Grocery store "preferred savings"

[Kathy]

Do you have a "Preferred savings" card from the groceries stores where you shop?

Years ago I signed up for a preferred savings card for Albertsons. Then Kroger got on board and offered them.

While I appreciate the savings, I'm miffed that in most cases the savings is quite substantial if you carry the card while the other non-on-sale items are higher (IMO) than shopping at Wal-Mart where the prices all tend to be lower.

I'm also amused when I checkout that the coupons I receive with my receipt match my products (or theme of dog food, frozen pizza, veggies, etc)

What do you think of these savings cards? Do you use them? Or do you shop at Wal-Mart like grocery?

[SouthDakotaSherry]

I have the card for Albertson's and Safeway. I use them if I am there, but I shop at Walmart as well. When I have major grocery shopping, I usually go to Walmart. I just hate the crowds there though. I also check the ads on Wednesday and pick up any good sale items.

Sherry

[Beachgirl]

We don't have a SuperWalmart, so no choice but to use regular grocery store. I use card and coupons and have a system, I buy pantry items I know I regularly use and stock up. I don't buy things just because I have a coupon (my grocery store doubles coupons- helps a lot) . I always save 50% or more on my Groceries than if I had not used my card and coupons. It works for me, more time than money

[TessiNY]

I have several store cards but do most of my shopping at the super Walmart. They do come in handy though on the occasional trip to other markets.
I do have drug store cards--one for RiteAid and one for Kinney Drugs which are great. Not only do I save but can earn free items (newest razor, samples of new vitamins, travel size shampoo, etc..) I use these more than the supermarket cards. :cool: I do like my freebies!

[quiltingmare]

I have a Kroger card. I only shop there if the sale items are what I need and I have a coupon for it (they double your coupons up to .50) Other wise I shop at Walmart.

[YellowRoseTex]

I shop at Kroger's and have their card. I wouldn't shop any other way. They also double my coupons up to 50 cents. I have noticed that when someone doesn't have a Kroger card that sometimes the clerk has a card by her register and will swipe it so that the customer receives the discount. They also send me coupons and special savings in the mail. For example, I received a coupon for a free turkey just before Thanksgiving.

I haven't done much grocery shopping at Wal Mart. I have checked some prices and while some things are cheaper, not everything is. And with my coupons and watching sales it probably eventually evens out. Also, I don't think I could go to Wal Mart and just go to the grocery section so it would end up costing me much more money. ;)

[marybeth8890]

I use the advantage card and Wal Mart. Where I am located WalMart is not always cheaper and the two stores I use are within a mile of one another so I don't mind doing the two stores, plus I don't think Walmart has as big of an assortment (atleast around here)

[Sib2of11]

I work as a cashier where the store has a card for shoppers and where most of our customers have a scan saver card. If the customer doesn't have a card, or if the customer forgot to bring their card, I ask if they are writing a check. If they are they must use their card for the order. If they don't have it with them, they can get their account number from the customer service desk and bring it to me and I enter it into the system. Without their own number, their order can't be completed unless they have another method of payment.

For customers without a card who are NOT writing a check, we can use the store account number. (We actually have a key for that purpose on our keyboard). So while we encourage customers to use their own card, it's not mandatory unless they are paying by check.

To me, it's the same as clipping manufacturers' coupons. Some coupons provide a substantial savings to the customer (and in our store we always double coupons up to 99cents when the card is used). If the customer takes the time to clip and use manufacturer's coupons, they can save money. In that same way, customers who use their saver card can save money.

So, if you are my customer and writing a check, I will need your card. If you are using cash, debit or credit card, I'll let you use the store card. ;)

[jcme]

I have savings cards for many stores, not just grocery stores -- my wallet and keychain are overflowing. Loyalty programs where the consumer gets bonuses for shopping somewhere is one thing, but I really dislike the fact that you need to show a card (or explain to the cashier you forgot it) get a sale price.

The main thing that bothers me is many of these stores sell your name for marketing purposes. When I was out of state for a few weeks, I signed up for a card at the local market and used a local address...it is amazing how much junk mail signing up for that one card generated.

[Fldtrlady]

Our Kroger is now giving a 10 cents per gallon discount on a gas fillup for every $100 purchase during the month. The gas price is not always the lowest in town, but most of the time it is. Kroger has not always been my favorite, but with the high gas prices, I am beginning to like it better. I have noticed that their service and selection of speciality items has gotten much better during the last several months. I therefore assume that others are using the store and asking for items that they have purchased at other places in the past. I have been a Publix shopper for years but am beginning to lean towards Kroger every week.

[Ms Big Butt]

I rotate my shopping around to whatever store has the best bargains and matches my coupons. Super WalMart doesn't have as much selection as I like on some items, so they are not my favorite.

My job is a vendor for the grocery industry, and my boss believes that we will soon see only Wal-Mart and possibly one other big grocery, plus the specialty stores like Whole Foods.

[billsmrs]

We use Krogers every now and then. Personally I prefer to go to a locally owned market rather than a Wal-Mart or even a Kroger's if I can avoid it. The lines are always crazy and I like the idea of supporting a small locally owned business.

[crunchies0313]

I hate WalMart, and I hate having to carry a card around to save money. Just offer everyone the sale. I prefer Kroger, and HEB. Target sells groceries now and they have some good basics. I can't wait to get a Whole Foods down here. Ill be all over it!!

[clogaholic]

I have a card for a local grocery. It's small so I don't do my main shopping there. I use it when I have only a few items to get or in a hurry. About once a week I do my main shopping at Wal Mart. My DH stops a Sam's when we need some things that we buy in bulk.

[occ_gurl]

My purse is starting to overflow too with these "rewards" cards, but most are worth carrying. I won't buy groceries without my card, and if I don't have it, I'll ask the person in line ahead or behind me for theirs. It makes a huge difference in the bottom line.

I use the coupons received via email for Borders Books frequently and lately they offer one percentage of savings for their reward members, and a much lower one for non-members. Saving 30% rather than only 10% is worth carrying a little card around.

[Sib2of11]

I won't buy groceries without my card, and if I don't have it, I'll ask the person in line ahead or behind me for theirs.

It's not a good idea to do this, not so much for the person asking to use the card, but for the person loaning their card. Where I work, if you want to pay by check you have to use your own card. Some customers specify "saver only" when applying for a card. Those wanting check-cashing privileges must fill out an additional form which contains their checking account information.

Here's an example of why it's not a good idea to let another customer use your card. You've purchased your groceries and are about to leave when the person in line behind you says, "May I use your card, please?" and you say, "Sure". The cashier enters your card number and you leave the store. That customer uses a check, which subsequently bounces. Because it's *your* card that was used, our store will more than likely go after you for bouncing the check and you won't be allowed to use a check again to pay for your groceries.

Ask the cashier if s/he will put a card in for you. Some stores have their own number that they can issue (but you can't cash a check unless you use your own number), and some stores ask for your telephone number. They will enter your phone number, and that will bring up your card number.

I always ask my customers for their card. If they don't have one or left theirs at home, I'll ask if they are writing a check. If not, I put in the store card number so that they'll get the discounts. If they are planning to write a check, I can get their card number from our Customer Service Dept. and use that.

[occ_gurl]

Hmmm, good information. I knew the cards tracked your purchases, but didn't know someone else's bounced check could involve me. I may ask my store next time I'm in about this. Thanks for the heads up!

[Kate]

When I've gotten the cards from the stores, I've never had to fill out any information. They just give me the card and the form and just said to bring back the filled out form. If I return the form, they can look up my card number if I forget it.

Do all the stores tie your card to your checks or is it just a few?

[Sib2of11]

Where I work, we won't accept a check unless the customer has a card that has been approved for check cashing. Anyone can get a card to take advantage of the savings, but you have to be approved to cash checks.

[GirlyGirl]

I love the prices and selection at my Wal-Mart Supercenter. Although, I have learned not to go on Sunday evenings. The aisles are jam packed and the shelves are almost empty. I've discovered that early Friday afternoon is the best time for well stocked shelves and hardly any customers.

[Kate]

Where I work, we won't accept a check unless the customer has a card that has been approved for check cashing. Anyone can get a card to take advantage of the savings, but you have to be approved to cash checks.

Ooooooh gotcha. That makes sense! It's more like protection for the store.

[jcme]

One store, which has now eliminated the prefered card pricing scheme, asked when I applied if I wanted it for check cashing privledges or just the discount. The card was then labled so I couldn't use it as a check cashing card.

[tanner413]

Last time I went grocery shopping I saved $45.00 with my card. I love it and will not shop without it. I have left the store to go home and get my card if I forgot (it's only 5 mns away).

[Sib2of11]

After grocery shopping last night, I checked the bottom of my receipt and was pleasantly surprised when I saw that between January 1st and now, I have saved $1,555.37 on my grocery bill simply by using my store saver card. Of course, I don't know how much money I actually spent, but I budget $50/week for groceries. Unless it's something I really need I never pay full price for an item, and if something I use a lot is on sale I will stock up.

Here are a couple of examples. I only use Skippy Reduced Fat peanut butter which regularly costs $2.49 a jar. It was on sale a couple of months ago for 99cents a jar, so I bought 10 of them. I love the Crystal Light drink mixes and use them all the time. Normally, a canister of the mixes costs $3.49, but when they are on sale for 2/$4, I stock up. I buy whatever meat is on sale that week and freeze it.

I only buy paper goods when they are on sale, and if I need something that isn't on sale I go to B.J.'s wholesale or Target where I can buy them for quite a bit less than supermarket prices.

So while I agree that the store cards can be a nuisance, I love the fact that I can "see" my savings at the bottom of my receipt.

[mommyto4]

Since my husband is military, and we live on military base, we use the commissary for our groceries. We do have a Sam's Club membership... But we really don't have any saving club memberships for grociery stores.. We do however have them for music stores, book stores, and such..

[YellowRoseTex]

:yahooo: Congrats on the savings Catherine! I wish my store would include the *total* accumulated savings on the receipt. They do show how much I saved, including coupons weekly, but I do not get an accumulated total.

I too stock up on things when it's on sale. I can't remember the last time I paid full price for toilet paper and paper towels. :D

[Manistique]

Most "loyalty card" discounts/sales are advertised in the weekly grocery store fliers. If you bring the flyers with you to Walmart, it will honor the advertised prices ("Price Match"), whether or not you have the card.

I go through the fliers every week and write down the prices of the products on sale, then take my list with me to Walmart. (Sometimes the cashier asks you to show the advertised price, so I take the fliers along with me, too.) It is surprising how often the Walmart price is already lower than the advertised "loyalty card" prices at other stores.

[Zoneey]

You need to watch expiration dates on everything. If you buy something that offers 10 for ? Can you use it before the expiration date? I have in-laws that do that and they date it themselves the day they bought it. That has nothing to do with the expiration date. Pop has a 6 month shelf life and even shorter if stored in the heat, like a garage. I worked for a grocery store that was terrible at leaving things on the shelf that had expired. There was an article lately in the paper of a lady that used old pancake mix and her son starting having respiratory problems. She checked the date and apprently it had some type of mold in it you couldn't see. Be careful.

[LuvMaui]

I absolutely hate those "SAVINGS CARDS" :mad: I don't always shop at the same store. So now I have cards for about 4 stores. They bulk up my wallet and what a pain it is to have to pull it out and go through that BOGGUSS step to get the price you should have had even without the card. GIVE ME A BREAK... :thumbsdow

Costco is another one. Show the card at the door... Oh Brother. Then have the receipt checked by a guard at the door... Oh Brother, again :rolleyes: !! Oh yeah, and how much money are they really saving "US" by not having bags to put our items in. I hate driving home and having my purchases rolling around my trunk. To me it's just a big pain in the ***. :shrug:

[Manistique]

You need to watch expiration dates on everything. If you buy something that offers 10 for ? Can you use it before the expiration date?

Even though the ads say "10 for $10," you usually don't have to buy ten things to get the reduced price (at a grocery store). For example, if Safeway advertises 10 cartons of sour cream for $10, you can buy one carton for $1. Walmart will honor the individual advertised prices, too ($1 for one carton of sour cream even though the "ad match" says 10/$10).

I rarely pay more than $1.99 for a gallon of milk because someone always has a special.

[Sib2of11]

I saved $1,898 in 2006 by using my store savings card. No, I didn't spend a lot of money to do it. I budget $50 a week for groceries as there are only two of us here. Usually I purchase only sale items (10 for $10, or buy one get one free, and sometimes it's buy one get TWO free), but sometimes I need something that's not on sale and I have no choice but to buy it. I buy only meats that are on sale, buying more than I might need for that week, but I freeze what I dont' need. Another thing I do is clip coupons and use them when the item is on sale.

On those 10 for $10 items, if I don't need 10 I buy less, and they are still only $1 each.

Around here, if you want really fresh produce, you have to go to the supermarket because Walmart's produce isn't as good as what you can get in the market. It may cost a little more in the market, but it's worth it. Also, Walmart doesn't have the big selection I can get in the supermarket.

At my supermarket, if the customer doesn't have the card and is NOT paying by check, the cashier will put in a card for them. And is you go to a Costco or BJ's, why not bring your own bags? You can fill the bags as you put the items in the car.

Clipping coupons and using my store card saves me quite a bit of cash, so I use it every time I go to the market. This past year was my best savings ever.

[Manistique]

When I've gotten the cards from the stores, I've never had to fill out any information. They just give me the card and the form and just said to bring back the filled out form. If I return the form, they can look up my card number if I forget it.

This is my experience, too. There are some grocery stores here that require your name, but I've never been required to provide more information than that to receive a card. At Safeway, I included my phone number, and but that is so they can find my account if I don't have my card.

I think fewer and fewer people bother with the "check cashing" component of the "loyalty cards" because it's so much easier to use "debit cards" and avoid the hassle of the check-approval step. I often let someone in line use my card if he or she doesn't have one. The clerks at our Fry's (local version of Kroger's) rarely have a card at the register.

"Member" cards like Costco or Blockbuster carry with them liability for purchases/services, so I'd never loan one of those to anyone, let alone a stranger!

[Kate]

Around here, if you want really fresh produce, you have to go to the supermarket because Walmart's produce isn't as good as what you can get in the market. It may cost a little more in the market, but it's worth it. Also, Walmart doesn't have the big selection I can get in the supermarket.

Same here. I hardly go to Walmart because of them honoring other store coupons without proof. Walmart will even post other stores coupons right above the product! They are running all of the grocery stores out of business. This is not good. This is why I don't support Walmart, nor do a lot of people I work with.

And is you go to a Costco or BJ's, why not bring your own bags? You can fill the bags as you put the items in the car.

I know that Sams Club provides all sorts of sizes of boxes near the exit that are free for the customer to use to keep things from rolling around.

[YellowRoseTex]

I do not like the produce at Wal Mart at all! I only shop Wal Mart for some vitamins and toilitry items.

My regular grocery store keeps a saver card at the register. They ask if you have a card, if not, they scan the one they have so you can still receive the savings.

I need to start keeping a tally of my savings, with coupons and my card. I think it is worth the small effort to clip and to use the card.

The savings clubs can be good for those with large families. As there is only two in our family, it's not worth it for us to shop there for groceries. We do stop by and see what other savings they have. It's a small inconvience to show your receipt at the door to reap the savings. :D

[Green Beans]

Our local Albertson's grocery store is taking the "money savings cards" from us while we check out claiming that everyone will get the savings.

Of course in most cases, their savings is still higher than Kroger or Walmart.

[mezzo soprano]

I don't think there are any stores left in Minnesota that do this sort of thing. I used to have a card like this, but I am not a diligent (or disciplined) enough shopper to make it work for me.

[Autumn Moon]

I just had to add to this one too. I recently responded to a thread about Credit Card loyalty points/miles/gifts.
I have a Safeway Club card. I usually shop there. My card is linked with my phone number so, if for some reason I don't have my card (which I never do, since I filed it somewhere 6 years ago when I moved and haven't found it since) they can ALWAYS punch in the phone number and I get my savings.
I do the BULK of my shopping there because I earn Airmiles. They recently had a spend $300 and get 450 bonus airmiles.....well, that was easy to do. A bus pass is $95, a couple cartons of cigarettes was another hundred and change - and the groceries, some of which were buy one/get one. That was an easy goal.
I agree with offering these savings to people with cards/accounts. It generates loyalty to the store. I have been shopping almost weekly at the same store and all the cashiers know me. They know that I put all the groceries on the belt in "where they will go" arrangements and appreciate them bagging it the same way.
As far as when I go to other stores...Costco - well, I take my reusable Safeway bags with me and I have 2 crates in the back of my truck to hold the "big stuff". I also have a keychain tab for Save-On-Foods (it's beside the day spa I visit every 6 weeks) and M&M Meats.
If you don't like carrying all those cards - leave them in your vehicle. That's where I leave my loyalty cards for all the gas stations. They aren't credit cards so it isn't 'dangerous'. But, do keep a list at home of all your cards - just incase you lose them. That way they can transfer your points to a new card.
I also collect Zellers points. I think I have a million of those.

Autumn

[Kathy]

It seems the grocery stores nearby are all remodeling. And they keep moving their aisles, moving products so that I can't quite find what I'm looking for. Its like shopping in a whole new store and I am not a person who enjoys change.

But perhaps when they are finished, they will settle down with the aisle assignments and I can get back into my routine (er rut) again.

And our Albertson's took our preferred cards away from us too! Their prices are still higher than Krogers but its so much easier for me to get to. I need a Kroger nearby.

[Sib2of11]

There's a reason why supermarkets are always rearranging and changing their aisles. It's so you will have to look for the items you want. Instead of going in with your list and purchasing your groceries as you usually do, you will spend more time in the market looking for the items you want. While you're looking, you'll see things that aren't on your list, but that you think you need. All the markets do this. It's like putting items on the end cap to make you think they're on sale.

Just a note on the preferred savings card. I just came back from the market a little while ago and my year-to-date savings is $1,263.42. Not bad when you consider my food budget is $50 or less each week. I buy only meats that are on sale, and when something is on sale that won't spoil ( like cans of coffee, paper towels, toilet tissue, ets.) I purchase several. Today I didn't need much, and my total purchase came to $13.74 less my savings of $6.04 for a final total of $8.06. That included a FREE gallon of milk.

[Presouz]

I agree with Catherine, I wont buy anything unless its on club/sale at a grocery store. If its on sale or club I purchase 5-10 of the items depending what it is. If its not on club/sale I change my plans to something else. UNLESS I REALLY NEED IT!! I worked in a grocery store for 23 years 20 of it in a meat dept. I know the ins and outs. Be careful of end displays, they put 2-3 or more items on them and only put on price so it leads you to believe your getting this and that for that price in reality, you didnt pick up the item on the end cap that was the posted HUGE NUMBER price. Its such a scam, you think that should be illegal. Just be careful!! :shop: Shop while conscious, not unconscious. I have found Wal-Mart and Trader Joes has great prices on about 90% of the same thing the grocery stores sell. I have no loyalty to grocery stores, even the one I worked for. Like I said I worked for them for years, trust me their there to take all your money anyway so buy the best prices, once you do it for a while you can see what is the best place to get certain items. GOOD LUCK!

[afsgtyfe]

I do have the "preferred savers" cards for all of my local grocery stores. (I also have one for my favorite bookstore.)

As for Wal-Mart...if every single Wal-mart store burned to the ground I would be dancing for joy. (It is not my intention to offend anyone with my comments...but I feel VERY strongly about this because it has severley affected my families small business, to the point that we may be forced to close.) (All of the things I've listed below can be easily backed up with solid proof, if you wish to read it, let me know)
1. People lose their minds and their manners when they park their cars in the parking lots there.
2. Wal-mart boasted in the past that the products they carry are 'made in the USA'...I challenege you to easily find a product that is made in the USA in one of their store now.
3. When you shop there, you get what you pay for.....most of their merchandise (clothing, linens, household goods) is VERY cheaply made, mostly in sweatshops overseas, and alot are factory seconds.
4. Wal-mart is slowly but surely destroying the retail economy of our great country. Go to most any small town in America and you would be hard pressed to find any other business (grocery or variety store) besides Wal-mart. Wal-mart is underselling every business they can...once they run the 'little guys' out of business, they hike up the prices on most everything except what they advertize...so in the long run, you aren't really saving any money. They make their money and count on people making impulse purchases.
5. Wal-mart has forced SEVERAL major US companies to send their manufacturing overseas where labor is cheap.
A glaring example of this....Levi-Strauss Co. had 7 factories in the US and NONE overseas, until they got their contract to begin supplying their product to Wal-Mart. Wal-mart demanded the product at a set price (underselling EVERY other business that carried the product)...Levi-strauss could not produce it for the demanded price here in the US, and was forced to close all but 2 of the US factories and send the production and manufacturing overseas. When production was sent overseas quality went out the window. (This is documented fact.)

[dawniebeth]

ASF...I agree with everything you said above. My BF and I just talked about that today. He said my boycotting them would do no good. I told him that yes I am one person but if others do it maybe things would change.

I explained that they use the power they have to get much reduced pricing which the smaller mom and pop stores can not obtain. I live in Austin and have watched this happen. We are currently fighting a super walmart going into an old established area. The city has spent of 600K to fight the lawsuit that citizen have filed. Court sided with city but we are appealing. Maybe if we hold it up long enough it might go away but probably not. At least we know we tried.

Agree on the Levi's as I have worn them for years and now they fall apart much quicker and seem not to be thick material like they were before.

I usually shop at my local HEB (I think its local to Texas but not sure)as I am a power couponer and they do not give me any troubles. Walmart for example would not let me use 2 coupons on 2 products because they were the same product. Its not like I tried to use the 2 on just 1 item. I could if I checked that one product out with another transaction.

Power to the little people and the small business owners!!!

[jcme]

One day I went into the store and there was an older woman sitting at a table trying to sign people up for a Kroger card. I told her I had one. For some reason she asked to see it and I handed it to her. She looked at it and said "you need a new one, this won't scan" (the plastic was starting to come off but the numbers are clear and scanable). I told her it worked just fine. I had to argue with her to give it back to me. To this day I regret not saying she obviously got paid for each new application she got and not telling the store manager.

My Staples card is worn and won't scan so they either type the number in or ask my phone number.

My keychain is overflowing with these things. Half the time I tell them I don't have the card and they use my phone number, other times they use a "store" card to give me the disount.

[Sib2of11]

I'm a cashier in a supermarket and no one at my store gets paid extra for new applications. Also, when a replacement card is issued it's not considered a new application. It's much easier to scan a card than it is to punch in each number so customers are encouraged to have their tattered cards replaced, and we can only use the store card when a member isn't writing a check. Writing checks requires the customer's own card.

I use my store card every time I shop. I only buy sale items, unless it's something I really need. My store keeps a total of the customer's savings, and my final receipt for 2007 shows that I saved $1,480.92.

[celtictigeress]

We've discovered a market called Woodman's in Wisconsin that offers better savings daily than any of the markets that give "savings" cards. Woodman's is employee-owned and I think that's why the prices are so good. Even with gas so high we save a tremendous amount of money driving the 35 minutes up there every 2 weeks to shop. We can get 2 weeks' worth of food for what one-and-a-half would cost us at Pick-N-Save and one week would cost us at Dominick's or Jewel. ;)