var json_comments = new Array("
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nagumi
January 9, 2009 6:33 PM
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Someone ordered too many gallon-sized jugs!

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2 replies
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Anonymous
January 9, 2009 11:13 PM
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@nagumi:

Walmart is very big and very tricky. My war story...
Used to by gallon jars of Peter Piper Giant Dill Pickles.I'd go thru 5-6gal.jars per year.Paid 3.24 per gal. jar.Approx.
Went in thier one day, no more gallon jars! Just half gallons!
Half gallons for apprx. 3 cents MORE than the old gallon jars!!Now I only buy thier cheap cappucinco mix and my canned tomatoe stuff there. CROOKS !!!

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SkittleKicks
January 9, 2009 6:33 PM
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Buy one gallon and run for the hills?

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3 replies
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MrBlastotron
January 9, 2009 8:22 PM
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@SkittleKicks: I can get on board with that.

I'm wondering what the SKU's on the milk were. If perhaps they were supposed to be a \"Prairie Farms\" v. and \"off-brand\" or if it was Vitamin D v. 1% or some such thing.

Wal-mart: Everyday 'whoa' prices.

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CaliforniaCajun
January 10, 2009 7:52 AM
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@MrBlastotron: Sorry; don't look for interesting explanations.

Wal-Mart knows what home ec. teachers have known for years - Americans are really bad at math.

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theblackdog
January 9, 2009 9:56 PM
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@MrBlastotron: If that's true, someone screwed up programming the printer then because all the tags do say \"GV VIT D Milk [size]\"

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1stMarDiv
January 9, 2009 6:34 PM
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I'm by no means a food snob, but I just can't bring myself to drink milk from Wal-Mart...

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28 replies
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Anonymous
January 10, 2009 6:10 AM
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i worked for a grocery store and sorry to burst the bubble. it all comes from the same place at least in Florida. all from MacArthur Dairy in Miami, FL i can't count the number of times i got Wal-Mart milk in my shipments. we had extra labels and we slapped ours right on. same milk for all.

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johnva
January 11, 2009 9:48 PM
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@GiuseppeTalos: No, it might be the same milk if you're buying a store brand. It's not the same if you buy something different like Organic Valley.

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Trai_Dep
January 11, 2009 4:48 PM
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@GiuseppeTalos: Which is why there's a preference by some by Alta Dena, or the Trader Joe's brands. There do exist alternatives, if you look. :)

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SOhp101
January 9, 2009 11:09 PM
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@1stMarDiv: I am, and most definitely a milk snob at that. The only 'generic' brand of milk that I like is the Kirkland Signature brand (Costco) which is hardly generic at all.

Generic milk tends to be... I don't know how to explain... watery? Spoils faster? The texture (I'm not even sure if I'm allowed to use that when it comes to liquids) of the milk just isn't quite the same.

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failurate
January 9, 2009 8:34 PM
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@1stMarDiv: I'm on board with you, I'll only drink milk from grocery stores, and then, only from certain grocery stores. I don't trust Wal-mart, drug stores, gas stations, Target, or anyone else to properly handle food, especially milk, whose taste and quality is so dependent constant temperature control.

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theprimechuck
January 9, 2009 8:23 PM
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@1stMarDiv: Actually it kinda does. Great Value brand milk is sold and is pretty much the same, pasteurized bovine lactate you'd get with other brands. Larger supercenter Walmarts carry Great Value and any the other local creameries. For example, right now I live in Iowa where the largest creamery in the state is Anderson Erickson. On the Walmart shelf I can get Great Value, for a little more Robert's, for a little more than that Anderson Erickson.

This was the same setup in Wisconsin, where Great Value, Kemps and Land O' Lakes were sold in the same refrigerator section. For perishable food, Walmart has a very good track record on providing shelf space to local vendors.

For most milk that have just been homogenized and pasteurized there is no difference in constancy, shelf life or flavor (there are a few exceptions). It is an entirely different story for more processed dairy products like Cottage Cheese, Cheese Curds, Sour Cream, Egg Nog, Chocolate Milk, etc. etc.

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boxjockey68
January 9, 2009 8:03 PM
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@1stMarDiv: good god, the mere thought of eating or drinking anything from walmart sends shivers down my spine.

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gparlett
January 9, 2009 7:18 PM
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@1stMarDiv: Milk is a commodity item. It is all exactly the same. This is like preferring one brand of flour over another.

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kmw2
January 9, 2009 9:56 PM
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@gparlett: If you bake a lot, you do learn that there are definite differences between flour brands - for example, some are drier and require more liquid in order to turn out correctly. Just because it's treated the same on the stock market doesn't mean individual suppliers don't have differences.

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johnva
January 9, 2009 7:42 PM
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@gparlett: Not all milk and not all flour is a \"commodity item\". Most is, yes, but not all.

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Trai_Dep
January 9, 2009 7:21 PM
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@gparlett: tee hee. Following your logic, so is \"meat\". All from animals, no difference, right?

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kimsama
January 9, 2009 8:19 PM
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@Trai_Dep: You should have put the quotation marks around the word \"logic\" in that sentence. ^_~

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1stMarDiv
January 9, 2009 7:25 PM
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@Trai_Dep:


Yeah, that didn't make sense to me either. There are all kinds of factors that can alter the taste of different milk brands.

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nataku8_e30
January 9, 2009 7:07 PM
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@1stMarDiv: I have to agree with you there. While I don't think I've actually ever bought Walmart milk, I stopped shopping for groceries there after noticing that most fresh foods I purchase at Walmart last less than 50% as long as the same foods purchased at my local Kroger. I've had several experiences with fruit going bad within 2 days of purchase (and they seemed fine at the time of purchase).

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Triborough
January 9, 2009 6:58 PM
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@1stMarDiv: I would never buy anything from Wal Mart, especially food.
No doubt they are working on ways to cheaply bring tainted Chinese milk over.

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warf0x0r
January 9, 2009 6:49 PM
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@1stMarDiv: Kwik Trip used to sell milk in bags, which may be more environmentally friendly now that I think about it, but was a huge laugh when I was in college.

@mgy: It just tastes wrong. Can't explain it... of course as an adult I rarely ever drink milk anymore.

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mavkato
January 10, 2009 5:06 AM
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@warf0x0r: they still do. i buy it all the time.

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batsy
January 10, 2009 4:21 AM
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@warf0x0r: Usually all we have at our house is milk in bags. You put the bags into a plastic pitcher and cut a slit in a corner to pour from. It's cheaper, and better for the environment. It's very popular in Canada. This is a lovely milk bag fan site: [home.cogeco.ca]

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catastrophegirl chooses not to fly
January 10, 2009 4:57 AM
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@batsy: seems like a great idea, but i would just giggle constantly - i have a male friend who refers to breasts as 'milk bags'

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PalmPre_GitEmSteveDave
January 9, 2009 7:52 PM
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@warf0x0r: @snapdoodle: @1stMarDiv: @Triborough: @Eyebrows McGee: @amhorach: [www.sciam.com]

Just heard that on Scientific American's podcast. A researcher gave three groups of people two glasses of beer. One was regular, one was regular w/balsamic vinegar added. One group was not told about the vinegar, another was told, and one was told afterward. The ones who were never told and the ones who were told after both rated the vinegar beer as tasting good. The group that was told beforehand said the beer was bad. They say initial perception changes the experience, even if they would have liked it w/o knowing.

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Dooley
January 9, 2009 8:51 PM
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@PalmPre_GitEmSteveDave:

Mmmmm, Balsamic Vinegar. I say it can make almost ANYTHNIG taste better, even beer!

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eXo
January 9, 2009 6:55 PM
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@warf0x0r: I didn't realize milk was a children's drink

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Melatonin
January 9, 2009 11:38 PM
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@exo: Yes, it's a children's drink: for the children of cows.

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DePaulBlueDemon
January 10, 2009 3:52 AM
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@Melatonin:

Exactly!

Bless you for saying that. :)

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floraposte
January 9, 2009 9:42 PM
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@exo: On most of the planet it is. That's why we grow out of being able to drink it.

However, for those of us who can still drink it, much lactic fun can still be had.

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britne
January 9, 2009 7:35 PM
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@exo: mammals in general do not drink mother's milk past infancy. humans are the only mammals that drink the milk of other species, and well past the infant years.

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snapdoodle
January 9, 2009 6:54 PM
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@warf0x0r: @mgy:

I think it's the idea of buying food from walmart when the company on a whole is not known for its consumer/employee care.

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snowburnt
January 9, 2009 7:01 PM
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@snapdoodle: not to mention how it strong arms it's vendors. I wouldn't be surprised if the cows weren't being fed for weeks at a time so that the farmer could afford to sell to walmart

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DePaulBlueDemon
January 10, 2009 3:51 AM
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@snowburnt:

I know all about Wal-Mart's strong-arm tactics, but we can't just go about assuming things like that, can we?

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RedwoodFlyer
January 9, 2009 10:33 PM
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@snowburnt:

Yeah, that makes complete sense! We all know that starving cows is the best way to improve their milk output!

And we all know that the farmer will be zapped with a cattle prod by Sam Walton's ghost if he refuses to sell to Wal-Mart...

And we all know that it was Wal-Mart who demanded that farmers use double the growth hormones in their cows to make milk cost even less...oh wait, what's that? They're the first large retailer to grow a pair and ban it? [www.naturalnews.com]

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Eyebrows McGee (now with more baby!)
January 9, 2009 7:35 PM
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@snowburnt: Some organic dairy companies have refused to sell to Wal-Mart, saying they couldn't meet Wal-Mart's price demands and simultaneously meet the criteria for organic certification and various federally-mandated safety requirements.

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zentex
January 9, 2009 6:43 PM
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@1stMarDiv: If you never saw the label, you'd never know.

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Adrienne Willis
January 9, 2009 6:39 PM
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@1stMarDiv: Just out of curiosity why can't you? It's milk, it comes from a cow so whats the problem?

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anonymousryan
January 9, 2009 11:16 PM
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@Adrienne Willis: But does it come from cows? Low Prices. Rat Milk.

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tmed
January 9, 2009 8:17 PM
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@Adrienne Willis: Because Walmart has a history of demanding such low prices that producers of various products have stated that they lower their quality standards to get a high enough volume to turn a profit at the reduced purchase price Wal-Mart offered.


Milk and other foods are too risky for me to buy in this situation.

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Eyebrows McGee (now with more baby!)
January 9, 2009 7:34 PM
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@Adrienne Willis: Tastes different. It might be the companies, or it might be the supply chain. I live like half a mile or so from a big dairy processing/distribution plant, and the supermarkets that get their milk from that plant have way fresher and better-tasting milk than the supermarkets that get it from other (read: farther away) places. They also have longer expiration dates if they're from the place right nearby.

But there are also differences among how it tastes from different companies, too, which could be cattle feed, or it could be residual flavors from pasteurizing or from equipment it passes through. Not necessarily bad, but different.

Also, if you've ever had \"raw milk\" (from any milk-giving animal, not just cows), you'll noticed how very different the milk tastes from season to season as their pasturage changes. (I had an uncle who kept dairy goats.)

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White Speed Receiver
January 9, 2009 6:52 PM
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@Adrienne Willis: @mgy: @zentex: I'm a bit of a milk snob. There actually is a difference between the tastes of milk from different companies, and Wal-Mart milk comes from one of the bad ones.


/spent a few summers on a farm

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zentex
January 9, 2009 7:24 PM
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@White Speed Receiver: /spent a few summers on a farm

you can't compare store-bought milk to \"real milk\" (as in damn near straight from the cow with very little \"processing\"). I was raised on milk that came from the hundred-year-old, family-run dairy next door...that is a difference you can see/smell/taste/feel. The store-bought variety all tastes/smells the same if you ask me.

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chrisexv6
January 9, 2009 7:21 PM
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@White Speed Receiver:

The defect in that one is bleach.

This tastes like the cow got into an onion patch.

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timsgm1418
January 11, 2009 4:22 PM
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@chrisexv6: I had that problem with a certain brand of milk when I lived in Phoenix, it had a oniony taste to it, however the store brand was good...must be what they feed the cows

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mgy
January 9, 2009 6:43 PM
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@Adrienne Willis: I'm curious, as well, to hear the reason. I wonder if Wal-Mart cows are fundamentally different in some way that affects the taste of the milk.

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1stMarDiv
January 9, 2009 6:54 PM
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@mgy:


I really don't have a good answer for any of you. I love milk and I drink it all the time, but for some reason I just can't drink their milk. Maybe it's the label, or the smell, or whatever. And like I said earlier, I'm not a food snob and I regularly buy Kroger or Biggs brand products over the national brands, even some Great Value products. Except the milk.


But I digress from the subject of this post. This isn't really even news here. The same thing happens with 2-Liter soft drinks compared to 20 oz. bottles of the same product near the cash registers. That's why you always look at the price-per-ounce when shopping.

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Anonymous
January 10, 2009 5:05 AM
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@1stMarDiv: It does smell bad! i think its because of bad bottling methods used by the company. i stopped buying milk from them because i accidently bought a jug which had a cap that wasn't seeled propperly...because of that the milk had gone bad and there were little crusty things around the spout.

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Murph1908
January 9, 2009 9:36 PM
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@1stMarDiv:
The main difference in the sodas you refer to is the refrigeration of the 20 oz bottles.

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eXo
January 9, 2009 6:58 PM
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@1stMarDiv: 20 oz bottles are that price due to convenience. It is a case of \"on the go\" versus large quantity. Same with individual candy bars versus boxes of candy bars. 1/2 gallon jugs of milk however are not for \"on the go\".

In my life I have never seen a half gallon of milk cost more than a full gallon. If you can rationalize that as 'normal', than I have half a car i'd like to sale you.

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thrid001
January 10, 2009 10:43 PM
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@exo: Poor analogy. You do not pay for a car based on size. You may actually pay more for a much smaller car (sports cars) then you would for a larger car. I am no defender of Wal Mart, but milk in the grocery business is a loss leader. They sell it cheap to get you in the store. Two gallons of milk for $5 is no deal for me. Maybe the sell by dates on the half gallon milk are 10 days out, while the gallons are in 3 days.

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emptydarkone
January 9, 2009 6:35 PM
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Wow. Just wow. Okay, maybe unbelievable too, or is it? Hmmm.

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1 replies
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im.thatoneguy
January 13, 2009 7:39 AM
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@emptydarkone:
Not unbelievable at all.


I always buy a full gallon because 9/10 it's on sale and cheaper than the half gallon. Depressing when I throw out half a gallon perm onth but meh... what can a single guy do?

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SegamanXero
January 9, 2009 6:36 PM
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1/2 gallon > 2 whole gallons > 1 gallon?

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2 replies
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SegamanXero
January 9, 2009 6:40 PM
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@segamanxero: I'd assume by my calculations that a half gallon is superior then all the rest and is worth paying the mark up.

and two one gallon jugs are superior and worth the mark up to a single gallon, but not superior to a half gallon...

I'm certain there is some magic pixie dust or something that makes the milk better when you over pay.

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queenofdenial
January 9, 2009 9:42 PM
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@segamanxero: in my experience, the half gallons generally have a shorter fridge life since the stores do not sell them as quickly.

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Let's do the Time Warp agaaaaaaain!!!
January 9, 2009 6:37 PM
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Great Value my ass...

Now please go shop somewhere that doesn't treat its employees lower than microbes living in dirt.

(Although I admit I just picked up an LCD TV from Wal-Mart... I hated myself and being in that store every minute I was there. Right from the start where I asked the hag standing at the entrance if she had any ads at her booth. It was about 3pm, and they ran out that morning...)

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12 replies
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TCTH
January 10, 2009 5:35 AM
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@BlackMage is doing the Time Warp agaaaaaaain!!!: Do you have any idea how comically hypocritical that post was?

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geoffhazel
January 10, 2009 3:10 AM
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@BlackMage is doing the Time Warp agaaaaaaain!!!: I'm thinking BlackMage is wishing for an edit or delete post button right about now....

I would be after getting roasted like that -- and deserving it!!

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Trick
January 9, 2009 9:44 PM
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@BlackMage is doing the Time Warp agaaaaaaain!!!:

What a hypocrite you are. You are also the reason why Wal*Mart will never change. You bitch about their policies then go and buy something from them because it was cheap.

Oh but you held your nose the whole time you were handing Wal*Mart your money, right?

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downwithmonstercable
January 9, 2009 7:18 PM
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@Let's do the Time Warp agaaaaaaain!!!: So...you won't shop at Wal-mart to protest its treatment of employees, unless it's a deal too good to pass up? Nice.

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Admiral_John
January 9, 2009 7:12 PM
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@Let's do the Time Warp agaaaaaaain!!!: So you hate the store unless they can hook you up with cheap electronics? And then it's okay for you to go to the store and belittle the employees?

Hypocrite.

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eXo
January 9, 2009 7:16 PM
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@wchamilton: you know, your right. You go and try to call wal-mart out on how they treat their employees, yet then you turn around and call the employee you ask for help a \"hag\". I doubt her management has ever called her a hag, so you are already treating them worse than wal-mart.

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eXo
January 9, 2009 7:08 PM
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@snowburnt: in todays job market, a job is considered GOOD. People getting a paycheck is GOOD. Having an employer who does not fire you for complaining about no heater is GOOD. Walmart gets a bad rap because it is a HUGE target. I'd rather buy from them then the little local guy who jacks up his prices.

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winstonthorne
January 9, 2009 6:51 PM
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@Let's do the Time Warp agaaaaaaain!!!: I worked at Wal-Mart as an overnight grocery stocker for 8 months in 2004. I was treated very well by all of my superiors, despite terrible job performance and worse attendance; in fact, I actually feel guilty about how *I* treated *them* as employers.

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sebadoh128
January 9, 2009 6:50 PM
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@Let's do the Time Warp agaaaaaaain!!!:


So you want Wal Mart to treat it's employees better, but you call a random Wal Mart employee a hag? Sometimes change starts at home.

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Superawesomerad
January 9, 2009 6:40 PM
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@Let's do the Time Warp agaaaaaaain!!!: I'm sure the \"hag\" won't miss you.

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cabjf
January 9, 2009 6:37 PM
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So how much would three be? Or is that just not allowed?

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1 replies
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ccouvillion
January 9, 2009 6:44 PM
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@cabjf: If you have to ask, you can't afford it.

Seriously, a gallon seems to be the sweet spot here. I can't imagine what a 1/2 pint costs.

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IrvCrapper
January 9, 2009 6:38 PM
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For some reason, and I've never been able to understand it, it takes the sacrifice of more Chinese babies to produce half gallons versus full gallons.

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Outrun1986
January 9, 2009 6:41 PM
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My Sams club routinely has milk that is priced higher than the Wal Mart that is right next door (and higher than many other grocers in the area), now try to explain that one!

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3 replies
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RedwoodFlyer
January 9, 2009 10:39 PM
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@Outrun1986: Sams Club usually has milk from name brands...and if you compare prices of the same brand at SC vs. WM, it's usually cheaper.

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eXo
January 9, 2009 6:49 PM
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@Outrun1986: At least that is different stores and not one wire rack away.

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catastrophegirl chooses not to fly
January 10, 2009 5:00 AM
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@exo: except that it's BARELY different stores since sam's club is a walmart owned company and probably buys from the same suppliers

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TheKeg
January 9, 2009 6:42 PM
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And just where do you live? That's almost half price of what I pay here. :( I bought a gallon yesterday for 4.19

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5 replies
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edicius
January 10, 2009 3:46 PM
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@TheKeg: Was wondering the same thing myself. $2.25 for a gallon of milk would be an incredible bargain out here in Jersey. However, my wife and I can rarely even get through a half-gallon before its expiration date. I need to find me some quarter-gallon sizes of 1% milk.

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Colage
January 9, 2009 7:49 PM
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@TheKeg: I think the gallon price is just mis-printed. Here (So Cal) most stores sell conventional milk for $3.50/gal with a steep discount if you buy two gallons.

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tashiking
January 9, 2009 6:50 PM
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@TheKeg:

I am so sorry. Bought a new gallon last night [expiry date was 1/16/09] for $1.92 at our Tesco.

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Dan Misterc Champagne
January 14, 2009 5:45 PM
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@Tashi King: That's ok, we know you folks get screwed on gas by the litre.

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eXo
January 9, 2009 6:50 PM
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@TheKeg: I live in Dallas. The Schepps brand which was in between all these price shenanigans was $4.50 a gallon. I think it was a red herring to try and distract me from the logic black hole around it.

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DaynaRT
January 9, 2009 6:43 PM
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I wish I lived where milk was less than $3/gallon.

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5 replies
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Rebekah Moore
January 12, 2009 1:27 PM
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Milke was crazy expensive in Southern Georgia during the whole gas mess, too. I hated buying it anywhere other than Wal-mart because Food Lion, which I live closer too, had milk prices that sometimes hit 5.00 per gallon. Walmart got up to 4.50. And that was the non-name brand stuff.

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Oranges w/ Cheese hates what Christmas has become
January 9, 2009 6:49 PM
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@DaynaRT: Seriously! Milk here almost got up to $5 during the gas craziness.

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ColoradoShark
January 9, 2009 7:58 PM
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@Oranges w/ Cheese: Dude, I think you were accidentally drinking gasoline....

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Ratty
January 10, 2009 1:19 AM
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@ColoradoShark: No, it got up to almost $5 a gallon here as well. Stupid Californian dairies.

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stpauliegirl
January 9, 2009 7:36 PM
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@Graypark: Hahaha, you beat me to it!


I've always lived in WI or MN. Mmmmmm, reasonably priced milk...

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homerjay wants Boston Legal back!
January 9, 2009 6:43 PM
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I think I'm becoming desensitized to these WalMart stories..... This just doesn't surprise me anymore.

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Dethzilla
January 9, 2009 6:46 PM
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That's walmarts way of saying... \"Don't stock up on our milk.\"

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TrueBlue63
January 9, 2009 6:47 PM
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Buy organic milk, you do not want to know what is in the regular stuff. (Organic has some of the same things in it, but the quantity of anti-biotics, hormones and other far grosser things in non-organic milk is staggering)

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12 replies
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GoVegan
January 11, 2009 1:02 AM
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@TrueBlue63: This is true, RBGH is especially troublesome and there is often pus or somatic cells found in milk.

[www.milksucks.com]

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Trai_Dep
January 11, 2009 4:50 PM
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@GoVegan: Mmm, pus. It's not just for breakfast any more!
I look at RBGH as a marker of more inhumane, crappier milking practices, regardless if we absorb the hormones or not.

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MrEvil
January 10, 2009 12:09 AM
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@TrueBlue63: Antibiotics in the milk is a load of bullshit. Back when my dad was in the dairy business, if you gave a dairy heifer antibiotics you couldn't milk her anymore because the anitbiotics destroy the enzymes in the milk that are required for making cheese (Rennet). I'm also sure if there were residual antibiotics in modern milk (my dad got out of the dairy business back in the 70's) that the antibiotics would also destroy any synthetic rennet added at the cheese plant.


However, I think the beef industry has gone way overboard with antibiotics in slaughter steers.


I would also like to note that drinking raw milk is taking your life into your own hands. Before the widespread use of pasteurization milk was the direct cause of most food borne illness. Pasteurization does not alter the nutritional content of milk in any significant way. The few nutrients in milk that are harmed by pasteurization aren't even present in milk in sufficient quantities to benefit you anyway.

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Anonymous
January 9, 2009 9:51 PM
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@TrueBlue63: The only organic thing that I buy is eggs, and that's because they are the only eggs I can eat, since the egg farms started dosing their chickens with penicillin. It absolutely sucks to not be able to have anything with non-organic eggs because of the threat of an allergic reaction.

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theprimechuck
January 9, 2009 8:27 PM
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@TrueBlue63: Organic Milk is usually ultra pasteurized, which basically means most of the proteins have been denatured and your milk doesn't have much milk in it. With how cheap soy juice has become and how they've been able to emulate the consistency of milk, you might be better off getting that. Unless you believe the studies of increase Alzheimer's from consuming so.

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eXo
January 9, 2009 7:02 PM
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@TrueBlue63: All those hormones and antibiotics and other 'far grosser' things have never hurt me and I've been drinking and eating non organic stuff my whole life. I would venture to guess all this damned organic food is the reason allergies are on the rise. Kids don't get exposed to anything 'bad', and therefor they have no defense for it.

Now seriously, this sort of stuff is regulated by the FDA. If there was anything causing any problems in it, there would be action taken (eventually - yes, i know its not overnight).

Just as you can claim how bad this is for me, i can easily claim that your buying into the 'hype' of organic food, paying through the nose for it, and seeing as how new the trend is - there is absolutely no scientific data to prove it is any better.

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thrid001
January 10, 2009 10:48 PM
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@exo: Actually, the reason for increase in allergies is because of factory farms pumping things into animals and animal by products people consume. The organic movement is still sucha small percentage of the overall market it really is statistically insignificant. By the way, milk is not designed to be drunk by humans anyway. Well animal milk anyway

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HIV 2 Elway
January 9, 2009 8:12 PM
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@exo: Slapping organic on a product is more of a marketing tactic than anything. But, every company should have a strategy for raising their prices.

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Trai_Dep
January 9, 2009 8:36 PM
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@HIV 2 Elway Resurrected: Only because the big agri-businesses fight, tooth and nail, to prevent an \"organic\" label that actually means something useful to consumers.
Don't like their highjacking of the term to the point of uselessness? Fight their lobbyists' efforts at watering down the use of the term.

Remember those halcyon days of yore (talking a couple decades ago, max) when you didn't need to handle raw meat as though it were a biohazard, when millions weren't taken out by poisoning, when contaminants weren't a monthly occurrence? When hormones, antibiotics and gods knows what else wasn't routinely pumped into our kids' food? When a mad cow could be fixed by making yokel kids stop throwing rocks at the herd?

Hardly a period of Bolshevik communism, right? Those are largely the standards that a reliable organic labeling would take us back to. It's a sign of how screwed up Big Agra has made things that such a modest change is such a big deal.

And, it's simply labeling, which no one should resist: informed public, let the free market decide. Everyone wins. Except deceitful conglomerates.

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eXo
January 9, 2009 8:33 PM
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@HIV 2 Elway Resurrected: i agree, although im not going to try to convince any of the holier than though people around here.

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girlleastlikelyto
January 9, 2009 8:27 PM
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@HIV 2 Elway Resurrected: That is not accurate. The use of the word \"organic\" on food means that it has to meet certain specifically defined standards. That often means greater costs for the company producing organic food. It's far too much trouble to be certified organic to do it just as a scheme to raise your prices.

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Trai_Dep
January 9, 2009 7:32 PM
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@exo: It's refreshing to see such faith in government regulators after the GOP has had eight years of running them. In fact, the SEC has done such a STELLAR job, I can see where you're coming from.
There's an argument that the hormone-infested, antibiotic-laden food products are a cause of the rise in allergies: since kids aren't exposed to normal, harmless bugs, they don't have as robust immune systems so they go haywire as they get older.
And it's the USDA that regulates milk.

But besides that, you're batting 1000: I think your use of \"and\" was accurate.

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duncanfj
January 9, 2009 7:32 PM
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@exo: Actually, there is a great deal of scientific evidence backing up the claim that antibiotics and growth hormones do have an adverse effect on human health. And your allergies claim is assbackwards: the lack of antibiotics would be good because our immune systems would actually have something to fight off. The reason allergies are on the rise is because we are building hermetically sealed houses and kids are sitting inside instead of going outside to expose themselves to all of the crap we did growing up.

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corporatedrone
January 9, 2009 7:38 PM
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@duncanfj: Also, the fact that Canada and Europe do not allow the sale of milk with hormones in it is slightly alarming. I'm sure someone will argue us 'mericans are just smarter, but if you look at the age at which our girls are going into puberty (argued to be caused by milk's hormones), it's a little scary. I think I'll take mine without, thank you.

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Mr. Guy
January 9, 2009 6:51 PM
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@TrueBlue63: can you elaborate? what's so bad about normal milk?

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Ubermunch
January 9, 2009 7:52 PM
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@Mr. Guy:

Well... here's some light reading from the industry...

[www.moomilk.com]

Mmmmmm.... somatic cells and Rice Crispies.....

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Ubermunch
January 9, 2009 7:52 PM
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@Ubermunch:

PS: I drink milk practically every day... Skim FTW!

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th1nwhiteduke
January 9, 2009 8:18 PM
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@Ubermunch: what's it like drinking watered down semen with your frosted mini wheats? gag.

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Anonymous
January 9, 2009 6:48 PM
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I know some states limit WIC Milk Coupons (Foodstamps) to half-gallon purchases. So instead of buying two gallons of milk, you buy 4 1/2-gallons of milk. This could explain the hafl-gallon pricing.

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nfs
January 9, 2009 6:49 PM
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Maybe the plastic container costs more than the milk.

Even then, it doesn't make sense. It's like they're penalizing you for getting less.

Maybe they should address this instead of text message charges. Wonder what other foods have this kind of pricing.

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Rachacha
January 9, 2009 10:04 PM
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@nfs: That was my thought. It would make sense that 2 1/2 gallons would be more expensive than a single 1 gallon jug, but not by such a large factor. Personally, I would have bought 2 gallons of milk and complained when they overcharged me as I bought 2 single gallons of milk, NOT the 2/$5.00


Pricing is crazy for everything. I remember a few years ago my Dr. perscribed a perscription medication in a quantity of 90day supply and enough refills to last for the entire year. I went to the pharmacy, and they advised me that my insurance would only cover a 30 day supply, and I would simply need to pay my $7 copay. When I asked what the 90 day supply would cost, I was informed that it would be $15 total (without the insurance company picking anything up). So let me get this straight, I can pay $7 for a 30 day supply, or I can pay $15 for a 90 day supply. It took me a while to explain to the pharmacist that I would rather that she not submit this perscription to the insurance company, and I would pay for the medication 100% out of pocket (and save myself $6 and several trips to the drug store).

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ccbweb
January 11, 2009 5:59 PM
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@Rachacha: Entirely different thing going on there with the prescription pricing. Your insurance company presumably has a set, single copay price for a 30 day supply of generic prescription drugs. Your pharmacy presumably offers some generic prescription drugs under one of the fairly new (last year and a half or so) programs that offer such drugs at $4 or $5 for a 30 day supply.

With the milk, the price of a gallon as compared to the price of two and the price of the half gallon makes no logical sense at all.

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SabreDC
January 9, 2009 6:50 PM
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1. It is always cheaper to buy in bulk. A half gallon is more expensive because it takes more plastic-to-milk ratio for the jug is higher. Bulk = less packaging = cheaper.


2. Are you 100% positive that the two shelf labels were for the same milk? Perhaps they ran out of 2% or a local dairy brand (it's hard to tell on that left label if it is GV). So, instead of doing the right thing and turning the label around first, they just stocked it to make the refrigerator look fuller (I've worked at Wal-Mart in the past, so I can attest that shelf appearance means a lot to management and the fuller they look, the better).

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Etoiles
January 9, 2009 9:00 PM
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@SabreDC: 1. It is always cheaper to buy in bulk. A half gallon is more expensive because it takes more plastic-to-milk ratio for the jug is higher. Bulk = less packaging = cheaper.

It should be cheaper per ounce to buy the gallon vs. the half-gallon, absolutely, but the half-gallon itself should still cost less than a full-gallon of milk, even if not much less. In a logical world, anyway.

I usually by a one-quart milk, because if I buy a half-gallon it goes bad before I use it, and I accept that it's (sometimes significantly) more per ounce than the half-gallon or full gallon would be, but I'd still never expect to pay more for a 1-qt container than for a 2-qt container.

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Serpephone
January 9, 2009 8:31 PM
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@SabreDC:


No, it's the GV brand. I encountered this same \"pricing scheme\" at my Wal-Mart in North Dallas. Seeing this really didn't phase me much, however, as I shop at Wal-Mart quite frequently and am used to their shenanigans.

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snowburnt
January 9, 2009 7:06 PM
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@SabreDC:
1) it's cheaper by volume to buy in bulk. You can't possibly tell me that you use that much more plastic to more than double the price of the product inside.

2)I'm guessing you're on the right track that it's just mislabeled rather than a huge milk conspiracy...but the labeling is pretty funny

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RandomHookup
January 9, 2009 7:05 PM
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@SabreDC: For exception to #1, see soda. It's amazing a 20 oz. soda costs the same or slightly more than a 2-liter on a regular sale.

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eXo
January 9, 2009 7:04 PM
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@SabreDC: Yes, I am %100 sure. these images were edited down for space sizes, but the original shows it was the exact same brand.

And I don't care how much you think plastic costs, I have never seen a half gallon cost more than a gallon. yes, I am used to getting a better deal on bulk, but not actually paying less. Typically if a half gallon runs 2 bucks, I expect to pay about 3 for the full gallon (save 1 buck).

If you read the post and look at my pictures you will see that it specifically says 3.9 cents per unit on the half gallon while it is only 1.0 cents per unit on the full gallon.

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SabreDC
January 9, 2009 7:53 PM
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@exo: Well, I believe you about the labels. You saw them better than I did. :-)


My guess is still that it's a labelling mistake. Maybe one was just an old label or something. I don't know. I saw the price difference per unit on the labels, but I have no clue why that would be... but I don't think there is some type of \"scheme\" here... just someone's stupid mistake.


Did you end up buying a gallon? If so, what price were you charged?

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Mr. Guy
January 9, 2009 6:51 PM
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\"It's so damn hot!!! Milk was a bad choice!\"

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2 replies
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Voyou_Charmant
January 9, 2009 6:55 PM
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@Voyou_Charmant: Damn it, that should have been pointing to me.

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Shawna
January 9, 2009 6:53 PM
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I think the real question should be who buys whole milk these days? I thought 2% was as rich as it gets.

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10 replies
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Shelley L Londry
January 10, 2009 4:16 AM
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@Shawna: My husband drinks whole milk YUK I prefer 2% or even skim for that matter, whatever is on sale at walmart I buy and drink, I have found lately that 2% is less than $3 bucks a gallon at our local wally world!

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Brazell
January 10, 2009 2:16 AM
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@Shawna: Yeah whole milk is gross. I drank skim all throughout college because they onl offered 2% or Skim, and I can't stand 2%... now 1% is too much for me.

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khiltd
January 9, 2009 9:59 PM
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@Shawna:

People who aren't fat and like flavor?

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eXo
January 9, 2009 7:06 PM
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@Shawna: well, apparently I am the only person left who drinks whole, non-organic, wal-mart brand milk. Based on peoples reactions in this thread I ought to be glowing, half dead, and actively supporting Nazism for patronizing wal-mart.

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catastrophegirl chooses not to fly
January 10, 2009 5:06 AM
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@exo: nah, i drink about a gallon of whole milk once a week and although i usually get it at sam's club, that's kind of the same as walmart since they are the same parent corporation.

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farcast
January 9, 2009 9:18 PM
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@exo: Are you overweight or by any chance live in a small town?

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Ubermunch
January 9, 2009 7:57 PM
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@exo:

Let's just be clear, ok? You are NOT glowing, half dead, and actively supporting Nazism, right?

If not...

What *has* the milk done to you? Are you perhaps radiant, dreadfully ill, and actively supporting Pat Robertson? Please be more specific.

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eXo
January 9, 2009 8:35 PM
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@Ubermunch: Unfortunately it has done nothing but quench my thirst and go great with chocolate cake. Much to the dismay of walmart protesters and organic groupies everywhere.

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Dave J.
January 9, 2009 7:01 PM
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@Shawna: No doubt. I recently had a glass of 2% after drinking skim for the past several years, and thought someone had given me straight whipping cream.

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Voyou_Charmant
January 9, 2009 6:55 PM
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And that is your reward for not stumbling over the filthy baby diaper bombs littering the WalMart parking lots.

More to the point; THAT'S WHAT YOU GET!

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Taydin
January 9, 2009 6:59 PM
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Are you sure you aren't shopping at the same Walmart I am? That is the exact same situation at my local Walmart with milk prices. We thought it was a mistake and bought 2 gallons and had milk with every meal. However, it has been almost a month with this type of ridiculous pricing scheme.

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eXo
January 9, 2009 7:11 PM
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@Taydin: Its possible. There are enough people in that place to populate a third world country. In all the walmarts I have ever been to, I have never lived near one as busy as this one.

I would guess the pricing on these things is probably pretty straight across the board in local areas.

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RandomHookup
January 9, 2009 7:02 PM
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My dad used to say \"don't buy the cow if the milk is free.\" So I'm thinking regular sex equals free milk. I just need to go find a dairy farm and seduce a cow.

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4 replies
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cromartie
January 9, 2009 10:02 PM
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@RandomHookup: That's actually pretty easy. Just bring some daisies, light a couple of candles, read one some Shakespeare and...uh, ahem. Excuse me, I mean, Wal Mart must be using some sort of bizarro world convienece philosophy to justify this price scheme.

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Trai_Dep
January 10, 2009 12:36 AM
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@cromartie: Although if the bull is still interested after the chocolates, daisies and sonnets, boy is it hard to talk him down to quiescence.
cough. So I've uhhh read.

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Trai_Dep
January 9, 2009 7:35 PM
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@RandomHookup: Just make sure it's not a bull. Especially if you plan on milking it.

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RandomHookup
January 9, 2009 9:13 PM
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@Trai_Dep: Do you just turn them upside down like puppies?

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dopplerd
January 9, 2009 7:03 PM
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I pay $3.50 a gallon at the local corner store. Luis greats me with a hello and has a small, tidy little shop on the north side of Chicago. He lives just down the street and I wave hi to him and his daughter when I see them around the neighborhood. Yesterday I was two dimes short to pay for what I had with cash and he said not to worry about it. I think I get a far better deal on my milk that anything purchased a Wal-Mart.

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eXo
January 9, 2009 7:13 PM
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@dopplerd: I'll let you know when louis opens up shop in my neighborhood. As it stands there are no friendly shop keeps around. There is Wal-Mart, Gas Stations, and one grocery store that smells like Mildew.

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Trai_Dep
January 9, 2009 9:02 PM
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@exo: Perhaps that's the gods' way of informing you that it's time to move? :)

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Casandra Camacho
January 9, 2009 7:03 PM
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humans are the only animals on earth that drink milk reguarly into adult hood. And another mammal's milk at that! i don't feed my adult rabbits cow milk or beaver milk or whatnot. Persopnally I think cow-milk drinking is odd and a bit gross.


howeverm, if - as a full gorwn person - you want to continue drinking milk: why not drink milk from a singel stomached animal? Goat milk is healthier for humans than cows milk (cows milk is to make baby cows 0- who have 3 stomachs to handle it - grow into big grownup cows).

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PalmBayChuck
January 14, 2009 4:23 PM
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Dung Beetles are the only beetles that eat other creatures feces well into adulthood.

Wait. What?

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COWser_Soze
January 9, 2009 7:38 PM
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@Casandra Camacho: True, humans are the only animal that regularly drink milk as adults. Now put a saucer of milk in front of an adult cat or dog and see if it'll drink it. Just because we've found a way to get it out of another animal doesn't mean all that weird (for instance, your rabbits have to consume their feces to get all their nutrients... and drinking cow milk is the weird to you?).

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Consumerist-Moderator-Roz
January 9, 2009 7:30 PM
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@Casandra Camacho: Your comment is completely off topic. If you want to discuss the ethics / biology of drinking milk, please do so in a relevant thread.

You're hijacking, and it's only going to illicit an off-topic (and probably angry) reaction.

Don't do this again.

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eXo
January 9, 2009 8:36 PM
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@Consumerist-Moderator-Roz: this whole thread has brought out the legions of milk protesters. Never realized it was so trendy.

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Mark
January 9, 2009 7:04 PM
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Do yourself a favor and use powered milk. It's much cheaper and doesn't spoil.

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th1nwhiteduke
January 9, 2009 8:20 PM
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@Mark: That's disgusting. Do you live in Japan?

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HogwartsAlum
January 9, 2009 7:10 PM
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@Mark:

What's it powered with?

You meant\"powdered,\" I'm sure. Sorry, that gave me a chuckle.

I tried that but it was soooooo gross. I usually get my milk at Aldi's where it's cheaper.

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eXo
January 9, 2009 7:12 PM
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@HogwartsAlum: or I could just keep drinking what I've been drinking for over 30 years and enjoy it thank you much.

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Oface
January 9, 2009 7:27 PM
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@exo: Yes. God forbid you should drink regular, normal milk. I bet you're a terrorist, aren't you?

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HogwartsAlum
January 10, 2009 10:46 PM
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@Oface:

What are you drinking? Did you bring enough for everybody? ;)

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eXo
January 9, 2009 8:37 PM
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@Oface: Never ever drink milk before boarding a plane. You'll spend three nights in jail and miss your flight.

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ADismalScience
January 9, 2009 7:04 PM
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People buy milk reflexively, without considering price. Single consumers or young couples will typically buy a half-gallon to a gallon, whereas large families will buy gallons in bulk. And practically none of them even bother with the tag; hell, I don't. I couldn't tell you what a gallon of milk at my grocer costs without going to the store.


The pricing schematic is likely based on similar analysis of consumer behavior.

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wickedpixel
January 9, 2009 7:25 PM
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The 1 gallons may have been closer to expiration so they lowered the prices to move the product faster.

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eXo
January 9, 2009 8:38 PM
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@captainpicard: except, no. Same date basically. The gallon was good until the 16th and the half gallon was good until the 18th.

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wickedpixel
January 12, 2009 8:24 PM
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@exo: 2 days is a big difference when we're talking milk expiration.

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orlo
January 10, 2009 4:30 AM
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@exo: That would be difficult to do with identical bar-codes.

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rdm
January 9, 2009 7:26 PM
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Interesting but I submitted this a few months ago and didn't get picked :)

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tonashideska
January 9, 2009 7:28 PM
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The 1/2 gallon contains extra melamine.

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LastVigilante
January 9, 2009 7:30 PM
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I see this all the time when I'm shopping at Jewel here in Chicaaahgo. Whenever milk is on sale, usually $1.99/gallon, the half-gallons aren't on sale so they actually cost more. I feel bad for buying a full gallon for my lonesome self and not using it all in time before it spoils, but why would I pay more for less?

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Anonymous
January 9, 2009 7:33 PM
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If you look at the tags on the whole milk, the unit prices are different - one is 2.0 and one is 1.8. There shouldn't be different unit prices for the same item. One of those tags has to be a mistake or just an old tag that got missed when price changed.

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Michael Belisle
January 9, 2009 7:35 PM
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Clearly they want you to buy one gallon of milk, no more, no less.

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OULAXER11
January 9, 2009 7:38 PM
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I <3 not shopping at Walmart

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TechnoDestructo
January 9, 2009 7:40 PM
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This is one reason I have trouble buying Coke or Pepsi products, particularly individual bottles.

Why is a 20 ounce bottle the same price as a 32 ounce bottle? Why are both of them more expensive than a 2 liter bottle? Why is this so common?

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eXo
January 9, 2009 8:40 PM
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@TechnoDestructo: that is 'on-the-go' versus take home. Things always cost ridiculous amounts more when packaged to be consumed immediately. Same reason a convenience store costs more for everything that a grocery store. I just don't see how this logic applies to milk though, which in this instance, really is not meant to be consumed \"on-the-go\".

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Oface
January 9, 2009 9:57 PM
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@exo: You mean you don't tote your half gallon around in your car for when you want to quench your thirst?

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amhorach
January 9, 2009 7:42 PM
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@1stMarDiv: @1stMarDiv:

Things that effect the way milk tastes:

1. Level of pasteurization. There are different ways to do this. Some cost more and result in better tasting milk. One costs less and destroys a lot of the milk flavor.
2. The cow's diet. Someone mentioned this already. Ever smell milk from a cow who has been eating onions? It smells like onions.

I, for one, notice a huge difference in milk taste in different areas. Milk from near my parent's house (rural Vermont)is delicious. Milk bought in North Carolina, where I live now, barely has any taste at all.

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timsgm1418
January 11, 2009 4:24 PM
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@amhorach: I have to have lactose free milk, and Walmart is the only one in the area to carry Land o Lakes lactose free milk. I like the taste of LactAid, and I'm ok with the store brand lactose free, but Land o Lakes just tastes better

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catastrophegirl chooses not to fly
January 10, 2009 4:55 AM
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@amhorach: i've noticed that too [NC milk] except for one time that i got a gallon that came from a cow who had obviously gotten into some wild garlic. ewwww.

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johnva
January 9, 2009 7:46 PM
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@amhorach: This is why it's not a \"commodity item\", as someone claimed above. It actually matters where it comes from.

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Saboth
January 9, 2009 8:10 PM
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Half gallons have always been a waste of money. Not sure why anyone would pay more for less. Sure, it isn't as obvious as this usually, but you always get a better value with full gallons.

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coan_net
January 9, 2009 8:13 PM
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Just like a 20oz pop cost about $1.25 here - and I can get a full 2 liter of pop for $.99

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mannyv
January 9, 2009 8:17 PM
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Math penalty!

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phoblog
January 9, 2009 8:23 PM
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The 2/$5 vs. $2.25 is weird, but the higher price for the half-gallon is not. Frequently, things cost more - even more per unit - in the smaller containers. That's why it can, sometimes, be a better deal to buy in bulk - or at least bulkier quantities.

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eXo
January 9, 2009 8:41 PM
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@phoblog: well the cost per unit is usually higher in small packages, it is not typically so much higher that it is actually double the price.

As I have stated previously, if a 1/2 gallon is 2 bucks, then i would expect a gallon to be about 3 bucks. I would not however expect the gallon to be $1.75.

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phoblog
January 9, 2009 8:24 PM
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Also, milk prices can be set by dairy boards in many states and there may even be federal standards. Protects the dairy farmers. That can explain some of the crazy prices.

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eXo
January 9, 2009 8:42 PM
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not when it is only one brand across the entire dairy section.

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chrisjames
January 9, 2009 8:50 PM
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Oh, Jesus!

Pricing doesn't work on size alone. Pricing is based mostly on getting product out the door. Sometimes it's set to move other products out (DVDs selling TVs), sometimes it's set to get near-expired products out (half-off day old meat), mostly it's set on what people will pay for something ($2.50 half-gallon of milk).

Albertson's used to have the best damned deal ever. You could buy a 20 oz bottle of coke for $1.50, a 2 liter of coke for $1.50, or a 3 liter of coke for $0.47. Why? Because no one buys the damned 3 liters, so they're practically giving it away, while also attracting more customers because of this awesome deal (it wasn't a special either, the price lasted for three years until they stopped carrying 3 liters).

They aren't trying to scam people, it's just that people are more likely to head for what they're comfortable with and buy it at a price they're used to paying. We'd all like for the store managers to hold our hands and say \"look, this milk is a better bargain by a longshot, why don't you buy that instead?\" or \"we'll price everything on an absolute scale regardless of how it affects our business,\" but then they'd be shooting themselves in the foot. People will buy one product over the other, even if they know and understand the price difference.

Please, it's not a fiasco.

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kiddk1
January 9, 2009 9:22 PM
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one more reason to hate walmart (as if I didnt have enough)

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Borax-Johnson
January 9, 2009 10:46 PM
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Three would be $7.25. $5.00 for the first two gallons and $2.25 for the third.


No. $7.25. Um, $2.25 for the second gallon and $5.00 for the first and third.


No. $7.25. Um, $2.25 for the first gallon and $5.00 for the second and third.


Yeah, that's it. I'm comfortable with the math now.

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FrankenPC
January 9, 2009 10:56 PM
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Pfff...loosers. It's easy, they're charging based upon the expiration date.


The two for 5 is almost about to expire.
The one for 2.25 has expired.
The 1/2 for 2.47 has no melamine.


God, why is this so difficult?

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Raiders757
January 9, 2009 11:47 PM
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The two for $5 is to take advantage of those mothers buying for large families, who do not pay attention when shopping.


O.K., that was a reach. Who knows why they priced their milk this way. This is America, so Wal-Mart has a right to price things as they wish. It's up to us to decide what's best for us.


In this case, it sucks for large families, but hey, maybe you shouldn't have had so may kids to begine with, you bastards!


I have no excuse for the 1/2 gallon price. Maybe it's to ream the single guy, who they know spends more money on roman noodles, beer, and generic cereal than other items. Who knows?


Maybe they were short on milk supplies, so they priced things accordingly.


?


?

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Kim Francis
January 10, 2009 12:14 AM
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I guess they are thinking that if you're stupid enough, you won't notice the pricing thing.....some people think 2 for deals are always the best.

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RobTheEnchanter
January 10, 2009 12:38 AM
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I used to be a department manager at a Walmart Supercenter. As far as the 2 different tags for the same product, it's likely the dairy dept. mgr forgot to take down the old tag, or didn't see it. The tags have a date on them, and you should always go by the tag with the most recent date (it looks like the $2.25 tag was printed on 1/06). As for the 1/2 gal. being more, it's possible that size didn't get a markdown the same day the gallon size did. Milk doesn't come from Walmart's distribution centers, it comes from local distributors and the prices vary by store based on the distributor, demand, etc. Maybe the distributor jacked up the price on 1/2 gal size, or gave the store a temporary price break on the gallon size.

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Grrrrrrr, now with two buns made of bacon.
January 10, 2009 1:50 AM
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It must be the new math...or maybe the milk is imported from China.

The milk-pricing situation has always been equally as puzzling at my local Wal-Mart so I'm guessing this isn't isolated to any particular store.

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Anonymous
January 10, 2009 2:12 AM
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While I've not seen that particular price peculiarity (say that 3 times fast) at the Walmart in SW MO, I WILL say I wish our milk was that cheap! it's 3.85 a gallon for GV milk and about 15 cents more a gallon for Hiland (a name brand here) FUNNY thing is, they are both bottled at the same plants because I've BOUGHT GV milk with a Hiland LID! (more than once)

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Brazell
January 10, 2009 2:15 AM
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I dunno why 2 gallons is more than 1 individual gallon x 2, but a gallon of milk is often times about the same price as a half hallon.

To their credit, Wal*Mart has pretty good prices on Milk, they always do. It's like the local convenience stores usually sell milk for $2 less than the supermarket... I never buy milk at the super market.

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geoffhazel
January 10, 2009 3:12 AM
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So if you want 2 gallons do you pay twice through the line so you don't get up charged?

I'd buy Wal-mart milk before I buy milk at Rite-Aid or Target again. Just because it's probably fresher.

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Anonymous
January 10, 2009 3:51 AM
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had simular experience with bags of sugar.2 5lbs bags were cheaper than 10lbs bag,But,ain't there always a but:Giver closer inspection my hubby bless his label reading heart noticed the 2 5lbs bags were actually only 4 1/2 pounds,Turns out it was just a scam to get get people to spend more and get less.

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Belinda Silva
January 10, 2009 3:54 AM
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I'm still scratching my head on that one!

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Anonymous
January 10, 2009 3:58 AM
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i will try to explain the 2 different prices for the same item. If you buy 2 then you get the cheaper price but if you only buy 1 you pay more. for the smaller/more expensive item, they are hoping that you do not pay attention to the price and just pick it up and pay the higher price. that item gives them more profit and that is the bottom line in retail.

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Anonymous
January 10, 2009 4:00 AM
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You are trying to make sense out of Wal-Mart? Simple: Wal-Mart is Satan and if Satan can't get your money he wants your sanity. Leave the milk there and shop at a grocery store.

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Marcia Jaquith
January 10, 2009 4:01 AM
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I knew I should have taken a picture. They did the same pricing thing with canned cat food at my WalMart.

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Anonymous
January 10, 2009 4:04 AM
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If you only want a half gallon (obviously because you lost your job and your car, and you can't carry more than this the 16 blocks home), the obvious solution is to buy the gallon (since it costs less) and pour out the half you don't want.Where to pour it out?Obviously right on the spot, before you lug it to the checkout stand.

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Anonymous
January 10, 2009 4:06 AM
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i totally understand where u are coming from. I went in to buy three packs of notecards and one pack was marked for .46 cents. There was also a three-pack of cards for 1.88. I bought three separate packs instead because it was a good fifty cents less. Completely ridiculous.

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Anonymous
January 10, 2009 4:14 AM
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I've found Wal Mart does this all the time...2 are more expensive than 2 singles of the same item. I have never tried to figure it out, but surmise that people will look at the \"2 for\" price and see it's a good deal and not bother with looking at individual prices. Since it's only me, I always look at the single price, and only if two are cheaper and my grandkids are visiting will I buy the \"2 for\".

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Anonymous
January 10, 2009 4:17 AM
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Does no one on here understand pricing - including Meg Marco the writer of this article? How embarrassing for her! Go to any grocery store and look at the price per gallon ( or pound or whatever measure pertaining to the product ) and you will find that the larger the package the less per gallon, pound, ounce, etc. That's the most cost effective way to shop. It's not a \"conspiracy\" by Wal-mart, all food is priced this way. It's like user SaberDc said, it's cheaper to buy in bulk.

And all the people on here complaining about how terrible Wal-mart is need to get over it. If you're so disgusted with Wal-mart then quit shopping there!

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Kathy Kalayci
January 10, 2009 4:18 AM
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Wal-Mart is horrid, I love my Mom and Pop neighborhood markets, I will gladly spend a bit more to support my own neighbors rather than give cash to a company who try's to run everyone out of business and then jumps prices!( not to mention treats employees bad)
Thanks NYC for NOT letting wal-mart in!

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Anonymous
January 10, 2009 4:19 AM
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For Gods sake, someone do the math. The gallon milk is marked at $0.02 per oonce. That comes to $5.12 for 2 gallons. The 1 gal. is $0.18/oz which comes to $2.30/gal. In any case they are messing up their own calculations which goes to say what we are dealing with. A company that can't even correctly price their items, as someone else mentioned, are shit to their employees and USA's store (Sam Walton-Ching) has everything in it's shelves made in China. For the person that bought a TV from them, why didn't you go online to buy the same TV for a lot less and minus the taxes? Walmart sucks, end of story.

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Anonymous
January 10, 2009 4:24 AM
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I had an old gallon of Water from Port Charlotte, Florida when I moved to Visalia, California. One gallon from Visalia looked smaller, so I poured water into the one from Florida, and filled the one from Visalia, and it only filled 75%. It is called economics and people who run multifaceted firms make money by ripping off the consumer every chance they get.

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Anonymous
January 10, 2009 4:24 AM
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If, for one second, people want to stop being retarded; they will realize that wal-mart is making a profit off of each gallon of milk sold. By inticing you to buy 2 gallons, they are simply going to make more money. Most people will on buy 1 gallon at a time, but if idiots (the guy in the story) believe that wal-mart made a mistake, then wal-mart wins because they will have gotten rid of 2 gallons, while at the same time clearing out old stock for a new shipment

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Anonymous
January 10, 2009 4:25 AM
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Yes its true! I always wonder about it and then buy the gallon! I hate to waste food, but we usually finish the gallon before it goes bad. There are only two of us in our household. But this brand of milk seems to stay good well beyond its expire date as long as its refrigerated. I too am stumped by the pricing, but we are getting our daily recommended allowance of vitamin D! Praise God!MegaLonwww.lordsberg.com

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Anonymous
January 10, 2009 4:28 AM
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Thats what people in the reatail industry cal \" Wall Mart Pricing \". they use devious schemes to get you to pay more items than when you think your saving money. Example: Run an ad for a \"super low sale\" price on an item, say a ball point pen. Stock that \"sale priced\" pen not on the shelf that is at eye level but much higher or lower. The consumer comes in believing Wal Mart Prices are the lowest. Automatically the pen they pick up is not the \" sale priced pen\" but worse. The pen is one not only priced higher than the sale price, but higher than pens available at most of there competition. They rely on you not too shop comparatively. The thought is \" I must be getting the best price, because I got it at Wal Mart.\" Hence the higher priced \"two for\"price\" . A shopper grabs two with no questions asked. Naturally when you by two of one item its at a cheaper \"bulk price\" Mindlessly people pay a higher price becuase thay are conditioned. Very slick and very \"WalMart\" A true slogan for WalMart should be \" Live Happier, Keep Your Head Up Your Ass!\"

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EyeintheLAsky
January 10, 2009 4:28 AM
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What we learned in marketing:
Larger quantities/packaging always cost less than smaller quantities/packaging.

Not so much for the quantity of the product - but to help pay for the higher number of smaller packages that is required/used for the smaller portion of the product.

example:

1 Gal = 1 container (usually plastic).

the same gallon purchased in smaller 8oz containers (equaling the same 128 ounces) = 16 containers (usually of waxed cardboard...usually at a different price than the plastic 1Gal container).

that difference in cost for the 'more convenient size', is passed on to the consumer.

We called it \"the 7-11 effect\". Convienience always costs you more...for the convenience of it.

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Anonymous
January 10, 2009 4:39 AM
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This is nothing new. I was in the food business for years, just look at the small cans of any can food ....guess what ? It cost more, and you know what they sell, because people want that size. and the store makes a profit, where sometimes they barely break even on an item like a gallon of milk. Its not wal mart its every grocery store. Sorry for the bad news, the truth is ...we pay 30% less than most contries for food. Be grateful and dont buy the smaller size.

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Anonymous
January 10, 2009 4:39 AM
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Look at the dates on the tags. The 2.25 was probably a Save on their sale price. You don't have time to change all the tags. If it took you 5 minutes to figure it out, I'd probably suggest getting some help. It's milk...if you need it, does a quarter matter?

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Anonymous
January 10, 2009 4:41 AM
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Did you consider the cost of trucking:1. Load of 1/2 gallon (more cases)2. Load of 1 gallon (full load)3. 1/2 load of 1 gallon (fuel truck and driver cost same as full load)Did you consider marketing:If we can sell a gallon of milk cheap cutomers will come to our store and buy other things that we can sell at a higher price.

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Laura Stucker
January 10, 2009 4:44 AM
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You know, the $2.25 per gallon is probably just an old sticker. Milk prices do go up and down.


Milk at Walmart is around $2.78 now here, so I'd say the stick for one gallon is just old.


Why someone would stare at this for 5 minutes and not figure that out is beyond me. It's Walmart, smart people don't for $6.50 an hour.

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Becky Fuller
January 10, 2009 4:56 AM
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I dislike Walmart more than the next person. Mr. Walt knows he has us in the palm of his hand.

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cathyvv
January 10, 2009 5:10 AM
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If my Walmart sold a gallon of milk for $2.25, I'd buy it without any questions except whether it was expired or not. Gallons of milk cost from 3.30 to 5.30, depending on whether it's low fat, 2%, no fat, whole milk, etc. Yes, their pricing makes no sense, but $2.25 makes a lot of sense to me.

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Yoli Arzate
January 10, 2009 5:16 AM
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omg yall are complaining for a galloon of milk that is just very foolish, atleast yall have money to pay for milk and not like other kids in different countries where they dont have anything,...maybe what all of you that are complainers do is buy one and donate the other one, and their thats settled!!

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Anonymous
January 10, 2009 5:18 AM
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guess what wall mart does that with everything. my husband and i noticed that with the bigger packages of laundry detergent and many items in general. here's the deal: many of us have been taught you buy bigger you save more well some times we take the biggest items automatically and wall mart has noticed so they have taking advantage of us for the longest. it is with many prices buy 1 pepsi bottle for 89 cents but if you buy the whole 8 bottles in the box you might end up paying about 97 cents. im glad i noticed a long time ago. oh and another thing... one price on the item but when they scan it has another price and if you notice they say \"sorry\" well what happens when you don't notice? i'm sick of them!

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Anonymous
January 10, 2009 5:22 AM
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*sigh* The picture isn't in focus, otherwise you could see that one of the labels is newer than the other. Labels are supposed to go on the left, so I'm guessing the label on the left belongs there, and someone that was new or wasn't thinking found the old label that fell out of someone's pocket on the ground, and stuck it up there as well. But if you feel like throwing a fit, I'm guessing you'll get the quarter off your milk at the register, even if it's only there because the new guy wasn't paying attention.

The gallon milk is a better deal, because pretty much everyone pays attention to the price on gallons of milk, so stores compete. If you have a Wal-Mart in the middle of nowhere, the prices will make sense, but if you have one surrounded by other retailers, there are going to be price wars going on quietly, and big attention grabbers like gallons of milk, new release movies, jugs of Tide, etc, will pretty regularly be much cheaper than they \"should\" be, because there stores are competing to get you inside. Not always, but the stores will check each other weekly and adjust accordingly. Or they're supposed to . . . sometimes a manager will get lazy, or sick of seeing the neighboring store eating up his bonus check, and try to avoid participating.

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Anonymous
January 10, 2009 5:31 AM
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The average consumer does not understand that the gallon is a HIGH use item and the half gallon is way down the list, therefor, more expensive to carton and inventory. Study some marketing before replying. And to the one buying the LCD TV at Walmart who thinks they treat their employees lower than dirt: It's amazing how they aren't so bad when they suit YOUR selfish needs. Hate yourself to some other store or shut up!

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Dansc29625
January 10, 2009 5:33 AM
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You spent 5 minutes trying to decide if a half gallon of milk at close to the same price as a gallon of milk was a good deal? So worse case scenario you will be paying 2.50 for a gallon of milk. You could wait for a manager for a few minutes to save a quarter if you had time to kill.

Since were getting everything down the the hundredth of a dollar here, how long would you wait for those two bits, 10 minutes? 15 minutes? even an entire half-hour?

We have this strange need to find a method in the madness. It was just a mistake folks. An over worked Walmartian probably changed one price and didn't look at the other side.

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Audrey Coleman
January 10, 2009 5:41 AM
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Humans do NOT need milk to survive, if they are older than 3. Cut out the milk, and chances are, you will save yourself a lot of grief. All of my GI problems went away when I stopped drinking milk ALTOGETHER!
I would rather have a root canal than shop at wal-mart - it is less painful and degrading!

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whyerhead
January 10, 2009 5:42 AM
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Being Ex-WalMart, I can clear this up..

#1, the 2 for 5 label is an old label, or is their everyday regular price.

#2, the $2.25 label is probably to match a local competitor. My WM has milk for $2 a gallon right now.

#3, Most Wal-Mart milk is produced by a local producer thats on contract to sell milk under the GV brand.. In my area (Cincinnati/Northern Kentucky) it's Trauth milk. For the longest time, it even said TRAUTH on the side of the bottle..

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Anonymous
January 10, 2009 6:22 AM
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Are you people dumb? Do you not realize you pay cheaper per ounce when you buy a larger quantity of something versus a smaller quantity? Hence the higher cost of the half-gallon versus the cost of half of the full gallon....wow....just wow

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Anonymous
January 10, 2009 6:37 AM
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It's like this on almost every item in the store. It usually takes me 20 to 30 minutes to go grocery shopping and the one time I went to Walmart it took me almost 2 hours. I had to read and compare almost every label. They really do try to scam people who are in a hurry and don't stop to read the labels. In the long run I found out it is way cheaper to go to a regular grocery store then shop at Walmart (Scam-mart). Plus there are 4 plus isles full of junk food, and crap. No wonder there is obesity and money problems. Blame most on Walmart!

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ccbweb
January 11, 2009 6:04 PM
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@SupriyaThymoetes: Thank god there's no junk food or crap in regular supermarkets.

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Steph Haertling
January 10, 2009 7:00 AM
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I'm not trying to offend anyone by saying this, because I have shopped at Wal-mart; however, they seem to be relying on the under educated to make their purchases with out paying attention to the price. Odds are, you will find more illogical pricing like this through out the store. What a horrible thought, that a multi-billion dollar company would take advantage of the poor people that made them what they are. Especially in an economy like today's.

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MooseOfReason
January 10, 2009 7:32 AM
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$2.47 is about what my store charges for a half gallon.

Regular gallon is about $3.79 or $3.99.

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Anonymous
January 10, 2009 7:36 AM
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I am a manager at wal-mart the reason why is because we dropped the price to compete with Krogers Or AlberstonsPrice on gallon milk, Nationwide...They sells their milk for less then what they buy it for. They lose profit but gain more customers, but the catch to it is they add that loss profit to other items in the store such as everyday products you need...they lure you in with the milkand you figure \"Hey might as well pick up some papertowels while im here\" Were Just destroying their scheme to get you in the store with cheap milk. by offering the same price on our whole gallon milk but still offer are low prices

Always

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Jason Rowe
January 10, 2009 7:48 AM
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The reason for the pricing is simple...

People are usually oblivious to this. I guarantee there is just as many purchasing the half gallons as usual, as the full.

It's a total marketing scheme to make more than they should. At the same time they save their customers money with great gallon milk prices, but at the same time make their money back by over charging on the half gallons.

And trust me if the half gallons weren't selling then they wouldn't be doing that. They would be losing $1000's a day from all the half gallons going bad, which obviously is not the case!

Case closed.

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Anonymous
January 10, 2009 7:59 AM
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Just human error. All these prices are entered into a database back at Walmart Home Office. Each store can have up to 100,000 unique items. There sometime like 40 different varieties of stores throughout the globe depending on what country you are in, what kind of store it is, etc. Each of these stores will have different prices for an item depending on regional supply costs, local regulatory guidelines, what specials or sales they have that day, etc. Basically, given the size of the operation and the complexity of the environment, it is inevitable there will be a few prices that dont make sense from time to time. No conspiracy, just human error.

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Anonymous
January 10, 2009 8:01 AM
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Yes...this happens often I think. I have seen the same type of thing going on at Safeway in the mayo aisle. For the biggest jar of the crap they had it was like $2.99, for the smallest jar they had it was like $4.99 or something. Either something like that happened or the employee putting the tags up is non english speaking and confused the labels and pulled the ol' switcheroo. lol

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Anonymous
January 10, 2009 8:31 AM
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I have worked in the grocery industry at store level for33 years,What walmart is doing is capitalizeing on past store priceing and training the customer to buy more when its a 2/5.00,past priceing in all grocery stores has made the customer think that anything thats 2 for 5 bucks or 3 for 6 etc is going to be cheaper and people just pick it up when in walmarts case its actually more expensive to buy the two gallons of milk,the half gallon is more expensive because they want you to buy more milk by buying a gallon which is more profitable than a half gallon half gallon milk sales are much lower than gallon sales so by priceing the single gallon less they move more gallons,and walmart is all about buying in large volumes when they buy anything to resell,there is more profit that way and they can control the market better and force smaller retailers out of bussiness.as they can not compete with walmart prices,when walmart controls an area after the competition is all gone they set prices at whatever they want.,rather than buying that expensive half gallon they want the consumer who normally buys just a half gallon to go ahead and get that extra little bit and buy a gallon which increases profits as there is much more profit in a gallon than a half gallon,and they move more bulk milk which allows them to buy higher volumes of milk when they buy it on the wholesale market.and undercut anyone in the bussiness,then run them out of bussiness and control the market prices in your neighborhood,then you have to pay whatever they want you to pay or have a nice long drive to somewhere else.

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btdown
January 10, 2009 12:51 PM
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I dont know why this is a shock to anyone...why are you shopping at Walmart anyway? I'm a police officer and even *I* dont risk putting my life in my hands to shop at Walmart. Having to deal with the hoodlums, mutants and various other miscreants that shop there just isn't worth the trouble.

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xkevin108x
January 10, 2009 3:25 PM
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Probably something about WIC competition.

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Anonymous
January 10, 2009 4:12 PM
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@xkevin108x:

I heard that with the gallons of milk, the price is intentionally set low for WIC-like purposes. I don't know if it's WIC, or if it's subsidized or something else, but because milk is a an expensive staple for low-income parents, the larger containers of milk (or the two-fors) are often not nearly as pricey as the smaller ones. This may be BS of course. I can't prove it.

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xkevin108x
January 13, 2009 5:15 PM
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@WaldenAlcmene:
It's along those lines. You can also find similar pricing schemes with certain brands of cheese singles. Larger packs are significantly cheaper where I shop.

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tworld
January 10, 2009 4:06 PM
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WHAT THE HELL ARE YOU DOING IN WALMART IN THE FIRST PLACE? SUPPORT YOUR LOCAL STORES YOU NITWIT.

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BFIrrera
January 10, 2009 5:00 PM
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I would just buy one full gallon, bring it out to the car and go back in and buy another full gallon.

Of course, your other choice is buying it at another supermarket and not at a Wal-Mart.

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suburbancowboy
January 10, 2009 6:53 PM
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And this is exactly why I buy delicious Tuscan whole Milk on Amazon. It got better reviews than any Milk I have ever seen on Amazon.
[www.amazon.com]

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Smorgasbord
January 10, 2009 6:59 PM
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Go back tomorrow and it will be one of their famous \"markdowns.\"

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Aaron Paulley
January 10, 2009 8:56 PM
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Milk is $3.40/gal at my Walmart.

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NikonGal
January 10, 2009 11:04 PM
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I get my milk delivered by my local dairy. Best tasting milk I ever drank!

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Anonymous
January 11, 2009 1:36 AM
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I know it's fun to bash Walmart for everything,when in fact it's the dairy that gives Walmart the break on the cost of a gallon of milk (so they can put it on sale) and not the half gallon. That's why the half gallon is more expensive than the gallon. By the way how is this a ridiculous pricing scheme? Your gettiing more milk for less and you think this is ridiculous, if you don't need that much milk buy the half gallon at the regular price.

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JakeChance84
January 11, 2009 3:51 AM
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It's simple. Mr. T has been hired by Walmart and wants you to, \"DRINK MORE MILK ... GOOD FOR THE BONES!\"

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topachic25
January 11, 2009 5:39 PM
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The better question is, Why are you shopping at Walmart?

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Daniel Lamin
January 12, 2009 12:40 AM
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i dont know about milk but this is extremely common for sodas. a full 2 liters are like a buck at longs drugs, while the little plastic bottles are $1.67. you pay for convience i guess

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arkansasouizer
January 12, 2009 2:18 AM
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Since WalMart seems to be getting to big for their britches, I suggest that people shop elsewhere. I have had to walk a sales person back to an area to show the sale sign and have them tell me that it was a mistake, take it down and then attempt to charge me the higher price. When told that they were suppose to sell it for the price it showed on sale, I have been informed that I could go elsewhere to buy it. I did!

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Kitten Meow Meow
January 12, 2009 2:41 AM
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I ran into a similar problem. Frozen Blueberries at giant eagle are more expensive when i buy them in bulk.. i have to buy separate 1 pound bags. pretty dum.

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TheThirstMutilator
January 14, 2009 5:21 PM
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@Outrun1986:

This would most likely be because they are counting on your laziness. Either you would be too lazy to compare prices or to go through the effort of shopping in two stores and waiting in line twice.

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Theo
December 11, 2009 9:42 AM
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I have been studying WalMart milk, also. Besides the fact that it goes bad before the date, one out of three time over a year, at least, I see that the gallons of whole milk are sooocheap.$2.28 last look, and the half gallons of same are $2.68. Makes me think they overorder. That dept is a mess anyway, they always have a variet of dates , some times three. How stupid is that ? The person who \"packs out\" the milk needs to go back to whatever forign and mountanous country they fled, or learn to read... The manager ( and they get paid WELL) needs to be fired, he wouldn't work for me five minutes..My wife who is in the food business says it's because milk is cheap, I do not agree with her (ever) and think that Walmart is just screwed up because they are so big... TED

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