Safeway is out. Albertson's is in. (Coos Bay, Independence: sale, coupons, 2014)

[Steve Pickering]

Well at least the company that bought them also owns Albertson's Albertsons parent Cerberus buys Safeway for more than $9 billion - latimes.com .

That makes Wal-Mart the only real option.

[delta07]

Why does this make Wal-Mart the only option?

[Steve Pickering]

Because it is foolish to pay $1.89 for a can of Nalley's Chilli when Wal-Mart sells the exact same brand for $0.98, Bi-Mart sells it for $.089, and Waremart sells it for $0.69.

We have two choices here. Wal-Mart and Safeway. Prices at Safeway were 40% higher across the board. Albertson's was $60% higher in Coos Bay before they were closed down. We can drive to Independence for Bi-Mart or Waremart.

Albertson's pricing will be placed in the Safeway stores after the Merger is finished. They claim they will continue to be competitors until then.

[Minervah]

Not for me, I don't have that choice. Safeway is a block and a half away. The nearest WalMart is two buses and about an hour and a half away.

[PNW-type-gal]

Only if you buy lots of packaged stuff. If you buy fresh foods, produce and meat, WalMart is a terrible place to shop. WalMart probably has the best prices on the center aisle food - all the frozen and prepackaged stuff, which (other than staples) I don't buy anyway.

[Steve Pickering]

I find most Wal-Mart bashers would rather spend their money on a principle. The real principle is food prices brand for brand and the foolhardy waste of money to wear a banner.

Those who perpetuate the Wal-Mart quality myth, don't seem to understand, Wal-Mart sells more locally grown fruits and vegetables than either Safeway or Albertson's, and twice as much as Whole Foods or Joe's, in every single market.

[crazyme4878]

Originally Posted by PNW-type-gal

Only if you buy lots of packaged stuff. If you buy fresh foods, produce and meat, WalMart is a terrible place to shop. WalMart probably has the best prices on the center aisle food - all the frozen and prepackaged stuff, which (other than staples) I don't buy anyway.

I agree. I would waste money buying produce from WalMart because it went bad so quickly. They also didn't have the wide selection as Safeway. We don't eat meat, so a large chunk of our food budget goes to produce. I would buy for two weeks at a time, and the WalMart produce couldn't hold up for even a week, while the Safeway produce could. I would buy bread and cereal from there (along with toilet paper and such), and everything else from Safeway.

[Steve Pickering]

Did you ever ask yourself what chemicals Safeway was using to preserve that produce? Safeway is one of the markets that rarely have local produce. It is the local harvest without chemical treatment that you are bashing at Wal-Mart. Yes Wal-Mart like all chains brings in out of season produce from all over the world, but they are the only chain of the three who sell as much local grown untreated as they can get in season.

[Minervah]

Interesting. I am lucky to have a little year round farmer's market just a few blocks away from me with produce brought in from Sauvie's Island Kruger's Farms so I shop for produce there when I can. The unseasonal stuff is supposed to be chemical free or so they say.They also have fish, meat and poultry that is supposed to be local.

The nearby Safeway has an organic produce section that is pretty expensive. They will tell you if it's local but it usually isn't. I usually don't buy produce there but will buy other stuff on sale because everything there costs an arm and a leg and a foot. I use their online card coupons too.

Fred's is a mile away so I go there sometimes by bus which limits what I can carry.

If WalMart were closer I would do some shopping there. I don't have a problem with them but I cannot buy in bulk since it's just me.

One place I will not step foot in is Whole Foods. I don't like them and I don't trust them. TJ's is fine but not convenient.

[crazyme4878]

Originally Posted by Steve Pickering

Did you ever ask yourself what chemicals Safeway was using to preserve that produce? Safeway is one of the markets that rarely have local produce. It is the local harvest without chemical treatment that you are bashing at Wal-Mart. Yes Wal-Mart like all chains brings in out of season produce from all over the world, but they are the only chain of the three who sell as much local grown untreated as they can get in season.

That has not been my experience. To each their own.