Thursday, June 24, 2010

Walmart vs. United Supermarkets: a statistical breakdown

I, like most of you, sometimes wake up in the middle of the night and ponder the Walmart dilemma. If I factor in my time, is it actually cheaper to shop there? So, I decided to conduct my own little experiment. I bought the same items at each store and timed my trips. I started the timer when I entered each parking lot and stopped it as I exited each parking lot. If you think this is nerdy you should see my spreadsheets comparing the finances of various republican parties (here you go: http://www.tommechler.com/media/party-finances-2007-2009-b.pdf). Anyhoo, here are the results:

Walmart
$3.88 1 Gallon milk
$1.99 1/2 lb Smoked White Turkey
$2.38 Peanut Butter
$1.32 Grape Jelly
$1.00 White Bread
$3.38 16 American Singles Cheese
$3.56 2.45 lb Red Seedless Grapes
$1.91 1.5 lbs Gala Apples
$1.20 2.45 lbs Bananas
$1.76 2 Bags Blueberry Muffin Mix
$1.18 1 Dozen Large Eggs
Total: $23.56
Total Time: 17 minutes, 45 seconds

United
$3.99 1 Gallon milk
$2.00 1/2 lb Smoked White Turkey
$2.97 Peanut Butter
$1.49 Grape Jelly
$1.29 White Bread
$2.39 16 American Singles Cheese
$3.18 2.45 lb Red Seedless Grapes
$2.00 1.5 lbs Gala Apples
$1.44 2.45 lbs Bananas
$1.98 2 Bags Blueberry Muffin Mix
$1.29 1 Dozen Large Eggs
Total: $24.02
Total Time: 17 minutes, 13 seconds

So, the numbers are suprisingly close. I expected Walmart to cost a ton less, but take a lot longer. I know what you are thinking: "But Josh, if my time is worth money, how much did the extra 30 seconds at Walmart cost?" Glad you asked. The average annual income in America is $52,029. That works out to about 43 cents per minute assuming a 40 hour work week with 2 weeks vacation per year. The extra 30 seconds cost 21.5 cents. 1 minute longer and Walmart would have been more expensive. For the average Amarilloan (who has this exact grocery list, who makes exactly $52,029 per year, who is cheap and buys generic brands, who wastes no time fraternizing with people at the store, who shops at exactly 9:15pm on a Sunday evening) it is cheaper to shop at United if Walmart is more than a 1 minute further drive. Praise God I'm closer to United.

One other fyi, I have heard rumors that United marks down name brand items at the first of the month and generic items at the end of the month.

8 comments:

  1. This comment has been removed by the author.

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  2. SHUT UP! This is awesome. I shop at United bc I would be a mean person if I had to enter WalMart. Thanks for the experiment

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  3. I haven't shopped at a Wal-Mart in almost 4 years and buy groceries only at United. United's customer service blows Wal-Mart out of the water and I'm surprised that they're able to keep their prices so competitive considering the extra staff they always have on hand to help shoppers.

    Way to go United!

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  4. ...and United has that yummy smoked gouda dip! Oh...we see what I do with my $, pricy, fattening frills. Guess thats me.

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  5. I normally shop Wally World. I use a MAPPED ROUTE through each Wal Mart I visit so I can use less TIME (hint, hint...) when I shop.

    I also dislike shopping in the warehouse-setting of United. There is a "friendlier way" to display that storehouse.
    %My 2c's - Take it as you wish.

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  6. Good stuff Josh! You are a man after my own heart. Could you please conduct a second experiment adding more expensive 'monthly' items: Laundry detergent, TP, dog food, diapers, household cleaners, canned goods, etc. Ben T

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  7. I love United-- but I have done price comparisons on things I buy often-- and the price has been as much as eighty cents difference. Hershey's chocolate chips, for instance, is one I can remember off of the top of my head. A few years ago, they were fifty cents more at United than Wal Mart. Another item I buy for my teens, packaged ramen noodles in a microwave container have, at times, been 66 more at United. When you have more time than money, you gotta go to Walmart. Even though I don't like it-- I still go!

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