Re: Corned Beef Brisket (and a mild rant)

On 3/14/2025 6:51 AM, Janet wrote:

In article <vqvauq$3mvoq$1@dont-email.me>,
j_mcquown@comcast.net says...

>
I love corned beef brisket.  Unfortunately it is only available in
grocery stores around St. Patrick's Day.  This is why I try to buy three
of them so I can stash a couple in the freezer to cook later in the year.
>
This is actually a mild rant about those grocery store "loyalty" cards.
I went to my usual supermarket (Publix) yesterday.  They advertised
corned beef brisket priced at $4.99/lb.  They don't require a "card" to
get that price.  Unfortunately, they only had one left.  I bought it and
put it in the freezer.
>
This morning on my way to work I stopped at Food Lion to buy a couple
more and fortunately they still had a few.  But Food Lion requires what
they call an MVP card to get the same price as Publix ($4.99/lb.).
>
I paid just over $19 each for two of them at Food Lion.  Both slightly
over 3.5 lbs.  If I hadn't used the Food Lion "card", it would have cost
me $23 more for the two briskets.  It says so on the receipt.  My
question is WHY?!
>
This is what I don't understand about those loyalty cards/apps.  Let's
pretend I was visiting friends or family from a place that doesn't have
a Food Lion [insert other grocery stores that require loyalty cards/apps
to get the best price].  I'd have no reason to have their "card".  Let's
further pretend I decided to go to this grocery store to buy a corned
beef brisket to cook for my friends.  Is there any logical reason why I
should have to pay $30 for a corned beef someone with the *card* could
by for $19?  I can't think of a single reason why they are allowed to
price gouge someone simply because they don't have a store loyalty card.
>
Jill

    Do you have to pay for store loyalty cards there?
      Janet UK
  

Often the opposite.  You may get a bonus of some sort for signing up.
Publix will give you the sale price and no need for a card.  OTOH, I use their app on my phone to pay.  Occasionally, I get a notice, spend $60 and get a $3 discount.