Odd Bargains

One of the joys of life is to stop into the local surplus stores. Places like Big Lots and MacFrugals are used by manufacturers to dump their mistakes. They generally have at least some inventory that leads you to ask "what are they thinking."

For example, Proctor & Gamble introduced "Folgers Ultra". Use less coffee each morning. What an idea. It sure worked for Tide, Cheer and a lot of cleaning products.

On another note, the club stores like to try out items that they rhink will sell. And usually, well, they don't.

Costco is trying to sell a few pallets of "Butter Pecan" flavored syrup for $4.97/qt. At first, I thought it was made of corn syrup but it actually is organic brown rice syrup.

Seasonal products also can be a success ... if the store has the right demographics. Currently, the Crystal Lake Sam's Club is selling 3-24oz jars of Kedem Gefilte Fish for $4.81. Somehow, I think they will be taking steeper markdowns.

BTW, Costco prices ending in ".97" are clearance. At Sam's Club, the number is ".81".

Wow -- fun and useful information. Thanks.

I love the "bargain" shopping at Costco; Just in the food categories, I remember picking up multiple salad dressings for .97 (Vidalia onion dressing) which turned out quite good, but we haven't bought salad dressing now in years since we prefer to make it "fresh." I rather enjoy the "case" of Frontera salsa that I purchased on discount as well - yet another item I could make on my own, but why bother roasting my own peppers?

There for a while, Costco was discounting the Paul Newman dressing - two large bottles for $3.97. And the Empire Kosher chicken breasts for $0.99 was not a bad deal although they were not all that great.