NastyWoman
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Post by NastyWoman on May 6, 2012 13:53:17 GMT -5
We will have one soon in my favorite shopping center. Does anyone know anything about their quality/prices? Is it worth trying out or should I avoid it like the plague? I really hate crowded stores so I thought I'd ask before throwing myself into the melee this is bound to be.
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Tiny
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Post by Tiny on May 6, 2012 14:33:01 GMT -5
I suspect you'll have to check it out when it opens. I live in an Urban area with a handful of WalMarts (with groceries) within 30 minute drives of my home. I generally don't shop at them cause there are other groceries closer. But, I do sometimes stop into them. I did alittle bit of grocery shopping at one and wasn't really impressed by the prices on stuff I was buying. I don't buy alot of heavily processed stuff. The prices on the rice, pasta, tuna, peanut butter type stuff wasn't much cheaper (that annoying penny, two, three thing they do...) than the same stuff on an actual sale at my closer groceries. I didn't look at the fresh veggies or meat. WalMart takes too much time and I would need to get use to their sale cycles so I don't generally shop there. That said, I wouldn't not go and check it out - I'd guess they might have some great loss leaders to 'celebrate' the opening of the new store. You might find some really great deals. The thing with groceries is that prices vary alot from week to week and season to season. You really need to have a good handle on your local price cycles and per unit costs to know if you are getting a good deal or not. For example: My local Jewel just had Kraft fat free dressings on-sale for .99 cents a week ago (I like these and use them - they are convenient even if they are all chemicals). This week they were on a Big Sale 2 bottles for $5.00! I saw several people checking out the dressings and probably buying some... My 'price book' sez any non-refridgerated Kraft/wishbone/some other one salad dressing is a Buy It! if it's $1.25 or less (even with a coupon). If you don't know the approximate highs and lows on the products you purchase you have no real way to know if $2.50 for a bottle of Kraft salad dressing is a good price or not. This price variance and ever changing Sale Price is one reason why I like Aldi. The prices are generally consistent from week to week on most stuff (even though they do sales). Even if I purchase some Aldi product at say $1.50 this week - and then next week it's 'on sale' for $1.39 I don't feel too 'cheated' - not like at Jewel where if I'm not careful I could pay $2.50 for something 'on sale!' and then the next week the same product might be on an actual sale for $1 or less.
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thyme4change
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Post by thyme4change on May 6, 2012 14:37:46 GMT -5
I'm not a WalMart fan - period. Best case scenario, this move spreads the company too thin, and they start to lose their dominance in the market. Worst case scenario, they succeed in putting other stores out of business, and I as a minority shopper who doesn't shop "Price first" and everything else a far and distant second will be screwed.
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NastyWoman
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Post by NastyWoman on May 6, 2012 16:31:02 GMT -5
Not looking good for me checking this out. I am single and it doesn't look like there is a whole lot to be gained from going from these responses
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constanz22
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Post by constanz22 on May 6, 2012 16:56:27 GMT -5
I'm not sure the responses here were aimed at your OP. It seemed like most were talking about regular WM stores, not the grocery ONLY ones. I've never been in one, but have seen them in Florida.
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Deleted
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Post by Deleted on May 6, 2012 17:57:12 GMT -5
I like Walmart but rarely shop there. Yes I might pick up a few things but that's about it. One thing that is wonderful about Walmart is when they move into an area prices drop at other stores.
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swamp
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Post by swamp on May 6, 2012 18:00:31 GMT -5
Joss, generally speaking, I don't care for Wal-Mart produce because of the (lack of) quality. I do appreciate their low prices for staples such as peanut butter, preserves, etc. It's been years since I've looked at their meat selection, so I cannot speak to that.
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Post by The Walk of the Penguin Mich on May 6, 2012 20:34:47 GMT -5
IME, for the most part, there is about a 20% price difference between Squallmart and the local grocery store (Kroger's). If you stick with the products you know, there is no difference in quality. And at least in my area of the country, they will price match any advertised price as well.
A couple of years ago, I made the decision to avoid the store only because the parking lot and store is a zoo and I couldn't seem to drag my butt out of bed early Sunday morning to avoid the zoo. But if money was that tight, I'd do it.
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Post by Deleted on May 6, 2012 21:10:19 GMT -5
I like Walmart. They have great prices and excellent quality. They have beautiful produce and baked goods. Lots of good stuff. Nothing to avoid there.
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mthistory
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Post by mthistory on May 6, 2012 22:40:08 GMT -5
Wal-Mart is the closest thing my town has to a 'discount' grocery. For fresh produce Wal-Mart has better everyday prices than our grocery store has for sale prices, they are the only place in town that carries lactose free milk with a decent selection of soy milks, and they have a better selection of frozen yogurts & fruits. Regular shelf items are item specific on Wal-Mart vs. Grocery store prices. I think it really depends on what you have available for stores in your area. There are items I get every week at Wal-Mart, but most things I buy at the grocery store.
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reader79
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Post by reader79 on May 7, 2012 1:10:14 GMT -5
Last time I went to WalMart I bought a bunch of cans of chili beans for .68 or so, and also some diced tomatoes. These average $1.19 at other stores near me. I had went in to look for a swimsuit, but got distracted. They haven't added produce yet, just canned, dry, and frozen goods.
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marvholly
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Post by marvholly on May 7, 2012 6:46:19 GMT -5
MUCH agree w/ATS (like Aldi too) PLUS:
I have 2 Walmart stores w/grocery sections. One I pass 2x/week BUT I HATE shopping there because:
The parking lot is a zoo w/ both bad drivers and lack of spaces from 8 a-8p No employee on the floor knows where anything is in the store but they will tell you anyway so it’s a constant wild goose chase. Employees stocking shelves constantly block the aisles and shelves from access by customers and get indignant when I want something The cashiers are NOT trained on Walmat’s price match policy The cashiers are NOT trained on Walmart’s coupon policy It takes more than 10 minutes to get a response to a page for a store or customer service manager to fix the above 2 problems.
My town is getting a Super Walmart in 2013 or 2014. I will give them 2 chances and IF I have ANY of the above issues a) I will file written complaints w/corp; b) I will NOT shop there. I work WAAAY too hard for my $$ to be treated shabbily or worse (like I am committing fraud or am a criminal) by a minimum wage GED dropout (cannot read).
My main hope is that Walmart will force other nearby grocers (Jewel & Dominicks) to SIGNIFICANTLY lower prices.
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Post by Deleted on May 7, 2012 6:49:31 GMT -5
I have shopped at Walmart for years and not just my local one but others when i was out of town, traveling, etc. I have never had a single problem with an employee, service, merchandise or anything. I have never had a problem returning things, getting assistance. I have never encountered rude employees or anything like that. I enjoy shopping at Walmart.
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kadee79
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Post by kadee79 on May 7, 2012 8:43:36 GMT -5
I worked in a small super Walmart for 2 yrs. First, if you have any complaints...send an email to corp! Let them know there are problems cause they won't find out any other way. Complaining at the local store doesn't get the same results as complaining to corp.! Second, the level of service & training you see in EACH store will be different and it will mainly depend on how that store's manager manages THAT store. If you get one with a "I don't give a da*n - I'm the boss" attitude...you won't get a super level of service. If you get a store with a manager who is trying to improve his store's sales so that his bonus goes up, you should get a much better level of service. Third, like second, the quality of products, the cleanliness of the store, etc. will depend on the store manager you get. If he insists that the produce on display be of good quality that is what you will get. If you get a store manager who leaves it to the produce manager...it will depend. They don't want to throw out toooo much cause that will cause their sales figures to go down & will affect the produce manager's bonus. Also, if I don't see good quality produce of an item I want to purchase....I don't hesitate to ask an employee if they have better in the back. Nine times out of ten, I've gotten MUCH better produce that way. A few times they only had what was on display until the next truck arrived. Most stores get trucks every other day...but ask to be sure! Fourth, both the products offered and the prices will depend on your region. Like I live in an area that has LOTS of hispanic illegals. Therefore, we have LOTS of hispanic type produce items and not a lot of fancier normal items. Hispanic items being things like cactus leaves, some kind of root, another funny looking fruit, etc. Regional prices....I am in a LCOL area so our prices are much lower than what you would pay for the same item in Ca. or Hawaii at a Walmart. Transportation from their warehouses is also included in that figure...the further they are from a warehouse, the higher the prices will be. Personally, I find that I am shopping less & less at Walmart because I can get the same items at our other grocery stores for about the same or cheaper when they are on sale. Like yesterday, I got Tetely tea at Winn Dixie BOGO which made them about $1.20 per box....the Walmart price is $1.68 per box. And I stocked up...I got 12! ;D I won't buy any fresh meat at Walmart. It all comes in prepackaged, they do NOT have a butcher or meat cutter in the dept. Those packages have all been gassed with something to keep them fresher longer....so we have no way of knowing how long since that animal was butchered? ?? I prefer knowing I'm getting a fresher cut. And just to clarify...most stores that do have butchers/meat cutters get their sides or portions in large plastic containers or vacuum sealed packages. Then they cut them into what you see in the meat case. I just prefer to have someone handling my cuts that knows by looking if something is wrong with the meat! I'm sure that some smaller butcher shops still get their meat in hanging sides like everyone used to get. That would be the best option in my opinion but we don't have any near me. I will buy things like lunch meat there or bacon & sausage but I only buy name brands. I have not seen nor been into a "grocery only" Walmart. I hope they are MUCH better than the super centers. But to get an idea of prices & what they have to offer, you should go & at least look. Go either early or late...around 8-9am or 9-10pm....those have always been the best times at any Walmart where I've shopped.
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constanz22
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Post by constanz22 on May 7, 2012 11:21:21 GMT -5
Not ONE person has responded to the actual question in the OP WalMart has GROCERY ONLY stores...they are NOT regular WalMart, Super WalMart or WalMart WITH groceries...they are ONLY groceries. They have several in Florida. I have seen them when visiting my mom, but have never been in one. Every single response has been about buying groceries at a REGULAR WalMart...this is not what she asked/is asking. I hope someone out there can give a helpful response...
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regina24601
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Post by regina24601 on May 7, 2012 11:26:12 GMT -5
joss - We have a groceries-only Wal-Mart in town. I think it's called a Marketplace Wal-Mart, or a Neighborhood Market or something like that. I've heard they're going to be rolling out more of them. I don't *enjoy* shopping at Wal-Mart, but the prices are always lower. For me, the groceries-only store is a much more pleasant experience than a Super Wal-Mart. The prices seem to be on par with regular WMs (but a little caveat - I'm not always terribly observant about prices, coupons, etc.) It's definitely worth checking out. The one here in town is too far for me to go to regularly, but I go when I'm in that area. If you're looking for a Whole Foods, high end experience, you won't find it (it's still Wal-Mart after all). But it's much more pleasant and less chaotic than a full Super Wal-Mart. At least go once to check it out. It won't hurt you (probably). ETA - Just looked it up out of curiosity. It's called a Neighborhood Market.
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Green Eyed Lady
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Post by Green Eyed Lady on May 7, 2012 11:26:55 GMT -5
Perhaps someone can tell me why a groceries only WalMart would be different than a regular Wal Mart with groceries?
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regina24601
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Post by regina24601 on May 7, 2012 11:29:04 GMT -5
GEL - The Neighborhood Market JUST has groceries. No electronics, outdoor stuff, clothes, home goods, etc. It's a smaller, more intimate store than the Super Wal-Mart warehouse.
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Green Eyed Lady
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Post by Green Eyed Lady on May 7, 2012 11:30:32 GMT -5
Of course I understand that part, regina. I'm just wondering why the grocery part in a grocery-only store would be any different that the grocery part in a Super Wal-Mart.
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thyme4change
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Post by thyme4change on May 7, 2012 11:33:30 GMT -5
I'm not sure how being single makes a difference on if the produce or meat is quality at any given grocery store.
So, here is how business works - you get suppliers for an area. If a Walmart has a whole bunch of product, and also has groceries, it is very, very likely it will use the exact same supplier for the groceries as it would if it were an grocery only store. I can't see how it would make sense for Walmart to have a different supplier for their superstores vs. their grocery only. What would be the business advantage of that scenario?
Now, that said, I do know that chain grocery stores have a tendancy to stock different locations according to their experience. So, a Kroger in a very wealthy neighborhood might have better produce and meat than a Kroger in not-so-flush area. The meat and produce likely come from the same supplier, but it may be distributed unevenly. This also goes for sku count - meaning certain stores might get a larger selection of organic vegetables, or Kosher products, or more brand names, or more jalepeno peppers, etc. This is very true in meat - a wealthy store might not have any of that hamburger that has such a high fat content it actually is white, but it is super cheap. And a store in a working class neighborhood most likely doesn't get hook and line tuna steaks that are $30/pound.
So, in my mind, WalMart grocery-only stores are going to have the same product as WalMart superstores, but may vary according to location. Just as any other regional chain.
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thyme4change
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Post by thyme4change on May 7, 2012 11:34:56 GMT -5
It's not. Nobody here has ever worked on the back-end of retail, so they think a different floor plan means that they have a completely different apple supplier.
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Green Eyed Lady
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Post by Green Eyed Lady on May 7, 2012 11:36:06 GMT -5
Thanks, thyme. I was just wondering why someone was saying we weren't answering her question because this is a grocery-only store. There wouldnt' be any difference that I can see.
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regina24601
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Post by regina24601 on May 7, 2012 11:37:56 GMT -5
Well, it's not as if they built a Super Wal-Mart and then just chopped it in half, GEL. It's a whole different kind of store. The store has a different feel to it, and people often pay for the experience just as much as they pay for the product. So it's a reasonable question to ask how the smaller Wal-Marts compare to the superstores. I think they're marketing the Neighborhood stores to people just like joss (and me) - who want the lower prices, but don't want to jostle around a big warehouse. So I could see how they might price their items slightly higher than they would at the superstores because they are operating on a smaller volume, but still have to keep the store staffed and have similar overhead to a bigger store.
That being said, I don't actually see much difference in price between the two.
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thyme4change
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Post by thyme4change on May 7, 2012 11:45:02 GMT -5
Quality shouldn't be different than Wal-Mart Superstores. Price might be higher than a Wal-Mart Superstores to cover the overhead, but it won't be super-high cost.
This will vary so much by location, we really can't say if the store near you will be crowded or not - no matter what the store. The store on Main might be pleasant, and the store on Ash might be a nightmare. There is no way to answer this on a national basis. You can either go there, or wait until it is open a while and then ask your local friends if they have been there.
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Green Eyed Lady
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Post by Green Eyed Lady on May 7, 2012 11:45:19 GMT -5
I see what you are saying, Regina. I don't see grocery shopping as an "experience" but a chore I avoid like the plague. I wasn't looking at it in that perspective.
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regina24601
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Post by regina24601 on May 7, 2012 11:47:18 GMT -5
Just do what I do, GEL - Send the husband to do it for you. I hate grocery shopping with a passion. In my family, grocery shopping, cooking, and cleaning are the man's work.
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Green Eyed Lady
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Post by Green Eyed Lady on May 7, 2012 11:48:55 GMT -5
Just do what I do, GEL - Send the husband to do it for you. I hate grocery shopping with a passion. In my family, grocery shopping, cooking, and cleaning are the man's work. I don't have a husband. Just a German Shepherd and he eats it all before he gets back home.
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Green Eyed Lady
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Post by Green Eyed Lady on May 7, 2012 11:50:00 GMT -5
I don't hate the shopping as much as I hate the stupid people I always encounter there. I swear every time I go its Double Coupon Day for Dummies.
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thyme4change
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Post by thyme4change on May 7, 2012 12:52:24 GMT -5
I find the milk is kinda funny if I leave it in the trunk all day.
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burnt halo
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Post by burnt halo on May 7, 2012 14:54:04 GMT -5
to everything kadee66 said. I worked at a Walmart store for 7+ years, and currently work for a supplier. The Neighborhood Market store formats were mainly created to get Walmart into the markets where it is not feasible/possible to put a large Supercenter. Additionally, they were made to feel more like a typical grocery store as opposed to a Walmart. Therefore, as they have a smaller footprint, you will have a smaller selection than at a Supercenter (so will still find peanut butter, but maybe not every brand/type that you may be used to seeing at a larger store). However, it's about the same as you would find at a typical grocery store. Quality of items will be the same as you would find at a Supercenter or a typical grocery store. On average, though, the prices are a bit higher at a Neighborhood Market than a Supercenter, but they are still competitive, if not cheaper, than a grocery store. As others have noted, how busy the store will be completely depends on the area. I find the Neighborhood Market close to me to be not nearly as busy as other stores, but YMMV. I think you should go at least one time to check it out; you may like it, you may not. You might even save money shopping there
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