Free items
After I had late dinner last night, I immediately went to sleep. I felt so tired but not that kind of tired that I get when I was still working. I wanted to make an article but my eyes were dropping that is why I didn't push myself and slept early.
Anyway, now that I have experienced working in a small Korean grocery, I must say that it is quite challenging for me especially when it comes to pushing some slow moving items. My brother and sister-in-law's store has been in operation for 3 months already and in that span of time, I know that they have given away a lot of free items. During their grand opening, they gave away some free reusable bags and umbrella. Then the day during the opening of their second business, they have also gave a lot of free items because those items are nearing their expiration dates.
Even for a person who does not have any experience in business, you can say that giving away free items is already a loss for the company. Yes, it may help with the business but there will come a point that some of those people will always be looking forward to free items.
In terms of giving items that are nearing their expiration date, I know that we can still sell it for a lower price other than giving it for free. However, my concern is that there will going to be some instances where those dated items will be a problem. How would you feel if you are to buy an item at a great price but is about to expire? It happened to me before but I have no problem with that as I was going to consume it right away. But how about for those that won't eat it right away? Do consumers know that the reason that the item was on bargain is because it was about to expire? What if the product is 2 or 3 days before it's expiration date, should they still sell those? Should sellers tell their buyers or customers that it is about to expire or just let it be?
Last week when I bought some food gift box for my friend from company B, I told her that she needed to give the drinks to her son and my goddaughter but I did not said why though since we came from the same induatry, ahe understood right away why I said that and we just laughed. She said that it would not be a problem because she will really let her kids consume everything right away.
You all know that I have been supervising my brother and sister-in-law's grocery store and I just found out that they do have a lotnof products that are to be expired next month. I also found out that they bought a stock before from the supplier and the expiration date was the following day. They did not bought it on sale nor a discounted price so what they did was they returned all of it when they saw the dates. Pretty sure that some of their supplies that they bought last year was the old stock that is why a lot of their products are to get expired next month. We have been thinking what to do with those expired products. We are thinking a buy 1 take 1 promo or a buy 2 take 1 or buy 4 take 1. Because I wanted both of their business to be a win-win, I suggested that they should give away the items that are nearing their expiration dates if someone will buy a box of their snacks. Most likely they will buy some more from the grocery if they arw given some free items.
Recently, the owners just give free items to whoever they want even if the expiry dates arw 5 days or less. I sometimes feel bad to the customers who received the free items. Should the owners and staff inform them about the expiration dates? What if they do not wait it right away nor they do not notice the dates? If you were in their position, would you feel bad if I gave you a free item that was about to expire or you would understand why they gave it to you?
There were instances that I pulled out some of the items that were dated the same day as the expiration dates. My sister-in-law asked me about those items when she went to the store that day and I explained to her that selling it when it is already expired can only cause a customer complaint. She understood my opinion but I know that she was disheartened because there were some products that were not sold. The staffs got to bring home some of those expired items.
What do you think should we do with the items that are about to expire next month? My brother and aister-in-law are not into buy 1 get one because they are at loss if they do that all the more if they would just give it away for free. They want a buy 2 (or 4) ramen noodles get 1 free drink. Or should we give one item that is about to expire and the other that is far it's expiration date? Should we tell the customers about it? We have a a rack full of items that are about to expire next month. We still have not decided what to do with it since they have been busy these past couple of days. Your suggestion will be very much appreciated.
February 26, 2022P.S. lead image is a photo of one side of their store during their grand opening.
Tama ung nag comment regarding sa FIFO ng mga goods. ganun talaga daapt. May i knowthe products sis? food ba ito or mga essentials? Well ako honestly, kung matanggap kog products eh days na lang expired na tapos same price ko pa din natanggap eh sure talgang mababadtrip ako sis pero in case naman na nagbaba talaga kayo price eh okay lang yan.
naalala ko ung binili ko kagabi sa daiso kahapon expire na ung majorico na stick o by april kaya ito papa kain ko na agad sa anak ko. okay pa naman pero pag ako talaga nabili eh hindi ako bumibili ng malapit na exp date.