Bargain Puzzler of the Week: When the Cost is the Same, Does it Matter Where You Buy?

Bargain Puzzler of the Week:

Another Lesson in Changing Your Perspective

Let's say you need Pampers. Let's say that multiple places have them on sale for the same price. Does it matter where you buy them?

 

A local drugstore has Pampers for $8. Your fave big store like Target has the same pack for $8. Online has them for $8, shipped.  

Do You:

A. Buy them at the drugstore

B. Buy them at Target

C. Buy them online

D. It Doesn't matter

E. It Depends. 

The answer is E. It depends.  Not all same priced items really are the same price, all things considered.

IF you are truly going to pay the same out of pocket expense at any location, there are a few factors to consider when making your final decision on where to buy.

• Can you use a reusable shopping bag and get 5c back, like at Target?
• What is the convenience worth? If all the places have the same out of pocket expense, why not buy them online and get the dropped at your front door? Or can you go through Ebates, etc and get cash back from shopping online?
• Can you make other purchases at the drugstore and roll your transaction for even less out of pocket?

You have to decide for yourself when it looks like multiple stores have the same price on something you need. Rarely is the same price really the same price when you are a couponer.

My best advice, especially if you want to buy Pampers out right without couponing or dealing?  Buy them at the drugstore.  Why? I have found that drugstores are the place to buy Jumbo pack diapers when they are the same cost BECAUSE I have had great luck finding extra coupons inside the packs of diapers when I buy the Pampers at the drugstore.

This is also my tip of the week: when you are buying diapers, especially Pampers, feel along the sides of the diapers/pull ups.  If you feel something a bit more rigid or card-stocky inside the pack, SCORE! You just might get home to find a $1 off any Kandoo (which makes them about 49c a pack at Target), or $1 off Tide, etc coupon!  The packages are not usually marked that they include a coupon. I am the weird lady at the drugstore feeling up all the Pampers, just in case... But I have had great luck doing so from time to time.  (Other items than diapers can have unexpected coupons, peelies, rebates, etc attached in a drugstore.. I find that to be the case more often than in a traditional store. Keep an eye out!)

Does it matter where you buy your diapers or other items when they are the same price multiple locations? It can. IF you are willing to look at the bucks deals or feel the packaging up in the drugstores. Or if you are willing to look for cash back perks online. Or, if you are tired and want the convenience of buying that item when you are already in a store. That way you wont be tempted to spend more money on other deals you may find if you go to more than one store. The more locations you go to, the possibility of being tempted by more deals.  (which can be good or bad, depending!)