Grocery store price gouging

[PaulW]

We pay too much for almost everything here (compared to the mainland). Still worth it, but I hope it changes.

[condoman]

quote:

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Originally posted by condoman

Safeway is one of the biggest rippoffs!Either people here have alot of money or they are all on foodstamps because no one complains about the highway robbery that is being performed everyday by these stores inclusive of Keaau Foodland. Mrs Smith pies t safeway usually run about 5.79 or so a box. One day I saw a sale on these pies. Apple etc. They raised the price to over ten bucks then put a tag saying sale 8 bucks or so as a price. Local folk really do not see this stuff happening but I do. Or they do this. They practically double price of an item and have a sale saying buy one get one free! People ee this and say WOW good deal I get one free! Just a way of safeway to get you to buy two at their normal price! Why do we put up with this and allow these thieves to purge our pockets? It is a licence to allow them to continue.Foodland in Keaau is another example. A bottle of vo5 shampoo normally sells in a proper price of about 1.09 to 1.79. In this store $4.79!Ok I understand the concept of business is to make profit, BUT, how much? They buy this shampoo from distributors for about a qurter to 50 cents and profit from you 400%???

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[Hotzcatz]

Watch where the local folks shop and you'll see they aren't in Safeway. There are a lot of folks who grow food around here, folks with cows, folks with sheep, vegetables, fruits. Why bother with Safeway, Target or Walmart at all?

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"I like yard sales," he said. "All true survivalists like yard sales."
Kurt Wilson

[missydog1]

Actually, Hotzcatz, if you look at who is shopping in the new Safeway, there are lots of locals, more locals than not, I would say. Ditto with the Target, and of course Walmart is local central!

KTA is full of locals too, of course. I am just saying that the Safeway is far from some upper economic class store full of haoles and tourists. Have you been to it lately? And pretty much all the checkers and store help are local as well.

Where I get sticker shock is going to Foodland Farms or Waikoloa Village Market KTA, and then there is Island Gourmet at Waikoloa Beach if I really want a shock.

If you want an example of a grocery store in Hilo where most of the patrons are haole -- that would be Island Naturals. []

"And I'm sure it wouldn't interest anybody, outside of a small circle of friends ~ Phil Ochs

[PaulW]

condoman, there's no need to quote yourself.

[macuu222]

I might add that Target is a key player here in keeping food prices low in all stores. When safeway doesn't have a sale on a particular item...usually Targets everyday price is lower than Safeways everyday price. Target also tries to keep prices close to what Walmart charges on many of their food items except target tends to have more variety for the same item than Walmart. An example...Dog and Cat food at Walmart. The selection is always very limited and never changes. Target has the same prices as Walmart for dog and cat food...but they have much more variety. And thats where I shop for petfood unless I'm on the other side of the island. Then I go to Petco. For produce...KTA is the best or even better...the farmers market. Safeway is out in cloud nine with produce prices except for an occasion special.

[DTisme]

The other day Safeway was completely out of ground beef. I went next door to Target, and there it was for a lot cheaper than it would have been at Safeway. A few days later, S. was out of eggs. They had a sign up that they would have any until Sat. a.m. Again, went next door to Target. Not only did they have them, they were $1.99/dozen.

I liked KTA produce until I got a watermelon that was completely liquified inside. Never saw THAT before. It "knocked" just like a normal watermelon. What a surprise when I cut into that baby! It basically exploded red sticky liquid all over my kitchen.

The reason I don't buy local beef is that it's grass-fed. I know this is supposed to be a good thing, but it tastes funny to me. I guess I'm a corn-fed 'merican girl.

[Rumi in Hawaii]

Please forgive an old auntie who has CRS disease.... but I don't remember a Target on Hilo-side.... is this new? I remember Safeway, Walmart, KTA, Home Depot, Sears, etc., but no Target.... where is it located?

Katie

Wherever you go, there you are.

[csgray]

The fancy new Safeway and new Target are across from home depot. I have to admit I hit Target once when my daughter was visiting from Mexico, and went to Safeway maybe 3 times, but that's it. That Safeway is just too damn big, I have to walk for miles for the few things they have that I want, so it just isn't worth it to go there after being on my feet all day when I head home to Puna from Hilo.

Carol

[Midnight Rambler]

quote:

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Originally posted by Rumi in Hawaii

Please forgive an old auntie who has CRS disease.... but I don't remember a Target on Hilo-side.... is this new? I remember Safeway, Walmart, KTA, Home Depot, Sears, etc., but no Target.... where is it located?

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Yes, it just opened a few months ago (July? September?). It's across from the Home Depot, and Safeway moved next door to it. The old Safeway, next to Long's, is currently vacant.