This is kind of a post that goes along with the U-Scan post that I made a few months ago. I should mention this is in no way directed at nocturnia, and I really appreciate the input of someone who works there.
I've posted in the past that there are four Kroger stores within 20 minutes from my house. Two are located across the river in another state, while two more are on opposite ends of town. The closest Wal-Mart to my house is five minutes. There is also a Sams Club and Foodland that are equally as close.
I will freely admit, I shop at Wal-Mart. If I am out of something and its my day off, I don't want to burn extra gas to go to my store, especially if I know that I am going to run into a manager asking me if I can come in and replace a calloff.
It seems its more the younger generation, but there are some senior employees who shop there as well. Most of the senior employees treat it as "You work here, you shop here". These are also the same employees who don't want U-Scan's at our store as well.
Best example actually involves a department head where I work. We got a new backup before Christmas last year in that department who worked at another store and he stopped in to check it out. He is roughly a couple years older than me and before leaving, said "Well, I've got to stop at Wal-Mart before I head home". She looks at him and says "Don't bite the hand that feeds".
My fiancee on the other hand is the opposite extreme. Her family shops at Wal-Mart and even though they haven't come right out and said it, don't shop at Kroger because they are union. My fiancee commented to me one day and said "Mom said its stupid that we go to Kroger when Wal-Mart is cheaper". It actually pissed me off.
So how do you feel about Wal-Mart?
-- Edited by Drew P Weiner on Monday 27th of June 2011 11:24:27 AM
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"The postings on this site are my own and don't necessarily represent the positions, strategies or opinions of The Kroger Co. family of stores."
Sometime I have to shop there if I want anything that has to do with electronics. I live in a small town who was gutted by walmart so it's a love hate relationship. If i need food I just go to kroger as it's closer but if i need electronics I have to go to walmart.
I understand the "it's cheaper" people as you can only make your money stretch so far and now-a-days every penny counts...
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Would you like fries with th... I mean, your milk in a bag?
I actually am on the other end of the rain bow on this one; I work for Wal-Mart but do most of my grocery shopping at Kroger. As for biting feeding hands....Hooey-shmooey. I will spend my money where ever it goes the furthest, right along side the vastly growing number of other Americans~
Sometime I have to shop there if I want anything that has to do with electronics. I live in a small town who was gutted by walmart so it's a love hate relationship. If i need food I just go to kroger as it's closer but if i need electronics I have to go to walmart.
I understand the "it's cheaper" people as you can only make your money stretch so far and now-a-days every penny counts...
This is what I don't understand but maybe it's different in other zones.
I work for Kroger and do most of my grocery shopping there, but not because of supporting where I work. I make my dollar work for me. The Kroger stores here, if you watch what you are doing, are cheaper than Wal-Mart. Problem is, you have to shop smart.
Examples:
1. Shop the ad. People will throw out that Wal-Mart will match competitors prices but what you have to keep in mind is that YOU have to know the competitors ad before you walk in. Wal-Mart doesn't change their prices to match Kroger, Safeway, or any of their competitors, so the burden is placed exclusively on the consumer. These people are getting royally screwed over and don't even realize it.
2. Shop and understand the Cartbusters savings events. Mix and match what you buy during this sale and you will get money taken off your order at the end. This is something Wal-Mart can't match I believe.
3. Use coupons. Extreme couponning is becoming extremely popular for a reason, and Kroger is catering to it. Once you've shopped at Kroger long enough, they will send you coupons for items you purchase frequently. Not to mention you can upload e-coupons onto your Kroger Plus Card.
4. Fuel Points. This is the biggie right now since Kroger has revamped and allowing points to accumulate past 100 points. Not only are you saving money on groceries, but you are also saving money on gasoline, which has leveled off somewhat but has been on a steady increase. If you are going on vacation, you can buy gift cards to spend on food and boost your fuel points even further.
5. Substitute Kroger Brand when possible. This is where economics and brand loyalty come into play. Some products you can substitute Kroger brand with and not tell a difference. Problem is, people aren't going to be as likely to substitute Pepsi or Coke for Big K.
That being said, there are some things Kroger is expensive on, namely HBA and pet products. Kroger's meat is also more expensive than Wal-Mart, but given Wal-Mart ships everything in pre-packed (although I believe Kroger will do it more and more), I actually don't mind paying more.
The appeal for Wal-Mart is one stop shopping and for people who are too lazy to cut coupons or shop an ad. This isn't an anti-Walmart post, because I shop there as its a necessary evil, but its more directed at people who say that Wal-Mart is cheaper than Kroger, because if you watch what you're doing, it can work to your benefit.
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"The postings on this site are my own and don't necessarily represent the positions, strategies or opinions of The Kroger Co. family of stores."
I shop wal-mart for Cat Food, and Kitty Litter and Coca Cola. Groceries in general, I buy at Kroger. I don't know if I'm spending less money or more.. But I have found that the overall quality of Walmart's Value brands is fairly low. Kroger's value brands on the other hand, have good quality. I also shop the markdown isle in Kroger frequently.
We have people come in every Thursday to do shelf resets, and when they do that, a lot of stuff gets marked down. I will often get toilet paper marked down to $3 or $4 for a 12-24 pack, and laundry detergent marked down cheap as well. Whenever they mark down essentials like this, I stock up. I have a closet full of shampoo, soap, and toilet paper all marked down super cheap. That saves me so much money.
Wal-Mart is an evil, but unfortunately, it is a necessary evil. It can really help with saving money on specific items. I don't shop there if I can help it. It has nothing to do with union, so much as it does with how they treated their employees. If they were non union, but still treated their employees well and fair, I would have no problem shopping there. Alas, they treat their employees like ****.
We have a brand new Wal Mart Super Store about 2 miles down th road from where i live. i try not to shop there b/c of their poor moral compass. But sometimes it is just more convenient to go there for several items - like mulch. lowes & the depot are another 3 miles away. i hate waiting in their checkout lines. they should get self scanners. i find myself standing there waiting then i head to the customer service counter or to the jewerly counter to get out of there quick. the people standing there dicking around while the line is backed up look at me like what the hell does he want. i have never walked their aisles for groceries. i do that at kroger or biggs
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I am no longer part of the oppressed, evil workforce of Kroger! Can you say "Hallelujah"
Don't forget 10 for 10's, people!!! And yes, there are deals at Kroger. You just have to be a careful, savvy shopper. And many times, don't forget, you can find good deals on markdown and/or discontinued products. I've discovered some real saving,s and new items and/or expensive items I wouldn't have given a chance otherwise, and I've never had to sacrifice quality in the process. Another thing is that I see what's on sale, and devise a menu based on what I find, instead of the other way around. I try substitutions sometimes. What if a markdown item is in conjunction with a coupon or a sale price on that item? There are those who say Wal-Mart is cheaper...I would have to remind them that when you add in the gas it takes to get there compared to the 10 cents you might be saving...you have to balance it out. For the majority of items, Kroger has an advantage. I used to see customers go to 5-6 different places all across town to save a little here...a little there...but never added up the cost of gas in the process. I'm sure they spent more in gas than the savings they might have gained. You have to look at the bigger picture. Plus, with the cost of gas going up so much nowadays...yes, it goes down, but then it's back up again (depending on where you live)...all those transportation and manufacturing costs go into the cost of the food we buy. Look at $2.49 milk. On sale from $2.79. And people look at that, as if $2.49 is cheap. Does anyone remember when there were weeks at a time the price stayed at $1.77. I'm old enough to remember $1.69 or lower back in the day. Remember 10 for $10 on half-gallons? And let's forget that most of our food comes packaged in plastic...where do they get plastic from? Have we forgotten that plastic is a PETROLEUM product? Just sayin'...No matter how low the prices go, all companies can not keep them low for long without losing their shirts in the process. You can't continually eat that cost, and make a profit. The bad part is...it doesn't help the economy, or us regular folks struggling to make ends meet, or the customers I sympathize with, but the facts are the facts. I haven't forgotten what the prices used to be, and a lot of the deals I used to see, I doubt I'll ever see again. I'm not biased towards Kroger, as I'll shop (if I have to) at Wal-Mart, for some things (non-food purchases). But when it comes to food, Kroger still has overall better prices. I just don't see spending more gas to go to Wal-Mart to save a few nickels and dimes here and there, when Kroger is cheaper on a majority of items. At least, as cheap as I'll ever see prices again.
