Groceries - Name Your Own Price!
by Amanda Formaro

Priceline.com recently launched "Name Your Own Price" for groceries. I decided to put this service to the test. After all, who better to test a money saving theory than a mother of four! What I found is that there are plenty of pros and cons to this service. In my particular case, the pros far outweighed the cons. Let's see if it's worth it for you.

Getting Started

First you'll need to point your web browser to Priceline's website. Once at the site, click the blue tab that says Groceries. To get started, click on the area that asks if you need a card.

You will be guided through the process where you'll enter your address information, select a grocery store in your area, and finally, begin your shopping.

The Online Shopping Experience

It's all pretty painless, and actually a little fun. I'll admit, I was not a believer when I started. I began clicking through the groceries, choosing a few here and there, while completely skipping others. I decided to start with 25 different items, including produce, dairy, meats, dry goods, and freezer items. I chose half price on some items, medium-low price on others, and very low on some more. Remember, the whole idea behind this concept is that you name the price that you want to pay!

From the time I signed up to the time I finished I had spent approximately 45 minutes at the Priceline website. Assuming you will feel more comfortable with the ins and outs of the shopping site when you return (I assure you, you will return!), the time spent online for future shopping trips should be significantly less.

Before you can go and physically pick up your selected items, you will have to either wait for your club card to arrive in the mail, or you can pick one up at your participating grocer. I picked mine up, came back to the site, activated it and found that all of my price selections had been accepted and my credit card charged. All I had to do now was go to the store and get my groceries. I printed my Prepaid Grocery List and headed out the door.

At The Store

This service does not bag and deliver the groceries for you. You will still need to go to the grocery store, grab a shopping cart, and fill that cart with your selected items. Use your printout to find the items you selected. Be sure to watch your quantities, remember you paid for these items already on your credit card, so make sure you get what you paid for!

While shopping, I kept track of the prices on my printout and the prices at the store. I was pleasantly surprised to find that only one item out of the twenty-five that I selected was higher than the store sale price! While comparing the store prices to my prices, I also watched for generic brands that were comparable to the items I had selected. Of the items that had a generic equivalent, 90% of my prices were equal to or lower than the generic. On the flipside of this, there are just some items that I refuse to buy generic of (i.e., sliced American cheese), so the generic equivalent was irrelevant in these instances.

At The Checkout

All of your Priceline groceries must be rung up first, and separately. Some people will groan at the thought of separating their Priceline groceries from their other items, but frankly, it was quite simple. Alert the register clerk that these are your Priceline items. When he/she is finished scanning all of the items, they will give you a total and then ask you to scan your Priceline club card as if it were a debit card. Once this is done, the total on the register will clear and the clerk can continue with your other groceries. My total Priceline groceries on my first trip were $106, my prepaid amount generated at the website was $62, a total savings of $44. That's 42%!

Some Examples

Here are a few items that are on my grocery list, as well as their regular store price, the sale price if applicable, and generic equivalent price. This will give you an idea of why I was able to see this as such a valuable money saver.

Pros and Cons

While shopping, I was muttering prices aloud. While stating that my eggs were 55 cents instead of the full price of $1.69, a couple standing nearby asked me if I was using the Priceline service. This sparked a conversation between us that allowed me (and them) to see things in a different light. Is it worth it to YOU? Is the time involved really worth it? This couple worked full time, ate late each night, and had no children. She commented that she didn't know if it was worth "the hassle", yet as I showed her the prices I had locked in, she seemed persuaded to at least give it a try.

So how do you know if it's worth your time? Consider these pros and cons while weighing your decision. If nothing else, try it for a handful of items, do your own comparison, and see if it's worth it to you.

Pros
--------
Up to 50% savings on your grocery bills
Easy to use website, easy to follow instructions
Print out your own personal sale paper (Prepaid Grocery List)
Items are already charged on your credit card, prepaid
Allows for a large variety of items from every section of the store
Convenient, select your groceries before you leave the house

Cons
--------
Must spend time at the website selecting your groceries
May find that there are a few items on your list that cost less in generic form
Must separate Priceline groceries from your other items at checkout
Once your prices are accepted, your credit card is charged

Final Notes

If an item is out of stock or they simply don't carry a brand that is on your shopping list, check with the store manager. The manager I spoke with had absolutely no problem substituting one brand for another at no additional cost. Your grocery list is valid for 90 days. use this to your advantage by shopping for the special occasions ahead of time. Enjoy, I hope that you are able to save as much as I did!

Amanda Formaro may be contacted at http://www.thefamilycorner.com WebMom@thefamilycorner.com. Click here to view more of their articles.
Amanda Formaro is the mother of four children. She and her husband live in Henderson, Nevada. She is also the owner of The Family Corner website at http://www.thefamilycorner.com

"This site started as a small personal website and has grown way beyond what I had ever imagined! It is such a passion for me. I love it when someone writes to me and tells me how much they enjoyed their visit."