We do have something similar here. The companty cite regional variations in property prices and wage costs. So there you go - the boring sensible bit on why supermarkets are different prices.

On the flip side it's because they know that in some areas people have enough money not to bother cheking comparing the price of a tin of beans!

Laughing because we have two WalMarts within a 20 mile radius and one of the two is referred to as the "GhettoMart". The latter named caters to the more annoying and less social clientele, while the other tends to be a little more "upscale". Naturally, I frequent the "upscale" one, but hey, it's only ten minutes from my house anyway; so why not.

I love WalMart, but they are not all created equal.

AFC - regional? But i was only 5 miles away from the RICH WalMart

BluJewel - yah!! We have FIVE Super WalMarts in a 20 mile radius. WalMart is the DEVIL!

5 minutes is regional to us....

I don't even remember the last time I was in a WalMart....come to think of it, I don't even know where one is. I don't think they're as popular in Oregon as they are in the South. We're Target girls here.

Angie

Lowes and Home Depot do the same thing.

When I was growing up in Florida they built the first walmart in my town about 10 mins from my house it was a smaller one and this was about 18 years ago..it is now what we call "RedNeck" walmart. Then they built another walmart across town then added super to it a few years later. Sence then 2 more have popped up more posh than the last. And more expensive.

Then we were stationed in Savannah GA, we had Ghetto Walmart then a more expensive Superwalmart came in that had a hair care, weightloss, gym, nail care, bank and other things inside this walmart. The 2 walmarts were 5 mins from each other.

Now that I'm in AZ, and the town I live in has fought to stay small we have a walmart that is tiny no frills. People in this town want a Super walmart but the people who own small business and grocery stores do not want the town to allow a superwalmart come in because a lot of them will go out of buisiness. We will see what is in store. (Here in my little south park town.)

Did you by chance find any shoes there?

I live in the middle of 3 towns. I've priced things at all 3, supermarket, Walmart, Walgreens. I save 30% by driving an extra 10 miles, which I do for work anyway.
Sickening ain't it?

I always thought that Wal-mart didn't price things the same at every store. now we have proof! Go Norman!

I hate shopping at wal-mart. I have found a local store to buy everything I need now except diapers. I still buy diapers at that bright unnaturally lighted hell-hole. My daughter was potty-trained at 2 1/2 so maybe my son will potty-train early too. How is the potty-training with Avery going? Go Avery!

Ooo, that shit pisses me off. I shop at HEB, but sometimes at Central Market (a more frou frou grocery store) which is OWNED BY HEB. They even sell HEB products for higher prices. I hate it!

hmm... well, it's not too surprising.
wal-mart can do whatever they want and they always do. it's a terrible, evil, corporate place that treats their employees like shit and underpays them & shorts their weekly work hours just enough so that most don't qualify for any sort of healthcare coverage. they run mom-and-pop shops out of business, they're products are chintzy and poorly made, their products are made overseas by people who make like $.02 per hour in inhumane conditions, for a large company their charitable giving is like nil, and overall.... they're an awful place to shop! so i beg of you, get with me on the ban wal-mart bandwagon!!!! PLEASE?! if you want more info on what a sinister place wally world is, check out a very interesting documentary called, "wal mart: the high cost of low price." i bet you'd never shop there again afterwards! amen. i've said my piece and i'm off my soapbox now. :-)

AFC 30K - Wow!! You must be in a smaller town than i am!!!

Pack of 2 - I lurve target!! But there's only one in this town, and it's not a super target...

Ronda - Really?? We only have one of each of those here, and they compete with each other. So we don't get screwed in THAT area...

Spicy - One of the smaller outlaying towns here just took it to the mat about getting a Super Walmart. They were SO against it, but Walmart didn't care, and just rolled on in and built their supercenter. They have pissed off an entire town.

Livey - Yeah!! Especially since gas prices have skyrocketed - no you'll probably burn off the savings trying to get there.

Asterismos - First... WHERE THE HELL HAVE YOU BEEN? I was wondering about you!!
Second - I hate WalMart too - but they are about the only thing around here that's open 24 hrs a day. And there's 5 of the supercenters within 10 minutes of me. It's a bitch - but I am occassionally forced to use them. Stick around this time!!

Nap Queen - I miss HEB like you wouldn't believe!! I come from San Antonio, and that was my favorite place to shop!

Cacti - hmmm... wonder if I can get that documentary on youtube.com? OH!! Speaking of documentaries... if you have approx 1 hr & 21 minutes to kill, search on Google Video for "Loose Change 2". It's a really cool documentary trying to get us to believe that 9/11 was a US Government Conspiracy. Now, while I don't believe it was a conspiracy (by the US Govt, that is), I do find the whole thing highly intriguing, and a couple parts of it - I really don't have an explanation of.. really wild!!

Norm!

The first time I went to wal mart I was astounded - you could equip a small amry from the 'sports' section - To me that's like buying a gun from Sainsbury's or Tescos (UK supermarkets) and the most explosive thing we could buy here is a rather hot chillie. I did actually see them sell a rifle while I was there - it was very sureal...

Anyway - where's Tuesday's post???

WTF is that all about? I'll have to try this with the Targets in town. Hmmmm...

Oh, they won't price things the same for you. They do demographic studies to see how to price their items in each different market. The prices are different online also. Crazy, huh.

wow, that's interesting. had no idea they did that. i know other stores do it. like my acme grocery store that is in a more well to do area is more expensive than the shop rite in my town, go figure.

you basically pay more or less considering where you live.

Wal-Marts are teh suck around here, but the Super Wal-Marts by my parents' in Florida ROCK! I'm a Tarjay girl.