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                                 Price shock

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.

[1] http://www.publix.com/
[2] http://www.springdew.com/
[3] http://www.walmart.com/
[4] http://www.costco.com/
[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
[8] http://www.publix.com/about/FactsAndFigures.do

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