Near-expiry products in Estonia not always cheapest, consumers find

Shoppers in Estonia are finding that products nearing their expiration date are not always the bargain they expect. A practice observed in some stores means that items marked with special stickers indicating they are close to expiring may not offer the best possible savings.

The issue arises in how discounts are applied. In certain retail environments, the advertised discount is calculated based on the product's original price, rather than its current sale price. This means that a product already on promotion might not see an additional, significant reduction when its expiration date approaches.

This approach can lead to consumers missing out on potential savings. The expectation is that items nearing their sell-by date would be further reduced to clear inventory. However, the current calculation method means that the "discounted" near-expiry item could still be more expensive than a fresh product, or at least not as cheap as anticipated.