[slipcovers]

Originally Posted by Mrs. Robinson

Wow! There is a reason to shop elsewhere.

Yes, for most people there is a reason to shop elsewhere unless some sort of special is going on.

While good customer service is usually a reason for shopping somewhere -- sorry, but overall, price is king!
And overall, Publix happens to (probably) be the most expensive supermarket in Florida.

And that is exactly why there are empty stores in Brownwood. They can't compete with Home Goods, Marshalls, HD and especially online. They are gradually becoming obsolete.

[ggnlars]

Understand, the most important cost item for me is time. I hate every second I spend grocery shopping, so I pick the place that has the best selection and quality and then possibly price. The price setting techniques that they use are very sophisticated. They all set their sale and other prices to yield the needed return on an average week for the time of the year. Yes, you might cherry pick items on a certain week that makes one store look better than another. However, over the long haul and particularly if your doing multiple stores each week, that savings is washed away. We have been shopping at Publix for over twenty years now. Is there a better grocery store, yes, I can think of several. However, none of those are here. The store with the most consistent quality and selection here is Publix. Store to store they have a consistent level of overall characteristics. The others all fall short there. Each can have a bright spot store, but when the people change so does the store.

[Bjeanj]

I shop at Publix, and love their app. Depending on which store you are at, you can specify that store on the app and it tells you, in order, what aisle everything is. Sure saves me time!

[duffysmom]

Originally Posted by Boomer

I love Publix. I really miss Publix clean, bright, service-oriented stores when I am north in the land of Krogrrrrr. (I wish Kroger and Meijer would send reconnaissance teams to Publix to see how it should be done.)

I love those Publix recipes with the ingredients all in a row. Before I headed north this time, I bought the Publix cookbook to bring along. (Of course, now I will have to forage for the ingredients at Krogrrrrr where the plot seems to be to make anything not a Kroger brand almost impossible to find.)

I even love the green shirts the Publix employees wear, as well as the green theme throughout the store.

I love Publix reusable grocery bags, hanging there at checkout, with their lovely, ever-changing designs. I have used those bags as Easter baskets. And I even bought the one with the big letter P on it so I could use it as a monogrammed purse. (Goodbye Coach. )

But the biggest reason I love Publix is because I love their business plan. The employees own a big percentage of Publix through their privately held stock. The family that owns Publix has its share of billionaires but their successful business was not built on the backs of their employees. Publix was built alongside the employees.

According to an article in Forbes, "All staffers who have put in 1000 work hours and a year of employment receive an additional 8.5% of their pay in company stock." Publix makes the Forbes "America's Best Employers" list. Publix is on Fortune's "100 Best" list, too.

Even though Publix stock is not publicly traded, it functions like many publicly traded companies that believe in profit-sharing. Cincinnati-based Procter and Gamble has been well known for its employee stock plan. There are many successful companies that do the same thing.

Employee ownership in a company is capitalism in its best form. And that's the kind of capitalism I love. (Just imagine if all the cashiers at Walmart received company stock in addition to their pay.)


Link to cited source from Forbes:

https://www.forbes.com/sites/brianso.../#48db5bf95d3f

Another Publix lover here.. Boomer your note was so informative and I enjoy your humor, thank you. My time is too precious to waste going from market to market in order to save a few pennies.

[rubicon]

Originally Posted by ggnlars

Understand, the most important cost item for me is time. I hate every second I spend grocery shopping, so I pick the place that has the best selection and quality and then possibly price. The price setting techniques that they use are very sophisticated. They all set their sale and other prices to yield the needed return on an average week for the time of the year. Yes, you might cherry pick items on a certain week that makes one store look better than another. However, over the long haul and particularly if your doing multiple stores each week, that savings is washed away. We have been shopping at Publix for over twenty years now. Is there a better grocery store, yes, I can think of several. However, none of those are here. The store with the most consistent quality and selection here is Publix. Store to store they have a consistent level of overall characteristics. The others all fall short there. Each can have a bright spot store, but when the people change so does the store.

You and I agree. Heck if I am the one shopping I do not even bother looking at prices.

I recognize that as a weakness and so let my wife take the lead in this area. I kid her and tell her I do the little things because she is our purchasing agent and we need her to devote her time to that specialty.

Why do I do so. because when you witness one store manager after another congratulate your wife on her shopping acumen you become a believe. when you hear manager say after several items have been priced that "we owe you change" you become a believer. when you see her stretch a dime to a dollar well then.......

what she does takes much preparation and he has gotten so good at it that she has it down to a fine science. This is serious business for her whether its food products, furniture, a car

to each his own and God bless you and yours.

[Carl in Tampa]

Originally Posted by Boomer

I love Publix. I really miss Publix clean, bright, service-oriented stores when I am north in the land of Krogrrrrr. (I wish Kroger and Meijer would send reconnaissance teams to Publix to see how it should be done.)

I love those Publix recipes with the ingredients all in a row. Before I headed north this time, I bought the Publix cookbook to bring along. (Of course, now I will have to forage for the ingredients at Krogrrrrr where the plot seems to be to make anything not a Kroger brand almost impossible to find.)

I even love the green shirts the Publix employees wear, as well as the green theme throughout the store.

I love Publix reusable grocery bags, hanging there at checkout, with their lovely, ever-changing designs. I have used those bags as Easter baskets. And I even bought the one with the big letter P on it so I could use it as a monogrammed purse. (Goodbye Coach. )

But the biggest reason I love Publix is because I love their business plan. The employees own a big percentage of Publix through their privately held stock. The family that owns Publix has its share of billionaires but their successful business was not built on the backs of their employees. Publix was built alongside the employees.

According to an article in Forbes, "All staffers who have put in 1000 work hours and a year of employment receive an additional 8.5% of their pay in company stock." Publix makes the Forbes "America's Best Employers" list. Publix is on Fortune's "100 Best" list, too.

Even though Publix stock is not publicly traded, it functions like many publicly traded companies that believe in profit-sharing. Cincinnati-based Procter and Gamble has been well known for its employee stock plan. There are many successful companies that do the same thing.

Employee ownership in a company is capitalism in its best form. And that's the kind of capitalism I love. (Just imagine if all the cashiers at Walmart received company stock in addition to their pay.)


Link to cited source from Forbes:

https://www.forbes.com/sites/brianso.../#48db5bf95d3f

Publix items may cost a bit more because they provide for their employees better than most grocery stores.

I attended college with the grandson of the founder of Publix. When it came his turn, he became President of the company. In college he was a down-to-earth, friendly person, and few people knew he was a millionaire. After college we were in touch a few times and he was as friendly as ever. He donated several million dollars to our alma mater for new construction.

Here's something you might find interesting about Publix stores. Every store has an emergency power generator which provides power to the store if commercial power is interrupted, so none of the frozen or refrigerated food ever has a chance to defrost, or partially defrost, with the potential for spoilage. This is important in a state that is subject to hurricanes, tropical storms, and thunderstorms that can interrupt electrical service.

Many other stores do not have this feature. At these stores a store manager may convince himself that a power failure that does not result in full defrosting of frozen food may be overlooked if power is restored in time to re-freeze the food. Not a chance I want to take.

Well stocked stores, good customer service, employee friendly benefits............ Publix works for me.

[Topspinmo]

I like publix they close and have good lottery counter. I sometimes pick up few items while in there. I do watch out for the 2 for 1 ice cream sale also. Then on the way out I can weigh myself see if I'm buying too much ice cream!

[Wiotte]

Originally Posted by Mleeja

Many people talk/write about how Publix is more expensive than some other grocery stores. Here is our experience at Publix today that will keep me coming back, regardless of the price. "The Boss" likes Mountain Dew Diet Code Red. Not all stores carry this soft drink. We shopped at the Publix in Spanish Plaines which is now undergoing reconstruction. We have been going to the Publix in Southern Trace. In the soft drink aside, the slot for Mountain Dew Diet Code Red was filled with a different soft drink. On the way out we stopped at the Customer Service desk to ask for a rain check. The young lady that was helping us told us she would order the soft drink for us. As she was writing up the rain check, she said "just a minute, I would like to check the shelf tag" and was off. She was gone a couple of minutes and called back to the service desk. She was in the back of the store and found some Mountain Dew Diet Code Red on a pallet of Pepsi products. She dug out our soft drinks and brought them up to the service desk for us. This is what I call outstanding service and developing customer loyalty!

Nice story, but for us Walmart is good enough.

[autumnspring]

Originally Posted by Boomer

I love Publix. I really miss Publix clean, bright, service-oriented stores when I am north in the land of Krogrrrrr. (I wish Kroger and Meijer would send reconnaissance teams to Publix to see how it should be done.)

I love those Publix recipes with the ingredients all in a row. Before I headed north this time, I bought the Publix cookbook to bring along. (Of course, now I will have to forage for the ingredients at Krogrrrrr where the plot seems to be to make anything not a Kroger brand almost impossible to find.)

I even love the green shirts the Publix employees wear, as well as the green theme throughout the store.

I love Publix reusable grocery bags, hanging there at checkout, with their lovely, ever-changing designs. I have used those bags as Easter baskets. And I even bought the one with the big letter P on it so I could use it as a monogrammed purse. (Goodbye Coach. )

But the biggest reason I love Publix is because I love their business plan. The employees own a big percentage of Publix through their privately held stock. The family that owns Publix has its share of billionaires but their successful business was not built on the backs of their employees. Publix was built alongside the employees.

According to an article in Forbes, "All staffers who have put in 1000 work hours and a year of employment receive an additional 8.5% of their pay in company stock." Publix makes the Forbes "America's Best Employers" list. Publix is on Fortune's "100 Best" list, too.

Even though Publix stock is not publicly traded, it functions like many publicly traded companies that believe in profit-sharing. Cincinnati-based Procter and Gamble has been well known for its employee stock plan. There are many successful companies that do the same thing.

Employee ownership in a company is capitalism in its best form. And that's the kind of capitalism I love. (Just imagine if all the cashiers at Walmart received company stock in addition to their pay.)


Link to cited source from Forbes:

https://www.forbes.com/sites/brianso.../#48db5bf95d3f

Privately held stock? Who then can you sell it to? For that matter financial advice usually tells you not to hold your assets in company stock. People who worked for ENRON for eaxampl not only lost their jobs but any company stock they held is valueless.

[Boomer]

Originally Posted by suesiegel

Privately held stock? Who then can you sell it to? For that matter financial advice usually tells you not to hold your assets in company stock. People who worked for ENRON for eaxampl not only lost their jobs but any company stock they held is valueless.

Well, gee, susiegel, ENRON, you say? Enron, that symbol of greed, fraud, and corruption. Not even close to a comparison.

Publix has been around since 1930. If you would like to learn a little more about Publix stock, which is called an ESOP, here is an article from the business section of the Atlanta Journal Constitution.

Retire as a millionaire, college degree not required

Originally Posted by Carl in Tampa

Publix items may cost a bit more because they provide for their employees better than most grocery stores.

I attended college with the grandson of the founder of Publix. When it came his turn, he became President of the company. In college he was a down-to-earth, friendly person, and few people knew he was a millionaire. After college we were in touch a few times and he was as friendly as ever. He donated several million dollars to our alma mater for new construction.

Here's something you might find interesting about Publix stores. Every store has an emergency power generator which provides power to the store if commercial power is interrupted, so none of the frozen or refrigerated food ever has a chance to defrost, or partially defrost, with the potential for spoilage. This is important in a state that is subject to hurricanes, tropical storms, and thunderstorms that can interrupt electrical service.

Many other stores do not have this feature. At these stores a store manager may convince himself that a power failure that does not result in full defrosting of frozen food may be overlooked if power is restored in time to re-freeze the food. Not a chance I want to take.

Well stocked stores, good customer service, employee friendly benefits............ Publix works for me.

Hey, Carl, thanks for your post about the personal connection. Your story reinforces what I have thought for a very long time......"Money makes good people better and bad people worse." and "Unrestrained greed is not only bad morals, it's bad economics." (I have a bit of a fascination with behavioral economics -- big picture and little picture -- and I think those two sayings are usually right.)

And speaking of quotes -- in the article I linked above in response to susiegel, there is a quote from George Jenkins who was the founder of Publix, in 1930. When Jenkins was asked how much he would be worth if he had not given so much away, his answer was, "Nothing." -- It sounds like his grandson, whom you knew, was a darn good example of, "The apple does not fall far from the tree."

Publix is an interesting company. I hope they continue to take care of their employees. (I think I might have talked a produce guy in a Kroger in Ohio into moving to Florida.....Well, actually he had been thinking about it anyway, but he did not know about Publix. Now, he does. Hey, I do what I can to help out.)

[Carl in Tampa]

Originally Posted by suesiegel

Privately held stock? Who then can you sell it to? For that matter financial advice usually tells you not to hold your assets in company stock. People who worked for ENRON for eaxampl not only lost their jobs but any company stock they held is valueless.

Remind yourself that most Publix employees begin with the company as relatively unskilled and low paid workers. The employee benefit of company stock participation introduces them to the concept of stock ownership.

Owning stock in Publix is an income enhancer since Publix pays a dividend on their stock every year. Like other stock offerings, there is occasionally a stock split. In 1992 it split 5 for 1, and again in 2006. The current value of Publix stock is around $39.15 per share.

Publix employees who want to sell their stock may go on line to the Publix site and fill out paperwork to sell their stock back to the company.

But not everyone wants to sell their stock, and they are not required to do so if they leave the company. I found the following post on a web site. It was posted five months ago, before a slight reduction in the value per share of the stock.

"I started working for Publix in 1972 (or was it 73, long time ago). When I reached age 18 I purchased 10 shares of stock for $28 per share, total investment $280.

There was no 401k like Publix now has and the ESOP (now called the Profit plan) had only recently started and had a five year vesting requirement. I left Publix before I had five years so I lost my Profit shares, but I kept my 10 shares I purchased outright.

So, in-
02/25/1984 the stock split 10 for 1; I now had 100 shares
07/01/1992 the stock split 5 for 1; I now had 500 shares
07/01/2006 the stock split 5 for 1; I now had 2500 shares
My original $280 investment is now worth $100,375.00. Every quarter Publix sends me a check for a little over $500 as a dividend."

Further, "Many (most??) Publix managers retire with a minimum of a million dollars in savings for retirement. How do they do it? Publix stock. They join the 401k and invest the full 10% in Publix stock. When they have extra money they buy Publix stock during the open periods. Then they just watch the Profit shares accumulate."

Note that store managers come up through the ranks.

This gives an indication of why Publix is considered such an "employee friendly" store.

[RedBaron]

Originally Posted by duffysmom

Another Publix lover here.. Boomer your note was so informative and I enjoy your humor, thank you. My time is too precious to waste going from market to market in order to save a few pennies.

Agree with both posts. New here to The Villages and my time is valuable as I work full time. Running around to several different stores to save a few cents isn't worth it. The customer service at Publix is outstanding. Last week I purchased two nice steaks, however wasn't going to need them for a week and asked the gentleman at the meat counter to double wrap it for me. Well, he not only double wrapped it, but then wrapped it several times with saran. When I thawed the steaks, no freezer burn. I've had multiple incidences at Publix that were positive, something I didn't see in stores such as Walmart where no one seems to care. Oh, and I love the fact they wheel out the umbrellas for you or even cart your groceries to your car for you when it is raining! Talk about service! Another satisfied customer!

[Mrs. Robinson]

Originally Posted by RedBaron

Agree with both posts. New here to The Villages and my time is valuable as I work full time. Running around to several different stores to save a few cents isn't worth it. The customer service at Publix is outstanding. Last week I purchased two nice steaks, however wasn't going to need them for a week and asked the gentleman at the meat counter to double wrap it for me. Well, he not only double wrapped it, but then wrapped it several times with saran. When I thawed the steaks, no freezer burn. I've had multiple incidences at Publix that were positive, something I didn't see in stores such as Walmart where no one seems to care. Oh, and I love the fact they wheel out the umbrellas for you or even cart your groceries to your car for you when it is raining! Talk about service! Another satisfied customer!

There is no question that Publix offers excellent customer service.

However, in a week's time, you will never get freezer burn on anything.

[Topspinmo]

Originally Posted by Carl in Tampa

Remind yourself that most Publix employees begin with the company as relatively unskilled and low paid workers. The employee benefit of company stock participation introduces them to the concept of stock ownership.

Owning stock in Publix is an income enhancer since Publix pays a dividend on their stock every year. Like other stock offerings, there is occasionally a stock split. In 1992 it split 5 for 1, and again in 2006. The current value of Publix stock is around $39.15 per share.

Publix employees who want to sell their stock may go on line to the Publix site and fill out paperwork to sell their stock back to the company.

But not everyone wants to sell their stock, and they are not required to do so if they leave the company. I found the following post on a web site. It was posted five months ago, before a slight reduction in the value per share of the stock.

"I started working for Publix in 1972 (or was it 73, long time ago). When I reached age 18 I purchased 10 shares of stock for $28 per share, total investment $280.

There was no 401k like Publix now has and the ESOP (now called the Profit plan) had only recently started and had a five year vesting requirement. I left Publix before I had five years so I lost my Profit shares, but I kept my 10 shares I purchased outright.

So, in-
02/25/1984 the stock split 10 for 1; I now had 100 shares
07/01/1992 the stock split 5 for 1; I now had 500 shares
07/01/2006 the stock split 5 for 1; I now had 2500 shares
My original $280 investment is now worth $100,375.00. Every quarter Publix sends me a check for a little over $500 as a dividend."

Further, "Many (most??) Publix managers retire with a minimum of a million dollars in savings for retirement. How do they do it? Publix stock. They join the 401k and invest the full 10% in Publix stock. When they have extra money they buy Publix stock during the open periods. Then they just watch the Profit shares accumulate."

Note that store managers come up through the ranks.

This gives an indication of why Publix is considered such an "employee friendly" store.

Too bad there wasn't publix around me when I worked in grocery store starting at 13 stocking selves and packing grocery to cars. Got 60 cents hour and was glad to get it.

[JohnN]

I didn't like Sweet Bay. I was a die-hard Publix fan. Good service, that too, sure. The last year, Publix sale items have always been out of stock (rainchecks are a pain too) and their sales are few and far between. Winn-Dixie on the other hand, has had great sales - and when I asked their customer service manager to stock something, they went ahead and did it. So, service is a tie, price and sales goes to Winn-Dixie.