One TikTok user may have unlocked the secret to getting the best prices at Coles and Woolies – and could potentially save you hundreds at the checkout.
With prices at the two major supermarkets (as well as everywhere else) steadily increasing, finding the best specials is more important than ever.
But exactly what will be on special on a particular day can seem like a matter of luck. Sure, there must be a pattern to the price changes, but recording price info for hundreds of products is not something anybody wants to be doing.
@joelkillsbills Thanks to @Price Check Guy for demystifying the yo-yo discounts of #colesworth. Here’s how to use it to max your #moneysaving ♬ original sound – joelkillsbills
If you’re someone who buys a lot of the same brands each week, this can lead to wildly different grocery bills from week to week, making planning a pain.
It may appear that each week’s specials are chosen at random, but there is a method to their madness, and one man may have cracked it. And he’s built a tool to help you take advantage.
Adrian Williamson, who goes by the handle Price Check Guy on TikTok, has created a free downloadable plugin for the Coles and Woolies online shopping portals, that tracks the prices of individual items over time.
The plugin overlays price history data over each product, allowing you to quickly and easily see when the item goes on sale and identify any patterns. For example, does that pasta you like go on sale once every two weeks, or only on certain days? Are certain brands discounted at different times of the month?
With this info readily available, you will know when the best time to buy a product is, and when it’s better to wait – or head to the competition.
If your goal is getting your grocery bills down, then it’s a good idea to split your shopping across at least two supermarkets in order to maximise your discounts. Since the plugin covers both the majors, you can quickly compare specials between the two.
What’s a plugin? How do I get it?
This all might sound a bit technical, but it’s really not. A plugin, also known as an extension, is a software add-on for a computer program, in this case your web browser. The plugin adds extra functionality to the program.
Price Check Guy’s Coles and Woolies price trackers are available for Chrome and Firefox, and also iOS – although this version requires the use of a third-party app that allows you to install Chrome and Firefox plugins.
Simply click the link for the version you wish to use and you’ll be taken to the appropriate Chrome or Firefox web store page, click ‘Add’ and the plugin will install.
Head to the Coles or Woolies online stores and you’ll see the special price history information clearly alongside the displayed price and with a few clicks you can get detailed graphs, price comparisons and price patterns.
For the savvy shopper, this tool could potentially save you hundreds on your shop each week, particularly if you’re willing to split your shop across the two major supermarkets.
Do you think this tool would be useful? Do you split your shopping across supermarkets to access all the deals? Let us know in the comments section below.
Also read: Is Woolworths new Scan&Go system worth it?
