The Psychology of Grocery Store Pricing

[Michael_in_TX]

I have to giggle at this.....

There is a particular brand of pickles I really like: Famous Dave's Spicy Dill Pickle Chips. They are fresh pack so they are crisp. They've got a good dill flavor and just a little bit of heat.

About two weeks ago, I noticed HEB had an in-store coupon for them for a dollar off of $4.97. I bought two, rather happy with myself for saving two dollars.

Today I was in HEB to go buy another jar as I am nearly out (I seem to go through a lot of pickles).....and there is no coupon, but the price is $4. Sigh lol. Well played, HEB, well played.

[Jerod Broussard]

Cousin worked in a store in high school. Beans 25 cents per can. Then they go on sale 3 for a dollar and folks bought them up. What deal!!

[Uncle Bob]

There's some shockingly large number of people out there who think a 1/4 pound is greater than a 1/3 pound........

[STEbbq]

Beat me to it Uncle Bob ! What a crazy story.

[Mosca]

Uncle Bob That was why the 1/3 pounder burgers failed in the 1980s. And there are gamblers who will walk past 3/2 blackjack to play 6/5 blackjack.

Unbelievable.

[SheilaAnn]

It’s seriously a science…. Then there’s the brands that pay for which shelf product is placed!

oh (I may have mentioned this before) do you notice that no matter what you need to buy, the items are at opposite ends of the store. 🤦🏼♀️🤦🏼♀️🤦🏼♀️ I think when the motion detector doors open, we are scanned and the items move 🤪🤣🤪🤣

[acorgihouse]

I'm sure of it. Why else would you have to walk through the bakery to get to the butter?

[SheilaAnn]

acorgihouse right!?!?

[Jfrosty27]

I knew a food broker some years ago. He shared much of the tactics that are used in the food business. Nothing is left to chance. The profit margins in general are very thin. So every little thing is carefully calculated. Bottom line is the consumer needs to be ultra diligent about their choices or they don’t have a chance.

[Smoker_Boy]

I really get tired of hearing about thin profit margins in grocery stores. (no offense Jfrosty27 )

Most grocery stores have mental morons for managers.

[Michael_in_TX]

Also yesterday, I impulse bought a pack of pork and venison sausage. I imagine there is a food marketer sitting upstairs in HEB, watching the CCTV and remarking to himself, "Got him!"

But it is really fascinating. It is the most passive selling situation ever. The items are just on the shelves and in the bins. The environment has to do all the selling.

[wrgilb]

Buy one for the price of two and the second one is free!

[Panhead John]

,,,

[Prof Bunky]

Maybe a bit OT, but a Wegman's is opening soon near us. Any experience with them, other thoughts, etc?

Want to be prepared when we go, lol.

[Panhead John]

Mosca shops at one and he loves them! Maybe he’ll chime in here for you.

[HouseHomey]

Just shop on the outside isles of the store and stay away from the insides isles (unless you need booze or ice cream) and you should be ok. We only shop on the outside perimeter and rarely use any inside isles.

[Steve B]

😂😂😂

[SheilaAnn]

My old pavilions had booze, cheese on the left and ice cream, frozen confections on the right. Can’t win……

[tamidw]

Beer is on outside aisle on the way to milk, so generally have to pass it. 🤣

[HouseHomey]

Oh… you guys are funny Spinaker Steve B knee pain is no joke. I don’t wish this knee surgery on anyone not even my worst enemy. But wait I got four holes in my knee for the price of two so I guess I got a good deal. Very funny

[Steve B]

I’m sure it aint no joke. Knees are the worst to have issues with. But on the bright side mine are just fine.
🤦🏼😬😂😂😂😂 You know I love you Erik. 👊👊

[Spinaker]

I wanna see you in the squat rack in one month. HouseHomey

[Mosca]

On the other hand…

We all go to the grocery store to actually buy stuff. I’m perfectly fine with them making that easier: making it easier to find stuff I like, making it easier to discover new things I haven’t tried, making it easier to find bargains and use coupons. I’m fine with them putting the stuff they want to sell at eye level; that’s usually what I want to buy anyhow.

On the third hand, I think I’m a reasonably informed shopper, and I’m not (usually) going to buy something just because it’s on sale (although sometimes I will). Often I’ll download the digital coupons, but then when I’m in the store think, “Naw, when will I ever eat THAT?” And walk past. I pretty much make a list and stick to it.

For that I use a free app called Shopping List. Nice and simple: add stuff to the list as you think of it during the week. Cross it off as you put it in the cart. You can create multiple lists for multiple stores. It has common items preloaded so if you hit “b” it loads a drop-down list like broccoli, butter, bananas, etc and you can just pick. And it saves stuff you bought before, so if I hit “h” it serves up habaneros. Very simple, very cool. It’s a must-have for me.

[Jfrosty27]

Yeah I’m a list shopper too. Buy what’s on the list only and get out of there. And I do all the shopping. Wifey likes to browse which results in her buying things we already have or will never eat. So I have banned her from grocery shopping or setting foot in Costco.

I’m old fashioned though. We have a white board on the inside of a kitchen cabinet door. Wifey and I jot down things as we need to or think of them. Then I write out the list on a note pad, tear off the page, and off I go.

[Mosca]

I can’t get Mrs Mosca to stop buying cheese. I think she doesn’t like me putting it in those cheese bags. She wants me to put it in plastic instead.

[klflowers]

I use the shopping list function in paprika. And Amazon alexa - it listens to everything I do anyway

[Mosca]

Maybe a bit OT, but a Wegman's is opening soon near us. Any experience with them, other thoughts, etc?

Want to be prepared when we go, lol.

I drive six miles, up and down a mountain, past four other grocery stores, including a Shur-Save I can walk to and an Aldi’s, to shop at Wegman’s.

Wegman’s does extensive market research before opening a store, and each store is custom tailored to the location. So the Wegman’s in Wilkes-Barre PA is different from the Wegman’s in Ithaca NY, and both are different from the Wegman’s in Allentown, or anywhere else. They are extremely responsive to local wants and needs.

They are cheese FANATICS. They make their own bries (plural) and other cave-ripened cheeses that compete with the Europeans on their own field. They have mimolette! Right now, in their store (I was looking at this just the other day) they have at least a dozen different blue cheeses, including Maytag, both Dolce and Picantte gorgonzolas, Roquefort, Stilton, and more that I’ve never seen anywhere else…. a couple years back I posted a flight of photos, maybe 11, of all their cheese counters. I needed two posts because I hit the photo limit. I can’t find it to link it, though.

EDIT: Here it is. Post 37.

https://pitmaster.amazingribs.com/forum/recipes-technique-food-cooking/cheese/1171304-my-cheese-problem/page3

They are consistently ranked high in Best Places to Work (grocery stores); happy employees make for happy customers.

The app is excellent, and includes digital coupons, recipes and suggestions, and a shopping list feature.

5% discount for seniors on Tuesday.

Excellent meats, though kind of expensive.

The store brand is comparable to Green Giant etc. They generally push the Wegman’s brand for dry goods and canned goods.

GREAT vegetable selection. VERY high quality. If something isn’t up to their standard, it won’t be offered, they’ll just be out of stock until next delivery.

[RichieB]

Haven't been in a long time. About a 90 mile round trip. Now that the weather is breaking and warming maybe a March trip is in order. They do have a nice selection of protein. And great prices on wine, beer and spirits.

[STEbbq]

Only 561 miles to the closest store.

[RichieB]

STEbbq that's a deal breaker. But for us it's a pretty simple drive. Most on the Mass Turnpike. And right next store is BJ's. Then not far is our favorite grocery store, Market Basket. If we go it's a very costly 90 miles. Thankfully, we're blessed to be able to do this once and awhile.

[klflowers]

Can you say HEB? I am hooked and I don't even live in Texas

[McFlyfi]

I went to an HEB in San Antonio, and was completely underwhelmed. Was the rough equivalent of a Trader Joes. Was expecting so much more.

[Michael_in_TX]

McFlyfi Clearly you went to the wrong HEB....even though San Antonio is their headquarters. Going to an HEB should be a transcendent, self-actualizing experience. No, no, no....I promise we are not a cult. It's just a grocery store.

What? Oh that thing....that is just my shrine to the HEB Flour Tortilla, praise be its existence.

No, I promise, we are normal Texans! No beans in our chili.

[klflowers]

McFlyfi I went to one that was like a run down Kroger. But the first one I went to was dazzling. And ignore that Michael_in_TX guy. He knows nothing about chili

[SheilaAnn]

Esteemed Pitmasters, may I introduce you to My Groceries. We both have the app on our phones. It updates instantly when we add or cross off an item. I have a list for what I need right now. What I’m planing long term (4-5 days). Certain specialty stores (one just for HMart our local Korean market). One for Trader Joe’s. I even have one for restaurant recommendations.

it’s free, when I signed up, years ago anyways.