Deseret News | Prices can vary widely from store to store

Reader comments
Prices can vary widely from store to store

Reams seems best to me. | 12:22 a.m. Nov. 3, 2009

I have shopped around, and find Reams prices and service to be best. On many items that I buy Harmons is up to 400% more expensive although they do offer good service. Most other stores are consistantly more expensive when I go in them, and their service is worse. Walmart has some good deals on boxed and canned goods while really ripping a person off on meat and produce.

Do price match at Walmart | 5:10 a.m. Nov. 3, 2009

Shopping can be simplified by simply bringing in ads to Walmart and doing price match. Also, go to coupon.com to find all the coupons you need for your regular items. Print off all you need. You'll be amazed as to how a $100 grocery bill can become $75!

Lisa from Fort Collins | 5:44 a.m. Nov. 3, 2009

I think it does pay to shop around, especially the sales. Since the recession hit, we've been able to pay a lot less for groceries, just by paying attention, and seriously pay down our mortgage. Sometimes hard times are a blessing in disguise.

Comments continue below

Yuck | 7:27 a.m. Nov. 3, 2009

If that is the case, it is unfortunate that Reams stores almost always seem dirty and unkempt. If they would clean up and brighten up we might all be more interested in shopping there.

Why? | 8:15 a.m. Nov. 3, 2009

I wish the article told us where they found the best prices. That would be a service. As it is, the article just says prices differ from store to store and you should shop around. Big news.

What does it cost you to drive? | 8:35 a.m. Nov. 3, 2009

My neighbor and I did a little comparison a few years ago. We each had long lists....and circled only the identical items we had purchased. I had bought everything from one store; she and her husband had "shopped the ads".

On the identical items we purchased, they saved about $7. She declared victory UNTIL I pointed out that I drove my Prius only 4-1/2 miles (1/12 gallon of gas costing 30 cents), and they drove a crew cab pickup truck to four different stores from Layton to Clearfield to Roy and back. They drove over 24 miles, using about 1-1/2 gallons of gas costing about $5.40.

So they ended up taking three hours (including lunch out!) and my shopping took 45 minutes.

No, we won't shop WalMart. They don't have everything we want, and they've hurt the smaller stores we used to patronize.

They're lousy shoppers | 9:01 a.m. Nov. 3, 2009

Ok, I just went through their list. I wrote down what I would pay for every item - and I paid 55.43 for the whole list. That's with NO COUPONS. I have a freezer and a basement bedroom set aside as a pantry. I don't care what brand I buy, as long as it does the job/tastes decent etc. I buy enough to last until the next sale. I know what my price points are - if it doesn't hit my price point or better I don't buy. I have a Sam's Club membership - which I use for about a dozen items and I shop there once a month or so. I have about 10 grocery stores within 6 miles of my house (I live in South Jordan near the border of West Jordan). I make a loop once a week for groceries, usually hitting 2-4 stores, and occasionally an extra trip to one of two store that are only one mile away. I also combine all other errands with my groceries.

Beat that Des News! :-P

Dogchow | 9:29 a.m. Nov. 3, 2009

Try the new Winco. We shopped these in Washington and Idaho and they always had the lowest prices, clean stores, good service and they are employee owned so they are motivated to help you.

Anonymous | 9:59 a.m. Nov. 3, 2009

But the list includes 10 gallons of gas, a movie and pizza. Did you add that price in?

wallofvoodoo | 10:07 a.m. Nov. 3, 2009

I find that Wal-Mart rarely has cheaper meat, cheese & produce. You can get them to price match on those things.

SuperShopper | 10:32 a.m. Nov. 3, 2009

As the mother of six children, 6 mos to 17 years of age, I am a very careful shopper. WalMart consistently saves me 18% to 23% from any of the other stores in our town.

@9:59 | 11:32 a.m. Nov. 3, 2009

Ok, made a correction - didn't realize that was 10 gallons of gas. The movie and the pizza were in there though. New total - 77.03.

They're still lousy shoppers. :-D

SLC gal | 11:55 a.m. Nov. 3, 2009

I shop at Smiths vs. Walmart because at Walmart you can NEVER get a checkout line where there is less then a 10 min. wait minimum. Plus the cart wars (you know - the idiots that stand with their carts in the middle of the aisle blocking the entire thing - and won't move it, even though they can clearly see they're in your road). Sometimes the savings is not worth the aggrivation!

Evets | 12:21 p.m. Nov. 3, 2009

I remember decades ago that my mother kept track of all the specials in town. She would have my older sister drive her to the stores. Even with cheap gas she spent more (of my sister's)money in gas than she ever saved.
On non-perishables I try to really stock up when they are on sale. I keep a room in the basement which keeps a pretty good stock of what I need and since it is used it gets rotated.
I don't find coupons much use as they are prepared or semi-prepared foods cost more than just buying the basic ingredients.
Seasonally some things are just cheaper. Potatoes and Onions for example store well and are cheap in the fall. I buy in 50# bags or more. Dry beans, flour, sugar are cheaper by the large bags especially when there are case lot sales (I like Macey's yearly caselot sales). They store well and you save a ton.
An added benefit to this method is that you also have a lot of your emergency food supply that is used every day. Also this results in less visits to the stores and impulse buying.

Also | 1:06 p.m. Nov. 3, 2009

Take in to account that at Smiths you get the money back towards gas. I tend to hit the grocery store and spend in excess of the $$ needed to get my 15 cents off per gallon almost every time. That makes a big difference at the pump when, from what I've seen, Smith's is very competitive with their gas price as it is. And now with their pay you to shop plan, you get basically $ back for every $1 you spend. That will be a nice little extra every month.

And as far as generic brands go, I have preferred the Kroger brand that's Smith's carries over Western Family, Great Value, etc. Everything I have tried tastes good and is good quality. I was really glad when I moved closer to a Smith's. I'm finding the benefits to be great by shopping there.

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