[quote=threadkiller]Thanks for the info bearishgurl. I don’t think I’ve ever been shopping before noon, but now I’ll have to try it. One silver lining I guess to the inflation issue is my mortgage will definitely seem like less in a fairly short time period. Since it is my largest monthly cost I guess that is a good thing.[/quote]
You’re welcome, threadkiller. Here’s some tips for early weekday morning grocery shopping:
Von’s (8:00 am) Markdown meat is restocked in small “clearance” section in the meat. Discount is 30-50%, depending on item and age. Red meat is still red. Dairy products are rotated and milk that has only 8-9 days to go before its “use-by” date are faced in front in the dairy section and marked with a 25% off sticker. 25% off cheese is in a small hip level area towards the front of the store in the cheese aisle. Dry groceries, along with non-food items are usually in a three tier rolling metal cart to the left rear of the store. If its not there, ask an employee.
Ralphs (7:30 am): All the stockers are working and filling up 1-2 long folding tables in the back center or center left of the store with dry groceries (always a lot of boxed cereal here). In the toiletry aisle, each clearance item is next to related items but will have a red “reduced to clear” tag in front of them attached to the shelf. They stand out differently than regular Ralph’s tags. In the back center entrance to the stockroom, there are usually two 3-tier rolling carts parked to the left. The outermost one is filled with clearance bakery items from the store and brand-name bread/rolls, usually 75% off. The innermost one has clearance household goods/seasonal/toiletries. In the cold cuts section to the right rear of the store, there is a small area at hip-level with discounted cold cuts/cheeses at 25-50% off. Discounted meats are marked down 30-50% and sitting on top with their like meats in the usual place.
Albertsons (7:00 am): The clearance area in the “Sav-on” Drug part of the store is a table with raised sides in front of the pharmacy. The 3-tier rolling bakery cart is center back to the left of the stockroom entrance next to a household products cart (much like Ralph’s). Clearance cold cuts are in at hip-level in the center back of a room-like area in the back left of the store (or on the same side as the pharmacy). Not sure about clearance meat or dry groceries. Perhaps they send them to St. Vincent’s.
CVS Pharmacy: When entering turn right (or wherever the books/mags are displayed in front of the store). There will either be a double tier rolling cart with baskets in it or a small table with sides on it with clearance stuff in it. Recent finds of mine have been several brand-name over-the-counter remedies for 80%+ off (some were near exp date). Avg retail price $8-$16 and I paid between $1.80 and $3.00. They will also take coupons on these items, making them free or almost free. Marked-down cosmetics and toiletries are also here.
Rite-Aid: When entering, the clearance table with sides is displayed close to the entrance on the right. You could find anything in this bin from flip flops for <$1 to flashlights, etc.
I would NOT recommend buying clearance bakery items which DO NOT have preservatives in them (such as soy or sprouted wheat bread) unless your family can eat the loaf in 2-3 days.
Obviously, you would already want to have the proper "membership" respective tags on your keyring for these stores or be able to plug your phone number in at the register for their regular discounts. Reg discounts apply to the item as well, even to the clearance bent can or taped-up box, on top of the “clearance discount.” If you happen to have a coupon for the clearance item (under $1.00 coupons at Vons, Ralph’s and Albertsons are doubled to a max of $1.00), you will often end up getting the item for free or near free.
