I tend to do this a lot, but mostly with outdated stuff. It tends to be cheaper, and I also use them as soon as I can. Of course, I do examine the stuff I buy. Dry goods are usually better than stuff stored in cans or jars. And the closer it's passed from its expiration date the better since there's less chance of mold growing on the stuff or having the thing gone bad.
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Comic Talk and General Discussion *
Do you buy "outdated" or "damaged" stuff at your supermarket?
Well no actually. :)
There's "best before" and "use by", in Australia at least.
Many products have to have "best before" on because of government guidelines, it doesn't mean they'll go rotten by the date, it's just something they have to have. It's too complicated to explain why here, but onece they get close to or pass that date they can still be sold but because they've passed or neared the date they're less atractive to consumers so the only way to sell them is marking them down.
"Use by dates" are different, you can't sell stuff that has gone beyond that date. This one IS an indication that the item will probably be spoiled. If you buy something and keep it till after that date, it may go bad or it may not… usually it does.
But that's obvious…
Many supermarkets, in the U.S. anyway, will have a rack of flawed or changed out produce. Produce is expensive and you can save a lot of money if you pick up items from there. I would suggest not planning to store it too long (a night or two) and inspecting it as you would anything from regular produce.
Here's the thing though a blemish or small black spot (rot) on a (let's say) green pepper is no big deal. You just hack it off and toss it. It's not like meat, where it could actually be dangerous. You still want to make sure anything you buy is quality. Celery that has turned into rubber and will bend every way without snapping isn't going to taste the freshest.
Also, you're most likely eating produce with the less desirable parts cut out anyway. I worked in a food factory where you had to assembly-line-up, clean, and cut through hundreds upon hundreds of pounds of tomatoes. No factories going to sink the bottom line tossing whole tomatoes because one little piece doesn't look perfect. You slice off that section and the rest is perfectly fine. If you eat packaged foods, produce prepared in this fashion is in there and the same holds true for restaurants.
When it comes to non-food merchandise, if it's still in tact or if still works despite damage to it or the packaging, I tend to buy it. Not because I want to save a dollar, but because I tend to feel sorry for stuff I know other people will be less likely to buy just because some jerk roughed it up. I'm a terrible consumer.
As Ozone said, there's a difference between a "sell by" and "use by" date (and "best before" means practically nothing at all). Most stuff in grocery stores are marked with a "sell by." They usually have a decent shelf life.
I used to work in a supermarket deli, so part of my job was checking the dates on things. And, of course, we had to stamp a "sell by" date on everything we sold. As far as I know, stores can't legally sell products after the sell by date… In my job, we would drastically mark down (to about half) nearly all deli and bakery products that were on the last day they were allowed to be sold. The next day, however, those items were thrown away. My biggest lament was that hot food was made daily and thrown away at the end of the day if not sold. I remember often throwing away 20 chickens a day and thinking about all the hungry people in the world. -_-
Anyway, for your question, yes, I buy marked down food a lot. I did it a lot when I worked in the deli because I was present when food was marked down, so I could snatch up the good deals for myself. "Best before" means very little to me, and "sell by" means a consumer will be able to keep the food for a decent shelf life. I trust myself to know when something is spoiled or stale. (I bought spoiled milk before, but it was not past the "sell by" date. The grocery store refrigerator was malfunctioning.)
Buy it? Why buy it when you can get it from their dumpster?Our tasty deli chickens went into a trash compactor along with all the raw chicken garbage, cans, cleaning supplies, and everything else. It was then neatly compacted so no one but very ambitious mice could get to it. :(
I only buy the stuff if it's something I was gonna buy anyway. :] The store I go to doesn't have much of a markdown rack because they keep on top of their turnover pretty well. It's usually just a few products they're discontinuing. They tend to keep their markdowns on the shelves and just advertise them as price points, and it seems to be usually because they have too much when they're expecting a new shipment and not because something about the merchandise is defective. If a box just gets roughed up or something they leave it in its normal shelf spot til someone buys it. England might be more practical about that kind of thing than America.
I only buy the stuff if it's something I was gonna buy anyway. :] The store I go to doesn't have much of a markdown rack because they keep on top of their turnover pretty well. It's usually just a few products they're discontinuing. They tend to keep their markdowns on the shelves and just advertise them as price points, and it seems to be usually because they have too much when they're expecting a new shipment and not because something about the merchandise is defective. If a box just gets roughed up or something they leave it in its normal shelf spot til someone buys it. England might be more practical about that kind of thing than America.That's the way most stores I've been to in America are. Only really well-staffed stores or ones undergoing major renovations/changes have a "mark down rack." Most I know just go through with a pricing gun (or stickers) and reprice any merchandise that isn't selling as it should. Some are different, though. There are actually chains (Big Lots, for example) that sell only overstocked or outdated goods.
I usually buy only what's on my list too, but there's a selection to choose from. Like if I'm buying spaghetti or something, I'll usually buy the generic brand unless there's a sale or markdown on a different one.
However, some items, like ice cream, are never on my shopping list but I buy them as a treat when there is a really good deal.
Well, over here they use one expiration date and theoretically it is illegal to sell anything after that date. Theoretically, as plenty of supermarkets have been caught doing it otherwise, for example old meat (forgot what is is but you soak the meat in it and it starts "looking" fresh again)… another case was with a supermarket that sold bundles of expired cans, wrapped in such fashion that you could NOT see the date on any of them.
Usually though they just lower the price and put it on sale a week or two before the date is up. Like recently, there was a long weekend (we have two holidays that happen pretty close and it overlapped with a weekend too so it was 4 days total) during which the 24h supermarket was closing. As a result, all their baked goods were discounted 75%-80% during the last four hours of the store being open. Yay me totally oblivious to that and walking into the last hour and picking up some good stuff for almost nothing (I regret I didn't have more money though)… it was still going to be good for two days, but it'd expire BEFORE the store would reopen…
Damn, now I'm hungry.
When supermarket shopping I tend to keep an eye open for "outdated" and/or "damaged" women…WTF is with you and the Marmite/Vegemite thing, dude? ;)
Marmite, on the other hand, I always buy fresh! Vegemite I believe has no 'use by' date as it's already motherfucking RUBBISH!!!
Just throwing that out there.
I tend to do this a lot, but mostly with outdated stuff. It tends to be cheaper, and I also use them as soon as I can. Of course, I do examine the stuff I buy. Dry goods are usually better than stuff stored in cans or jars. And the closer it's passed from its expiration date the better since there's less chance of mold growing on the stuff or having the thing gone bad.
What I like best about your posts, is that you talk about food all the time. I'm remembering the crock-pot conversation; I still haven't come through with a recipe for you. I respect your sense of economy when it comes to making a quality meal. I've been known to cross-shop three different markets after reviewing as well as making notations from store-flyers, to build a reserve. I practically run a restaurant-stock in my apartment kitchen. Did you start the "What do you put in your coffee" thread? Seriously, keep it up. I'll talk about food until the windows are knighted by night, morning has snuffed the stars or I'm two parts got to eat hungry to one part creative.
When supermarket shopping I tend to keep an eye open for "outdated" and/or "damaged" women…WTF is with you and the Marmite/Vegemite thing, dude? ;)
Marmite, on the other hand, I always buy fresh! Vegemite I believe has no 'use by' date as it's already motherfucking RUBBISH!!!
Just throwing that out there.
yeah man, Vegemite is the fuckin shit. Not shit, THE fucking shit! Marmite is similar in tastes to a shit's shit.
I like to buy reduced produce. Usually means it'll turn in 2 days or so, but it's an excellent deal if you're using them imminently.
Years ago, there was a discount grocer at a flea market. It used to help me quite a bit during those poor years, but every so often I'd find an oatmeal pack with a millipede or two inside.
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