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How can everything in a Honolulu Safeway be so inexpensive?
If you buy only things with sales on the Clubcard - and compare the price to Foodland, Times, and Whole Foods, I'd agree. Then add the gas rewards - that also helps.
Compared to the Mainland or things not on sale - then not so much.
Compared to the Mainland or things not on sale - then not so much.
Mainland? Why are we comparing prices with the Mainland? I'd suggest using other Pacific Islands as a frame of reference. Honolulu is a bargain on just about everything except beachfront huts.
Tahiti (and all of French Polynesia) is pretty expensive on everything, with the possible exception of French wine, but I had no specific location in mind.
Being from New Zealand, my comparisons start there...but New Zealand is cheap (for food and other consumables) when compared against its smaller neighbors. Kiwis bring coolers full of meat when they go to the Cook Islands because 1) we're allowed to and 2) NZ is where the food comes from anyway.
Mainland? Why are we comparing prices with the Mainland? I'd suggest using other Pacific Islands as a frame of reference. Honolulu is a bargain on just about everything except beachfront huts.
Why? Because the overwhelming majority of visitors to Hawaii (and transplanted residents) come from the mainland.
Perhaps your original post should have given a frame of reference for your comparisons. Then the rest of us would have understood.
+1. I've never looked at Safeway coupons and used Just for You since I've moved here. On sale items here are regular price items on the mainland. I try to purchase most of my food at Costco and go to Safeway for the non bulk items.
Mainland? Why are we comparing prices with the Mainland? I'd suggest using other Pacific Islands as a frame of reference. Honolulu is a bargain on just about everything except beachfront huts.
I can see why most of us compare Hawaii to the mainland. However, you make a very good point. We really should be comparing it to other Pacific Islands.
I can see why most of us compare Hawaii to the mainland. However, you make a very good point. We really should be comparing it to other Pacific Islands.
As soon as other Pacific Island groups get retail establishments from the continental United States, such as Safeway, Whole Foods, Wal-Mart, Costco, Target, etc., a true comparison can be made. For instance, New Zealand's "New World" supermarket chain (that has around 140 stores) isn't really directly comparable to the Safeway chain (that has around 1,324 stores in the continental United States and 21 Hawaiʻi) because of "economies of scale" and supply chain differences.
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