garth909's Profile
Market Baskets all the same?
Went to Shaws Nashua yesterday. I got 4 Propel Waters (.50 each), 2 bottles of Wishbone salad dressing for $1.99 each (I know, I'd pay $1.50 at MB but its actually a better deal), 4 Breyers ice creams ($2.99), and a Klondike package ($2.99) for $10.97 after manufacturers coupons ($.50 doubled coupon on the Propels from a coupon I've had for awhile, 2 $1 off 2s on the Breyers, 1 $1 off on Klondike, and 2 $.75 off doubled on Wishbone). I got a $15 coupon off my next order (in 3 $5 increments and a $1.50 plus a $1.50 off 2 more Wishbones).
So I wouldn't have bought Propel and it would have came to $18.97 without coupons, which is still great and would still have gotten $16.50 for my next order.
Went back in and I got 8 bottles of salad dressing (I know, I'll be stocked up for awhile), 2 Cheerios 8.9 oz, and a box of Fiber One bars, 6 Propels and used the $16.50 off my next order and $1.50 off 2 wishbones from previous order, plus the 2 $.55 off coupons for Cheerios, 6 doubled $.50 coupons (actually 5 of them doubled but I still got an amazing deal), so I got all that for $.07 (or $4.17 without coupons not from previous order) and got back $21 for my next order.
Market Baskets all the same?
Never been in the Saugus Hannaford but I've been in many Hannafords and the only one I really don't like is the one in Pelham NH, and I can see how they only have a limited captive market there, so they don't invest too much money into it as it is a store that was acquired from Victory. I like MB on DWH in Nashua NH, but still mid quality products I've come to like at Hannaford, such as the 8 oz Pina Colada yogurts at only $.35 and blueberry barbeque sauce, is not carried at MB. Also, MB on DWH is a place to stay away from on busy times due to crowds (snow storms, holidays, mid day on weekends). MB has it pretty good now in south Nashua as the only competition is the Hudson Stop and Shop, which is nothing, and Shaw's in Royal Ridge Nashua NH, which is good for stocking up on some things that participate in these get a $15 coupon for every $30 spent on participating products (kudos to MB for getting on the bandwagon a little with their $5 off turkey coupon promotion, but its still not as good as what Shaw's puts out even though I'd agree its a very good promotion). But still, rotten perishables can be found at Shaw's, but the stuff priced in line with MB is good (like lettuce, loose green peppers, and tomatoes) and sale items are always good. I wouldn't do my entire shopping list at Shaw's, but having MB closeby on weeks Shaw's has great sales to pick up everything else is great.
I know most of you don't understand Shaw's, but these sales at Shaw's are better than what most people think they are because the $30 spending requirement to get $15 back in coupons for your next order is based on regular price and many of these deals can be done up to 3 times on the same order so that you purchase $90 to get $45 back. For example, I'm eying stocking up on Progresso Soup. The regular price is $2.50 and the sale price is $1.49. If you buy 12 cans, you pay $17.88, and get a $15 coupon for your next order so you only pay $2.88, or $.24 a can. And also Breyers Ice Cream (which 6 is required since the regular price of $5.29, sale price is $2.99, pay $17.94, and get back $15 which means you really paid $2.94, or $.49 per 48 ounce carton which is like 1 for the price of 6 vs what we usually pay). You go back in and either buy more partipating products to get more good deals or you just spend it on other sale priced items (and there are plenty of them).
Market Baskets all the same?
Interesting observation. I think the H Mart fish counter is quite a tough act to follow; so could luck to MB with their project, but I do say the MB store can use some help. Plus, its good that MB has competition there. There's quite a consistent pattern that they improve their stores when new competition comes in. Although MB doesn't do zone pricing and I'll give them thumbs up for that, MB does vary in quality and they aren't as good when there is limited competition in the area.
Such as MB in Hudson NH used to be a very run down store and it took Stop and Shop to build a store to actually turn things around and now that store is pretty good. Word is the one on Daniel Webster Highway is the best one I've been to (place to stay away during the weekend though because of crowds), but the one that is in the same plaza as Bob's in Nashua NH is extremely run down. I've also been to one of the MB's in Billerica and that was extremely disappointing. I've been to the Reading one, and I thought its alright, but there was a strong stench at the deli counter I didn't like and it seemed like something went bad. Though, the produce was fresh.
The MBs in Lowell are disappointing because the only competition they have is Hannaford and there really has never been anything new competing against them. They keep on promising they'd build another store in the same plaza with one of them, but it never happens. With another, it is actually about a 9 year old store and it is very run down. The other one on Wood St has been there for a very long time and is extremely run down; and Hannaford up the street blows it away easily
Hannaford in Chelmsford or Dracut blows away all 3 MBs in Lowell easily as matter of fact as both of these Hannafords are about 1/2 mile from a MB in Lowell and on average both of these Hannafords do as much volume as the MBs they directly compete with down the street ironically even though their pricing is very competitive to MB). Many people do cherry pick both stores' sales to get the most bang for their buck.
