With some groceries, smaller size is often a better deal

re: With some groceries, smaller size is often a better deal

batterydoc — Sun, 07 Jun 2009 12:12:15 GMT

I have always calculated the per oz cost. As far as the upcharges, I price compared one of our local Bi-Lo stores to our local Sam's, I took 20 most commonly-used grocery items and did the per oz cost. Guess who was the cheapest? Bi-Lo.

By the time you figure the annual card fee and the headache of having to fight masses (they don't take check cards either) and have to purchase 20 gallons of green beans, they are way more expensive than your local grocer.

re: With some groceries, smaller size is often a better deal

Wendy — Fri, 05 Jun 2009 06:33:35 GMT

Another tip: either memorize or have handy common conversions (I have a list stored on my cell phone, although I have a few memorized). This is good when, for example, one brand lists units in liters and another does so in ounces. Or when you just think better in pints instead of ounces.

Of course, bring some kind of calculator. Cell phones are very handy, but a cheap 4-function will do nicely.

re: With some groceries, smaller size is often a better deal

christy — Fri, 05 Jun 2009 04:54:04 GMT

often the stores will have the smaller package on sale than the same item in the larger size (or vice versa) and yes, I have also noticed that one of the shelf stickers "per unit" label will be in oz and other size in another pints.

It is that way to be confusing. There is no other reason why they wouldn't be uniform.

I have found that smaller package sizes are often cheaper for the weight you are getting. I try to go for the smaller items with coupons, thereby getting them even cheeper.

If you are not lazy about your grocery shopping than you are aware. I think most people don't take the few mins to look.

I will add that several years ago (at least in michigan, I don't know if it was nationally) there was a push to get the per unit labels off the shelves by grocers, which are required by law, but then the state (or was it the gov't) said they have to be there. I think the issue comes up every few years.

If the unit labels weren't there than it would be even more hard to compare prices :( I don't think most groceries shoppers know how much this would effect everyone.

I will add that often in an aisle I stop to do the math. some people roll there eyes, or think oh, the poor thing pinching pennies. But than i will notice some man standing near me thinking it is cute , so polar reactions from people.

But then one day in the grocery line I was in the checkout in front of a couple and I got 85 bucks worth of groceries for $37 and the woman behind me looked kinda pissed as her husband said why can't you do that?

re: With some groceries, smaller size is often a better deal

Roger in Kentucky — Fri, 05 Jun 2009 00:46:39 GMT

Yeah, I recently noticed this seemed to be becoming more common.

Generally, I try to boycott companies that try to trick/screw the customer, but it is getting so common that it isn't practical.

Unfortunate. Buyer beware, as once again, the hordes of government agencies we pay a fortune to supposedly protect us - don't.

re: With some groceries, smaller size is often a better deal

JellyCity — Thu, 04 Jun 2009 22:04:13 GMT

Oh, another one is rolls of toilet paper or paper towels. The shelf tag might give the price per roll/price per count, but the rolls don't always have the same number of sheets per roll, and then some are single ply and others are double ply. I think the individual sheets of toilet paper are about the same size, but the size of the individual paper towels aren't always the same size, so figuring the price per sheet isn't always accurate either. Grrr!

re: With some groceries, smaller size is often a better deal

rk14 — Thu, 04 Jun 2009 17:43:47 GMT

Cell phone calculator. Always on hand, always gets a workout.

re: With some groceries, smaller size is often a better deal

grilling — Thu, 04 Jun 2009 16:43:13 GMT

Kingsford Charcoal, since they come in quite a few different size bags, is my mind buster. Yes, math is hard sometimes, so the calculator gets a workout.

re: With some groceries, smaller size is often a better deal

curious — Thu, 04 Jun 2009 16:04:24 GMT

I find it annoying also, almost impossible to figure out. Which is what they want.

Curious

re: With some groceries, smaller size is often a better deal

Bill in Houston — Thu, 04 Jun 2009 15:52:40 GMT

@ JellyCity

I certainly do.

re: With some groceries, smaller size is often a better deal

JellyCity — Thu, 04 Jun 2009 15:28:27 GMT

I try to take a calculator with me to the grocery store. Although both stores where I regularly shop have the price broken down to a unit price, sometimes they are still confusing. For example, one brand of hot dogs that comes in a 16 oz. package may have the unit price listed as the price per pound, another brand of hot dogs that comes in a 12 oz. package will have the unit price listed as price per ounce. Another one I've seen is with boxes of instant oatmeal. Some give the unit price per ounce, othes give the unit price per count, but they don't always have same number of packets per box. Does anyone else find this as annoying as I do?