Is Walmart really less expensive?

[bennkar]

I don't compare often, but I have an Aldi's store closer to me than the Walmart, and I find Aldi's is almost always cheaper than Walmart. Even when its not, its very close, so I buy all my groceries at Aldi's and don't worry about prices. Other than getting prescription glasses at the Walmart, I generally spend only $100-$200/year at that store as I just don't like going there.

Now if I only could go to the Safeway for my groceries, yeah Walmart would be way, way cheaper for groceries.

[thesimplemoneyblog]

We don't go to WalMart too often as it isn't really that convenient to get to, and the one closest to us is always packed with people, so it doesn't make for the quickest in/out trip. We mostly get our wine at WalMart's market store and stock up on $3 Oak Leaf (cab sav for drinking and pinot grigio for cooking).

We used to shop at Aldi, but despite them being cheaper, we found all of their products significantly inferior and disgusting in quality. Every time we tried their chicken, they had been so packed with water and additives that it was revolting. Despite their claim on comparison shopping for 'similar products' we haven't found anything there that we actually want to buy anymore.

[elessar78]

Funny this should come up. We just shipped there last not and decided it was no longer worth it. Between Ethernet sucky darts and mass of people, general unhelpfulness, and long lines. We'd rather pay the target premium.

[jonasmeier]

When you get right down to it, the prices are almost the same everywhere.

[disneysteve]

Between Ethernet sucky darts

What the heck does this mean?

When you get right down to it, the prices are almost the same everywhere.

I disagree. Prices are most certainly not the same everywhere. If you shop around and compare, you can save hundreds or thousands per year. One-stop shopping is convenient but that convenience definitely comes at a price.

[elessar78]

Sorry, I finally just got an iPhone and I got autocorrected there. ha ha. I was commenting "on their sucky carts."

[Thrif-t]

I only go to Walmart to get price matched items for stores that are not convenient for me to go to. Like today I got Walmart brand crescent rolls for $0.99/pack because Aldi has there's on sale this week for $0.99. That's what I use my Walmart for, one stop loss leader shopping. Beats going to 5 different stores when I can get it all there. Other than that, I hate that store and will only go early morning before 9 am.

[SeanH]

Where I live Walmart is significantly cheaper than any grocery store and I haven't had any issues with meat or produce. If I buy items in bulk Costco will beat Walmart's prices, but I buy nicer items at Costco than Walmart so sometimes that isn't an apples to apples comparison.

All that aside - where I come from in Texas I would never shop at Walmart, even if they were cheaper than the grocery stores (which I don't think they are). The Walmart I shop at now is relatively clean, though the service is awful. In Texas, the Walmarts are appalling - just dirty, scary, everything that would make you turn around and walk out backwards. Additionally, Texas has HEB and the nice HEBs will beat Kroger, Randalls, etc. on prices and quality every day. My wife thinks the only reason Kroger and Randalls are able to stay in business is because old people like shopping in quiet stores with no one in them.

Along with prices and quality another trait I seek is consistency. I appreciate a store that will sell you an item at the same price every week. I get that things change, fruit goes out of season, and droughts kill cattle, but somehow some stores can sell you a pound of chicken for $2 every week since August and some places fluctuate (always higher) every other week.

[fe2o3ez]

Thanks for all the feedback on the OP. I cant see hitting WallyWorld for fresh items - as I tried this once and was horrified at the results - but I am thinking a bi-weekly trip to stock up on the other not-quite-so-perishable items might be worth it (either at WalMart or Target).

For those of you who have taken advantage of the price matching: do they need a physical flyer or coupon (to file in their drawer)? or can I get by with the digital flyer that I have on my phone by showing it to them (Publix has a great app for this)? I would love to get some of the BOGO sales there that are offered by Publix.

Does Target have the same price matching offer?

[YLTL_Dan]

We use Walmart for our staples and home goods (cereal, paper towels, cleaners, etc). We've found that Whole Foods is actually cheaper on much of their organic produce so we go to WF for most of our fruits/veggies and meat.

[Thrif-t]

Thanks for all the feedback on the OP. I cant see hitting WallyWorld for fresh items - as I tried this once and was horrified at the results - but I am thinking a bi-weekly trip to stock up on the other not-quite-so-perishable items might be worth it (either at WalMart or Target).

For those of you who have taken advantage of the price matching: do they need a physical flyer or coupon (to file in their drawer)? or can I get by with the digital flyer that I have on my phone by showing it to them (Publix has a great app for this)? I would love to get some of the BOGO sales there that are offered by Publix.

Does Target have the same price matching offer?

Nope you don't need the actual flyer or a digital copy you just tell them. They are supposed to have access to all different ads under their registers. My cashier never looks at any ads only takes my word. Although once I had an older lady who was a cashier and didn't believe me when I said Kmart had Scott bathroom tissue for 4.99 when it was ringing up 10 something at WalMart. She was about to call her manager over when I whipped the ad out to prove it. So while it's not supposed to be necessary to have the ads, if the deal is too good to be true, it might prove faster to have it on you.

Oh and i"m not sure they'll do Bogo offers, I've not tried that. I do know they won't honor something if the price includes an in store coupon. Example some Walgreen products require their flyer coupons to get the low price, they don't match those types of offers.

[PMMM]

Even if prices are better on some items my problem with Wally World is that the service is terrible. I would rather spend a pinch more than put up with the lousy service they provide. Very few people know what they are doing and most are loath to help anyone. My other beef with them is that they treat the employees like crap. The work em hard and don't pay squat. I know first hand because I have several friends and my sister who works for them. Certainly they are free to find other jobs but those are pretty tight right now.

I must say that these comments are for the 2 Wally Worlds in my location. I can't speak for others. Maybe it's a local thing but my gut tells me it probably is not.

I just quit using them altogether because of very poor service and attitude.

[kaleida]

I took one look at the produce section at my local Wal-mart, and never went back. It was absolutely disgusting.
Mold...bruises...limp lettuce...shriveled skin on apples...flies.

Stuff like that makes me feel really depressed...I couldn't force myself to eat it regardless of what the price difference was.