Best Deals of the Week and Why I Am No Longer Recommending HyVee Price Matching

It happened just today! HyVee changed their price matching policy and it has this budget-minded girl shopping around again. I'll give you the details at the end of this post. But, first, let me tell you which store gets my "best buys of the week" nod.

This week's store is a locally-owned ethnic shop: The Mediterranean Mart. Now, I realize that many of my readers are not Central Illinois natives. But, what I really want you to do, is think outside the box when it comes to where to get great deals on groceries. I have found that often ethnic stores ROCK when it comes to customer service and quality merchandise.

Here Is My All Organic Grocery Haul 

I happened to visit on a Wednesday. Mediterranean Mart brings in fresh produce from the Chicago markets every Thursday. So, on Wednesday, they were clearing out last week's purchases at bargain prices.

They had a nice sized basket of organic produce at the register. Everything in the basket was just $.99 each.

Organic broccoli - just $.99 a bunch

Organic red cabbage - just $.99 a head. 

There was a nice selection of other organic items marked at fantastic prices.

3 pounds organic red onions for $1.50

3 pounds organic red potatoes - $1.50 

3 pounds of organic clementines - $2.99 a bag. I got 2 bags! They taste divine!

What I paid: 

My total was: $12.60 before taxes!  

I see some amazing soup and stir fry in my near future! 

Thanks, Mediterranean Mart! 

And, hey, if anyone remembers the fantastic deal I got last week on 1 pound tubs of organic baby romaine, Mediterranean Mart is getting a new shipment in on Thursday. I paid just $1.59 for a pound of organic greens! 

Owner, Sieed, is always friendly and helpful. He goes out of his way to provide great quality products at reasonable prices. He won't sell you something that isn't right for you! He values every customer!

If you are local, give them a visit at the corner of Glen and University in Peoria. If you aren't local, then do be sure to Google ethnic markets in your area and give them a try! You just might find new friends and the opportunity to try new items that you might never have thought of trying!

The Scoop on HyVee 

As I promised, here is the 411 on HyVee's price-matching policy. Yes, they still price match. But, their new rules state that the product you purchase must be EXACTLY the same product as that featured at other stores. So, when I went in today, Aldi had 6 oz. packages of blackberries on sale for $.99. I got two packages and took them up to the checkout counter. A manager said that because HyVee sells Driscoll brand berries, that they could not be price-matched.

Now HyVee can have any policy that they want. But, from my perspective, blackberries are blackberries. The fact that there are several fantastic grocery stores all within a two mile radius of one another, really puts a damper on me doing any extra work just to save money at HyVee. I have been inside HyVee literally nearly every single week since they instituted their price-matching policy. But, I'm just not going to go to the trouble to try to match the EXACT same brand. Since I am vegan and only purchasing basically fruits and vegetables, any brand berry, citrus fruit, or potato will do just as well as any other. 

The following stores are all within two miles of each other in my town: Aldi, Schnucks, HyVee, Kroger, GFS, and Mediterranean Mart. In addition, during the growing season, the farmer's market falls within this two mile pattern and is open 6 days a week at the height of the season. So, I'll plan out my two mile circular route, walk in every store, and get the best prices on all the items I need.  

Your turn!

I'd LOVE to hear your thoughts on HyVee's price-matching policy. At what point do a store's limitations and rules deter you from doing your shopping there? What is your favorite place to shop for great products at fantastic prices? Have you ever tried shopping at ethnic markets? Leave your thoughts in the comments section. 

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Do all to the glory of God, 

Hope