Crazy Prices! I found XYZ for $ here and XYZ for $$$ there!

[OceanAnnie]

Sometimes I wonder if crazy prices are because of the economy or "something else". Maybe it's both. I don't know.

Today at Kroger an avocado was $1.48. Swung by Wal-mart to pick up a few things, the same avocado was $1.24. Is that nuts or what? Twenty four cent difference?

I see the same thing with gas prices. Don't get me started on that one.

What kind of price disparities have you seen?

 

[junebugs]

I see this all the time where I live. One grocery store sell green peppers for $2.99 lb. and then that same companies discount grocery store, less than 5 miles away sells them for $1.49 lb . I have no idea why?

 

[NeverlandClub23]

I see it constantly because I go to so many different stores depending on their sales and coupons I have, as they're all in close proximity. The box of tampons I use are regular priced at Walmart for $5 and some odd cents and the same exact count and strength is regular priced $3.50 at Kroger. Kroger has Sweets and Beets (my favorite chips, it's sweet potatoes and beet chips) regular priced $2.99 and Farm Fresh has them regular priced $5.99. I buy a lot of the same types of stuff so I like to keep my eye on the differences. It's amazing.

 

[OceanAnnie]

I see it constantly because I go to so many different stores depending on their sales and coupons I have, as they're all in close proximity. The box of tampons I use are regular priced at Walmart for $5 and some odd cents and the same exact count and strength is regular priced $3.50 at Kroger. Kroger has Sweets and Beets (my favorite chips, it's sweet potatoes and beet chips) regular priced $2.99 and Farm Fresh has them regular priced $5.99. I buy a lot of the same types of stuff so I like to keep my eye on the differences. It's amazing.

It is amazing!

I know there have been price differentials all along, but the gaps have expanded considerably to me. That is what has me scratching my head and wondering, "What is going on?"

 

[horseshowmom]

I don't buy much of anything without checking froogle.com anymore. I purchased a gift for someone last night at Kohls for $32 shipped. The next closest price was $20 higher (amazon and several other places - some including shipping, some not). There can be a huge difference in pricing.

 

[briand1023]

Its market oricing, thats what the market dictates so they can charge the price, or one stores cost is higher due to volume purchasing.

 

[kydisneyfans]

A head of living lettuce which we use for salads is 1.48 at Kroger, 1.50 at Meijer, and 2.98 at Walmart. Why?

Milk is 3.48 at Walmart, and 1.99 at Aldi directly across the street.

 

[OceanAnnie]

I don't buy much of anything without checking froogle.com anymore. I purchased a gift for someone last night at Kohls for $32 shipped. The next closest price was $20 higher (amazon and several other places - some including shipping, some not). There can be a huge difference in pricing.

Thanks for the tip!

I'm going to check out froogle.com!

 

[MissBritt]

I'll do you one better... Huggies wet wipes at Walmart are $6.38 in the baby aisle... and $5.38 in the tissue/cotton swab aisle!!! A whole dollar difference in the SAME STORE!!!

 

[happily single]

I'll do you one better... Huggies wet wipes at Walmart are $6.38 in the baby aisle... and $5.38 in the tissue/cotton swab aisle!!! A whole dollar difference in the SAME STORE!!!

Yeah, I've noticed this. Its the same with a lot of baby items. Guess they figure if you have a baby you automatically shop in the baby dept only

 

[happygirl]

That is what is so great about Walmart and pricematching

 

[Falltime]

Walmart is usually cheaper but I never buy my produce there as the quality at least in the stores around here is subpar

 

[horseshowmom]

I'll do you one better... Huggies wet wipes at Walmart are $6.38 in the baby aisle... and $5.38 in the tissue/cotton swab aisle!!! A whole dollar difference in the SAME STORE!!!

That is what is so great about Walmart and pricematching

I love Walmart, but it's bad when they have to price match themselves!

 

[Pigeon]

This is why, if you are a really frugal shopper, you'll do the pricebook thing. No one store is going to be cheaper on everything.

My personal favorite was for a big home improvement. Last fall, we put in a new furnace and central air. For exactly the same equipment, same size, same manufacture, same installation, we got two quotes within $250 of $8K. The third quote was for $13.5K. Good luck with selling that one.

 

[angwill]

I see it constantly because I go to so many different stores depending on their sales and coupons I have, as they're all in close proximity. The box of tampons I use are regular priced at Walmart for $5 and some odd cents and the same exact count and strength is regular priced $3.50 at Kroger. Kroger has Sweets and Beets (my favorite chips, it's sweet potatoes and beet chips) regular priced $2.99 and Farm Fresh has them regular priced $5.99. I buy a lot of the same types of stuff so I like to keep my eye on the differences. It's amazing.

I do the same here. Walmart is really pushing their prices anymore and are no longer the lowest price store in America. I want to know where all the profit is going since they push the sellers prices down so low they can barely afford to keep in business and now Walmart is pricing those same items so high you can get them elsewhere for less money. I did just hear about a study done that showed for the first time Target prices on everyday things came up lower than Walmart in 2010. They said that included milk, bread, eggs (the staples) as well as clothing prices.

I know costs to transport products has gone up due to the higher cost of gas, insurance etc for the trucking companies but that doesn't explain the price fluctuations from store to store.

 

[Mommee]

Coffee at Meijer was almost $12; across the street at Walmart? $6.48

 

[cepmom]

a lot of pricing is based on the store's pricing they get from the manufacturers or distributors. Some stores may get Folger's coffee at one price but another store may get Folgers coffee at an even lower price.

Milk at my local grocery is $3.99 a gallon and I can get milk at BJ's for $2.xx

 

[bostonou]

I started tracking prices over the last 6 months or so and have been kicking myself that I didn't start doing it earlier. It's become tedious trying to track lots of stuff so I'm trying to build a site so everyone can share prices. If anyone's interested the site is at groceryprice.info.

Also, I'd be interested in any tips anyone has about getting better mileage out of a pricebook.

 

[labdogs42]

I keep meaning to start a price book. I wonder if there's an app for that? Anyone know? I have an iPod touch and an Android phone, so either one would work for me.

 

[tink576]

I know some store have "loss leaders" or something like that to bring people into the store, these are items that the store actually looses money on because they have them priced so low but again the point is to get people into the store. Wegmans does that with milk out here