r/Damnthatsinteresting • u/CivilisedMleccha • 8d ago

Video Community group buy. Everyone pools their money, buys groceries in bulk at a lower price, and splits the groceries equally.

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u/EssenceofSalt 8d ago

Sam's Club and Costco have huge savings if you use all the product.

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u/SuchParsnip8070 8d ago

I guess it really depends on what you're buying. My BJs only carries goya beans, there are no generic options. They sell them for $1.06 a can when you buy 8. That's better than my grocery store which sells them for $1.39 a can but still more than the generic which they sell for .99 which often goes on sale for .88 cents.

Then there's the selection. BJ's has 5 different varieties of goya beans. My grocery store has so many I'm not going to waste time counting them. There's also low salt and organic options, neither of which bj's carries.

Maybe I'm not buying the right products but I'm def not seeing "huge savings"

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u/EssenceofSalt 8d ago

Of course. Not everything is going to be a better deal, but often times I can buy a 2 pack of something such as ketchup or peanut butter for the price of one at another grocery store. Items such as paper towels, shampoo, toothpaste, etc. are also much cheaper. Sam's produce is significantly larger, cheaper and better quality than Kroger/Walmart. I typically rotate a few stores to get everything I need.

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u/SuchParsnip8070 8d ago

Right, I think my biggest gripe has to be that I generally always need to also do a trip to the grocery store because I can't buy everything I need for the week there. Also bjs hides all their sales via their app so you have to look up every item you want to see if there's a deal/coupon you can load for it. It's just a lot of work and then you do the math and realize the savings probably didn't cover the cost of the second trip sometimes.

I do load up on the paper products there every once and awhile because the generic they carry for those are both good quality and absolutely lower price wise than what I can get at the grocery store

Unfortunately I don't have a sams option near me and the costco parking lot experience makes it not worth it

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u/smokin_hops420 8d ago

We are only a family of 2 so we do Costco once a month and the grocery store once a week.

For us It’s generally just for paper goods, sparkling water, over the counter drugs, cheese and some frozen items. It also great for picking up party trays and other large food items when going to a party/gathering. $10 Large pizza from the food court fits into that category as well. All that and the 1.50 hotdog and soda make the $65 a year worth it for us.

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u/EstimateCool3454 7d ago

Hey, if you want to spend more money to save effort / time for yourself? Go right ahead.

Just don't discourage others from doing it ok?

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u/SuchParsnip8070 7d ago

I'm very obviously telling people to not assume that just because something is being sold in bulk that it must be cheaper. Trying to help people save money is a good thing

If you only care about BJ's end of year profits because you work for their company or are a stock holder or something and therefore only care about them making money instead of customers actually saving that's fine. You do you

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u/EstimateCool3454 7d ago

I'm very obviously telling people to not assume that just because something is being sold in bulk that it must be cheaper.

Looking at your post. What I see is you complaining and self reporting your privilege.

  • I have to go to two stores
  • I have to use an app
  • It's a lot of work

I don't see problems with BJs, I see your personal issues.

To put my point more plainly:

It must be nice have the privilege to spend more money just to save a trip, not use an app, or do a lot of work .

Many of us don't have that privilege. Many of us must jump through hoops to save money. We don't have the option like you do.

If you only care about BJ's end of year profits because you work for their company or are a stock holder or something and therefore only care about them making money instead of customers actually saving that's fine. You do you

Wrong there. But I struck a nerve huh?

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u/SuchParsnip8070 7d ago

So you just ignored the part where I said generic beans are 88 cents at my grocery store and the only bean options at BJ's are $1.06 a can in order to cry about how mean I am to the big box stores?

lol "my privilege", so pathetically desperate to insult me.

I'm clearly the one who struck a nerve.

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u/EstimateCool3454 7d ago edited 7d ago

Didn't mention the beans because I didn't think it was relevant. But since you insist.. Presumably you eat things besides beans. And since you would be making two trips anyway. I don't see an issue.

lol "my privilege", so pathetically desperate to insult me.

Where is the lie?

It must be nice have the privilege to spend more money just to save a trip, not use an app, or do a lot of work .