Comparison Shopping

The Boy is obsessed with apple sauce--he can  finish a 23 oz jar in one sitting if  left to his own devices.   I tend to  buy Santa Cruz, because it's unsweetened and organic and because we are always running out of it, I tend to buy it everywhere.  Since it's something we absolutely, positively must have, I have tended not to focus too much on the price: it costs  what it costs.

Recently, though, I started paying attention and couldn't believe the difference.  Here are the prices for the same jar of apple sauce bought around the neighborhood over the period of a month (with the exception of the first place, all these stores are within a 6 block radius):

Fresh Direct:     $2.49
C-Town: $2.99
Union Market: $4.49
12th Street Market: $4.99
Village Market: $5.99

Comments

[Monica]

Wow! That is a BIG difference. I'm kind of like you - I never really pay attention to the price of things we absolutely must have. Hmm...maybe I should. Although let's be honest, I'm always going to be to the place that is most convenient.

[electriclady]

Damn. I have such a love/hate relationship with Fresh Direct. The idling trucks and endless cardboard boxes kill me, but they really do have the best prices on a lot of stuff (and they saved my ass from starvation when I was on bedrest and my hubby was working 60 hrs/week).

I remember being SHOCKED that Earth's Best baby oatmeal was $2.49 a box at Whole Foods and only $1.19 at Target. But since WF is a block away from my office and Target is a 25 minute walk from our apartment, I've overspent more often than not.

[Tina Mayfield]

That's crazy!

I can't believe the difference in price.

I found a site a while back which compares amazon, ebay and a comparison site.

http://www.bestshopguide.co.uk

Don't think they list apple sauce though!

[Suz]

That's nuts!!

Do prices on other items tend to follow the apple sauce trend? If so, I'd be all about that Fresh Direct.

[Eliza]

Wow. Stick a Post-It on the door next time you go out, reminding yourself to hit C-town and clear out their stock. Over here it's apple JUICE...cut 50/50 with water, but still, my three go through it by the GALLON. We buy the gigant-o Dugger-sized bottles at Costco...

[elana]

that's totally ridiculous. they sell it at whole foods for 3.50, i think. we buy the whole foods brand (365) kind for 2.99. my son is similarly obsessed.

[Eliza]

Uh, make that Fresh Direct. And if they have gingko bilobo, that magical memory stuff? Could you please mail me some? Hee...god rapid-fire childbearing made me stoopid, dunno 'bout you...

[Kate]

Lucky you, you don't have to, but I'd overpay a little for FreshDirect because They Bring Stuff to My House! I can order in my pajamas! I can change my order because I inevitably forget stuff!

If I weren't so brand fussy and they had more kosher cheese I'd order there every week.

[Sassy]

Wow. That's insane.

[Rebekah]

That is UNBELIEVABLE the price difference. And a re-confirmation of why we loved Fresh Direct so much when we lived in Bklyn! (Also, it confirms that I wasn't crazy in thinking they were cheaper than other stores, lol. Sometimes I wondered if the convenience of the whole thing had warped my memory.)

[Toni]

My husband has Celiac's Disease - which means he's a gluten free guy. I buy him Panda Puffs cereal(also organic I think). The price can be anywhere from $2.50 to $4.99. That's huge when he goes through a box in three days! I feel your pain.

[Tracy]

Woah. That's crazy. Crap, I just bought that applesauce at Union Market. I'll have to check Key Food next week -that's usually where I buy it - I never pay attention to the price!