While stores local to me aren’t as insidious as the exact techniques outlined in this video, even my local chains have started to lessen the number of products with a straight sale and have...
While stores local to me aren’t as insidious as the exact techniques outlined in this video, even my local chains have started to lessen the number of products with a straight sale and have started to instead have sales that require a rewards account or require a specific quantity (and prices of everything have skyrocketed everywhere). Those aren’t exactly new, but when I live by myself, it’s annoying when something is $4 each if you buy five, but $7 if I just buy one when I can’t really use five before they go bad or I don’t have enough space in the pantry.
Preface, I'm in Europe, but similar story here. I always thought (think) that bulk buying was great for savings, but I'm too poor to have a home big enough to be able to dedicate serious space to...
Preface, I'm in Europe, but similar story here. I always thought (think) that bulk buying was great for savings, but I'm too poor to have a home big enough to be able to dedicate serious space to food. Sure, I can stack a few bags of beans and a sack of rice, but unless I want to be walking around boxes on the floor, there's nothing else I can do.
I am not in Europe, (US, Pittsburgh) but I did detailed price comparisons between our local stores when I was out of work: Aldi, Giant Eagle, Target, BJs (warehouse club), and the local stores....
I am not in Europe, (US, Pittsburgh) but I did detailed price comparisons between our local stores when I was out of work: Aldi, Giant Eagle, Target, BJs (warehouse club), and the local stores.
Aldi is about half the cost of Giant Eagle, Target falls somewhere in between. The local stores are more expensive than Giant Eagle.
The real surprise to me is that Aldi is competitive with BJs on price per quantity without having to buy a larger quantity. This is especially true of produce. Though Aldi's selection isn't huge, the quality is very good.
There are a few exceptions, like meat and a few other more "name brand" things, that are cheaper at BJs. But really the gas discount puts us ahead on the membership fee, so its worth having it for that, and what other deals we find are just gravy.
Which all just to say, double check your prices, you might be surprised about the bulk buying assumption.
Costco meat is a real blend of the quantity/quality thing. I can get cheaper meat if I shop the sales. I can get nicer meat if I want to splurge but for "good" to "really good" meat in bulk it's...
Costco meat is a real blend of the quantity/quality thing. I can get cheaper meat if I shop the sales. I can get nicer meat if I want to splurge but for "good" to "really good" meat in bulk it's hard to beat.
I rarely buy meat at Aldi for that reason (unless it's marked down) and instead make a special trip for that and maybe coke zero or some few things I can't get at Aldi
But small local stores are definitely more expensive IME. I am not surprised if that dynamic is different in Europe but definitely here that's never my experience.
Robert Reich is an American professor, author, lawyer, and political commentator.He worked in the administrations of presidents Gerald Ford and Jimmy Carter,and he served as secretary of labor in the cabinet of President Bill Clinton from 1993 to 1997. He was also a member of President Barack Obama's economic transition advisory board. In 2008, Time magazine named him one of the Ten Best Cabinet Members of the century; in the same year The Wall Street Journal placed him sixth on its list of Most Influential Business Thinkers
While stores local to me aren’t as insidious as the exact techniques outlined in this video, even my local chains have started to lessen the number of products with a straight sale and have started to instead have sales that require a rewards account or require a specific quantity (and prices of everything have skyrocketed everywhere). Those aren’t exactly new, but when I live by myself, it’s annoying when something is $4 each if you buy five, but $7 if I just buy one when I can’t really use five before they go bad or I don’t have enough space in the pantry.
Preface, I'm in Europe, but similar story here. I always thought (think) that bulk buying was great for savings, but I'm too poor to have a home big enough to be able to dedicate serious space to food. Sure, I can stack a few bags of beans and a sack of rice, but unless I want to be walking around boxes on the floor, there's nothing else I can do.
I am not in Europe, (US, Pittsburgh) but I did detailed price comparisons between our local stores when I was out of work: Aldi, Giant Eagle, Target, BJs (warehouse club), and the local stores.
Aldi is about half the cost of Giant Eagle, Target falls somewhere in between. The local stores are more expensive than Giant Eagle.
The real surprise to me is that Aldi is competitive with BJs on price per quantity without having to buy a larger quantity. This is especially true of produce. Though Aldi's selection isn't huge, the quality is very good.
There are a few exceptions, like meat and a few other more "name brand" things, that are cheaper at BJs. But really the gas discount puts us ahead on the membership fee, so its worth having it for that, and what other deals we find are just gravy.
Which all just to say, double check your prices, you might be surprised about the bulk buying assumption.
Costco meat is a real blend of the quantity/quality thing. I can get cheaper meat if I shop the sales. I can get nicer meat if I want to splurge but for "good" to "really good" meat in bulk it's hard to beat.
I rarely buy meat at Aldi for that reason (unless it's marked down) and instead make a special trip for that and maybe coke zero or some few things I can't get at Aldi
But small local stores are definitely more expensive IME. I am not surprised if that dynamic is different in Europe but definitely here that's never my experience.
He is also the father of Sam Reich, of College Humour / Dropout fame!
Interesting, thank you.