Subject: scratch N dent groceries Date: 8/3/99 1:29 PM Author: forumcap Number: of 20397

Hi all,

A few weeks ago, I had to travel to the next big town for my job.

One evening when I had spare time and had just eaten at a nearby restaurant, I finally stopped checked out a local store I had seen before, Cheep Foods. It's basically, a scratch and dent grocery store, with a few other goods such as returned curtains, plastic boxes with cracked lids, etc.

I went nuts when I discovered brand name staples like tomato sauce, canned tomatoes, cereal, chili, canned soups, etc. all at a fraction of what I usually pay. I stocked up with a huge box full of mostly canned goods and cereal for $40 -- all stuff I usually use.

Example, 15-oz Hunts tomato products that would usually be nearly a buck, 45 cents. Cereal that is usually $3 something a box. -- $2. (usually use coupons for these things at the regular stores). A lot of the stuff I bought, when I got it to the cash register, the person said, "oh, we're taking another 75 cents off these cereals" and "oh, these canned goods (not all) are now half off the marked price."

Needless to say, when I had to make another trip to the same town last week, I stocked up again on stuff that either wasn't available the first time or that which I had already consumed from the first shopping trip. I bought two curtain panels (something I was shopping for an hoping to pay no more than $7) for $3.50.

Found some cook-in-the-cup convenience meals that were reduced at the checkout to 3 for a buck. These are name brand items that I experiemented with previously at $1 or more (I take a lot of lunches to work). This time it was about $50. Between my garden and this stuff, I can eat for months!

OK, the cans are dented. Some of the cereal boxes are taped back together. Some of the cereal is outdated (barely). Everything I've consumed from these purchases so far is fine.

Anybody else ever try these kinds of stores? I'm so happy I finally stopped in and looked around!