the dog biscuit exchange between MM and bettyQ. While I don’t bake, this may be a good start. After all, dogs are less critical than humans. They’ll almost always eat my mistakes with a grateful tummy ;)