Publix - Very Expensive???

[OLT2004]

Is it just me - or does Publix seem Very Expensive compared to Wal Mart and Super Target?

We are talking about Kissimmee and the WDW area....
For a Grocery stop - For Milk, OJ, Water, Pop, Coffee, Beer, ETC...ETC...

 

[jpeppers]

They are absolutely expensive! Either drive a couple of blocks to the right out of the Publix parking lot to Winn Dixie (and get the savings card) or take a left and get your normal Wal Mart prices (at Wal Mart of course) about 2 miles down the road. Don't buy at Publix unless that is your only option.

 

[mom2d&b]

We live in Florida and only shop at Publix for the sales, the deli, and bakery. Their subs are awesome. Prices are too high for me to shop there all the time.

 

[Danibelle]

They are absolutely expensive! Either drive a couple of blocks to the right out of the Publix parking lot to Winn Dixie (and get the savings card) or take a left and get your normal Wal Mart prices (at Wal Mart of course) about 2 miles down the road. Don't buy at Publix unless that is your only option.

Food prices in Central Florida are about the same as my area in SC. Publix is a moderately priced grocery store and is priced about the same as the other grocery stores. There is a lot more variety than you would find in a Walmart. When I'm in Orlando, I just go to Publix. When I'm home, I go to Publix and Walmart. I don't take the time to shop around when I'm going to WDW. Time is money! If you are looking for good selection, there is no comparison between Walmart and Publix.

 

[mhsjax]

They are absolutely expensive! Either drive a couple of blocks to the right out of the Publix parking lot to Winn Dixie (and get the savings card) or take a left and get your normal Wal Mart prices (at Wal Mart of course) about 2 miles down the road. Don't buy at Publix unless that is your only option.

I disagree. I find that Publix is cheaper on somethings and if you do the sales, they are cheaper. Winn Dixie is more expensive, I compare my sales receipts. Walmart sure is cheaper on some things, but I refuse to set foot into a Walmart. PLus there are certain things/brands I sue that Walmart doesn't have.

 

[okeydokey]

Publix is a bit more expensive, but their bakery, subs, produce are great, and the customer service can't be beat.

I shop their sales and the buy 1 get 1.

 

[Elleshoodat]

Publix is a bit more expensive, but their bakery, subs, produce are great, and the customer service can't be beat.

I shop their sales and the buy 1 get 1.

I love the BOGOs, too. And the subs -- oh, my!

I go to Walmart if 1) we need several household goods (toiletries, cleaning supplies, etc.) and 2) it's first thing in the morning. I refuse to shop there during the day (I work during the week so have to shop on weekends), and even first thing in the morning their employees aren't nearly as pleasant as Publix's.

 

[wiigirl]

They are absolutely expensive! Either drive a couple of blocks to the right out of the Publix parking lot to Winn Dixie (and get the savings card) or take a left and get your normal Wal Mart prices (at Wal Mart of course) about 2 miles down the road. Don't buy at Publix unless that is your only option.

 

[phorsenuf]

I shop a lot at Publix. I have 2 of them in fact within a 3 mile radius. Walmart is a good 20+ minutes for me.

If I have allot of dry goods to get (paper towels, tp, cat food, etc.) or need other household items, I'll make the trek to Walmart. I'll still go to Publix though for my produce and meat though. So sometimes it just isn't worth the 40 minute drive. Besides, I love the BOGO deals and will stock up my pantry with them. Went to a Winn-Dixie not to long ago and I thought they were more expensive then Publix. Super Target? That was a complete waste of time for me.

 

[LilyWDW]

For some people it is not just about prices, but about over all value. I refuse to buy groceries at Walmart and do my best to not even step foot in one if at all possible. I would rather spend more money and have a better shopping experience at a "local" store with much MUCH better customer service.

 

[delilah]

We used to live in Florida. Publix was a bit more expensive than Winn Dixie, but both have a much better selection of produce than Walmart. When we go to Orlando, I refuse to shop at the Walmart. We usually stay at a DVC resort, and have breakfast in our room. I have had the experience of arriving at the resort, and wanting to do a quick run for breakfast items, and only Walmart was open. Couldn't find enough fruit items, like bananas, apples, oranges, that looked like they would make it through the vacation without going bad. It sounds awful, but fruit, in particular, is so expensive in Florida, that I have brought fruit, bagels, jelly, coffee in my suitcase to avoid the late night run to the grocery store. Then, I have room in my luggage to bring home souvenirs

 

[Twende]

We are getting ready for our upcoming trip. We are planning on preparing many meals instead of eating out. This is a budget trip!

We were thinking we could buy fruits, breakfast items, and lunch items when we arrive. I was thinking these things would be cheaper in Orlando area than in Northern Georgia. I am thinking wrong here? I was looking forward to fresh grapefruit and thinking they would be inexpensive. It sounds like this may not be the case?

In previous visits to FL in March, we were able to find flea markets with huge bins of grapefruit and oranges. Now this was not the Orlando area but I was thinking that there still should be citrus fruit a plenty. Am I planning wrong?

 

[girli565]

yes, publix is expensive! We shop at walmart and winn dixie instead. Only go to publix for deli, bakery, and b1G1 sales.

 

[JB2K]

Is it just me - or does Publix seem Very Expensive compared to Wal Mart and Super Target?

We are talking about Kissimmee and the WDW area....
For a Grocery stop - For Milk, OJ, Water, Pop, Coffee, Beer, ETC...ETC...

Publix can be on the high side conmpared to national merchants such as WM Supercenter and SuperTarget.

Both WM and Target are national/international retailers with thousands of stores (and with that comes the ability to negotiate lower prices with suppliers, which is eventually passed-on to the customer).

Publix, OTOH, is what I call a "top-tier" regional supermarket (stretching from TN to FL) where the overall shopping experience is way better than their closest "grocery-only" competitor --of course, you'll pay for that experience.

It's also noteworthy to mention that Publix, like Walmart and Target, are not represented by a union (Publix is employee-owned, meaning every store employee owns privately-held stock in the company).

Back to your OP -- for "the essentials", I have found the SuperTarget in Kissimmee to be "not so crowded" and the prices are competitive.

 

[deserrai]

Publix is less expensive than Winn-Dixie, but more expensive than Walmart. However, it is a much nicer atmosphere than either and that is why I do most of my grocery shopping there.

 

[Ephany]

We are getting ready for our upcoming trip. We are planning on preparing many meals instead of eating out. This is a budget trip!

We were thinking we could buy fruits, breakfast items, and lunch items when we arrive. I was thinking these things would be cheaper in Orlando area than in Northern Georgia. I am thinking wrong here? I was looking forward to fresh grapefruit and thinking they would be inexpensive. It sounds like this may not be the case?

In previous visits to FL in March, we were able to find flea markets with huge bins of grapefruit and oranges. Now this was not the Orlando area but I was thinking that there still should be citrus fruit a plenty. Am I planning wrong?

Not sure about fruit prices, but be aware. Florida Publix BOGOs are true BOGOs, you have to buy both items in order to get one free. It's not each item half price like it is for us here in Georgia. Got burned on that once.

 

[palmtreegirl]

Love Publix!!!! We shop there for BOGO deals and I always buy my meat & produce there. Our Winn Dixie just isn't nice, I never go in that store. I balance between Publix & Walmart and I'm on a pretty tight budget.

You can beat Publix though when it comes to customer service, they're great. Always friendly, really clean, well stocked and you always get a working cart too!! They even have complimentary carry out service, although I never use it. Their coupon policy is awesome too.

We use to have a Sweetbay in town but they just closed last week, it was a pretty nice store, great produce and the prices were in between Walmart & Publix.

 

[Golf4food]

I will gladly spend a few extra dollars to shop at Publix over Wal-Mart. That is the price you pay for a clean store, actual customer service, and not standing in a line for half-an-hour to check out because there is only 1 out of 50 lines open at the walmart.

 

[Honeybell]

Publix is worth it. In the eleven years we've lived in FL we have had three weevil outbreaks. I'm pretty sure all of them started in the food my inlaws bought at Walmart. I know for sure two of them did, one may have started in some fundraiser candy. I've never had a problem with food from Publix. The produce I get at Publix has been very good quality. I also try to buy food in season, it makes a big difference in the price. It's almost time for Plant City strawberries!

Super Target has great prices on frozen food and their Archer Farms line is very good quality. The produce is never great and doesn't seem to last long. The bread from the bakery will last a week with no changes. Personally, I don't consider this a plus- what the heck is in it?

After experiencing our local Walmart I decided there is nothing in the world I want to own badly enough to return- and this was before the weevil problem.

There is a BJ's Wholesale in the Orlando area if you are a member there.

 

[NotUrsula]

Citrus is cheap in season, but out of season it comes from California or South America, and it's just as expensive as anywhere else.

The best prices on citrus (or ANY produce, really) is at farm stands; if you are driving down you should be able to find quite a few between Ocala and Orlando. There are sites on the web that list farms by county; Ocala is in Marion County.