13 Things Your Grocer Won’t Tell You

From 13 Things They Won't Tell You, Reader's Digest, 2012Updated: Mar. 20, 2019

With so many products and options at your fingertips when you go to the grocery store, we have 13 secrets from a grocer that might just help you make your choices a little easier.

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1. Pick the Coupons With A Barcode

They are the easiest to scan. The other ones can take an eternity, but if you (and everyone in line behind you) are willing to wait, it could mean even more savings in your pocket.

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2. Dig For The Freshest Product

It’s okay, everybody does it.

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3. If You Hate Crowds and Lines, Shop at Dinnertime

Beat the crowds by doing your shopping between 5 to 9 p.m. or even later. Only 4 percent of shoppers hit the aisles between 9 p.m. and 8 a.m. Looking for the least-crowded day of the week? Go on a Wednesday.

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4. Some Items Have Been There (a lot) Longer Than Others

That starfruit has been on the shelf a lot longer than the broccoli. The reason is that familiar produce turns over more quickly while exotic items tend to stay on the shelf a bit longer.

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5. The More You See, The More You Buy

The more products you see, the more you are likely to buy, that’s why the aisles are so long and the milk is usually in the far corner. Avoid the centre aisles because that’s where you’ll find the junk food, like sodas and snack food.

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6. Employees At Chains Could Be More Friendly

Shop at chains that are employee-owned, suggest customer-satisfaction surveys. When employees have a stake in the profits, it shows in their attitude.

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7. Don’t Be A Grazer

The ‘grazers’ order food at the deli, eat it as they’re shopping, and get rid of the wrappers before they check out. We also call that stealing.

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8. I’m Not Just Selling Groceries, I’m Selling Real Estate

Look high and low – literally – for good values from smaller manufacturers who can’t afford to stock their products in the eye-level sweet spot.

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9.We’re Marketing Your Kids, Too

That’s why we put the rainbow-coloured cereals and other kiddie catnip at their eye level.

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10. Be Wary of Special Offers

When people see signs with numbers such as ‘8 for $10!’ or ‘Limit: 5 per customer’, they buy 30 to 100 percent more than they otherwise might have!

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11. Shop Ahead of Closing Time

Please don’t start your shopping just as we are closing. It’s been a long day. We just want to go home.

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Tolikoff Photography/Shutterstock

12. You’ll Throw A Lot of It Out

Even when you walk out of the grocery store, full of best intentions, you’ll still end up throwing about 12 percent of it out. Try planning your meals ahead of time to avoid wasting food and money.

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13. Check the Sizes

Manufacturers are constantly trying to repackage things to make them sound like a better deal. Try not to let the fancy new packaging fool you; if you look closely, you may find that the new package actually carries less product.

Originally Published: April 12, 2013