Return of the Returns

Enter the Costco fans:

One thing that we have found is shopping at Costco is worth the $50 annual fee. If you are willing to buy large quantities, or if you are looking for some of the "big ticket" items.

The return policy at Costco is unbeatable. Your money back within one year if you are satisfied for any reason. They will even refund money on food items if you are not happy with the quality.

(From the comments below)

Bigger isn't always better

Comments from BC!

One thing about shopping in a country like Russia that my husband and I found interesting when we lived overseas, was that the large the box (of cereal or laundry soap) didn't necessarily mean you were going to get a better price. While here in Canada if you can buy larger items you generally pay a cheaper price. But just beware - you have to store the larger item somewhere - and sometimes it's too big to use it all before the expiry date.

Kevin adds: Very true, Shannon. As well, it's hard to find North American-sized "large" packages here. Probably just as well, since most of us are transporting our groceries via backpacks!

Cut the coupons!

More gems from the comment section:

CUTTING COUPONS
Several years ago large grocery stores like Safeway and SaveOnFoods did away with coupons - you are now required to have their grocery card in your purse to purchase at the 'sale' price for the weeks discounted items. But lately SaveOnFoods has put extra coupons in their flyer - and now you need to cut coupons again. It couldn't be more complicated if they tried. :-)

Kevin sez: Hey! We do have food store flyers now! So maybe coupons are next...

Know Name

Dr. Q sends his 2 cents (hey Rob, ever since your comment it's been nothing but guys sending in tips!):

[W]hile "No Name Brand" is normally cheaper, you need to also pay attention to the name brand prices. Sometimes a name brand item will be a few cents more (sometimes even less), then the "No Name Brand" equivalent (I am using equivalent loosely).

One example of a "No Name Brand" non-equivalent is Ketchup. While we are very thrifty shoppers, we have learned that if it won't get eaten, it wasn't cheaper. Heinz ketchup is MUCH better tasting than "No Name Brand".

Often, "No-Name Brand" or "Store Brand" is the same as the name brand equivalent. But like I said, doesn't always mean that it is cheaper.

Thanks, man!

Expired Advice

From the comments:

Seems like almost everything here has acquired an expiration date in the last few years, even your beloved Pepsi and Cool Ranch Doritos.

One tip we have is to buy meat at Safeway a day or two before the due date - there will often be two or more "$2 off" stickers on it. This way you can buy a $12 roast for $6.

Another tip is to buy different items at different stores. For instance, canned and prepackaged goods are cheapest at Superstore, while they sometimes don't have the best meat or produce.

Kevin adds: It has always baffled me how stores here in Russia never seem to discount. Certainly there are sales, but to knock a few rubles off soon-to-be expired foods is unheard of! Thanks for the tips!

(Mmm...Cool Ranch Doritos)

Return of the Shopper

Advice from Alberta, found nestled in the comments:

One trick that the marketing departments have utilized in the West is the use of the word "light". BEWARE! "Light" can refer to anything, including weight, calories, fat content, or even the colour of the product!

Also, Superstore tends to display it's current coupons at the entrance, so you can save time.

One thing we do look for when we try a new grocery store is the "return-factor". Simply, if an item is not up to the quality you desired, (usually fruit, meat or dairy), you don't want to waste time convincing the staff that you are unhappy. Look for a store with staff who will quickly replace the unwanted item with a satisfactory one, and also apologize. This will save you time, money and energy in the long run.

Well, so long. I have to return some bad peaches I just bought at Extra Foods in Camrose.

Kirt

Kevin pitches in: thanks, Kirt, but "return policy" cannot be translated into Russian (see also, "customer service"). Russian shoppers expect the following when shopping:

1. Long lines
2. Surly cashiers
3. You're-stuck-with-what-you-buy

Thanks to your mention about coupons it suddenly dawned on me that there are no food coupons in Russia!!! I had forgotten all about "coupon clipping"! A new experience awaits Lena!

Men shop too!

In the comments below, Rob shares his shopping wisdom in point form:

1. Most expensive items are at eye level - 4'6" to 5"6" from the floor.
2. Just because there is a little sign on its shelf does not mean it is a "sale" price, check the more permanent tag underneath or beside it to confirm whether it is a sale price or not.
3. Check the expiration date if its a perishable - yes it isn't a pleasant lesson for everyone...
4. Beware of end row displays - items are not necessarily cheaper.
5. Check among flyers before you shop for the higher priced items- meat, detergent, cheese, etc. - no one is judging you on store loyalty

Great stuff (you can read the rest in the original comment)! I'd like to add that eggs in Russia have no expiration date, proving yet again that things are indeed superior thanks to communism! ;-)

Buy Store Brands and $ave

Hi Hamms. Just a quick shopping note for Lena. There are going to be a hundred different brands of everything in the stores. A way to narrow down what you end up buying would be to look for the store brand (ex. Safeway grape juice instead of Ocean Spray grape juice). Usually the store brands are the same and cost a lot less.

Kevin adds...it's just recently that some of the major (though mostly foreign-based) stores in St. Petersburg have been offering store brands. Good tip!

Kevin also adds...I'm not going to sign anyone's name to these submissions unless I hear directly from them that they'd like their name up in lights! ;-)

Say what?

Petmol, Nico, Pekar, Blend-a-Med, Fairy... familiar brands to us in Russia, but likely a bit hard to recognize in southern Manitoba! Lena will certainly need some help when it comes to shopping in Canada–not too many similarities on our grocery shelves! Would some of you avid shoppers mind jotting down some of your shopping wisdom during the next few months? It would be a great help to Lena if she had some kind written guide to shopping in a foreign land! (Perhaps a ladies groups would like to tackle such a "guide" together?)

The above was posted in our latest newsletter, and the suggestions are coming in! In order to help people see what has been suggested already, I've decided to post the helpful info on this blog!

Got any suggestions or tips for foreigners as they transistion to shopping in the North American marketplace? Drop them off in the comments, or send an email to lenahamm -at- gmail -dot- com. Thanks for your help!