Huge price difference - how can that be ?
 

I shopped yesterday for an item:
-- A department store had it on SALE 11.99.
-- First discount store had it REGULAR price 9.99.
-- Second discount store (not Dollar Store) had it for 1.00.
Exact same thing. REALLY ?

Wow that's crazy!

Make sure the item at the second discount store is not damaged. They may have gotten it as damaged freight.

I know some of the big box stores will sell the same goods as say, grocery stores, for much less but I find the items in the big box stores tend to be 'seconds' - ergo the lower price. Perhaps that's the reason for the price difference but that is pretty extreme.

....and did you buy? I would buy the one for the $1, take it to the other two stores and loudly ask Why?

Online same thing costs $50 in the US and in Canada $136.
How's that?

Yep, i've been buying Noritake casual china and wanted another piece. the sales are off but allmodern and one other company had it double the price Macy's and Belk and Bed Bath and Beyond did. Go figure!!

from what I remember in school, prices will vary depending on the demand.

Down parkas might be very cheap in warm climates and pricier in colder climates. Will they sell? yes.....but the merchant knows this and will price it to the highest level they can and still move the product.

Sad but true.
Makes me want to shop in other locations. Oh wait....that would cost me money, too.
LOL

My husband bought one of those small round containers of sage for $5.39 for Thanksgiving. My friend saw it and asked why we hadn't gotten the other name brand right beside it for 99 cents. Checked prices when we got groceries today and sure enough.....there was a price difference of $4.40........for the 2 same size little containers!

There are lots of reasons for price differences, especially between US and Canada. Lots of exchange rate stuff I can't keep track of, import taxes, import costs, other taxes, blah, blah, blah. Its a bit here and there but does add up.

And there's the name brand versus off brand discussion. That can go on forever. I usually prefer name brands, but do buy off brands in some things. One thing you have to watch with herbs and spices, Joyce, is that name brands usually process correctly for the most flavor. Off brands, not so much. Processing can be expensive thus the increased cost to the consumer. I've found that difference is worth it. Same with supplements.

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*** Big Lot in our area has spices for 99 cents/$1.00 when Grocery store is $5. or more.
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*** Ollie's $3.99 is a good place for books vs. Book stores $25. up.
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i bought spices in dollar stores and the like until I accidentally spilled a big amount of pepper on my food. I discovered it was incredibly weak so I decided then and there to pour out what spices I got there and buy elsewhere. I don't do grocery stores either. We have a health and organic store in town - they stock a large amount of bulk spices. Their chili powder is amazing and so is everything else.

I'm curious, what exactly were you shopping for?

20 or 22 ounce soup cup with a vented lid. Made by Corningware called "Pop In's".

I was really curious, too. Thanks for asking and answering. :)

In the case of the sage, both containers were top brand names

I guess price differences in things is "competition".... I personally enjoy looking for the best price, then purchasing...a feeling of "gotcha!".

I know it sure is crazy. It pays to shop around. Ebay amazes me with the different vendors. The prices can drastically be different. Also the shipping charges at some of the shops can be a real deal breaker.

Smaller discount stores buy the left overs or over stocks of the bigger stores. The Walmart and Target returns, clearanced and non restockable items go to a reseller who sells the lot to other buyers. Tuesday Morning stores gets the high end stores close outs and clearance items. Big Lots gets Tuesday Mornings closed out merchandise and the distribution continues until the items hit rock bottom in price. Food items are usually older and weaken but sellable.