Walmart for groceries?

[nickolasj80]

We usually shop at Walmart for our major grocery shopping trips, but we have also shopped at other places. I just signed up for the $1 trial of grocerygame.com, my question is this...

It seems that even with the use of coupons+sales on select items, walmart in the end still turns out to be cheaper for the entire bill, is this the case for other people?

 

thanks,

Nickolas

[Aaron]

From what I read on this site, it just shows you the hottest prices - and you go and buy the items.

 

CouponMom offers this for free, http://www.couponmom.com/index.php?cid=10

[Ripn]

It seems that even with the use of coupons+sales on select items, walmart in the end still turns out to be cheaper for the entire bill, is this the case for other people?

 

thanks,

Nickolas

Walmart seems to have great prices on select grocery items, just like Sams Club. We have a supermarket called Woodmans near us, which is usually lower than most Walmart/Sams prices. If you pay attention to which items are lower cost...you can save (without driving all over wasting the GAS)

[fairydustcrissy]

In order to fully utilize something like the grocery game (which is a wast of money, you can get the same thing for free from www.couponmom.com ) you have to be willing to buy only the "loss leaders" at any particular store. I typically save about 80% overall on my groceries. But I shop at many diff stores to do that. So in my case, WM is BY FAR much more expensive.

[Rockfordmom]

Walmart seems to have great prices on select grocery items, just like Sams Club. We have a supermarket called Woodmans near us, which is usually lower than most Walmart/Sams prices. If you pay attention to which items are lower cost...you can save (without driving all over wasting the GAS)

LOVE Woodmans!

[labgeek]

WalMart will match your local grocery store prices. Some stores will require the ad, others may not (for groceries only). The only thing is WM doesn't double coupons, and if you go over some amount it will lock the register and a CSM will have to come approve the coupons (it's happened to me multiple times).

[Rockfordmom]

I just came from Walmart and they would not match another grocery stores ad prices because the grocery store has a savings card that you use to get the sale prices

[labgeek]

Hmm... Ours will - or has I should say. Now I wonder if they're supposed to...

[elena_398]

I don't go to Walmart for my major shopping. But I know when I do go, I always end up buying groceries. I like the fact they price match too. Saves the gas from going to another place

[malachitecat]

I just came from Walmart and they would not match another grocery stores ad prices because the grocery store has a savings card that you use to get the sale prices

hmmm that's strange. Both of our WM's will price match any ad (card or not) that is within 50 miles of the store, but it has to be a printed ad not an in store one, which is fine with me. I usually go shopping on the weekends which gives me a chance to see the grocery ads which come out here on Wed and go through them. I go to WM with my list and my ads and they price match everything (unless they already have a cheaper price on it which is usually the case - except milk).

[fairydustcrissy]

The WM's here will not PM any store that requires a card. So most of the grocery stores will not be PM'd

[elena_398]

Yes, I found that out the other day, but I match stuff from fisher Foods and Food 4 Less. helps so I don't have to make an extra trip

[jadedmomof2]

If I have to go there for something else, I'll pick up a few things, but otherwise, I do much better going to real grocery stores. All of our local stores double(sometimes triple) coupons, and the meat is 10x better than anything Walmart tries to sell(I absolutely refuse to touch Walmart meat)

[labgeek]

Hmm... Consumer reports did a report that pre-packaged meats carry less contamination than those packaged on-site. You can tell the difference by the packaging. Pre-packaged comes in the hard plastic shells with the cleat plastic flat over the top. The in-store packaged meat has foam board underneath and the plastic touches the piled up meat. The reason I mention this is Wal-Mart carries prepackaged meats, and the local grocery store packages most meat themselves.

[jadedmomof2]

However, pre-packaged meat, that has a longer shelf life, is packed full of preservatives, coloring agents, etc. And it just tastes horrible. I'd rather buy from my locally owned store, where the meat has been packaged within the last day or two, then take my chances at Walmart.

 

But then, I only buy pork and chicken at the grocery store, all our beef comes from the local butcher shop, we buy a 1/4 cow every few months.

[freesia39]

no super walmarts anywhere near me in metro LA. maybe in the suburbs soon, but do i want to drive all that way to save a bit, when i've been doing just fine shopping the sales over two or three grocery stores nearby? doubt it.

[labgeek]

The WM's here will not PM any store that requires a card. So most of the grocery stores will not be PM'd

I asked about this of one of the assistant managers the other day... It's up to the store apparently. Since the card is a "rewards program" it's not like a regular ad, though the stores around here use it that way. Thus why the local store has no problem with accepting it. They even give the CSS/CSMs the ads from the local stores to have with them so the customers don't have to carry the ads in. The one thing they won't "comp" (their term for a Price Match) is the "buy one get one free". Their philosophy on it was that since they are a pretty large Wal-Mart and people come from 20 to 30 minutes away, they'd rather them get the discountl than possibly lose the whole sale to another store. Considering the store just tok some district and regional awards thingies, it must be working for them.

 

Also heard that they're putting in "Neighborhood Markets" in places. It's more of just a grocery store than Super Wal-Marts. And that Wal-Mart is now the largest grcoery distributor. Some of the feats that company has done in the past 50 years is pretty amazing... (we talked for a long time)

[Marcster]

It seems that even with the use of coupons+sales on select items, walmart in the end still turns out to be cheaper for the entire bill, is this the case for other people?

We have a Super Wal-Mart around 5 miles away, but we go to a different grocery store chain. They have double-coupons (sometimes triple), discontinued items are 50% off and clearly marked (I've picked up some incredible deals), and sale items typically corespond with when the coupons are in the paper.

 

Plus the grocery store has a spend $xxx and get 5, 10, or 20% off a future shopping trip or free turkey (at T-Giving).

 

However, Wal-Mart does have good prices on makeup (according to my wife) and face care products.

[Marcster]

And that Wal-Mart is now the largest grcoery distributor. Some of the feats that company has done in the past 50 years is pretty amazing... (we talked for a long time)

I've heard that they are also the largest hardware distributor. I dunno about that one, they'd have to sell a lot of hammers and paint to compete with Lowe's/Home Depot.

[labgeek]

I've heard that they are also the largest hardware distributor. I dunno about that one, they'd have to sell a lot of hammers and paint to compete with Lowe's/Home Depot.

They didn't say anything about that. I did see the layout of the surrounding area as it was planned. There's a Home Depot right next to them. The Home Depot is 1/3 the physical size of the Wal-Mart.

[happyrat]

Walmart around here will match a buy one get one, or 50% off if the original price is clearly stated in the add. The reason being is stores inflate the regular price so they can have a sale. For example if pizza is on sale for $4.99 at store x bogo and Walmarts price is $3.99 they will match to $2.50 for each one making it the same price. They won't bogo their $3.99 price.

[Deal Wizard]

Hmm no, if you wanna have a deal, you buy at those bulk food store to save money.

[labgeek]

Hmm no, if you wanna have a deal, you buy at those bulk food store to save money.

Not when your household is 2 people. You'd waste more on what you throw away than you'd save.

[Deal Wizard]

Not quite ... buy non-perish food like rice, oatmeal etc.

[labgeek]

Not quite ... buy non-perish food like rice, oatmeal etc.

We like to eat other things too...

 

And if by bulk food, you're talking Sam's or Costco, there's plenty of shoppers on here that can beat the wholesale pricing easily - read some of the coupon threads... 247 bottles of hot sauce at $0.01 each yesterday.