Turkish supermarket 'buy one get one free' campaigns face scrutiny

Chain supermarkets in Turkey are facing criticism over 'buy one get one free' promotional campaigns that appear to offer minimal savings due to significant price hikes on individual items.

Price comparisons revealed that certain products saw substantial increases during these promotions. For example, a package of baby diapers normally priced at 279.90 lira was listed at 499 lira under the campaign. Similarly, paper towels typically sold for approximately 200 lira were offered at 379.95 lira for two packs, resulting in a total consumer advantage of only 20.05 lira compared to the standard market price.

The most drastic discrepancy was noted in toothpaste, where a product sold for 129.90 lira in other markets was priced at 439.95 lira during the promotion. Consumers have expressed skepticism, alleging that retailers inflate prices immediately before launching these discount campaigns to create a false impression of savings.