![SHARP PRACTICES](https://cdn.magzter.com/1658490768/1690185476/articles/vqPnERMc71690345155601/SHARP-PRACTICES.jpg)
One of the delights of an old newspaper is the adverts, especially the prices. In a November 1963 edition of the Daily Mirror, these are stated precisely. Maltesers are 3d, 7d or 1s, while a 1oz tin of Ogden’s Aintree Mixture tobacco is 5s in all shops and outlets. At that time, manufacturers were able to dictate the retail price, even though some retailers were keen to discount the price and so benefit the consumer.
Since the 1960s there has been considerable legislation to protect consumer interests. The Retail Prices Act of 1964 largely discontinued this longstanding practice of price fixing. Thereafter, advertised prices were “recommended” and by shopping around, the items could usually be bought for less.
These days, sales occur virtually all year round. In the 1950s and 60s, these were mostly confined to the “January sales”. Some shoppers would queue all night outside certain stores to secure the bargains, some of which were sold at prices almost too good to be true. Legislation now requires retailers to give details of where and for how long such a product had been sold at its former price.
The early 1970s posed new challenges to shoppers, with the introduction of decimal currency, the metrification of units and Value Added Tax (VAT). One virtue of decimal currency was it largely killed off the use of the guinea in pricing. Even though the guinea had long since disappeared as a unit of currency, sales prices were often further “lowered” by quoting them in guineas rather than pounds. In fact, 39 guineas amounted to £40 19s.
This story is from the August 2023 edition of Best of British.
Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 9,000+ magazines and newspapers.
Already a subscriber ? Sign In
This story is from the August 2023 edition of Best of British.
Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 9,000+ magazines and newspapers.
Already a subscriber? Sign In
!["A Personal Stab of Shock and Horror"](https://reseuro.magzter.com/100x125/articles/27257/1482893/W34UXO0vq1698233453069/crp_A-PERSONAL-STAB-OF-SHOCK-AND-HORROR.jpg)
"A Personal Stab of Shock and Horror"
Chris Hallam looks back on the British reaction to President Kennedy's assassination
![A BUILDING BONANZA](https://reseuro.magzter.com/100x125/articles/27257/1482893/kS0pZFjco1698234652779/A-BUILDING-BONANZA.jpg)
A BUILDING BONANZA
Claire Saul samples some of the entries in a new publication from the National Trust
![ON TARGET](https://reseuro.magzter.com/100x125/articles/27257/1482893/05uZzMKcb1698234483661/ON-TARGET.jpg)
ON TARGET
Russell Cook browses through 50 years of a publishing phenomenon
![The Rise and Fall of Poole Pottery](https://reseuro.magzter.com/100x125/articles/27257/1482893/TQIJPmvyE1698233982232/THE-RISE-AND-FALL-OF-POOLE-POTTERY.jpg)
The Rise and Fall of Poole Pottery
Steve Annandale charts the history of what was, by the 1990s, Dorset's most significant tourist attraction
![DOCTOR HO-HO!](https://reseuro.magzter.com/100x125/articles/27257/1482893/0fYWQ1P2G1698233873338/DOCTOR-HOHO.jpg)
DOCTOR HO-HO!
Robert Ross takes a swift spin through some of the comedy stars who have stumbled into the Tardis
![The Three Ronnies](https://reseuro.magzter.com/100x125/articles/27257/1482893/easQiAGq01698233729883/THE-THREE-RONNIES.jpg)
The Three Ronnies
Martin Handley celebrates the talents of a trio of composers
![A RARE OLD SCRAMBLE](https://reseuro.magzter.com/100x125/articles/27257/1482893/RlH5Y6f0N1698233334830/A-RARE-OLD-SCRAMBLE.jpg)
A RARE OLD SCRAMBLE
Colin Allan has fond memories of tuning in to Grandstand to watch scrambling on winter afternoons in the sport's golden age of the 1960s
![THE ULTIMATE RESPONSE](https://reseuro.magzter.com/100x125/articles/27257/1482893/E27buZfBU1698233167983/THE-ULTIMATE-RESPONSE.jpg)
THE ULTIMATE RESPONSE
Roger Harvey nominates a sculpture in his native Newcastle as the most poignant and powerful memorial to duty and heroism
![POSTCARD FROM CHESHIRE](https://reseuro.magzter.com/100x125/articles/27257/1482893/VI6I8JNXW1698232928689/POSTCARD-FROM-CHESHIRE.jpg)
POSTCARD FROM CHESHIRE
Bob Barton finds out about subsidence, timber-framed buildings, boat lifts, waterways and Lewis Carroll, taking it all with a pinch of salt
![OVER HERE](https://reseuro.magzter.com/100x125/articles/27257/1482893/bpbWL7FXo1698232339637/OVER-HERE.jpg)
OVER HERE
Michael Foley looks back at how the people of East Anglia reacted to the American \"invasion\" during World War Two that saw the building of dozens of airfields