[nippa&pippa]

Follow on conversations with fellow forumee other days about food shopping and turn out we both agreed on one of supermarkets is cheaper, but I wondering others think, so which you think it is cheaper?
I will be interesting what the outcome of polls will be...

[IanW99]

This should be interesting as each shop sells products at different prices and by that I mean even the same supermarket sells the same products at different prices in different areas.

Ian

[Leccy-Lee]

So whys no-one voting lol :)
I shop at Countdown, only as i dont enjoy the Pak'n'save experience..

[chocolate cake]

I'd say Pak nSave is cheapest, but Foodtown's my nearest and the one I usually shop at.

That said they're only two main Companies who corner 90% of the market in NZ - Foodtown/Woolworths/Countdown and PaknSave/New World/4 Square.

At least in the UK there's 4 big ones (Tescos, Asda, Sainsburys, Morrisons) so more competition even if Tesco are very dominant.

[BaldyBeardyBloke]

I shop at Countdown, only as i dont enjoy the Pak'n'save experience..

I have to agree. I'm not normally a snob, but the Pak n Save experince isn't a good one for me I'm afraid.

I always had the same aversion in the UK to 'pile it high, sell it cheap' shops. Always cringed going in to a poundstretcher, kwik save or really cheap clothes shops. I definitely noticed the difference when Wal-Mart took over Asda.

The 2 dollar shop does the same for me as well.

Can't explain it, and I do still go in those places, but never feel comfortable in there and can't wait to get out.

[Caroline and Dave]

This is very interesting.
A few weeks ago I decided to put Pak'nsave and New World to the test and bought exactly the same items over 2 weeks . the result was Pak'n save $ 71.86 New World $74.98

So I saved just over 3 dollars in Pak'nsave but it took me twice as long to get around, the staff never seem to know where anything is and then you have to pack everything yourself whereas New World do it all for you,so I would say that New World do work out cheaper when you consider time saved etc.

[peebles16]

I've voted for Countdown as it seems cheaper for me when I do big shops but I have to add to that the drive to Kaipoi :) That said I do use New World and Woolies for in-between stuff and don't notice a huge difference in prices. I'm another who can't do Pak'n'Save mainly cos I'm too short to reach anything up on those blooming shelves :yes

Karenx

[nippa&pippa]

This is very interesting.
A few weeks ago I decided to put Pak'nsave and New World to the test and bought exactly the same items over 2 weeks . the result was Pak'n save $ 71.86 New World $74.98

So I saved just over 3 dollars in Pak'nsave but it took me twice as long to get around, the staff never seem to know where anything is and then you have to pack everything yourself whereas New World do it all for you,so I would say that New World do work out cheaper when you consider time saved etc.

Especially when you got three kids on tow, New Worlds win me over! as it is nightmare to pack yourself....
Also New Worlds' coupon card and flybuys points make it more cheaper then Pak'n'save

[yotty]

I liked shopping at countdown but Packandsave was cheaper.. :)

[shakyle2906]

Ive voted Countdown as they do seem the most reasonable at the moment. Mind, saying that - you dont seem to get much these days anywhere! Ours today are promoting the One Card that usually only Woolworths do......... I do miss my Tesco Clubcard!

Just spent $160 for the 3 of us, and know i will be back over in week for few fresh things and that will be another $40+...................

Pak and Save are nice but always so so busy then you gotta pack youre own stuff............gone lazy!

Went to new New World last week and spent over $250............could have cried! They have some fab stuff and usually go there for a 'treat' now and again as i am lethal there...........


Sharon x

[Watna]

We did a big shop last Sunday. After reading another thread here about saving money we went to woolworths first wrote down the prices of everything we needed, then went across to pak n save and bought everything that was cheaper there and then went back to woolworths for the others.

You'd be surprised what was cheaper in woolworths. Things like toilet paper ( a pack of 12, the same brand was $1.50 cheaper in woolworths!) and cleaning products that you'd just assume would be cheaper in pak na save. Half the veggies were cheaper in woolworths and I won't buy meat in pak n save to tbh, I think we'll just go to woolworths in future. Our one card is on the way as well. I really really hate shopping in pak n save. Especially on Sunday afternoons. It's a nightmare and everytime you ask the staff anything they look terrified because they never know the answer. It's just a much nicer experience shopping in woolworths or new world.

[M-Squared]

I need an "other" option. :p I go to the local farmers market for fruit and veg, and New World for everything else. I like getting flybuys and going to a shop that isn't scummy, and where the staff are helpful, polite, and know the answers to questions. :nice1

[BaldyBeardyBloke]

products that you'd just assume would be cheaper in pak n save.

Interesting point. I think Pak n Save do play on this - they have the reputation for being cheaper but make up their profits on items you naturally assume will be cheaper and need wherever you shop (bog roll, veg etc).

If you can spen the time and effort the cheapest way to shop is to buy a bit here and other stuff from there depending on prices on the day.

To be honest, though, who can really be bothered doing that regularly and by the time you've added on extra fuel costs....

I reckon just go to the one that reasonably close and has the best offer on fuel vouchers at the time.

[M-Squared]

Forgot to mention, got this little lot for a mere $12 at the farmers market. The last vendor chucked in a free kiwifruit, too. :nice1 The broccoli heads were a mere 50 cents each. :)

[mgbridges]

In comparison I did a big shop at Pak 'n Save this afternoon and the veggie costs were as follows:

400gm Mushroom value pack $4.49
250g Breakfast mushrooms $4.49
1/2 a celery $2.29
Leeks $1.95 each - I got 3 so $ 5.85
Carrots $16.99 per Kg - I spent $1.42
Iceburg Lettuce $2.49
Cucumber $3.95
Capsicum $2.29 each - I got three.
Cherry tomatoes 250g $4.95

Scary when you start adding it all up! It was also a horrible experience as the place was heaving with people and you could barely get at anything, one of the reasons I missed how horribly expensive the cherry tomatoes were until it was too late!

I really dislike the way at Pak 'n Save its difficult to back track if you've forgotten to pick something up. I also don't like having to pack for myself when they don't have any boxes available. Today I had two reusable bags but then ended up putting the rest of the shopping loose in the boot of the car! I try very hard these days not to use plastic bags purely from an environmental point.

However there are some items that we buy regularly that are consistently cheaper at Pak 'n Save and always available. Still think I'll do most of my shopping at Foodtown though as its the closest.

Anneliese

[jubjub]

I alternate my main shop between Countdown and PnS, but generally find it comes out cheaper at PnS, and i get 95% of what I need at Pns too, I find the countdown shop has more things not ticked off my list when I go there, and I have to go again the next day to somewhere else to fill the gaps!

Little top up shops get done at either foodtown or new world, cos they are easier to get to when I have a toddler in tow.

[Georgebulldog]

Forgot to mention, got this little lot for a mere $12 at the farmers market. The last vendor chucked in a free kiwifruit, too. :nice1 The broccoli heads were a mere 50 cents each. :)

Can I ask where you go? Need to find a good place like that, please say it's near Tory Street then I can send the OH :) I know there's one up that way called Moores I think but not yet managed to get in there

[Familyofmonkeys]

For the stuff we buy Countdown is definitely cheaper. Pak 'n' save is a nightmare and you waste so much time going round in circles trying to find stuff.....not good with 3 small kids, although their veggies are better quality than New World at the moment. We did a bit of a price comparison this week and a 9kg bag of basmati rice was over $3 cheaper in countdown, and 5kg bags of bread flour were $4 cheaper.

[Georgebulldog]

We shop in Woolworths as it's just there but having just opened some ham I bought 3 days ago & it was best before the 13th June :uhoh I might try Countdown. We have shoped in Pak N Cr** as I like to call it :D but not for me I'm afraid, may go there for formula as about $3 cheaper but otherwise found some things cheaper in Woolies

[Watna]

Just popped out to get a few things there. Bf made me go to pak n save. It was like there was a famine or something coming in there or food was going out of fashion, despite the torrental rain. He's still got that inbuilt student mechanism to go to pak n save even though I don't think it's hugely cheaper, especially for smaller shops. Plus birds live in there, which kind of freaks me out. I'm told from another internet forum that many other pak n saves around the country also have birds living in them!

Think I'll have to work on the OH about woolworths. They're opposite each other so it's not even like he can say pak n save is closer!

[nippa&pippa]

With price of petrol going up, I notice some of you that it is not cheaper foods make you go there, it is supermarket nearer to where you are to prevent waste of petrol win over the cost of cheap food.
I just rather go to my local supermarket, New Worlds, 10mins up the road, rather waste quarter of tank/30mins drive by drive to Pak'n'save in chch for "cheaper foods".

[Familyofmonkeys]

With price of petrol going up, I notice some of you that it is not cheaper foods make you go there, it is supermarket nearer to where you are to prevent waste of petrol win over the cost of cheap food.
I just rather go to my local supermarket, New Worlds, 10mins up the road, rather waste quarter of tank/30mins drive by drive to Pak'n'save in chch for "cheaper foods".

Absolutely....you would spend more money in fuel than you would save. We only go to Countdown (and then stock up a lot on the cheaper items we use) if we are in Westgate for whatever reason as it is 15 minutes away as opposed to NW or Pak 'n' Save that are 2 minutes away. We also got 15c per litre discount voucher from New World this week :)

[dusk]

Especially when you got three kids on tow, New Worlds win me over! as it is nightmare to pack yourself....
Also New Worlds' coupon card and flybuys points make it more cheaper then Pak'n'save


can anyone explain the coupon thing to me please?

walking round the store i saw loads of products with 'coupon' prices but no idea where to get the coupons from.

[Moorf]

Ask for one at the checkout - they'll give you a booklet and there's the main coupon and various others - otherwise you'll get one in your mailbox...

I'm forever forgetting mine and just ask them if they can swipe one for me at the till.. they always do as they have stacks lying around!

Also, if I've done a big shop and I don't have the Fly Buys card I always ask if the person behind me wants the points and swipe theirs....

[dusk]

cool thanks :)
will keep my eyes peeled next time :)

[BkyMonster]

Hmm. Not going to vote as I get different things at different stores. So far have found good prices for assorted things in different places.
As all of them are not really that far away can swing out to PakNsave and go to Raewards (could walk there if I needed more of something too) on the way home and BinInn is a once a month or more trip soooo...
Pak N Save-meat + household stuff. I tend toward the $20 value packs and cut stuff up into smaller portions for freezing.
Bin Inn- Bulk/dry items
Raewards (local thing)- veggies/fruit

[nickydwuk]

So far we split between Pak n Save & Woolworths. Woolies is close to where we are and Pak n Save is not too far. PnS have the bigger boxes of Cornflakes at less than a small box in Woolworths and some other things are cheaper so we do a bit in each. When we move tomorrow not sure where we will go as it will depend on which is nearer. We may even do some online shopping to save on fuel.

[NikT]

I think Countdown & Woolworths are the same co.
They have just refurbished Woolies here in Napier and renamed it; Countdown on Carlyle.
The new Countdown on Carlyle is 200mts away from..........Countdown!!:confused::wah

Nick.:cheers

[melly]

I've just posted this link on the other current supermarket costs thread, but if you missed it:

http://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/article.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=10532552

says woolies is cheapest.

[melly]

Forgot to add that I much prefer the shopping experience at Woolworths to Pak n save.

[925dancer]

I voted Pak n Save from my vague memories of three years ago, I amy change my mind when I'm back in Feb! I would also go to the others if I was passing and needed something, in the latter part of my stay I was at college in Botany (Auckland), so could go where the budget allowed at the time. I also enjoyed the little local organic shops when I was feeling flush. Also the independent fruit and veg shops, butchers and Asian supermarkets all got my custom at times. It's all about shopping around really.

You lot are truly being spoiled over there though, packing your own shopping? What a hardship, not even M&S does that here anymore, particularly if it's busy. ;)

[Alex40]

Raewards (local thing)- veggies/fruit

If you don't mind me asking, in which suburb is Raewards? (don't worry I know Christchurch pretty well) Ta :cheers

[Moorf]

If you don't mind me asking, in which suburb is Raewards? (don't worry I know Christchurch pretty well) Ta :cheers

The one we use is by the airport... http://www.raewardfresh.co.nz/ and I think there's one at Tower Junction (with a good fish shop next door).

[BkyMonster]

There's a Raewards on Ferry in Linwood/Woolston, as well as one in Addington at or near Tower Junction. Not sure how many others there are.

[Alex40]

Thanks! :nice1

[dilanium]

I shop at the local veg market, then we stop by the bulk market around the corner and walk to Woolworths or New World for the rest of what we need.

We do drive there because we buy so much (it's only 2km from our flat), but we just walk from the car to all the stores.

Works out really well for us. Love the veg market. We get fresher, better tasting produce that costs less. When I go shopping this weekend I'll put a list together of what we spent.