A lot goes into shoppers decisions on where they shop. Pricing is just one (important) component. Convenience, selection, ambiance etc.

There is an Aldi not too far from where we live and we rarely go there, same with the Wal-Mart a little further away. They're not bad stores, we just prefer a couple of other places over them.

You can find a lot of bargains at Walmart's foods and I shop there too. I don't like some of their produce, it doesn't look as ...clean? to me in that area but we all know that produce comes from everywhere and is the biggest germ carrier in the grocery. I like meat from Publix and will buy some meat items from Samsclub and break them down before I freeze them to usable packets. I like Publix fish and Premium ice cream better than Walmart. I stock up on sugar, and flour and other staples at Walmart, their HUGE buying power does relate to savings at the register, but other items I buy at Publix...and only a couple of times have I had anyone walk me to the car and usually because they just insisted and I thought they wanted the walk more than I needed the company.

I do like their warmth and politeness at Publix. I am sure it is hard to maintain that with all of us kinda snarley old folks all of the time. Most of their check out people and many of their people who fill bags are about the same age as villagers.(The word b-a-g-g-e-r-s just got x'd out. Is that a dirty word????_

I like the clean look of Publix and I don't find Winn-Dixie to be as spiffy clean inside. Old habits die hard. They all probably aren't as clean as we think or we would like them to be.

GG that may be a dirty word now when you put "tea" before it. You don't want to know what that combination refers to! Frat boy humor.

Gracie-I'll have to agree with your entire post. Yes, there are shoppers who just want to save money and there are shoppers who don't mind paying extra for whatever amenity in a particular store that pleases them. Much the same with restaraunts. Those who want to be economical at an eating establishment and those who prefer to pay a premium for better preparation of food, atmosphere, etc. etc. etc.
I guess it boils down to this: does the extra cost outweigh the particular amentities that you enjoy?? And I'm sure you'll never get a solid majority vote on either side!!

Gracie,
I had to chuckle as your hubby sounds just like mine.
Why do they seem to return with all the "goodies" as you mention, when our list only shows the "healthy" stuff...........it's like a magnet drawing them over to the bakery aisle.....not to mention the ice cream freezer.

We had the same experience as you did at Publix.....people older than us actually offering to assist us with the carts.

As nice as Publix was, and closer during our second month, I really like Sweet Bay over by Lake Sumter Landing. It seemed smaller and more manageable to get around......plus had a better bakery section, etc., etc., etc. Hubby actually discovered they are owned by HANNAFORD which is a big supermarket in Maine and Vermont......up here Hannaford is really into organic foods and healthy options.

Actually, I miss the old fashioned SMALLER A&P and smaller yet Grand Union that our town "used to have" before the bigger supermarkets came to town. A&P's were always sufficient for our needs.......there's too much "stuff" in these bigger stores.

I just ordered Kansas City slabs of ribs for the barbecue grill from Kansas City Steaks.........a no brainer for when our kids visit. They are tender and NOT fatty at all.........plus can't beat being delivered to the front door. Everything is flash frozen at slaughter......ground beef is irradiated, etc.........everything arrives frozen in dry ice.........again, great for the grill. Husband feels like a "hero" when he grills the ribs, esp. for big groups.......that's how great they are...........so I have to forgive him his "junk food purchases" at the supermarket.

Happy shopping !

I agree with your last sentence, totally.

It's a phrase adolescents came out with a few years ago.

Personally, I dislike all cliches....or oft repeated lines.........just because they are perceived as being "in".

For a few years, our cousin in N.Y. metro area kept saying "He's a piece of work".........come on....

I do agree with you that in Florida most people do not need to stock up.
However, up north, given the icy winter roads........we do begin to double and quadruple up on supplies .....usually beginning in October.

A full pantry and freezers are a blessing later on.........as long as the expiration dates are good.

Also, we can go through ketchup very quickly when the children and grandchildren visit..........so I guess that would depend on the size.
It's always good to have a few backups......or more.

But I get what you are saying, as far as Florida is concerned.

Our daughter stocks up at Aldi's down here.........as they have very low prices ............we just had a product that she had bought last AUGUST.
The dates were still good. I was surprised to see it at our four day visit to our grand daughter's high school graduation........... knowing it came from our town.

Not to be mean, but again, I agree with this poster's last sentence, totally. Bad habits with the English language.

We also have the gasoline discounts at our Price Chopper, however, we've noticed that the food prices soared when they implemented that program.

It's all marketing and fake advertising. Personally, I'm leery of any meat on sale at any supermarket.........I often wonder "how fresh is this".
"How old is this". I've read some horrible stories about what they do to meat that is on its way "out".

I also feel sorry for people who are "color blind". A few years back, up here at our Price Chopper, early in the morning, before the butchers were able to "remove the meat in question"..........I spotted some BLACK kielbasi. I called it to the attention of the lady butcher. She replied, "Oh, that must be a specialty item". I told her I begged to disagree and perhaps she should ask the head butcher..........she went into the back and returned with this story, "He said that all these boxes have some type of gas inserted and apparently there had been a LEAK and I was correct, the kielbasis SHOULD NOT HAVE BEEN BLACK".

Can't remember the exact name of the gas, but it keeps the meat pink.
A leak would turn the product black or grey.

Better safe than sorry.