As many if you know, my hubby is a deal hunter. As a matter of fact, we met because he was seeking me out to teach him how to coupon shop. Over the years hubby has dropped out of couponing, although he is happy to be my extra body while I am Sunday Morning Shopping. He concentrates on what he knows: electronics and computer deals.
Hubby does like to shop at restaurant supply stores when he gets the opportunity though, and today he dra.. er, I went to the the mother of all restaurant supply stores with him so he could indulge in his hobby of trying to prove to me warehouse-type stores can be cheaper than grocery stores.
Hubby was like a kid in a candy store. My brother and I spent as much time laughing at hubby’s wide eyed look of amazement as we did looking for decent deals. I managed to talk him out of 40# of yams (38¢ a pound, dontchya know), however, we are now the proud owners of (240) Chinese take soup containers with lids – 16 oz size because they were less expensive than the 12oz size. *insert giant eye roll*
Oh and no restaurant depot shopping trip would be complete without this:
Guess I’ll just attach those to my butt right now.
Did he get anything that was really a fantastic deal? Well like anything you have to watch. The soup containers really were an excellent price, and between him and my grandfather they usually have enough soup on hand to warrant the use of oh, maybe 40 of the containers. No idea what plans he had for the other 200. Believe it or not, the jimmies (or sprinkles if you prefer) really were a great price. I still say my butt does not need them, but whatever. He also bought some Munster cheese, liquid smoke, 20# of barley at 60¢/lb and 20# of split peas at 66¢/lb. Oh and we now own 20# of coarse sea salt at 58¢/lb. What in the world!? We’ll have this bucket of sea salt until we die! There were a few other items he bought that I am mentally blocking right about now. My brain can only handle so much.
Life in the Coupons, Deals and More household is always interesting, that is for sure.
We left $120 poorer but I have a hubby that is still basking in the afterglow of all his “deal finds”.
{ 20 comments… read them below or add one }
Ann, I can’t stop laughing. And to think all I got today was 5 12pks of Diet Coke @ CVS for .34 tax.
Ha! This is priceless………….well guess it does have a price……but how funny!
LMAO!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Love it!
Those soup containers do sound tempting.
Made your potato soup tonight, and everyone loved it. It’s low-carb, right?
Hey it sounds like a grand time I’d have bought the soup containers and the sea salt.. I can go thru that stuff in no time… You can use it in salt scrubs in addition to your food!!
Fun fun!!
LOL!
This sounds like a fun trip!
Is this place you went to in WNY?
It is Sally, it is by the Galleria. Click the link above for more information.
Ann
too funny! Were you in town?now that sysco has closed, I don’t know where to go for restaurant supply type stuff.
Patty for a place you do not have to belong, I would recommend Willowbrook Farms across from the Clinton/Bailey Market. There is a produce warehouse down the left, and there is something next to that… perhaps a Sysco?
I know there is a Sysco behind Tops in the Gander Mtn Plaza in NT.
Ann
I love that place! I went last week (to buy for an event). But, for myself, I bought a tub of cooking sherry and a vat of pickled okra. Strange combination, right?
Locally, US Foodservice operates a food supply operation that is open to the public. It was Allen Foods, a regional food supplier, before being purchased by Royal Ahold NV. Will shoppers receive the wholesale prices, no. However, both Sysco and US Foodservice require way more than $120 for backdoor delivery.
From the US Foodservice web site, there is a location in the Buffalo area.
Ann: Sysco closed last fall
Going to Bailey/Clinton is a hike for me unfortuately. Sorrento’s used to have a cash and carry place on Elmwood but I think that is gone too.
I wish we had Costco here in WNY
The one in NT! WOW!
Costco does not thrill me, although hubby (of course) likes it. We dis use Costco to book our last cruise with great success!
The best of the three (IMO) warehouse stores is BJ’s because they allow one coupon per item in the large pack. Items that are an ok deal sometimes turn into a great deal with that perk.
Ann
I heard BJs will only allow one Q per pkg anymore,not per item. I shop there occasionally but have never used coupons so I was really dissapointed when I heard that..
One of my readers was told that at store level a few months ago. I suggested she called corporate, and corporate said the store was misinformed – their coupon policy had not changed. Still one coupon per item inside the pack, not one coupon per pack.
Ann
Good!! Im glad to hear THAT! LOL I was thinking about calling corporate myself just to find out after I posted that.. Thats the way I am sometimes, unfortunately.. open mouth, then go check.
Well I gotta be honest, I don’t know if I will renew my membership once this “extended courtesy” for the screw up of the store manager expires. I’ve been a member for over 8yrs. Up untl 3 yrs ago I never had a problem using “any cpns”, not that I did, hello, before discovering the wonderful world of them.
Since then, I’ve had both FEM’s and store manager reject my coupon policy right to my face.
I’ve called corp, on them twice… my store manager on the first time I presented the store policy; “well I obviously have to call corp. and tell them to change the verbage”. Like he has any power at that level. 2nd time w/ an issue, “those morons over in corp. have no idea what they are talking about”. Alas, they do, he doesnt’ upon yet another confirmation with corp. Hence, another 3 month’s extension of membership, it’s been 9 months now of free membership for me!
But the bottom line is, I have to travel across town to get to another BJ’s With the cost of gas being the way it is, seriously it is not worth my effort and my drive.
I’m waiting until I get my notice of renewal, at which point I will call corp. a third time and tell them I will not renew my membership because regardless what the cpn policy states, and regardless that they are “reaffirming” my understanding of said policy… I am still dealing w/ an ignorant store manager that is advising his staff to act accordingly… so why waste my time…
I can keep you guys posted if you want!!
But of course… I had a hassle with BJs too a couple years ago.. They annoy me but they do some things great which is why I keep both a BJ’s & Costco membership. It works for me.
Ann: have you been to Bufflao Hotel supply in Amherst ? They have a cash and carry place. I was wondering how that is.
Patty
Nope, but aren’t they the dish supply place?
Ann