Because of my location and the proximity of the stupidmarkets I watch the
prices and buy in bulk.

The markets must think we are idiots with their savings deals but one is
virtually forced into playing their games.

I also carry a little Oscar with some blue ice and an insulated bag.

so there are the tallies:

Ralphs (Kroger) Paid 62.65 Savings $62.59 Like I would have paid the
$125.00
Albertsons Paid $72.82 Savings $72.18 + 3 $5.00 certificates (cash off
your next bill)

The regular prices are NUTS Wishbone Salad Dressing $3.89 Savings 2.23 net
price $1.66.
And so on and so on.

Who are they kidding?

Dimitri

Dimitri wrote:
> Because of my location and the proximity of the stupidmarkets I watch
> the prices and buy in bulk.
>
> The markets must think we are idiots with their savings deals but one is
> virtually forced into playing their games.
>

Thats why I like the local large family owned market where we buy most
of our stuff and a regional chain. Both sell stuff at fair prices with
no insulting shopper club ID member card and inflated prices on some
items such as "eggs: $2.95/doz, with shopper club ID card $1.95/doz"
when the normal price is that or even less and of course a 3 foot long
tape is produced at the register announcing your "savings". The regional
chain even has a display near the entrance with two carts filled with
the same items. One has the prices if you used a shopper club ID card at
a competitor and one shows the prices if you just paid the normal price
at this store. The normal price is always lower and the carts contain a
fair representation of normal purchases.

> I also carry a little Oscar with some blue ice and an insulated bag.
>
> so there are the tallies:
>
> Ralphs (Kroger) Paid 62.65 Savings $62.59 Like I would have paid the
> $125.00
> Albertsons Paid $72.82 Savings $72.18 + 3 $5.00 certificates (cash
> off your next bill)
>
> The regular prices are NUTS Wishbone Salad Dressing $3.89 Savings 2.23
> net price $1.66.
> And so on and so on.
>
> Who are they kidding?
>
> Dimitri

Dimitri wrote:
> Because of my location and the proximity of the stupidmarkets I watch
> the prices and buy in bulk.
>
> The markets must think we are idiots with their savings deals but one
> is virtually forced into playing their games.
>
> I also carry a little Oscar with some blue ice and an insulated bag.
>
snip
>
> Dimitri

I hope they gave you a 3 cent deduction for providing a bag (Little Oscar)
;o}
Janet

On Mon, 10 Nov 2008 16:34:57 -0800, "Dimitri" >
wrote:

>The markets must think we are idiots with their savings deals but one is
>virtually forced into playing their games.

Forced? Not really. I think you're smart if you figure out the game
and play it. I am not a player, so I don't do that - OTOH hubby knows
the rotations and plays the game.


--
I never worry about diets. The only carrots that
interest me are the number of carats in a diamond.

Mae West

On Mon, 10 Nov 2008 16:34:57 -0800, "Dimitri" >
wrote:
>The markets must think we are idiots with their savings deals but one is
>virtually forced into playing their games.
>
>Who are they kidding?
>
My local FRY's Grocery prices everything at 150%.

When you use your club-card, they reduce the price
to 100%, then brag about how much $$ they've saved you.
( their "reduced" price is still spendy )

I can't wait for a WalMart supercenter to come to town !

On Tue, 11 Nov 2008 13:14:34 -0700, "<RJ>" > wrote:


>I can't wait for a WalMart supercenter to come to town !

Not enough evil in your town? Or maybe the local merchants are making
too much money?

Lou

In article >,
Lou Decruss > wrote:

> On Tue, 11 Nov 2008 13:14:34 -0700, "<RJ>" > wrote:
>
>
> >I can't wait for a WalMart supercenter to come to town !
>
> Not enough evil in your town? Or maybe the local merchants are making
> too much money?
>
> Lou

People that deliberately rip you off deserve to be put out of business.
--
Peace! Om

"Our prime purpose in this life is to help others. And if you can't help them, at least don't hurt them." -- Dalai Lama

On Tue, 11 Nov 2008 17:41:10 -0600, Omelet >
wrote:

>In article >,
> Lou Decruss > wrote:
>
>> On Tue, 11 Nov 2008 13:14:34 -0700, "<RJ>" > wrote:
>>
>>
>> >I can't wait for a WalMart supercenter to come to town !
>>
>> Not enough evil in your town? Or maybe the local merchants are making
>> too much money?
>>
>> Lou
>
>People that deliberately rip you off deserve to be put out of business.

That would be walmart. If you're a fan of theirs we'll have to agree
to disagree.

Lou

"<RJ>" > wrote in message
...
> On Mon, 10 Nov 2008 16:34:57 -0800, "Dimitri" >
> wrote:
>>The markets must think we are idiots with their savings deals but one is
>>virtually forced into playing their games.
>>
>>Who are they kidding?
>>
> My local FRY's Grocery prices everything at 150%.
>
> When you use your club-card, they reduce the price
> to 100%, then brag about how much $$ they've saved you.
> ( their "reduced" price is still spendy )
>
> I can't wait for a WalMart supercenter to come to town !


Just moved (a year ago) from a town with a Sams and a Wal Mart Super center
in the same area. I was not impressed with the Super center prices with a
few exceptions.

If you pay attention to prices you can do much better than the Super Center.
Occasionally they did have some items which were priced competitively but it
was not an across the board discount pricing structure.

Dimitri

In article >,
"Dimitri" > wrote:

> "<RJ>" > wrote in message
> ...
> > On Mon, 10 Nov 2008 16:34:57 -0800, "Dimitri" >
> > wrote:
> >>The markets must think we are idiots with their savings deals but one is
> >>virtually forced into playing their games.
> >>
> >>Who are they kidding?
> >>
> > My local FRY's Grocery prices everything at 150%.
> >
> > When you use your club-card, they reduce the price
> > to 100%, then brag about how much $$ they've saved you.
> > ( their "reduced" price is still spendy )
> >
> > I can't wait for a WalMart supercenter to come to town !
>
>
> Just moved (a year ago) from a town with a Sams and a Wal Mart Super center
> in the same area. I was not impressed with the Super center prices with a
> few exceptions.
>
> If you pay attention to prices you can do much better than the Super Center.
> Occasionally they did have some items which were priced competitively but it
> was not an across the board discount pricing structure.

I truly hate Walmarts. First, shoppers really aren't saving money there
because they pay their employees so little that they end up needing food
stamps and other welfare handouts just to get by so they are healthy
enough to work for the slave wages there. Second, Walmarts are outright
depressing and I find a lot of their groceries to be of lessor quality
then supermarket products. For example, meat that I have bought from
Walmart tends to be watered down and not as flavorful as the meat from
nearby supermarkets. I find Walmarts more inconvenient because they
almost always have long lines to check-out. The self-check out registers
are mostly out of order or have long lines because some customers always
get confused by them.

What little money I save after factoring in the cost of my time to shop
at Walmart is better spent elsewhere.

On Wed, 12 Nov 2008 06:58:10 -0500, Stan Horwitz wrote:

> I truly hate Walmarts.

> The self-check out registers
> are mostly out of order or have long lines because some customers always
> get confused by them.

<snort>

your pal,
blake

In article >,
says...
> In article >,
> "Dimitri" > wrote:
>
> > "<RJ>" > wrote in message
> > ...
> > > On Mon, 10 Nov 2008 16:34:57 -0800, "Dimitri" >
> > > wrote:
> > >>The markets must think we are idiots with their savings deals but one is
> > >>virtually forced into playing their games.
> > >>
> > >>Who are they kidding?
> > >>
> > > My local FRY's Grocery prices everything at 150%.
> > >
> > > When you use your club-card, they reduce the price
> > > to 100%, then brag about how much $$ they've saved you.
> > > ( their "reduced" price is still spendy )
> > >
> > > I can't wait for a WalMart supercenter to come to town !
> >
> >
> > Just moved (a year ago) from a town with a Sams and a Wal Mart Super center
> > in the same area. I was not impressed with the Super center prices with a
> > few exceptions.
> >
> > If you pay attention to prices you can do much better than the Super Center.
> > Occasionally they did have some items which were priced competitively but it
> > was not an across the board discount pricing structure.
>
> I truly hate Walmarts. First, shoppers really aren't saving money there
> because they pay their employees so little that they end up needing food
> stamps and other welfare handouts just to get by so they are healthy
> enough to work for the slave wages there. Second, Walmarts are outright
> depressing and I find a lot of their groceries to be of lessor quality
> then supermarket products. For example, meat that I have bought from
> Walmart tends to be watered down and not as flavorful as the meat from
> nearby supermarkets. I find Walmarts more inconvenient because they
> almost always have long lines to check-out. The self-check out registers
> are mostly out of order or have long lines because some customers always
> get confused by them.
>
> What little money I save after factoring in the cost of my time to shop
> at Walmart is better spent elsewhere.
>

Self checkouts, there's my hot button issue. If you don't know how to
use it either ask for help or move to a line with a cashier. It's not
rocket science.

T wrote:


> Self checkouts, there's my hot button issue. If you don't know how to
> use it either ask for help or move to a line with a cashier. It's not
> rocket science.


It's my button issue too, but apparently in a different way. I refuse to
use them. I still like to deal with humans.

Dimitri wrote:
>
> "<RJ>" > wrote in message
> ...
>> On Mon, 10 Nov 2008 16:34:57 -0800, "Dimitri" >
>> wrote:
>>> The markets must think we are idiots with their savings deals but one is
>>> virtually forced into playing their games.
>>>
>>> Who are they kidding?
>>>
>> My local FRY's Grocery prices everything at 150%.
>>
>> When you use your club-card, they reduce the price
>> to 100%, then brag about how much $$ they've saved you.
>> ( their "reduced" price is still spendy )
>>
>> I can't wait for a WalMart supercenter to come to town !
>
>
> Just moved (a year ago) from a town with a Sams and a Wal Mart Super
> center in the same area. I was not impressed with the Super center
> prices with a few exceptions.
>
> If you pay attention to prices you can do much better than the Super
> Center. Occasionally they did have some items which were priced
> competitively but it was not an across the board discount pricing
> structure.
>
> Dimitri

Marketing is a powerful thing. They are told about the wonders of big
box and believe it is the only way. I have mentioned the large family
owned store we buy most of our food from to people and get comments like
"it must be dirty", or "I stopped there and the deli meat was stale".
The senior family member is extremely anal about cleanliness and the
deli has a minimum of three people working it (ant typically more)
because of the huge volume they do that it would be next to impossible
to have stale product.

George > wrote in message
...
[snip]
> Marketing is a powerful thing. They are told about the
> wonders of big box and believe it is the only way. I
> have mentioned the large family owned store we buy
> most of our food from to people and get comments
> like "it must be dirty", or "I stopped there and the
> deli meat was stale". The senior family member is
> extremely anal about cleanliness and the deli has a
> minimum of three people working it (and typically
> more) because of the huge volume they do that it
> would be next to impossible to have stale product.

I get similar comments, especially regarding "pricing" of the
staples. There's just no getting through to the sheeple that
quote $afeway's Club Prices and Lucky's "Deal Busters" as
cheaper nor of similar quality. The two family-owned grocery
stores I hit weekly not only _save_ me money on most items
(because I am aware of price between stores) but also carry a
wider selection of product because a Suit hasn't run his
numbers and gotten his bonus check off reducing my selection.

The comment that really set me off on my BIL was when we
compared deli products. He was so proud of the "smoked turkey"
he got for $5.99/lb. It was one of the worst deli products I'd
ever had; gummy/mushy, falling apart, soaking wet with injected
water, and the "smoke" was oozing from the meat. I gave him a
slice of the smoked turkey I'd purchased from the grocer I use,
for $6.99; more firm, definite smoke flavor, and no standing
water. "Yeah but it 'tastes' funny."

Enjoy your savings there bub... Food as fuel.

The Ranger

<RJ> said...

> On Mon, 10 Nov 2008 16:34:57 -0800, "Dimitri" >
> wrote:
>>The markets must think we are idiots with their savings deals but one is
>>virtually forced into playing their games.
>>
>>Who are they kidding?
>>
> My local FRY's Grocery prices everything at 150%.
>
> When you use your club-card, they reduce the price
> to 100%, then brag about how much $$ they've saved you.
> ( their "reduced" price is still spendy )

> I can't wait for a WalMart supercenter to come to town !


I pay too much at the ACME chain here in PA, meanwhile a friend in L.A.
confounds me with his prices at Albertsons (ACME's parent) that are
seriously dirt cheap compared to here.

Makes me want to go to Kalifornia to supermarket shop!

Wegmans (northeast regional) just announced a 10-20% reduction on popular
food items but most of those are the Wegmans brands of stuff. Too bad
they're so far away from me, any savings I'd probably use up in gasoline
getting there and back.

For bulk items I shop at BJ's Wholesale club. I wish they'd put food prices
on their website! Instead, they force you to come in and hunt and peck
around. And they're not always cheap either.

Andy

In article >,
"Dimitri" > wrote:

> Because of my location and the proximity of the stupidmarkets I watch the
> prices and buy in bulk.
>
> The markets must think we are idiots with their savings deals but one is
> virtually forced into playing their games.
>
> I also carry a little Oscar with some blue ice and an insulated bag.
>
> so there are the tallies:
>
> Ralphs (Kroger) Paid 62.65 Savings $62.59 Like I would have paid the
> $125.00
> Albertsons Paid $72.82 Savings $72.18 + 3 $5.00 certificates (cash off
> your next bill)
>
> The regular prices are NUTS Wishbone Salad Dressing $3.89 Savings 2.23 net
> price $1.66.
> And so on and so on.
>
> Who are they kidding?

There are lots of people who are fooled by such tactics. It reminds me
of when I bought an airline ticket to attend a conference last year for
work. My employer's travel agent had the nerve to tell me that they
saved my employer a lot of money on the ticket, something like $150. If
I could have bought that airline ticket online, I guarantee, I would
have gotten a much lower rate. As it stands though, for me, its a moot
point now since my employer has banned all out-of-state travel. People
fall for such tactics; otherwise, retailers wouldn't use them.

I patronize the market (big chain) which is less than a mile away.
My next choice is another chain's location five miles away. I find
that both are pretty darn close in pricing, so I choose convenience.
There are absolutely NO independents in the area. Also, the nearer
market does NOT package the produce and I can hand pick. They are open
more hours. Even the parking lot is easier to navigate.