On a related note...Amazon?

[lilmrsellis]

I'm an Amazon Prime member, so shipping is free. Does anyone buy groceries from Amazon? Are there good deals to be had or is it more work than its worth?

 

[cclovesdis]

I've found some great deals on gluten free products. I eat GF and amazon sells Bob's Red Mill products in 4 count packages.

 

[lost*in*cyberspace]

You can find good deals, although you often have to buy rather large quantities. Also, check expiration dates when you receive your items; sometimes Amazon ships expired or close to expired goods. If there are things you buy every month, such as coffee, paper towels, etc., you can save with the Subscribe and Save program.

Why not check prices of things you might buy and see what the savings might be?

 

[mrsbornkuntry]

I'm not big on buying food from there because I'm concerned about expiration dates, especially because they usually sell in bulk, but I have gotten good deals on dishwasher and laundry detergent and toilet paper.

 

[LJSquishy]

It is hit and miss on Amazon's grocery items. Just like everywhere else, some bulk deals are a great price, and others are not.

I buy Kashi GoLean cereal at Walmart for $3 (slightly less than that, I think around $2.89 or $2.96 per box) per box. Amazon has a pack of 6 that works out to be almost $3.50 per box. Even Costco is more expensive than Walmart on this cereal.

This is just one of the many examples I've encountered with Amazon's groceries. I do know occasionally there are good deals, but you sort of just get lucky I guess. Someone posted a few weeks ago a great deal on Downy Unstoppables.

 

[Tallent]

I buy batteries, cat food, and cat litter from them and love the convenience.

 

[delmar411]

I've gotten some good deals there but you have to watch the item count and price per item. They've gotten a ton better about expiration dates and marking down and noting items that are close to date so you don't end up with 4 or 5 boxes of something you can't use up that fast.

Plus you need to know your local prices before you can really spot a deal. There is something to be said for convenience though. Sometimes I order bulky things like TP or laundry soap from them so that I don't have to get it at the store and carry it all home. LOL

 

[mistysue]

Like a PP said, the bob's red mill pricing is great on Amazon. What I keep finding is that if I want food that is already made (chips, cereal, meal bars, etc.) Amazon prices will be up to double my local store and I have to buy in bulk. If I buy ingredients I can get things for about 30-50% of my store prices.

Non food items are usually hit or miss for me. Baby diapers were a great deal in newborn size, but any larger and they are $5-10 less per box in the store, before you take off for coupons and sales.

 

[CarolynK]

We've ordered things like cereals, granola bars, etc., mostly through their "Subscribe & Save" option. They send an email before a new shipment, at which time we double check the price. The price can really fluctuate, and often items are much more than what our local grocery store charges, so as others have said, make sure you check the cost.

We didn't renew our Prime membership this year, but the Subscribe & Save items always ship free.

 

[clanmcculloch]

I've been mocked that I'm becoming dangerously close to hermit status because of my amazon shopping. LOL It's important as others have said to know your prices per unit (per oz, per lb, etc). I keep a spreadsheet where I can plug in values and I include columns in the spreadsheet that then calculates what I'd be paying for the item in the size I'd normally get at my local store so that I really am comparing apples to apples.

If the item has a subscribe and save option, I always subscribe for the discount. I subscribe for 6 month deliveries and then I just check mid-month every month to see what's coming up for delivery shortly. If I find I'm needing to order sooner then I change my delivery schedule and if the price is currently higher than I want to pay then I skip the shipment.

I don't have a Prime membership these days. I keep some things in my shopping cart that I want but can wait on in order to add to orders to bring them up to $25 for the free shipping when an item is eligible and Prime won't help with things that aren't eligible. I also do a lot less impulse buying without Prime because those little things that would only be a couple bucks but I don't really need are no longer just a couple bucks and I have to think more about whether they're really something I want enough to make other purchases as well.

 

[kellia]

I buy Bigelow tea bags on Amazon, I can't find the ones I like in stores here and they are much cheaper. I also get Splenda packets. I also usually get our dog food on there. Dh thought I was crazy when I bought 2 HUGE boxes of toilet paper, but there was a really good deal on it! I usually only get that stuff if I see a good deal posted on message boards.

When I buy something, I'll sign up for Subscribe and save to get the discount, then cancel it later. I'd rather be in control of when/if I buy.

 

[wendow]

I buy a lot of grocery items from Amazon. I've not had a problem with expiration dates in a couple of years so I think they are doing much better with those. We are a family with food allergies so I am able to buy many products like Bob's Red Mill and Enjoy Life that would cost far more at the store and sometimes aren't widely available. We are a family of 6 so I buy in bulk anyways. I have Prime shipping but I always use the Subscribe & Save when available since it saves a bit more $$. I do not think most mainstream products are less on Amazon. They used to be but it has changed imo. Things like Kellogg's cereals and bars, Oreo cookies, Wheat Thins...the more common shelf foods are higher now than purchasing at the store.

 

[TheRatPack]

They used to have GREAT deals on cereal but now, not so much. Still, many of their items are cheaper once you add in the gas to drive to your local store, tax (I don't pay tax on Amazon groceries) and the Prime shipping.

I like their bulk packaging though....which again, once you factor in price per item is usually always cheaper on Amazon.