Lidl - higher prices?

[harryc]

As big a fan as I am of Lidl - as a competitor to the Finnish Food Mafia of K-S - I have to say that I have been noticing a definite 'notching up' of Lidl pricing - some 10-15% on many items. It is often 10-20 cents an item - and so maybe they think it is not visible - but in % terms it is significant.

It certainly cannot'be from rises in rents or salaries - and general inflation is at an all-time recent low:

http://www.bbc.com/news/business-28583232

Is Lidl repeating the 'Bauhaus syndrome' - a situation where a foreign company comes in with decent and low prices and then notices - 'hei - Finns are used to being robbed - we are selling too cheap'

[ajdias]

It's not even recent. They've probably noticed that there's a bunch of people (what's the name of the idiotic character in their tv ads?) that would rather die than be seen in one of their stores, and concluded that their growth is limited. It is easier to play the game as it is - slightly lower prices than K and S and a few weekly offers, than to reinvent a new game. Besides, these two are very good at predatory pricing and could get a bunch of cheap crap to compete with Lidl in their turf. Even if there's real difference in quality many of their consumers don't really read the labels

[Rip]

Hm. I have not noticed anything recent, but true, I think they consider there is no point for them to have more aggressive pricing, as there is no Aldi or whatever to compete with here.

[harryc]

The parking lot, which used to look immense, is in need to expansion. Most of the time, there are at least 3-4 cashiers working to deal with the flow of people.

True enough - PK area Lidls are not crying for business. If there's no other places doing better than K-S prices, what choice does one have? And the K shops indeed have their parking lots filled with Lexus, BMW and MB.

My point was that the crooks have set such a high price level in Finland that it's only necessary to be somewhat cheaper.

What's needed is a company coming in that operates for the long term - and uses its own margins. But that's whistling in the dark I guess.

(and the price rises have been more than 2 cents - many in the 10-15% range - as said I am a constant lidl customer - 3-4x a week - and watch prices keenly)

[harryc]

I know that we still save a bunch by shopping this way so don't bother keeping track of how much Lidl increases its prices

Exactly - when the show run by crooks - anyone less of a crook escapes surveillance. The pity is that those who have to drive shabby cars lose out.

Another good example of how K-S Mafia System makes plenty of room for nonsense stuff is Heino Tukku.

I've been shopping there for some 30 years or more (was once PikaPaunu) and I can say one should REALLY know price levels when one crosses their threshhold. There are items that one can't beat - (good HEVI prices and quality for the most part) - but there are MANY products that are even more expensive than K-S!

And the crazy thing is that it is supposedly 'wholesale' - I pity the small kebab places with their carts with items over-priced - they probably don't have the time to 'shop' - and just even it out somehow.