Bent 'n Dent / Salvage Grocers

[Belle0101]

I shop them and I've been lucky to find some really excellent deals so I thought I'd pass this link along so if anyone cares to they could give them a try. The link will give you a state by state listing.

http://www.andersonscountrymarket.net/directory


We have several in our area and there is a difference between them. The main differences being organization. Some are super organized and every item is individually marked (price). Another marks most items but also just puts a big sign on the shelf stating the price.

I will say that they aren't for everyone. My neighbor would never shop at them, ever. I can overlook a few crinkled boxes for a savings.

 

[AndreaDM]

I went to one for the first time today. It's by my sister's house and she kept telling me about, it's awesome! Got two huge bags of stuff for $18! The biggest surprise? They had k cups! I know it changes daily, but for you Kuerig users, it's worth checking out if you have one nearby.

 

[Belle0101]

I went to one for the first time today. It's by my sister's house and she kept telling me about, it's awesome! Got two huge bags of stuff for $18! The biggest surprise? They had k cups! I know it changes daily, but for you Kuerig users, it's worth checking out if you have one nearby.

Oh wow, great find!!

Since the merchandise can come from just about anywhere I'm always seeing products in ours that the local grocery stores don't carry. My favorite so far was Entennmans (I'm most likely spelling that wrong) Decaf Coffee. I only bought one to try. I really liked it so I went back the next day and they had put out more decaf and some regular. I'm pretty well stocked up on coffee now.

I like too when they have our dogs' food in stock. Wal-mart carries the 17.5# bag of Iams for $17.99 and the bent 'n dent prices it at $8.25. That's less than half price! With 6 dogs we go through 2 bags a week.

I usually ask when they are getting a truck in and then go shop the next day. There's always new stuff on the shelves.

 

[CajunDixie]

I shop them and I've been lucky to find some really excellent deals so I thought I'd pass this link along so if anyone cares to they could give them a try. The link will give you a state by state listing.

http://www.andersonscountrymarket.net/directory

I've been to 3 of the Indiana ones. The one we shopped at when I was growing up and back then it was Railroad damaged items. They had great deals. Now not so much. Often their items are within days of expiring or are already expired. The best bargains at the three now is buying baking items in bulk and their deli lunch meat is very cheap and sliced on site. The boxed and canned items sometimes cost more than WalMart prices. And sometimes things like cake mix will have another language on them....I can't read Chinese!! Well worth a monthly trip.

 

[SandrA9810]

I prefer using the manufacturer's discount store. Back in South Florida, there was a Pepridge Farm store in the shopping plaza I worked in. I could get a huge box of goldfish crackers for a few bucks, or the slightly dated bread for way cheaper than the grocery store. In Orlando, there were a couple of Hostess shops arounds.

My aunt would never ever go near a store like that with a ten foot pole. She's one to inspect every can before placing it in the cart, or finding that one jug of milk with a date later than all the rest.

 

[lchadwick]

I once worked for a wholesale grocer, and I know when we had cases come in "damaged" to certain guidelines they were considered "salvage." And those things ended up at the scratch and dent store that I shopped at. I loved to tell people that just because it was there didn't mean there was anything wrong with the merchandise - the cases they came in just couldn't be sold to the chain supermarkets. I never did so much baking in all my life!

 

[Swimalie]

Darn, there aren't any near me. The only thing to watch for are dented cans. I've heard that if a can is dented near a seam it can let air in or if there is a big enough dent that a small, tiny hole is made, air can get in. With air, microorganisms can get in there which is not good. So really watch dented cans to make sure it's not on the seam or has a hole.

 

[AndreaDM]

I would never buy anything dented or expired, no matter where it came from. But yeah, I had a friend who set up grocery displays and it was amazing what had to be salvaged out, 99% of the items are perfectly good, it's just that the case might have a dent in it so they can't put out any of the items from that case. I can't wait to go back to this one, I only had a few minutes yesterday and felt rushed, but I did see lots of different types of coffee! Boxes of Carr's crackers for 35 cents, lots of deals. This one didn't sell any dairy/meat/produce items, strictly boxed or canned foods and drinks. Also a lot of health & beauty items and pet stuff.

edited to add: I also shop at the Wonder/Hostess outlet, but that's the only one near us at all and all I get there is bread, I don't need Twinkies and HoHos, no matter how cheap they are. I would love to have a Pepperidge Farms one though!

 

[Mrs.Malone]

I've never heard of this! There isn't one near us, but sometime when we're traveling I'd like to check one out.

 

[springandmac]

A Anderson's Country Market just opened up down the road from me, I wondered what it was. Now I'm going to have to check it out, I love salvage bargains.

 

[DawnM]

We had a great one near me and when it closed I was told they had relocated but I haven't been able to find them!

Dawn