# Are Grocery Store "Deals" Getting Worse? **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [August 17, 2012, 2:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-grocery-store-deals-getting-worse/631781 "2012-08-17T14:39:36Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![kiz](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/7feea3/32.png) [@kiz](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kiz)\ **Post date:** [August 17, 2012, 9:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-grocery-store-deals-getting-worse/631781/21 "2012-08-17T21:36:23Z")
> [@Smeghead](#): > > The economy sucks for everyone. Grocery stores are squeezing harder like everyone else. Grocery profit margins are very slim to begin with. If the chain is part of a conglomerate and/or a publicly held company, it’s in _their_ best interest to be stingy with promotions as well as regular sales. As another poster mentioned, it’s up to the customer to figure out what’s truly a deal, relatively-speaking. A lot of stores in my area have really cut back on coupon deals. The other trend right now is lowering the price on staples (roughly $.10-.30) and advertising more of those in the weekly circular rather than having an entire page of specials. The specials themselves aren’t very special anymore. Boneless breasts at $1.99/lb.? That’s the same price our local BJ’s and Costco charges! And I hate to say it, but with the drought going on in the Midwest, the prices are only going to get worse in the coming months… ---
**Author:** ![ftg](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ftg/32/2801_2.png) [@ftg](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ftg)\ **Post date:** [August 17, 2012, 9:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-grocery-store-deals-getting-worse/631781/22 "2012-08-17T21:38:35Z")
Of the two chains near us that we go to, one has a policy of requiring you to buy all ten and the other would allow you to buy one and charge 1/10 of the bulk price. Guess which one we mostly shop at. ---
**Author:** ![pulykamell](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pulykamell/32/3166_2.png) [@pulykamell](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pulykamell)\ **Post date:** [August 17, 2012, 9:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-grocery-store-deals-getting-worse/631781/23 "2012-08-17T21:40:41Z")
> [@thelurkinghorror](#): > > Every local grocery store has the wording like: “10 for $10”. **However** , that is just a marketing ploy, and the deal is really: “1 for $1”. You don’t have to buy 10. The only business I have seen which makes you buy multiples is 7-11. Walgreens does it, too, at least around here. ---
**Author:** ![Blackberry](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/ecd19e/32.png) [@Blackberry](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Blackberry)\ **Post date:** [August 17, 2012, 10:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-grocery-store-deals-getting-worse/631781/24 "2012-08-17T22:00:14Z")
> [@RealityChuck](#): > > I also notice that coupon are for smaller values then they have been in the past. You can rarely find any dollar off coupons for a single item. They’re always for two or three. A decade ago, the newspapers were awash with them. Coupons have definitely gotten worse. I used to get coupons sometimes for a free product, usually when it first came out. I never ever see that anymore. I was just complaining about that to my sister and she said it’s because of the “extreme couponers” and I think she’s right. They couldn’t just be happy with their one free item, they’d have to go out and find a way to get their hands on dozens of the coupons, so they spoiled it for everyone. ---
**Author:** ![Moonlitherial](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/4bbf92/32.png) [@Moonlitherial](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Moonlitherial)\ **Post date:** [August 17, 2012, 10:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-grocery-store-deals-getting-worse/631781/25 "2012-08-17T22:03:41Z")
> [@ftg](#): > > Of the two chains near us that we go to, one has a policy of requiring you to buy all ten and the other would allow you to buy one and charge 1/10 of the bulk price. > > Guess which one we mostly shop at. The chain Metro in Canada is worse. Some you must buy the quantity and some you don’t have to and the wording differene on the sign is in the small print. Damn them for being the most convenient store to the house. ---
**Author:** ![billfish678](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/7bcc69/32.png) [@billfish678](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/billfish678)\ **Post date:** [August 17, 2012, 10:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-grocery-store-deals-getting-worse/631781/26 "2012-08-17T22:11:22Z")
Given the erosion of “business ethics” so to speak, and hell personal ethics for that matter, I’m surprised that somebody hasn’t come out with coupons and or deals that sound good but actually cost more money than if you had not used them. The cynic in me thinks such things already exist and I do believe I have run across them a time or to but I don’t think they are the norm…yet… ---
**Author:** ![Colophon](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/f05b48/32.png) [@Colophon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Colophon)\ **Post date:** [August 17, 2012, 10:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-grocery-store-deals-getting-worse/631781/27 "2012-08-17T22:39:38Z")
> [@pulykamell](#): > > Here’s one I found at Target some time last year [Temporary price cut!](http://sphotos-b.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-snc6/196022_10150198466578777_208129_n.jpg) It’s also six cents, but yours represents less of a savings percentage-wise. And in what universe does 96c for 8oz equate to $1.81 per lb? ---
**Author:** ![StarvingButStrong](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/starvingbutstrong/32/335_2.png) [@StarvingButStrong](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/StarvingButStrong)\ **Post date:** [August 17, 2012, 10:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-grocery-store-deals-getting-worse/631781/28 "2012-08-17T22:55:08Z")
A new one: the CVS has bags of M&Ms on sale, 3 for $10. But you can’t mix and match! It has to be 3 bags of plain OR 3 bags of peanuts, not two of one and one of the other! Did you ever hear such a thing?? ---
**Author:** ![phxjcc](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/8491ac/32.png) [@phxjcc](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/phxjcc)\ **Post date:** [August 17, 2012, 11:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-grocery-store-deals-getting-worse/631781/29 "2012-08-17T23:00:17Z")
> [@kiz](#): > > Grocery profit margins are very slim to begin with. I think I want to call _horse-hockey_ on this. Safeway [Vons], et al practice high/low price games. Here is a link describing the hi/low strategy: [http://www.bankrate.com/finance/personal-finance/take-grocery-coupons-to-the-next-level-1.aspx](http://www.bankrate.com/finance/personal-finance/take-grocery-coupons-to-the-next-level-1.aspx) Eg. Hebrew National Hot Dogs Vons: 6.99/pkg Trader Joes: 3.99 Costco: $2.05 (actually, $8.19/4 for the math pedantic among you) We know that the Costco price is 14% over cost, which means that the Vons markup is 400%+ on that item. So, yes you can save $1 on eggs with that coupon, but they make $5 on those hot dogs. ---
**Author:** ![thelurkinghorror](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/7c8e57/32.png) [@thelurkinghorror](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/thelurkinghorror)\ **Post date:** [August 17, 2012, 11:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-grocery-store-deals-getting-worse/631781/30 "2012-08-17T23:19:08Z")
> [@StarvingButStrong](#): > > A new one: the CVS has bags of M&Ms on sale, 3 for $10. But you can’t mix and match! It has to be 3 bags of plain OR 3 bags of peanuts, not two of one and one of the other! > > Did you ever hear such a thing?? I think I’ve seen similar. But $3.33 is the _sale_ price for M&Ms? Please tell me it’s a giant bag. The regular ones should be like, $2 max. This could be for several reasons. 1) an oversight, 2) to encourage people to buy six because they want both, or 3) so they don’t have to ring them up individually if you mix and match. Some stores need to scan each one if you buy one of every flavor of Lithiated Flavor Drink, for inventory control purposes. ---
**Author:** ![drachillix](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/48db29/32.png) [@drachillix](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/drachillix)\ **Post date:** [August 18, 2012, 12:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-grocery-store-deals-getting-worse/631781/31 "2012-08-18T00:22:26Z")
> [@billfish678](#): > > Given the erosion of “business ethics” so to speak, and hell personal ethics for that matter, I’m surprised that somebody hasn’t come out with coupons and or deals that sound good but actually cost more money than if you had not used them. > > The cynic in me thinks such things already exist and I do believe I have run across them a time or to but I don’t think they are the norm…yet… Look around, they are everywhere. I regularly also see bigger boxes of a product that are a higher cost per oz or lb than the smaller boxes. In one case I saw 4 tube packs of saltine crackers regular price $2.50 the 8 tube “family size” pack was $6.99. I double checked the boxes, exactly double the weight, so same size tubes. ---
**Author:** ![billfish678](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/7bcc69/32.png) [@billfish678](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/billfish678)\ **Post date:** [August 18, 2012, 12:26am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-grocery-store-deals-getting-worse/631781/32 "2012-08-18T00:26:14Z")
> [@drachillix](#): > > I regularly also see bigger boxes of a product that are a higher cost per oz or lb than the smaller boxes. . Yes, I HAVE caught a few of those bigger actually is more expensive things here and there. ---
**Author:** ![Blackberry](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/ecd19e/32.png) [@Blackberry](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Blackberry)\ **Post date:** [August 18, 2012, 12:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-grocery-store-deals-getting-worse/631781/33 "2012-08-18T00:28:18Z")
> [@drachillix](#): > > Look around, they are everywhere. > > I regularly also see bigger boxes of a product that are a higher cost per oz or lb than the smaller boxes. In one case I saw 4 tube packs of saltine crackers regular price $2.50 the 8 tube “family size” pack was $6.99. I double checked the boxes, exactly double the weight, so same size tubes. I see that all the time too. Always gotta check the price per unit. It sucks because I don’t like to waste packaging like that, but I’m not about to waste my money like that either. ---
**Author:** ![Lynn\_Bodoni](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/e47c2d/32.png) [@Lynn\_Bodoni](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lynn_Bodoni)\ **Post date:** [August 18, 2012, 2:52am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-grocery-store-deals-getting-worse/631781/34 "2012-08-18T02:52:34Z")
> [@Becky2844](#): > > We have six stores near us. We grocery shop once a week (when the sales change) and each trip can include any combination of those. I scrutinize the circulars online and make my list of the best deals, which dictate our weekly menu. Buy One Get One Free (BOGO) on meats is common here. For dry goods like papertowels and toothpaste, we always hit the Dollar Store and save a ton. (They have brand names.) The coupons aren’t as good anymore but I get a rush when A-1 sauce is BOGO and I have a $1.00 off coupon. My joys are small. 😛 When you go to places like Dollar Store, pay attention to the package sizes. A lot of the time, what looks like a regular package is actually a specially downsized package…so you’re paying the same amount per ounce or per unit, you’re just getting fewer of them. ---
**Author:** ![elfkin477](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/a9a28c/32.png) [@elfkin477](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/elfkin477)\ **Post date:** [August 18, 2012, 3:01am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-grocery-store-deals-getting-worse/631781/35 "2012-08-18T03:01:38Z")
> [@muldoonthief](#): > > I’ve always seen both crappy sales and good sales at my local supermarket (Market Basket), though nothing at the “must buy 10 items” level. Market Basket/DeMoulas and Hannaford don’t ever have “ **must** buy \_\_” sales, though. Just Shaws (which is also Star Market in MA?). All the $5 for 5 sales at MB etc are really $1 each. ---
**Author:** ![keturah](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/e95f7d/32.png) [@keturah](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/keturah)\ **Post date:** [August 18, 2012, 3:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-grocery-store-deals-getting-worse/631781/36 "2012-08-18T03:10:01Z")
> [@phxjcc](#): > > I think I want to call _horse-hockey_ on this. > > Safeway [Vons], et al practice high/low price games. > Here is a link describing the hi/low strategy: [http://www.bankrate.com/finance/personal-finance/take-grocery-coupons-to-the-next-level-1.aspx](http://www.bankrate.com/finance/personal-finance/take-grocery-coupons-to-the-next-level-1.aspx) > > Eg. > Hebrew National Hot Dogs > Vons: 6.99/pkg > Trader Joes: 3.99 > Costco: $2.05 (actually, $8.19/4 for the math pedantic among you) > > We know that the Costco price is 14% over cost, which means that the Vons markup is 400%+ on that item. So, yes you can save $1 on eggs with that coupon, but they make $5 on those hot dogs. The grocery stores do not pay the same prices for the same items from the manufacturer. There are multiple factors that play into the cost per unit price from a manufacturer including but not limited to transportation costs, other items carried from the manufacturer, advertising incentives and volume. You cannot extrapolate profit margin for all retailers knowing the price and profit margin of another. ---
**Author:** ![thelurkinghorror](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/7c8e57/32.png) [@thelurkinghorror](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/thelurkinghorror)\ **Post date:** [August 18, 2012, 3:11am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-grocery-store-deals-getting-worse/631781/37 "2012-08-18T03:11:03Z")
> [@Lynn\_Bodoni](#): > > When you go to places like Dollar Store, pay attention to the package sizes. A lot of the time, what looks like a regular package is actually a specially downsized package…so you’re paying the same amount per ounce or per unit, you’re just getting fewer of them. On the other hand, Dollar Tree is where I learned that there is a such thing as 3-liter bottles. ---
**Author:** ![Farmer\_Jane](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/bbe5ce/32.png) [@Farmer\_Jane](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Farmer_Jane)\ **Post date:** [August 18, 2012, 3:32am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-grocery-store-deals-getting-worse/631781/38 "2012-08-18T03:32:16Z")
I’m a picky eater. I buy the same kinds of things every time I shop, but the brands vary by sale. Sometimes I’ll get that “extra” goody because of a sale (example - a $1 drink) but grocery shopping kind of freaks me out. It’s so expensive and such a headache. I totally stock up when 12 packs go on sale and I’ll freeze bread, but I think there’s something programmed in us to buy more food because we think we’re getting a deal…and yet we waste so much. ---
**Author:** ![Farmer\_Jane](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/bbe5ce/32.png) [@Farmer\_Jane](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Farmer_Jane)\ **Post date:** [August 18, 2012, 3:36am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-grocery-store-deals-getting-worse/631781/39 "2012-08-18T03:36:15Z")
Things I buy at Dollar Tree: [ul] [li]When I have that rare craving for a bad-for-you chicken pot pie from childhood (they’re .69)[/li][li]Face wipes - 30 for $1? Sure![/li][li]School supplies for class - like my $1 binders for students[/li][li]Teacher stuff, like bulletin board decor[/li][li]The occasional small bag of candy for my desk[/li][li]Gift bags/cards[/li][li]Decor for parties[/li][li]Brand name kitchen/house supplies - like the Glade air freshener for $1 (my students appreciated it ;)) or the Betty Crocker measuring cups that are in my drawer[/li][/ul] I’m suspicious of the rest, though. ---
**Author:** ![rowrrbazzle](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/rowrrbazzle/32/414_2.png) [@rowrrbazzle](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/rowrrbazzle)\ **Post date:** [August 18, 2012, 3:51am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-grocery-store-deals-getting-worse/631781/40 "2012-08-18T03:51:19Z")
I buy a lot of Lean Cuisine at Jewel. At regular prices the freezers would be pretty full. But every 4 weeks almost like clockwork, they’d be on sale and I (and lots of others) would stock up and the freezers would be practically empty. In fact, one of the checkers once said the store hates people like me! (I didn’t take offense.) Just recently they’ve started pricing Lean Cuisine at a standard price somewhat lower than the previous standard, and the sale weeks seem to have disappeared. I used to buy Grape-Nuts in the 32 oz. size from my local Dominicks. They stopped stocking it maybe a year or more ago. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-grocery-store-deals-getting-worse/631781.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-grocery-store-deals-getting-worse/631781.md?page=3)