How to Win the Competition for Grocery Bargains 3by Mary Ann Romans | More from this Blogger 19 Jan 2009 01:08 PM
Leave some stock If you do get a good deal, please don't clear out the entire shelf if you don't need it all. The items may expire and you'll just be hoarding them away from a fellow bargain hunter. Plus, since I believe that what goes around comes around, this is a good practice in life. Ask for a comparable product Often, a store will allow you to purchase the store brand of a product for the discount when the name brand or sale item is out of stock. All that you have to do is to find the manager for the section of the store with the item and simply ask. Explain that the product you wanted is not available and ask if they would make a substitution. This is a little known strategy I use, and so far my request has never been denied. Get to know the store's schedule When does the store usually get new shipments? Ask a cashier or a customer service representative this question. Then see if it is convenient for you to shop on those days or at those times. Ask if any are available in back Asking if there are any more items in the stockroom can often yield good results, especially if you have the time and will be purchasing more than one of the same item. One time, this great grocery store worker went all the way on to their truck that was still unloading to find me the yogurt I wanted. I didn't forget to thank him profusely and mention his efforts to the manager. Mary Ann Romans writes about everything related to saving money in the Frugal Blog, creating a home in the Home Blog, caring for little ones in the Baby Blog and now relationships in the Marriage Blog. You can read more of her articles by clicking here or subscribe to the blog using the subscription box on the right. Favorite Deal Websites: Related Articles: Things to Do with Expired Coupons A Guide to Salvage Grocery Shopping A Guide to Salvage Grocery Shopping 2 Five Little Grocery Shopping Tricks: Shelf Placement Coping with the Grocery Shrink Ray Adjusting Your Price Book with Escalating Grocery Costs Learn more about Mary Ann Romans  Mary Ann Romans is a freelance writer, wife and mother of three children. She lives in Pennsylvania with her husband, the kids and a 16-pound cat. Relevantfrugal tags User Comments StBridgit (322) 20 Jan 2009 09:15 AMI have had great luck with asking if there is more stock in back, too. One time I was able to buy some microwaveable soup bowls by the case of eight, because the worker asked how many I wanted and just brought out 3 cases for me. It was a great deal for us, as it all was used up over a few months for my husband's lunches, and we were able to store it easily still in the cases.  Mary Ann Romans |
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