New HEB Plus-Evans @ 281 (Houston, San Antonio, Midland: house, buy, organic)

[pobre]

I am not fooled by anyone's ads. And I did NOT say that they were the cheapest in town. I said that they have low prices on a national scale. In fact, I do very little of my overall grocery shopping there.

As TexHwyMan pointed out, SA grocery prices are lower than much of the nation. About 15 years ago, SA grocery prices were about 92% of the national average. Now, this was when there was HEB, Handy Andy, and Kroger, among others. With the proliferation of SuperTarget and Super WalMart, HEB has had to sharpen their prices even more. Now, SA has grocery prices that are 84% of average.

And I NEVER said that that was why they had a large market share...I said that they had to expect gripes!

In addition, HEB has long been known for differential pricing. They "ended" the practice in the mid-90's, only to bring it back.

[SAAggiemom]

My Highway Man the expert on ALL subjects:
I will be more than happy to meet with you and compare grocery receipts. I'm also quite sure your figures do not factor in the double and triple coupons that are quite popular in markets where real competition exists.

[TexHwyMan]

Originally Posted by SAAggiemom

My Highway Man the expert on ALL subjects:
I will be more than happy to meet with you and compare grocery receipts. I'm also quite sure your figures do not factor in the double and triple coupons that are quite popular in markets where real competition exists.

So what's your point exactly? Since I also live in San Antonio, comparing grocery receipts would be pointless. And it's pretty sad that people in other markets need double and triple coupons to get to the level that we pay without coupons, and we get the discount on our overall bill and not just on items with coupons.

[ryneone]

Originally Posted by SAAggiemom

My Highway Man the expert on ALL subjects:
I will be more than happy to meet with you and compare grocery receipts. I'm also quite sure your figures do not factor in the double and triple coupons that are quite popular in markets where real competition exists.

What??? My other half cut's coupons every Sunday. It get's annoying with them all over the house. We save about 25% almost every time we go to the store. Moderator cut: addressing other members shop around here are some choices.

Food stores of San Antonio

Sun Harvest (1 Location)

Super Wal-Mart (18 Locations)

Super Target (5 locations)

HEB (52 Locations in al 5 metro counties)

Whole Foods (1 Location)

Costco (3 Locations)

Sam's (5 Locations)

With three major player's in the food sales market you people should be able to find completion. As already stated even absent another major grocery only we still have some of the cheapest prices in the country.

One last point if people supported the other national chains when they where as much as they support HEB then they would still be here. HEB is here to stay for a reason.

[713 to 210]

Originally Posted by TexHwyMan

Grocery prices in San Antonio are 7% less than in Houston.
(Source: Cost of living: Compare prices in two cities - CNNMoney.com)

I'll take my real-life comparison over your facts any day. I lived in Houston for 12 years and shopped at Kroger and HEB weekly. Both are cheaper than HEB in SA. Not to mention the product mix, it is much better in Houston. Even when you compare HEB to HEB.

San Antonians are really getting screwed by the hometown grocer. Be a homer all you want, HEB is not treating you right.

[TexHwyMan]

Originally Posted by 713 to 210

I'll take my real-life comparison over your facts any day. I lived in Houston for 12 years and shopped at Kroger and HEB weekly. Both are cheaper than HEB in SA. Not to mention the product mix, it is much better in Houston. Even when you compare HEB to HEB.

Kroger used to be in this market and could not compete with HEB, so that's why they're not here anymore. Same with Albertson's. I even remember the days when HEB would have identical carts of groceries near the front entrance-- one with their total price, and one with Kroger's and/or Albertson's price, and HEB was always substantially cheaper. Now I admit that was back in the day when those chains were here, so that comparison may not be true today, but cost-of-living indices seem to indicate that it probably would be. And with the competition from Wal-Mart, Super Target, Costco, the military commissaries, etc., HEB cannot rest on their laurels and therefore they don't. I've shopped at both Super Wal-Mart and HEB and have consistently found that HEB is cheaper overall and has more selection. Target seemed to be even more expensive than Wal-Mart the last time I looked. Yeah, you may get some items cheaper at one store or the other (for instance, meat is substantially cheaper at the commissary), but overall, my experience has been that HEB is cheaper, and statistics seem to bear that out.

I think we've been through this debate before:
http://www.city-data.com/forum/san-a...n-antonio.html

As a side note-- HEB is the 13th largest privately-held company in the US:
America's Largest Private Companies sorted by Rank - Forbes.com

[713 to 210]

Originally Posted by TexHwyMan

Kroger used to be in this market and could not compete with HEB, so that's why they're not here anymore. Same with Albertson's. I even remember the days when HEB would have identical carts of groceries near the front entrance-- one with their total price, and one with Kroger's and/or Albertson's price, and HEB was always substantially cheaper. Now I admit that was back in the day when those chains were here, so that comparison may not be true today, but cost-of-living indices seem to indicate that it probably would be. And with the competition from Wal-Mart, Super Target, Costco, the military commissaries, etc., HEB cannot rest on their laurels and therefore they don't. I've shopped at both Super Wal-Mart and HEB and have consistently found that HEB is cheaper overall and has more selection. Target seemed to be even more expensive than Wal-Mart the last time I looked. Yeah, you may get some items cheaper at one store or the other (for instance, meat is substantially cheaper at the commissary), but overall, my experience has been that HEB is cheaper, and statistics seem to bear that out.

I think we've been through this debate before:
http://www.city-data.com/forum/san-a...n-antonio.html

As a side note-- HEB is the 13th largest privately-held company in the US:
America's Largest Private Companies sorted by Rank - Forbes.com

Like I said previously, drive outside of SA and find another HEB, you'll see the difference. I'm not quoting stats from here or there, I'm a living example telling you that the pricing and product mix is worse here than in Houston (not sure of other areas). Believe me or not, but HEB is not treating you right. Next time you're in Houston, go to an HEB and look at their prices and products. It won't take you long to see the difference.

[jules07]

I'm thinking I need to agree with 713 to 210 here. My daughter recently moved to Houston and has been (pleasantly) surprised at the lower prices at HEB there. I'll have her check some specific items next time she shops and we can compare.

Get those "stats" all you want. It's the real life, everyday items that matter. Just MHO.

[tgannaway89]

Oh I wish we had Fiesta like Houston, Dallas, and Austin. Now thats a classy store...

[tgannaway89]

In Midland we had Wal-Mart, Sams, Albertsons, Lowe's (grocery), Save-a-lot, Super Mercado, etc.

HEB was by the far the best store and best selection.