At SHARE, our goal is 30-50% savings compared to grocery store prices. Every month, we test this claim by shopping at a grocery store in the Milwaukee area. We publish our findings on page 8 of The SHARE Times and on our website.
We do all the shopping on one day at one grocery store and use whatever prices we find on the shelves, including sale prices. To be conservative, we always use the lowest store price. Of course, sometimes it’s a challenge to find exactly the same products. We do not calculate the value of the bonus item, giving another margin for error on the conservative side. We also have a “secret shopper” in Janesville to keep in touch with what’s happening outside Milwaukee. We do not figure SHARE shipping and handling charges into our estimate, as these vary by pick-up location.
We notice that SHARE consistently offers the best values on frozen meats and fresh produce. We are not as competitive on dry goods. We have wondered if it would be better to skip the dry goods, but people seem to enjoy these items when making a meal.
We know that on any given day, you might be able to find a lower price on an item that a store is featuring on sale or as a “loss-leader” to get you into the store. However, on average we know that SHARE truly offers consistent savings of 30-50%. If you had purchased the BIG Value Package every month for the past 6 months, you would’ve saved $144!
As a shopper, you are the one that ultimately defines value. I am always interested in hearing your feedback on SHARE products and prices, so feel free to email me at pflynn@sharewi.org or call me at 800-548-2124.