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What you're SUPPOSED to do is take a little notebook shopping with you, note the prices of what you buy in one place, then compare by going to other stores. Who has time for that? :P
So you're at the checkout and as they're going through you point at your ads for the 10 items that are cheaper? I've never even seen anyone do that at a Walmart.
Unfortunately, I have, and it's a pain to be the person in line behind them!
Like others, I have noticed a huge price increase in most groceries. I don't like it, but I still think our groceries are reasonable compared to other countries in the world. Higher quality, too.
I wonder what countries you have in mind... Especially the countries with "higher quality" food...
What you're SUPPOSED to do is take a little notebook shopping with you, note the prices of what you buy in one place, then compare by going to other stores. Who has time for that? :P
Or you can just remember what the prices were. Last week, boneless ribeye steak was $5.77/lb. I thought that was a pretty good deal. Progresso soups are 4/$5. 2L soda water is 88 cents. Chicken thighs were $1.28/lb in a 5 lb. pack. Chicken hindquarters were $4.95 for a 10 lb. pack. Onions were 49 cents a pound. Large (giant) avocados were 2/$3. I just don't see food as being that expensive, but as I mentioned, I don't shop at Wal-Mart. If that's your only choice, they have you by the short hairs.
...but I still think our groceries are reasonable compared to other countries in the world. Higher quality, too.
Compared to which countries? Surely cheaper than Switzerland, Norway, Australia and Canada. But almost all other countries seems to be cheaper. Of course, it also depends on the exchange rate.
Most of the prices seems extremely high to me. Not only the Walmart prices, but also the Aldi prices. For example the apples. We pay for a 2kg (4.4lb) bag of apples €1.49. That's about $0.76 for 2lbs of apples. The most expensive apples (Pink Lady, Cripps Pink) cost €1.99 for 1 kg. That's about half the price what the plain Gala apples cost at Walmart.
Food at grocery stores is surprisingly expensive in the U.S. Not sure why, maybe because of higher agrar subsidies in the EU?
Higher quality? Many questionable food additives, that are allowed and used in the U.S., are banned in most other developed countries. That alone makes your claim in my opinion disproved.
Yes prices are rising, I think a more significant trend is the trend of "store brand" labels and their rising prices. If you use Walmart as an example they may price match a can of Del Monte diced tomatoes, but they're not going to price match the Walmart brand of diced tomatoes, since no one else carries them.
There's more margin to be made on the store brand products.
Eventually, I think the stores will just start carrying their own brands and omit the brand names. Aldi's basically does this already. The only name brand product I have seen in an Aldi's store is Coca-Cola. This also has the added benefit of people not using product specific coupons. (I do see dollar off purchase coupons at Aldi's once in a great while though).
It will be interesting to see how the grocery business evolves in the next 10-20 years.
It will be interesting to see how the grocery business evolves in the next 10-20 years.
Apropos of positively nothing, I've always thought that that would be a FASCINATING line of work to be in - managing a grocery store. Then again, I also wanted to be a lawyer, a truck driver, a journalist, a civil engineer, and the owner of a catering;/party planning service. That probably would explain why I'm trying to get a liberal arts degree as I quickly approach 50 - I still don't know what I want to be when I grow up.
As to Walmart grocery prices, to be honest, I haven't really noticed. The last time I went to Walmart for groceries, it was terribly inconvenient and the prices were no better than what I can get at my local Jewel. So I haven't been purchasing groceries there. I will say, however, they do have some items that I can't GET at my Jewel (the Walmart I prefer to go to is a SUPER MONSTROUS I've never seen anything like it and it if you're shopping, plan on spending a few hours minimum there Walmart - two of my grocery stores would fit in just Walmart's "grocery" area alone.) so if I need those, I'll make the trip.
What about Save-a-Lot or whatever your local equivalent of the bargain grocery may be? Because their prices didn't seem particularly low to me the last time I was in one. I believe they jack them up, in fact, because so many who shop there are on food stamps and don't compare prices.
What about Save-a-Lot or whatever your local equivalent of the bargain grocery may be? Because their prices didn't seem particularly low to me the last time I was in one. I believe they jack them up, in fact, because so many who shop there are on food stamps and don't compare prices.
From what I've seen, Save-a-Lot just seems to carry a bunch of cheap brands and cheaper products, hence charging what appear to be lower prices. The rest is comparable to anywhere else I go, hence why I don't find reason to shop there.
What about Save-a-Lot or whatever your local equivalent of the bargain grocery may be? Because their prices didn't seem particularly low to me the last time I was in one. I believe they jack them up, in fact, because so many who shop there are on food stamps and don't compare prices.
Huh?? What in heaven's name makes you say that people on food stamps don't compare prices?
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Huh?? What in heaven's name makes you say that people on food stamps don't compare prices?
