They Gave Their Business Away
By Jim Bauer
@porwest (78759)
United States
April 25, 2021 7:35am CST
Around the beginning of the year I had happened to notice that a store I shopped at frequently had begun to raise its prices. The store is Ruler Foods, which is owned by Kroger and operates very similar to Aldi.
But it wasn't just that they were raising prices. They were raising prices by 20%, 40%, and in some cases 70%-80%. When you take a can of vegetables from 49 cents to 69 cents, you might think heck, that's only 20 cents. But it is also a 40.82% increase in price.
Which is ridiculous.
Looking at it another way, if the average price increase is 40% throughout the store, the same groceries you spent $100 on last week will cost you $140 this week.
What did I do? I stopped shopping there of course. I switched back to more frequent trips to Aldi, who did also increase their prices, but not by nearly as much as Ruler Foods did.
In fact, on some items at Aldi they actually went down in price. Not up.
It has been several months since I have returned to Ruler, and while I am only one customer, the sad truth is that Ruler lost my business, at least in the short term. Nearly all of the money I would have spent there is now going into the cash register at Aldi. Not Ruler.
The point to this story is really a simple one. Always be aware of your money. Always be aware of how much you spend on things. And always be committed to not allowing anyone to take money from you just because.
We work too hard for our money, and we work too hard to keep it. Why just give it away?
Sometimes in life people who have problems with money do not have an earning problem. They have a spending problem. And in this example, some people are just too willing to give it away.
12 people like this
12 responses
@shaggin (71676)
• United States
26 Apr 21
I noticed all stores raised their prices a bit but wow Ruler foods should be ashamed they increased their prices that much! Our local grocery store always is $1 - $2 more per item so once a week or so I go to Aldi's and Walmart and it saves me a ton of money.
3 people like this
@porwest (78759)
• United States
26 Apr 21
I do a lot of jumping around based on who has the best price and what's on sale at a particular time, and then I usually buy enough to be able to wait until the next time I go, or the next time its on sale. I also pay attention to sale cycles. Meats, for example, generally go on sale about every two or three months and when it gets to a price point I like I stock up and freeze it.
1 person likes this
@porwest (78759)
• United States
26 Apr 21
The sad part is that MANY people don't pay attention, don't care, or don't realize the percentage of the price increase and how much that actually impacts their wallet. Smart shoppers get it. But most shoppers, let's face it, aren't smart. The stores know this.
1 person likes this
@porwest (78759)
• United States
27 Apr 21
@Nevena83 It is likely very much worth it. In my case, I go by car, and people will try to argue I will spend more in gas than I save going to different stores. But I have actually done the math and I am still very much ahead doing it this way.
1 person likes this
@RebeccasFarm (86905)
• United States
25 Apr 21
Oh I also will not shop at those places.
3 people like this
@RebeccasFarm (86905)
• United States
26 Apr 21
@porwest Of course to heck with that..I also am not into being robbed
1 person likes this
@porwest (78759)
• United States
27 Apr 21
@RebeccasFarm Me either. Under no circumstance.
1 person likes this
@LindaOHio (157731)
• United States
25 Apr 21
My husband hardly ever notices prices when he shops. That makes me crazy; and I have never been able to get him to use coupons.
3 people like this
@m_audrey6788 (58482)
• Germany
25 Apr 21
Good thing that you have other shops that don`t take advantage of the situation. They increase fairly. 
2 people like this
@porwest (78759)
• United States
4 May 21
This is one of the secrets of success for a very successful company here called Walmart. Sam Walton was famous for saying, "I'd rather sell you 100 items at $1 a piece than 1 item at $100 a piece." And the idea behind that was exactly what you alluded to.
Volume.
When you can buy in larger quantities, you have more power at the negotiating table to get the cost of that item down before you put it on your shelf. And that makes more money for everyone involved even if each person makes a little less on each item sold.
Walmart is also famous for what are called "loss leaders." That is, they may sell a gallon of milk at a loss, put it in the very back of store, but profit handsomely on all the items you might put into your cart walking to the back of the store to get your gallon of milk.
1 person likes this
@wolfgirl569 (95982)
• Marion, Ohio
25 Apr 21
Some stores here have done that also. I just dont go to them.
3 people like this
@RasmaSandra (73858)
• Daytona Beach, Florida
26 Apr 21
There are some people who give up much too easily
3 people like this
@porwest (78759)
• United States
26 Apr 21
I always cite the Coca-Cola analogy in referencing one example of how easily people waste their money.
That is, you might have a 2-liter bottle of Coke in the fridge which costs about $1.59. You go out to run errands. Rather than fill a cup or a bottle with some Coke, you stop at a gas station and buy a 20 ounce bottle...
For $1.59.
There are two things about this that should strike people. One is that the cost of a 2-liter bottle and a 20 ounce bottle are exactly the same. The other is that people are absolutely willing to pay more per ounce for the 20 ounce bottle.
1 person likes this
@lovebuglena (43108)
• Staten Island, New York
25 Apr 21
That's why I always check my receipts and go back to the store if there is a discrepancy. Even if the amount is too small. If the shelf says one price but register rings it up for a higher price I don't want pay the higher price. Many will probably just not care and pay the incorrect amount. Some won't say anything for a 10 cents difference, for example. I will. Every penny counts and adds up.
It is a smart thing to do to shop for items where they are cheaper, even if that means that you have to go to many stores to get those items. But that is convenient when you drive or every store is close to each other. If a person has to take many buses or trains to go from store to store then it is not very convenient to do so. And if you have to spend money on transportation to get a certain item somewhere for less it makes no sense since in reality you will be overpaying and by a lot once you figure in the cost of the transportation into the price of the item. In this case, better to get it at a closer store for more.
2 people like this
@yoalldudes (35040)
• Philippines
25 Apr 21
You are very smart and aware. We only have one grocery store here that is airconditioned so that is where I shop 
.
.3 people like this
