Small Stores Vs Supermarkets - Deal Or No Deal?

[Girino]

I noticed that here in Argentina, a lot of things are more expensive in the supermarkets Vs. local stores - I am talking about the same product by the same brand, version, and size.
I find this quite unique since from where I come it is exactly the opposite: supermarkets have lower prices, and this caused the closure of many local shops, which were more expensive and had less choice.

Here, for example, some egg brands have a precio cuidado, but there are three carnicerias near here who sell them for less. And the larger the number of eggs, the more the difference. Currently one carniceria is selling 30 eggs for ARS29.99!!!

For other products it is the opposite, for example water, which is more expensive in small shops.

What is your experience and what are your suggestions for shopping 'smartly'?

 

[gpop]

We shop in several stores. Depends on availability, quality and pricing.
I only buy pork tenderloin, pork ribs in Jumbo. I used to only find [larger] pieces of ojo-de-bife in Carrefour, so there's another trip. Other more mundane [packaged] staples from Coto to take advantage of the credit/debit card discounts. Another trip. I pick up mangos where I can find them if they are not overly expensive, but usually at a verduleria with the rest of the veg/fruit... more trips. Other meats and chicken at local butcher shop.
Generally we look out for weekly discount offers and buy big once a month, stocking up with 10 of the same item instead of 2. Some things we get as needed to avoid wastage, other greens I have growing on the terrazza (and plan on expanding to produce much more).
I see a lot of price difference in specific items from one store to another. ie) Carrefour Express and Carrefour have vastly different pricing. Small stores are now too over-priced. Big stores are ridiculously inconsistent, and best shopped in after the weekend when they replace stock.

One-store shopping doesn't work here.

 

[Matiasba]

Jumbo is the most expensive place you could buy things today. Easily 30-35% more expensive than Dia. Coto and Carrefour are expensive too.
The trick is that with inflation you must understand theres a phenomena (that only happens with inflation) called Price dispersion. So prices will vary, quite a lot sometimes, from place to place, with the exact same product. The key is to buy things at different places. For instance, Supermercado Dia is by far the cheapest, but for wine, the Chinos are cheaper. Meat in local carniceria must be cheaper than Coto and Disco. And the worst part is you will have to refresh this market research everytime cause it varies! This is how bad inflation is to an economy.

edit: avoid buying meat in Dia!!!

 

[Killarney]

I agree that Dia is the cheapest. Meat we buy in the carniceria as it's cheaper and better.

 

[Rich One]

Jumbo is the most expensive place you could buy things today. Easily 30-35% more expensive than Dia. Coto and Carrefour are expensive too.
The trick is that with inflation you must understand theres a phenomena (that only happens with inflation) called Price dispersion. So prices will vary, quite a lot sometimes, from place to place, with the exact same product. The key is to buy things at different places. For instance, Supermercado Dia is by far the cheapest, but for wine, the Chinos are cheaper. Meat in local carniceria must be cheaper than Coto and Disco. And the worst part is you will have to refresh this market research everytime cause it varies! This is how bad inflation is to an economy.

edit: avoid buying meat in Dia!!!

Once Again Camine Señora ...!! is the answer. Shopping is a full time activity! to bring some adrenalin into your dull lives, you can save up to 40%....!! and help you get rid of those unwanted kilos..!!

Happy Shopping Cruise , burn those extra calories

The Price Dispersion Theory is responsible for the sensation of inflation , B)

 

[EdRooney]

If you want to understand the dynamic of why one store is cheaper than another, you have to understand the battles/collusion that pervade in the Argentine market.

For example, Carrefour owns Día (Groupe Carrefour), and Jumbo owns Disco and Vea (Grupo Cencosud from Chile). And Coto (Arg) and Wal-Mart (US) (AFAIK) only open markets under their own names. Meanwhile the Chinos are independent in name only; most of them are not only members of an association that regulates prices and supply chains, but (rumour has it) they are also very dependant on the same mafia-like network to provide the titular owners that run the stores.

So you mainly have five players in the market:

1. Carrefour/Día/Norte​

2. Cencosud/Jumbo/Disco/Vea/Easy​

3. Coto​

4. Wal-Mart​

5. Chinos​

While there is certainly a history of animosity between the Chinos and the big market chains, recent years have shown suspiciously close pricing, and this was only solidified by all of them voluntarily acceding to the Precios Cuidados scheme.

Personally, we only set foot in one of the big chains on days when they have deep discounts, and I'm not wealthy enough to even breathe the air in Jumbo.

 

[scotttswan]

1. Carrefour/Día/Norte​

2. Cencosud/Jumbo/Disco/Vea/Easy​

3. Coto​

4. Wal-Mart​

5. Chinos​

That's in BA city, There are other national chains too.

la Anonima http://www.laanonima.com.ar/sucursales

cooperativa obrera http://www.cooperati...-hoy/sucursales
Libertad https://www.libertad...sal_cordoba.php
Chango Mas http://www.superchangomas.com.ar/

Mar del plata area:
Toledo http://www.supertole.../sucursales.php

Are a few i've used around the country, no idea who owns them though.

 

[Matiasba]

If you want to understand the dynamic of why one store is cheaper than another, you have to understand the battles/collusion that pervade in the Argentine market.

For example, Carrefour owns Día (Groupe Carrefour), and Jumbo owns Disco and Vea (Grupo Cencosud from Chile). And Coto (Arg) and Wal-Mart (US) (AFAIK) only open markets under their own names. Meanwhile the Chinos are independent in name only; most of them are not only members of an association that regulates prices and supply chains, but (rumour has it) they are also very dependant on the same mafia-like network to provide the titular owners that run the stores.

So you mainly have five players in the market:

1. Carrefour/Día/Norte​

2. Cencosud/Jumbo/Disco/Vea/Easy​

3. Coto​

4. Wal-Mart​

5. Chinos​

While there is certainly a history of animosity between the Chinos and the big market chains, recent years have shown suspiciously close pricing, and this was only solidified by all of them voluntarily acceding to the Precios Cuidados scheme.

Personally, we only set foot in one of the big chains on days when they have deep discounts, and I'm not wealthy enough to evenbreathe the air in Jumbo.

http://www.iprofesional.com/notas/117943-Carrefour-aprob-la-venta-de-la-cadena-de-supermercados-Dia

 

[Matiasba]

That's in BA city, There are other national chains too.

la Anonima http://www.laanonima.com.ar/sucursales

cooperativa obrera http://www.cooperati...-hoy/sucursales
Libertad https://www.libertad...sal_cordoba.php
Chango Mas http://www.superchangomas.com.ar/

Mar del plata area:
Toledo http://www.supertole.../sucursales.php

Are a few i've used around the country, no idea who owns them though.

Just in Pilar, only 50 kms north from BsAs, you have Ultra and Eco, two mid size chains (they have like 10 stores each in Pilar zone)

 

[lucha54]

You pay more in the chino because it's closer to home and you don't have to wait in line.