The Asdas Muffin Scandal

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My consumer crusade continues:

Dear The Asdas,

There has been something of a mystery within your Warrington Cockhedge superstore and it’s pricing policy vis a vis “muffins”.

Myself, my colleagues and myself have recently been taking advantage of, what we can only describe as, the bragain price of £1 (sterling) for 4 of your delicious muffins.

Consider our surprise when on Monday of this week, we discovered that the said muffin-packs were now subject of a “roll-back” offer to the less-than-bargain price of £1.40. Indeed, the offer suggested that the original price was £1.58! What manner of wizardry is this, I hear you cry?

To add literal insult to metaphysical injury, today (Thursday), just three days after the roll-back “offer” had been introduced, we discover that the said “offer” had been removed. £1.58 for 4 muffins? Are we suddenly living in some kind of dystopian future?

Is there an explanation for this seeming skullduggery? I’m a loyal and proud customer of The Asdas and cannot bear for my shopping experience to be tarnished thusly.

Yours sincerely,

Steven “Asda” Price.

I’m sure you will agree that this is quite the serious matter.  I received the following reply from an Asda representative:

Hello Steven,

Thanks for your email about the muffins which you have been looking to purchase from our Warrington store.

I am sorry to learn of your disappointment as you have found the price of the muffins to have varied so much recently. We are committed towards offering the lowest possible prices, so we would not want to create any confusion to you or your colleagues.

We work hard to keep offering the cheapest prices for the best products. Occasionally, a product price may increase substantially. This happens when the supplier costs have increased and when we are no longer able to maintain the original price of the product. When this happens we look to introduce a ‘Rollback’ to prevent the price impacting our customers too much. This will explain why the price was quickly reduced to £1.40.

‘Rollback’ offers are not permanent and may end at any time. I agree three days is a very short amount of time to have a promotional offer. However, our Buying Team are working hard to reduce the price at the next opportunity. I am confident you will be happy with any future price changes.

We would not want your shopping experience to be tarnished, so I hope my explanation has clarified this matter for you. We do value your loyal custom, and we would still like to welcome you back into the store again. Whilst I appreciate this would have been a disappointing experience for you, I hope my response has gone someway towards restoring your faith in Asda.

Once again, thank you for contacting Asda. If there is anything else I can do to help, please let me know.

Kind regards

***** *******

Hmmmm.  I don’t find this a satisfactory explanation in the slightest.  Despite the representative’s best efforts, there seems to be no acknowledgement of the original £1 pricing.  It’s a good job for The Asdas that my love is deep or we could be looking at a very messy (metaphorical) divorce.  I would reply to the e-mail to demand further information, but it states:

Please do not reply to this email. This is not a monitored inbox and you may not receive a reply.

Like yesterday’s issues with Carphone Warehouse, companies now seem determined to make it difficult to achieve satisfaction.  How long before the people of Britain rise up against this slack tyranny?

I give it 3 days max.