Walmart, Target: bucket of goods, Dec 06

[b0mbrman]

Prices are current as of approximately 6 pm, 20 Dec 06, at the Walmart and Target in Killeen, TX. All UPCs match for compared items. I may make this a monthly thing, changing the basket at random each month, and traveling to different pairs of Walmarts and Targets around here. I know Waco has one of each, Georgetown does, and obviously Austin will have several of each. Anyhow, here are the prices:

Levi's Jeans, Signature, Regular Fit
$14.50 - Walmart
$17.99 - Target

Tide liquid detergent, Free, 100 fl oz
$5.99 - Walmart
$6.99 - Target

Crest toothpaste, Whitening with Scope, 4.6 oz
$2.38 - Walmart
$2.44 - Target

Schick Quattro, 4 ct
$8.96 - Walmart
$8.64 - Target

Sandisk SD card
Not available at Target

Iams dog biscuit, 24 oz
$2.14 - Walmart
$2.19 - Target

Hanes boxer briefs, 4-pack
$8.47 - Walmart
$8.99 - Target

Sharp microwave
Walmart carried two Sharp microwaves, Target carried one, but no crossover

TI-83 Plus
$94.98 - Walmart
$98.99 - Target

Nintendo Wii
$249.99 - Both, but out of stock

7 - Total items available at both
6 - Items cheaper at Walmart
1 - Items cheaper at Target

$137.42 - Total basket at Walmart
$146.23 - Total basket at Target

$8.81 - Nominal difference
6.4% - Difference as a percentage

Cheers,
b0mbrman

 

[akshatp]

Crest toothpaste and Tide detergent have serial numbers?

I think you mean UPC codes?

 

[b0mbrman]

Originally posted by: akshatp
Crest toothpaste and Tide detergent have serial numbers?

I think you mean UPC codes?

Yes, that's it...the 10 digit number below the bar code, right?

 

[waggy]

that does not really prove his claim that Wal-mart forces them to make them special for wal-mart.

 

[Amused]

b0mbrman,

You've more than proved your point. However, I fear that it will do nothing to stop the irrational anti-Walmart hysteria and silly myths that have arisen from it.

 

[waggy]

Originally posted by: Amused
b0mbrman,

You've more than proved your point. However, I fear that it will do nothing to stop the irrational anti-Walmart hysteria and silly myths that have arisen from it.

while i agree the idea that wal0mart forces them to produce special stuff for them is retarded. i don't see how he proved it.

UPC codes are just the number for retailers to catalog the number right?


heh i can see Sony and nintendo having a special line for Wal0mart LOL

 

[waggy]

hmm $8 diffrence is not bad. considering thats 7 items. considering last time i went shopping i baught 50+ items..i wonder how much i saved VS the local shopping center?

 

[Mrvile]

There's no way a manufacturer makes lower quality items of the same brand and type just for Walmart. There are several reasons why Walmart can afford to sell things for a little bit cheaper than average - they've got so much control over the economy right now that most people will normally just go to Walmart...combined with slightly lower prices, Walmart is booming. Also, things like real estate and who they hire are factors as well...but definately not what they get from the manufacturer.

 

[FilmCamera]

I'd rather give Target the extra money than step foot in a wal-mart. Much better class of people at target vs. walmart.

 

[mugs]

That's nice and all, but I'd bet the amount I save on Target clearance deals evens the score. Anyone who knows hot deals should know what I'm talking about.

Would you question a person who pays more to buy an item from Newegg instead of Tigerdirect?

 

[waggy]

Originally posted by: mugs
That's nice and all, but I'd bet the amount I save on Target clearance deals evens the score. Anyone who knows hot deals should know what I'm talking about.

yeah thats the main reason i go into target. when they clearance something off its a good deal.

Wal-mart is the same way though. BUT you have to be there when it goes on clearance or you have no chance.

 

[ponyo]

Originally posted by: mugs
That's nice and all, but I'd bet the amount I save on Target clearance deals evens the score. Anyone who knows hot deals should know what I'm talking about.

:thumbsup: That's about all we buy from Target. The rest comes from Costco, Sams Club, and internet shopping.

 

[chuckywang]

Originally posted by: FilmCamera
I'd rather give Target the extra money than step foot in a wal-mart. Much better class of people at target vs. walmart.

Who cares? I don't interact with anybody I see at Walmart except the cashier. It's not like I'm with Walmart customers all day.

 

[mugs]

Originally posted by: waggy

Originally posted by: mugs
That's nice and all, but I'd bet the amount I save on Target clearance deals evens the score. Anyone who knows hot deals should know what I'm talking about.

yeah thats the main reason i go into target. when they clearance something off its a good deal.

Wal-mart is the same way though. BUT you have to be there when it goes on clearance or you have no chance.

I've gotten a few good clearance deals at Walmart (including a very large supply of their store-brand batteries + some brand name batteries), but it doesn't really compare to Target. There are websites devoted to tracking clearance items and trends at Target. Gottadeal and other deal sites have huge threads to discuss Target clearance deals. Not so for Walmart.

 

[dartworth]

Sprawl Mart

 

[waggy]

Originally posted by: mugs

Originally posted by: waggy

Originally posted by: mugs
That's nice and all, but I'd bet the amount I save on Target clearance deals evens the score. Anyone who knows hot deals should know what I'm talking about.

yeah thats the main reason i go into target. when they clearance something off its a good deal.

Wal-mart is the same way though. BUT you have to be there when it goes on clearance or you have no chance.

I've gotten a few good clearance deals at Walmart (including a very large supply of their store-brand batteries + some brand name batteries), but it doesn't really compare to Target. There are websites devoted to tracking clearance items and trends at Target. Gottadeal and other deal sites have huge threads to discuss Target clearance deals. Not so for Walmart.

i have seen some very good clearance deals at wal-mart. far better then target. but you have to get lucky. Target usually has good deals going.

BUT the best i have seen is Lowe's. when i was 17 i worked there for a summer. man i snagged some darn good stuff. got a $50 grill set for $5! i would get bags of Kingsford for $2 (they had tears or such).

 

[kami333]

Originally posted by: mugs
That's nice and all, but I'd bet the amount I save on Target clearance deals evens the score. Anyone who knows hot deals should know what I'm talking about.

I usually just stop in Target to get the deal and then go to Walmart for the rest of my shopping

 

[FilmCamera]

Originally posted by: chuckywang

Originally posted by: FilmCamera
I'd rather give Target the extra money than step foot in a wal-mart. Much better class of people at target vs. walmart.

Who cares? I don't interact with anybody I see at Walmart except the cashier. It's not like I'm with Walmart customers all day.

I care. If I wanted to be around a crapload of white trash and mexican families with kids running around uncontrolled while they don't care and trash the store, I'd go to walmart.

 

[Svnla]

OP, nice post.

Like I said in the TG vs. WM post, I will go to wherever has the lowest prices, the best bang for my buck with name brand items.

IMO and experience, TG has better deals on electronics and clothes. I just bought two long sleeves polo shirts for less than $5 ($3.74 plus taxes to be exact). WM has better deals on regular stuffs such as toilet paper, laundry, socks, etc. and I never saw any good deal on electronics at WM.

TG and WM = DISCOUNT mass market chain stores. Period.

 

[b0mbrman]

Originally posted by: FilmCamera
I'd rather give Target the extra money than step foot in a wal-mart. Much better class of people at target vs. walmart.

I'm thinking that's the next thing I have to test...

While eating a McRib at Walmart, I was thinking of ways to test this:
*Mean MSRP of first 20 cars in each parking lot
*Standing next to the cashier and counting how many use food stamps
*Surveying people exiting Walmart and asking their income
*Not actually entering a store, but making subjective judgments based on what I hear from people on the internet

 

[b0mbrman]

Originally posted by: mugs
That's nice and all, but I'd bet the amount I save on Target clearance deals evens the score. Anyone who knows hot deals should know what I'm talking about.

Some of these were clearance items at Target

Would you question a person who pays more to buy an item from Newegg instead of Tigerdirect?

No. But if Tigerdirect was actually cheaper than Newegg, I'd question if they said Newegg was cheaper.

 

[Mrvile]

Originally posted by: b0mbrman

Originally posted by: FilmCamera
I'd rather give Target the extra money than step foot in a wal-mart. Much better class of people at target vs. walmart.

I'm thinking that's the next thing I have to test...

While eating a McRib at Walmart, I was thinking of ways to test this:
*Mean MSRP of first 20 cars in each parking lot
*Standing next to the cashier and counting how many use food stamps
*Surveying people exiting Walmart and asking their income
*Not actually entering a store, but making subjective judgments based on what I hear from people on the internet

Honestly, well put.

:disgust:

 

[b0mbrman]

Originally posted by: FilmCamera

Originally posted by: chuckywang

Originally posted by: FilmCamera
I'd rather give Target the extra money than step foot in a wal-mart. Much better class of people at target vs. walmart.

Who cares? I don't interact with anybody I see at Walmart except the cashier. It's not like I'm with Walmart customers all day.

I care. If I wanted to be around a crapload of white trash and mexican families with kids running around uncontrolled while they don't care and trash the store, I'd go to walmart.

Yeah...I really have to figure out a way to test this...

 

[imported_Mike]

I am fully willing to pay more to not shop at Walmart.