Every Monday for the past year or so it's been routine for me to do the weekly trip to Publix [1] for our grocery needs. But this week, Spring [2] has plans that require the use of the car on Monday (and Tuesday but that has nothing to do with this) so instead late last night (well, rather technically, very early this morning) we headed off to the local Wal★Mart Super Center [3] to fulfill our weekly grocery needs.
Spring suggested it for two reasons—one, it's the only place open that late, and two, she wanted to see how the prices really compared.
I'm still in shock.
While I haven't figured out the total savings yet, I can state that we probably spent a third less, easily. I don't recall seeing anything at Wal★Mart that was more expensive than at Publix. Heck, I don't recall anything at Wal★Mart being the same price as at Publix.
Tuna? Publix was running about 80¢ per can (oil packed—water packed was more); Wal★Mart had them at 50¢ per (oil or water). Chicken? Publix: $1.18/pound (whole chickens); Wal★Mart: $0.67/pound (whole chicken, but granted, the one from Publix came with the giblets while the Wal★Mart did not have them). Huge jars of mustard for the price we paid for a rather large (but significanly smaller) squeeze bottle at Publix. Milk was a dollar less per gallon. The list goes on.
It was almost like shopping at Costco [4], but without having to join first.
Yes, I know … we're evil for shopping at Wal★Mart. I know that Wal★Mart strongarms its suppliers for such low prices [5]. I know it drives out local Mom & Pop stores and ruins communities [6]. I know that Publix is employeed own [7] (and personally, I prefer to shop at Publix). I know that Publix is a Florida based company [8]. But the prices! My God the prices!
On the other hand, Publix is nearby, about two miles away (remember, we do live at the Facility in the Middle of Nowhere) while the Wal★Mart Super Center is about seven miles away.
But the prices!
Sigh.
[5] http://www.fastcompany.com/magazine/77/walmart.html
[6] http://www.ufcw227.org/organizing/walmart.htm
[7] http://www.publix.com/about/CompanyOverview.do