How To Select The Best Stores To Shop

Profiling The Contenders: Understanding Different Store Types

Not all stores are created equal. Knowing the general strengths and weaknesses of different types helps you strategize your approach on how to select the best stores to shop.

Warehouse Clubs

• e.g., Costco, Sam’s Club
• While generally offering the best possible prices, these stores, like all others, also have many price traps and fake discounts, so knowing the regular price of items you buy on a regular basis is a necessity.
• They offer significant savings on bulk quantities.
• Warehouse clubs typically require an annual membership fee. However, this fee can often be recouped. For example, with a typical warehouse credit card offering 2% cash back, spending $3,000 a year would cover a $60 annual fee just from the cashback. Even without a credit card, considering that shopping at warehouse clubs is often about 20% cheaper than at supercenters, you would only need to spend $300 to save the $60 fee and break even. Additionally, you can often find deals for first-year memberships. With that being said, anyone who spends more than $300 a year at a warehouse club will likely save money.
• Some warehouse clubs or supercenters might be further from your home, but driving up to 50 miles, even considering paid membership fees, may still result in savings greater than the cost of travel and membership.
• They are excellent for non-perishables, frozen items, paper goods, and fresh products that can be frozen and/or used before expiration.

Supercenters

• e.g., Walmart, Target
• Supercenters, together with discount grocers, usually offer the second-best prices after warehouse clubs (approximately 10-20% lower than traditional supermarkets), but, like other types of stores, they also use price traps and fake discounts.
• They leverage their massive size and market power to offer low prices across many categories.
• They provide the convenience of one-stop shopping for groceries and general merchandise. Selection is typically vast.

Discount Grocers

• e.g., Aldi, Lidl, WinCo, Grocery Outlet
• Discount grocers, along with supercenters, usually offer the second-best prices after warehouse clubs (approximately 10-20% lower than traditional supermarkets), but they also use price traps and fake discounts.
• They often offer the lowest overall prices, particularly on pantry staples and sometimes produce.
• They achieve this through no-frills operations: smaller selections primarily focused on store brands, often requiring customers to bring bags and bag their own groceries, sometimes using cart rental systems (Aldi), or limiting payment options (WinCo often does not accept credit cards).

Traditional Supermarkets

• e.g., Kroger, Hy-Vee, Publix, Safeway, Market Basket
• These are usually 10-20% cheaper than specialty, farmers’, or small neighborhood stores.
• They often offer extensive fresh produce sections, delis, and bakeries.
• While traditional supermarkets offer many real discounts and sales, they also typically feature numerous fake discounts and price traps. Consequently, shopping in these stores without knowledge of regular prices can be very expensive and financially wasteful.

Specialty Stores And Markets

• e.g., specialty store (butcher, produce, etc.), Ethnic Markets, Farmers’ Markets
• Prices in these kinds of stores vary significantly. In many places, these stores will charge higher prices due to their focus on product quality, lower-volume production, and novelty. However, in other places, these stores can offer competitive or even the lowest prices in the area (especially in small communities).
• They often offer not just fresh local high-quality products, but also unique items or items for specific dietary needs (organic, vegan).

Small Neighborhood Stores

• These could be part of a chain or independently owned.
• They are not very cost-efficient, but a great option if you only need one or two items without needing to travel further.
• They are more common in large cities to satisfy the immediate shopping needs of locals and typically feature a wide assortment, albeit with limited selection.

Online Retailers & Store Pickup

• E.g., Amazon, Wild Fork Food, Misfits Market, Omaha Steaks, Good Chop, Butcher Box
• You can purchase anything online, including your groceries.
• Stores like Amazon offer a wide selection and are often cost-effective for shelf-stable items.
• Stores like Wild Fork Food (meat, seafood) or Misfits Market (produce) often have good prices for the items they specialize in, sometimes comparable to or even better than those at warehouse clubs. The first sign is that the store allows you to buy only the items you want without forcing you into curated boxes where the cost of each item is hidden.
• Stores like Omaha Steaks, Good Chop, and Butcher Box typically do not focus on cost savings (even though they often claim the opposite), but rather on creative, high-quality assortments and novelty. If you have a large food budget, you can treat yourself as you wish, understanding that you are paying more for novelty, and this option will most likely never be cost-effective.
• Read more about how to identify a real discount with online retailers here.

Developing Your Store Strategy: Putting It All Together

Based on a smart shopping framework, your method for how to select the best stores to shop should be integrated as follows:

Select Your Online Stores (Optional But Recommended)

Check if any online retailers offer better prices on specific items you plan to buy or are considering.

Select Your “Power Shop” Base

Choose the primary store for your main shopping trip. This should be the store offering the best overall value (considering price, quality, and selection) for the bulk of the items on your master list. Generally, the best option would be a wholesale club like Costco or Sam’s Club. However, for many people, this might be a supercenter or a discount grocer.

Select Stores For Gap-Filling And Supplementary Shopping

Identify 2 to 3 stores known for good quality and fair prices for specific items. Use these stores to purchase items missing from your ‘power shop’ or those that were too expensive there, as well as for supplementary perishables (like fresh lettuce or milk) needed later in your meal plan period. This might be your main supermarket, a closer neighborhood store, or even a farmers’ market.

Do Not Get Overly Comfortable With Your Choices

Once your selection is made, keep an eye on other possibilities from time to time. The market and its offerings are constantly changing; what made the most sense yesterday might make less sense tomorrow.

Read more about basic shopping strategies here.

Conclusion: Shop Smarter, Not Harder

Choosing the best grocery stores is not just about finding the absolute cheapest option; it is about understanding the retail landscape and making informed decisions that align with your overall shopping strategy. Your guide on how to select the best stores to shop is about more than just price. By combining thorough planning (meal plans, lists), price awareness, and a strategic approach to selecting where you spend your grocery dollars – whether it’s one primary store or a calculated mix – you can gain significant control over your budget and bring much-needed savings and sanity back to your routine.