Somerfield in my village back home were selling 'value packs' (two packs with an extra bit of packaging round them) of McVitie's chocolate digestives for a higher price than it would've cost to buy two separate individual packs.

I went down there one Friday evening for some biscuits and some cider, and they'd sold out of the individual ones. When I asked a staff member if they had any more out the back, and pointed out that the twin packs were actually more expensive, he went to look for some. No luck - so he returned, tore the wrapping off one of the twin packs, and gave me two individual packs.

Now that's customer service.

Speaking of calculators and price tags, one of the modern marvels of dollar store inventories is the $1 calculator. It's kind of amazing how they can churn them out for next to nothing.

All supermarkets in the UK are (generally) required to give you a unit price, for the item (say ££ per kilo or whatever) so that you know what you are paying for the unit of choice. However, fresh produce changes so frequently, that it is practically impossible for the supermarkets to give an 'honest' equivalent to a previous price.

However, 'dubious' traders, WILL use the 'double cross out' (was £1.50, then £1.00, NOW, £0.75... ergo half price) even when the previous price was as long ago as 3 years.

Add to that, that the produce concerned may not be from the same country as previous (all fresh produce MUST, by law, have a country of origin), and then you can see the problems/possibilities for rip offs.

I should point out that Somerfield is/are still the best, and now that the Co-op have taken them over, while slightly more expensive in some things (and actually MOST things) they do have the best staff.

Oh, and WoM: Its been done. Sorry. Good idea.

Now, if anyone can get me an app, to cover for staff, AND give me a menu idea when ingredients arent delivered, I will be a very happy bunty (Freudian, but I will leave it).