This week I did an experiment for you, Warehouse Store Vs. Grocery Store who has the better price. The results were shocking. Shocking because I have couponed for a while now and shopped at Sam’s Club Warehouse stores all my life, I felt like I had a pretty good grasp on the prices and was convinced the only reason I had my membership card was for the gas. Well, and all the fun items they have at Christmas time and good prices on electronics. Oh, and I can’t forget the samples on Saturday. Yeah…. I have a membership just for the samples pretty much 🙂
I went and purchased 20 items at Sam’s Club that are typical of what I would purchase at the grocery store. Then I went and bought the same items at the Grocery store, using coupons on some and not on others. Typical of what would be on sale that week.
Then I came home and had to do the math. Because many of the items you buy at a Warehouse store come in bigger packaging so you can stock up and get a better price. Items at the grocery store tend to be smaller and to make the comparison fair we needed to figure out the price per unit. Which might be sheet, ounce, pound etc.
* means I used a coupon at the store…
The results surprised even me:
:: Gatorade ::
Warehouse – Gatorade 24pk. $10.98
Gatorade each $.45
Grocery Store – Gatorade 8pk. $4.99
Gatorade each $.62
Winner – Warehouse
:: Cereal ::
Warehouse – Honey Nut Cheerios 55oz. $7.48
Cereal $.13 oz
Grocery Store – Honey Nut Cheerios 27oz. $.49
*Winner – Grocery Store
:: Pasta ::
Warehouse – Angel Hair Pasta – 6lb. $5.76
Pasta $.96lb.
Grocery Store – Angel Hair pasta 1lb. $.29 (with coupon)
Pasta $.29lb.
*Winner – Grocery Store
:: Clorox Wipes ::
Warehouse – Clorox Wipes 390 wipes $13.48
Clorox Wipes $.03 each wipe
Grocery Store – Clorox Wipes 33 $.59
Clorox Wipes $.01 each wipe
*Winner – Grocery Store
:: Sugar ::
Warehouse – Sugar #10lb. $4.23
Grocery Store – Sugar #10 $6.49
Winner – Warehouse
:: Chicken Broth ::
Warehouse – Chicken Broth 96oz. $5.68
Chicken Broth $.06 oz.
Grocery Store – Chicken Broth 32oz. $.79
Chicken Broth $.02 oz.
*Winner – Grocery Store
:: Chips ::
Warehouse – Doritos 50ct box $11.98
Doritos $.24 each
Grocery Store – Doritos 12 ct. $4.19
Doritos – $.35 each
Winner – Warehouse
:: Bread ::
Warehouse – 2 Loaves Bread $4.28
Each loaf $2.14
Grocery Store – Loaf Bread $3.09
Winner – Warehouse
:: Nutella ::
Warehouse – Nutella 35oz. $6.98
Nutella $.20 oz.
Grocery Store – Nutella 13oz. $.99
Nutella $.07 oz.
*Winner – Grocery Store
:: Shampoo ::
Warehouse – Pantene Shampoo 64oz. $7.88
Shampoo $.12oz.
Grocery Store – Pantene Shampoo 12 oz. $.19
Shampoo $.01oz.
*Winner – Grocery Store
:: Garbage Bags ::
Warehouse – Force Flex Garbage Bags 130ct $15.58
Garbage bags $.11 each
Grocery Store – 100ct $20.87
Garbage bags $.20 each
Winner – Warehouse
:: Blueberries ::
Warehouse – Blueberries 2lb. $5.98
Grocery Store – Blueberries 2 cups $4.99
Winner – Warehouse
:: Chex Mix ::
Warehouse – Chex Mix 40oz $5.98
Chex $.14oz.
Grocery Store – Chex Mix 15oz. $3.79
Chex $.25oz.
Winner – Warehouse
:: Deodorant ::
Warehouse – Old Spice Deodorant 4ct. $6.98
Old Spice $1.75 each
Grocery Store – Old Spice Deodorant 1ct. $.49
*Winner – Grocery Store
:: Razors ::
Warehouse – Venus Razors 16ct $17.98
Razors $1.12 each
Grocery Store – 3ct. $.99
Razors $.33 each
*Winner – Grocery Store
:: Toothpaste ::
Warehouse – Colgate Toothbrushes 8pack $9.98
Toothpaste $1.24 each
Grocery Store – Free
*Winner – Grocer Store
:: Toilet Paper ::
Warehouse – Charmin TP 405 $18.88
$.04 sheet
Grocery Store – Charmin 328 $17.97
$.05 sheet
Winner – Warehouse
:: Apples ::
Warehouse – Gala Apples 5lb. bag $6.98
Apples $1.39 lb.
Grocery Store – Gala Apples 3lb. $4.69
Apples $1.56 lb.
Winner – Warehouse
:: Paper Towels ::
Warehouse – Bounty Paper Towels 23 rolls $18.98
Grocery Store – Free
*Winner – Grocer Store
:: Tide ::
Warehouse – Tide 138oz. $13.98
Tide $.10oz
Grocery Store – Tide 50oz $7
Tide – $.14oz.
Winner – Warehouse
The conclusion? The ONLY time the grocery store BEAT the Warehouse price is when I used a coupon! WHAT?! I expected the grocery store to come out ahead a few times, but they didn’t!
The margin of savings isn’t huge between the warehouse and grocery store on most things. But the warehouse is cheaper. The margin of savings between using coupons and not using coupons is what BLOWS my mind! It is HUGE.
Basically, if you are shopping and not using coupons, you are better off shopping at a Warehouse store, you will save more money. If you use coupons you will save a LOT more money shopping at the grocery store than running into a Warehouse store. Crazy huh?
P.S. I filmed a segment for ABC Disney Live Well Network on this topic and will let you know when it airs.
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I shop both, I buy bulk using both costco and Sams and coupon in stores, I can get bulk rice cheaper at Costco, but can get free TP in the grocery store, I can buy cheap wheat at costco and get 25 lbs of flour for 6 bucks, but I can get free Tooth paste at drug stores or Grocery store. Sams has great prices on stuff I cant get at my costco. If you are really into savings you need to learn your coupons, prices and where to shop for what, I shop several stores.
I do both as well. I have wished for a Costco for so long and now we are getting one!
A few items that I don’t particularly agree with is:
Sugar — Would normally be bought when on sale, I believe there is a coupon for it as well. So it really doesn’t compare, but for your example, it’s cool, but you could probably get away with a cheaper deal if you wait for a sale on it at the Grocery store.
Bread — If you have a Dollar Store or a Bakery Outlet in the area, you can get a loaf of bread for a $1. So technically it is actually cheaper to go to a Dollar Store or Bakery Outlet.
Chex Mix — Randalls/Safeway has them on sale this week for $1 a bag! So it’s another item that can wait till on sale making them $0.50 a bag if you have the coupon and a doubler!
Tide — on sale at Walgreens for $5.99 for the 50 oz
Granted you will have to go around to other places, but I still don’t believe that there is much savings at the Warehouse! I do agree with the Gatorade, but unfortunately you have to have “Lemon/Lime” flavor and I’m not a fan of it! I rather just have “one flavor” which is Grape only! 😉
Just my two cents.. I did go around and only use my Sam’s membership for Gas and “Saturday Sampling” as well! But dropped it this year, no need when I can get gas points at the Grocery Store! 😉
Thank you! Great points! That is how I shop as well. I stock up each week on different things at their cheapest. I would never buy Chex mix at regular price… Who does that?! 🙂 But *most* people don’t think before they shop, or are in a hurry, and just run in.
Yep I was one of those that would rush in and when I was approached to get a $20 Gift Card for signing up then and there for the local paper, I got hooked into Coupon shopping. Now everything is purchased when on sale and when I have a coupon for it.
My meat (Ground Beef 93%) is bought in 10 lbs each time it comes below $3 a lb (got to love Albertson’s for that deal or Safeway when they want to give me a J4U on that).
I really kick myself for not knowing about couponing many years ago, but now I know and now I save as much as we can!
Got to love getting loaves of bread for $1 a loaf! 😉
This. Smart shoppers shop loss-leaders and, when cost-effective, multiple merchants. Those in large cities have an advantage in that all the players are in a convenient area.
I shop bjs ! They send me their coupons and I can stack manufactors coupons. Say I have there coupon for Colgate toothpaste and it’s package 4 in the pack packaged to sell individually I can use 4 $1 off 1 tube. Big savings!
which is better Sam’s or Costco
I only have a Sams Club so I really can’t answer that one. Anyone else?
Great Article! I shop both for certain things. We always by our weekly lunch meat, bread, chips, water (until this week 🙂 and even my no corn Dog Food and some fruit & produce at Sams plus some more. Usually do not get my meat there I shop grocery sales. I coupon for toiletries ect. at grocery stores and not at wharehouse. Always wondered if I was doing that right. Guess maybe I am 🙂
We recently joined Sam’s Club and if we can get it there, we do. Several times, I have stopped into the grocery store to get only a few items. There are only a few items that I found are cheaper elsewhere. Just need to have a Kroger or HEB closer so that I can make the kinds of deals that Tiffany does.
I don’t have a Sams or Costco super close, so I just stick with grocery and drug stores. Sams actually gave me a free 1 year membership coupon when I was pregnant, and my mom has offered to add me on to hers several times. I just think I do better buying smaller quantities with coupons and using money maker deals on items I don’t have coupons for. If I order anything in bulk I get it from Amazon mom and/or subscribe and save. I recently switched over to all green products, and I can find a better selection at Amazon and Target.
Keep track of prices at Sam’s. I noticed they fluctuate OFTEN!