Conclusion!

Welcome back fellow shoppers! I would like to conclude this journey that we have taken together by just saying “thank you for joining me”.  It was fun finding out more about Sobeys.  I also now know that Sobeys is one of the biggest chains out there and the store that has been around longer then the chains we journeyed together. I have to say Sobeys must be doing something right to stay in the game, and “NOT” the most expensive!

During my research I have realized how much I really do spend and who really can kill my budget - “Metro”.  Those quick stops around the corner from my house for those forgotten items are not worth it in the end. It’s worth making that trip to my preferred grocery. Having now experienced Sobeys, I just may try going there once in a while. But my preferred store will remain as The Real Canadian Superstore.  There are many reasons why RCSS will be my main grocery store: loyalty program, atmosphere, and I can do all my day to day shopping in one shop.


The purpose of this blog was not to convince anyone to switch their supermarkets, everyone has their own preference. But I do encourage you to do the math and check out why you are shopping where you are and see how it is benefiting you. If you dare to compare!

Giving Back to the Community!

Does the term ‘charitable giving’ mean anything to you? Does it make a difference? After all, it’s just about giving money to those people who need it more, right? Well, yes and no.

Charitable giving is about responding to a need; it’s the relief of suffering. So what do our grocery stores do to help out others in our communities? How do they give back?

Well, Sobeys gives back to more than 800 communities across the country including many national initiatives that promote the well-being of families and children including health, wellness, education, food banks and scholarship programs. Their charities include “Helping the Hunger”, “Supporting those who help other”, “Find the Future", and” Celebrating young Artists” (The Sobeys Art Award). Like everyone else they also support Greening Ontario through environmentally friendly and sustainable programs. Wow and who knew?

So how does Loblaw Companies support our community? Do they give as much? Well, they are focused on national, regional and local levels on:

Presidents Choice Children’s Charity, Healthy Active Kids, Feeding our neighbours, Greening our communities. In the addition to these initiatives, Loblaw stores directly support the communities in which they operate by donating gift cards that can also be used as auction items. Now I know if I am ever running a charitable event to see the Loblaw Store Manager and see if they will donate gift cards to help support.

Last but not least, what can Metro give to our community that the others have not already? Metro has a program called “The Metro Full Plate”. This program supports the four food group charities; United Way, Second harvest, Ontario Association of Food Banks, and Breakfast Club of Canada.

It looks like they all do very similar charities and all take part of supporting our community. Way to go!  I have to say, I had no idea these were the charities they all participated in. Unless you read their websites no one would even know. The most I have seen in-store are the bins of food that we place in them for the food banks. I see no advertisements that really stand out to what anyone of them support. Wouldn’t it be nice to see or hear this happening? I don’t know about you but I would like to see it. It makes a difference to see and hear how they support the community.

Hope to see you on my last and final blog, see you then fellow shoppers.

Loyalty Programs! What Do They Have To Offer Their Customers!

If you’re loyal to one chain of supermarkets, then you can benefit from the kinds of rewards that could potentially save you money.  The question is, who gets you there faster? Who can give you what you want?  

Let’s start off with the store we’ve been focusing on.  (Careful… math ahead)
Sobeys offers a 1 point to 1 dollar collection ratio on all purchases.  That sounds great, considering I spend $400 to $600 a month on groceries alone.  You can earn even more with bonus points offered on different products each week.   So far so good; but what sort of buying power does one point offer?  1,375 points will save you $10 at the till.  That means for every ten dollars you spend without incentives, you save 7.3 cents.  Put into more relatable terms, each month I spend an average of $500, I will save roughly $36.50.  That’s a savings of $438 in groceries for an entire year.  Basically, buy twelve months’ worth of groceries, and get one free! 

To some people, that doesn’t sound like a very big deal, but Sobeys sweetens that deal by being able to convert two Sobeys points into one Aeroplan Point.  For all of you saving up those points for your dream vacation that your tax return can’t buy, then listen up!  Sobeys points also offers up a conversion program with Esso Extra.  And signing up for a BMO MasterCard gets you an automatic $10 savings, or 1,375 points.  For versatility, chalk one up for Club Sobeys!  There is one downfall, however; if you shop at Sobeys banner stores, you will only be able to collect points on your MasterCard. 

Let’s compare this scheme to President’s Choice. 
There are many ways to accumulate PC Points, but the two most common are by opening a no-fee bank account and by applying for a PC MasterCard.  Why would anyone in their right mind sign up for a bank account when they could just sign up for a credit or club card?   Perhaps there are enough perks that makes it worthwhile (fee-less benefits aside). 

The collection of PC Points varies based on the program you’ve signed up for.  Using your PC MasterCard you collect 10 PC Points for every dollar you spend anywhere MasterCard is accepted.  Using your PC Bank Card at the Loblaw chain of supermarkets collects 5 PC Points for every dollar you spend.  Let’s say again that I spend an average of $500 a month on groceries.  Using the PC MasterCard I accumulate 5000 points a month.  Using the Bank Card, I accumulate 2500 a month.  For the former, I save $5 a month, and for the latter I save $2.5, as the buying power for 1000 points is $1.  Big deal, right!?  But remember, if you use your PC MasterCard anywhere MasterCard is accepted, you earn points!!!  This becomes a much bigger deal when you continue using your credit card for main purchases.

It is also important to outline that PC Financial offers up many more incentives if you buy into their services.  Applying for the MasterCard online gives you an automatic 5000 PC Points.  Setting up direct deposit with your account gives you an automatic 10000 PC Points.  For every month you have $1000 to $4999.99 in your account, you accumulate 250 PC Points, and 1000 monthly PC Points if you have more.  (Hope everyone is following this, math can be crazy) 

Including the various bonus schemes that PC offers in-store, I see many accumulation opportunities, but I can’t be bothered to buy into all of their services just to save points.  If you require their financial services, at least you will be able to get their benefits as their thanks.  I know it takes me a long time to see the benefits of PC Points, and from this analysis alone, I can see why Sobeys is able to stay ahead of the curve.

Finally, let’s see how Metro Ontario stacks up.
For every $20 you spend at Metro you accumulate 1 Air Mile, plus bonuses on certain items.  Redemption of points happens on the Air Miles website.  It’s that simple.  No frills attached (pun intended).

In my opinion President’s Choice gives you many more ways to earn points if you are already using their financial services.  But for quick and easy point accumulation with lots of versatility and much stronger buying power, you can’t go wrong with Club Sobeys. 

Just remember one thing; buying into all of the points systems won’t get your very far at all.  Sticking to one program is going to give you best results. 

Next time we’ll take a look at what our leading stores are doing for our communities.

Sobeys vs RCSS vs Metro

Well shoppers, I completed my task of comparing what I believe is the three most competitive stores closest to me. What did I find out?  Has anyone gone into stores and priced out what they are really buying? I usually just walk in and shop for what I need to get the shopping done. I thought the best way to get what I was looking for was to go to these three major grocery stores at their busiest time, 11am-1pm on a beautiful day when everyone is thinking of barbequing.

While I was shopping I realized who was the busiest out of them all - Real Canadian Superstore. Shopping carts were full everywhere, lineups were crazy with people of all ages. Metro, on the other hand, was not so busy but far busier than Sobeys. At Metro there were people of all ages and a clean atmosphere with busy workers. I found Sobeys though was just a grocery store that people went into to get a few items they needed. No line-ups, yet very home-like and relaxing. Another thing I noticed was that RCSS has much more of a garden section and so much more to offer than the other two stores. But, at RCSS you really have to appreciate it and get used to the hustle and bustle if you want to shop where you can get it all.

With my research I can finally say that Sobeys is surprisingly not the most expensive. Sobeys was cheaper on most meats, second most expensive on fruits, vegetables, milk, cheese and cereal, but most expensive on butter. To think all those years I have been told Sobeys was the most expensive grocery store! 

So I challenge you to do the same as I did. Dare to compare with your everyday shopping needs and see if you are spending more than you should! It can be fun and you may just change where you shop and save some money as well. Attention Loyalty lovers! Next time I’ll compare them all for you and let you know who can offer you more bang for your buck!

Later fellow shoppers!

 

 

 

Dare To Compare!

Welcome fellow shopper, I’m glad you came!  I’m as glad as a grocer is when you’ve chosen to shop at their store over anyone else’s.  Let’s face it; most of us show consistent loyalty to one brand or label over others.  It’s not the most exciting topic to bring up to the person in front of you at the cashier’s check out, but ask yourself why you’ve chosen to shop here above the other stores next time you’re waiting in line. 

My store of choice?  Real Canadian Superstore!  There’s something about the way their stores are laid out, it’s “Proud to be Canadian” attitude, and the quality of the products you find within.  From fruits and veggies to clothing and electronics, RCSS is not the typical grocery store.

But the Loblaw line of grocery stores isn’t the only Canadian line of grocers.  Others have had to rise through the occasion to compete and stay alive while Loblaw put on the pressure.  What do RCSS and the Loblaw line have over its competition?  To find out, I did what anyone in this day-and-age would do … I Googled it!  Up until now I thought the PC brand stretched across more locations above any other.  To my surprise the Sobeys line of stores exceeds Loblaw by the hundreds!!!

Feel like joining me in a little experiment?  Over the next few blog entries I’m going to find out why the little Sobeys in my neighborhood, which I’ve largely overlooked, is part of what seems to be a thriving franchise that rivals most successful businesses in the Canadian market. 

Till next time, happy shopping!