HEB or Walmart for prices? (College Station, New Braunfels: school, college, live in)

[rd2007]

I was just clarifying my position; it's up to everyone else to misinterpret other people's posts

[PopsGuysRule]

Originally Posted by rd2007

I was just clarifying my position; it's up to everyone else to misinterpret other people's posts

what he said.........

[did0c]

I think Wal-Mart has better prices, HEB better selection but I shop the "loss leaders" and especially the "get this free when you buy this" (only if we use the products in the first place) and that works out to some great deals.

Also, (forgive me if you all probably knew this) Wal-Mart will price match HEB and Target ads (for the same product and not anything free) so to save a trip to HEB, I'll bring in the ad and get them to price match. That is nice especially with the high gas prices, to not have to make a seperate trip.

[sapphire]

Originally Posted by did0c

I think Wal-Mart has better prices, HEB better selection but I shop the "loss leaders" and especially the "get this free when you buy this" (only if we use the products in the first place) and that works out to some great deals.

Also, (forgive me if you all probably knew this) Wal-Mart will price match HEB and Target ads (for the same product and not anything free) so to save a trip to HEB, I'll bring in the ad and get them to price match. That is nice especially with the high gas prices, to not have to make a seperate trip.

No, I didn't know that, so thank you!

[PopsGuysRule]

Well.... I actually DID come in here intending to respond to the original poster....

soooooo....


I too am a transplant to the fair, fine city of San Antonio. Where I last lived, I had many, many grocery shopping options, and never gave it a second thought. In fact, until moving here to SA, I had never experienced a dearth of grocery store options...

I go to Walmart AND HEB..... If I have something else I need and I know I can get it at Walmart and it just so happens I could use some groceries also, I go there....
If no other good reason to go to Walmart, I go to HEB.....
I also occasionally go to Sun Harvest; they have some whole grain products that I like and somehow - can't prove it - the produce seems fresher and 'healthier' looking there..... Sun Harvest also has some nice meats at surprisingly reasonable prices.
I have not found a Handy Andy or Fiesta, but would be willing to try them....
A particular point about Walmart:

I don't know where you live, but I am probably nearly equidistant from both Bandera at Culebra and the one at Culebra at 1604..... I CLEARLY favor the Walmart at Culebra/1604 over the other .... However!! the store that I favor sells meat that has been pre-packed outside the store and some meats in minimum quantities that are still too much for me. They pack them in deep plastic containers and then seal a cellophane-like 'lid' over them. I can never buy some of their meats because they sell only quantities that are way too much for me and no one there locally can 're-distribute and re-pack' them.... so I rarely buy fresh meats there.... pity, because I really prefer that store otherwise.... oh, and the other thing about the 'cellophane lid' on the meat package... they seem to always be so tight and 'bulging'. an indication there's a lot of air trapped in there.... dries out the meat.....
I don't find the prices at HEB to be out of order, personally....

sorry, kinda pirated your thread playin' around with rd up there......

[Bo]

Originally Posted by PopsGuysRule

oh, and the other thing about the 'cellophane lid' on the meat package... they seem to always be so tight and 'bulging'. an indication there's a lot of air trapped in there.... dries out the meat.....

Someone told me that those "bulging" meat packages are filled with pure nitrogen. The air that we breathe has a high percentage of nitrogen, so the practice is perfectly safe, but it's the oxygen in air that makes meat oxidize and spoil faster. By packaging it in pure nitrogen, Wal-Mart is able to extend the shelf life of its meat.

[rd2007]

does anyone know if HEB will price match wally world? I have seen the flyers and liked some of the prices, but will still pay more to not shop there. It would be nice to save money and still not shop there though..

[did0c]

Originally Posted by sapphire

No, I didn't know that, so thank you!

You're very welcome! I especially like to do it when HEB has grapes for (now it is a little higher) 99 cents and Wal-Mart has them for almost a dollar more. As long as it is "red seedless" to "red seedless" (or if the sale is on green seedless), then they should adjust the price.

[kmerian]

Originally Posted by rd2007

I think there is one within a mile of EVERYONES house here in SA
does anyone know the exact number of Walgreens here? They have to be in the 100's. They do have good milk prices too, which I find odd because most everything else they sell is way over priced.
I also think the huge crowds that are always at the Potranco HEB+ speaks volumes, especially when you compare it to the wally world that's less than a mile away. I don't think I've ever seen more than 100 cars in that lot.

I think the reason that Wal-Mart at 1604 and Potranco does such small business is because the geniuses faced it AWAY from 1604. From 1604 it is just a big beige building

[tabernash]

Originally Posted by GWhopper

I actually shared you opinions about Wally World. I read the the Wal-Mart Effect and saw the documentaries. But then they started offering those huge prescription discounts on drugs at the Sam's clubs. These have been a life saver for My Mom, a senior citizen with questionable health and diabeties, has benefited greatly from these. It was hard for me to hate them for it after that. I understand what they did to Rubber-maid, but it was Rubber-Maid's management that committed to that deal which eventually killed them. You can contrast that with Toro lawn mowers who said we don't want to cut costs to that extent just so we can sell into your customer base, you start to realize that Wal-Mart just provides the market, its the decisions of the guys that chose to play in that market that lead to most (not all) the busines disasters Wal-Mart gets blamed for.

I do not ever agree, though, with their recommendations to outsource jobs to China for their vendors. That's where their corporate culture crosses the line.

I have several friends who stay away from WalMart also.
The pushy, sloppy, and rude crowds are the major detractors. Have fallen in love with HEB and their special deals. Plus Heb brand goods are very good quality.