Random Grocery Store Thoughts
For once I thought I'd do a viewpoint/opinion blog, so I apologize if you're expecting something about me and/or my life (both of which are status quo at the moment).
Ever since I was little, I always enjoyed grocery shopping, whether it was going to Food Lion (or occasionally Gravitt's... they had a conveyor belt at the register!) with mommy or going to four different stores to get the best deals with grandfather in Pennsylvania (hmm, wonder where I got that from). So it's almost like an adventure to me, paying attention to the prices, trying new things, etc.
Let me start out with Albertson's. I've expressed my beef with them before. I stopped in there the other night for a couple of things (of which they had neither), and I have no clue why people shop there other than ignorance or convenience. Almost everything there, all brands, every department, is extremely jacked up. Sometimes their sale prices are more expensive than Smith's regular prices! I could understand if they were (a) a swanky upscale store (i.e. Harris Teeter) or (b) a small local chain that couldn't afford lower prices (let's say Piggly Wiggly), but it's neither! To me everything seems to be equal quality to Smith's. Granted someone found a worm in a can of Kroger green beans, but that's not going to stop me from shopping there. I can see where Albertson's might be able to get away with that in California or Florida, but it seems out place here. I guess this is a large enough city and people willingly spend their money without thinking about it. Doubt it would fly at home though... there's a reason Harris Teeter didn't stick around, and that was before Wal-Mart became a Super Center.
Two things get thumbs up at Dan's Foods. Their meat department is awesome. I've only gotten stuff there twice, but it's always been top notch. The prices are reasonable, and you can get small packages. Seems like everything at Smith's is in a jumbo pack. I don't need 5 pounds of pork chops. Maybe they suppose you'll go to the butcher counter for small amounts. Secondly, I bought some loaf bread there, called "Farm Bread," made locally in SLC. It was the "cheap" bread ($1.39) but it is honestly the best loaf bread I've ever had. On that subject, I'd like to know who buys all the various brands of $3 loaf bread out here. From my experience (and looking at it), the quality isn't a whole lot different than the cheap stuff. On top of that, even Merita and Sunbeam at home weren't that expensive (although that could have changed by now).
Lastly, let's get into the rising prices. Since I've moved out here, it seems like things have gone up more noticeably than I ever remember. Normally it's like "5 years ago I could get it for this much", but now it's like "2 weeks ago....". It's not everything, but a couple examples I have noticed. The Kroger snack crackers (i.e. off brand Wheat Thins) were $1.04 when I first got here. Then they went up to $1.19, and now they're $1.40. Big K soda 12 packs has gone up $.25 since last year, apple juice has shot up $.40. Speaking of which, why is juice so expensive out here? Even the off brand watered down stuff is over $2. I'm pretty sure last year I could get Food Lion brand for $1.25 regular price (although it had gone up to $1.79 at Christmas). The prices are obviously due in part to rising fuel costs and use of corn for ethanol (a generally stupid idea, but that's another topic), but for a bargain hunter like me, it's like jeez.
So why am I complaining so much? I have no idea. I average like $30-40 per week. Guess it's just one of those things you notice.
Ever since I was little, I always enjoyed grocery shopping, whether it was going to Food Lion (or occasionally Gravitt's... they had a conveyor belt at the register!) with mommy or going to four different stores to get the best deals with grandfather in Pennsylvania (hmm, wonder where I got that from). So it's almost like an adventure to me, paying attention to the prices, trying new things, etc.
Let me start out with Albertson's. I've expressed my beef with them before. I stopped in there the other night for a couple of things (of which they had neither), and I have no clue why people shop there other than ignorance or convenience. Almost everything there, all brands, every department, is extremely jacked up. Sometimes their sale prices are more expensive than Smith's regular prices! I could understand if they were (a) a swanky upscale store (i.e. Harris Teeter) or (b) a small local chain that couldn't afford lower prices (let's say Piggly Wiggly), but it's neither! To me everything seems to be equal quality to Smith's. Granted someone found a worm in a can of Kroger green beans, but that's not going to stop me from shopping there. I can see where Albertson's might be able to get away with that in California or Florida, but it seems out place here. I guess this is a large enough city and people willingly spend their money without thinking about it. Doubt it would fly at home though... there's a reason Harris Teeter didn't stick around, and that was before Wal-Mart became a Super Center.
Two things get thumbs up at Dan's Foods. Their meat department is awesome. I've only gotten stuff there twice, but it's always been top notch. The prices are reasonable, and you can get small packages. Seems like everything at Smith's is in a jumbo pack. I don't need 5 pounds of pork chops. Maybe they suppose you'll go to the butcher counter for small amounts. Secondly, I bought some loaf bread there, called "Farm Bread," made locally in SLC. It was the "cheap" bread ($1.39) but it is honestly the best loaf bread I've ever had. On that subject, I'd like to know who buys all the various brands of $3 loaf bread out here. From my experience (and looking at it), the quality isn't a whole lot different than the cheap stuff. On top of that, even Merita and Sunbeam at home weren't that expensive (although that could have changed by now).
Lastly, let's get into the rising prices. Since I've moved out here, it seems like things have gone up more noticeably than I ever remember. Normally it's like "5 years ago I could get it for this much", but now it's like "2 weeks ago....". It's not everything, but a couple examples I have noticed. The Kroger snack crackers (i.e. off brand Wheat Thins) were $1.04 when I first got here. Then they went up to $1.19, and now they're $1.40. Big K soda 12 packs has gone up $.25 since last year, apple juice has shot up $.40. Speaking of which, why is juice so expensive out here? Even the off brand watered down stuff is over $2. I'm pretty sure last year I could get Food Lion brand for $1.25 regular price (although it had gone up to $1.79 at Christmas). The prices are obviously due in part to rising fuel costs and use of corn for ethanol (a generally stupid idea, but that's another topic), but for a bargain hunter like me, it's like jeez.
So why am I complaining so much? I have no idea. I average like $30-40 per week. Guess it's just one of those things you notice.
posted by Andrew at 3:47 PM
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