Walmart: Price Check on Aisle 4

Great Value?  One is a better "value" than the other...

I made a little trip to Walmart on Saturday evening because I needed some cleaning supplies for the shower. I love Walmart because they have such great prices, but I was a little perplexed when I came across these two products...

Take a close look...the labels are similar but not identical.  One product is labeled "Mold & Mildew Remover" and the label proclaims that it kills 99.9% of germs.  The other product is labeled "All Purpose Cleaner with Bleach."  One sticker claims that it kills the Flu Virus and the label also claims that it removes stains and disinfects.

Then look at the active ingredients--both have 2.0% sodium hypochlorite (household bleach).  Sounds like their pretty much the same right?

The back of the bottles...

So I flipped the bottles around and the back labels are nearly identical except for the bar code.  Both labels claim to the exact same household germs, including e. coli, salmonella, staph, strep, mildew, athlete's foot, and the H1N1 influenza virus.   An impressive list indeed.  But an identical list.

The only rational conclusion is that this is the exact same product--just different packaging.  So you might think that the price would be the same.  Au contraire mon frere!  The one on the right is $1.88 for 32 ounces.  The one on the left....$2.88 for 32 ounces.  That's $1.00 more (53%)!!!

So it just goes to show that it pays to read the label--even at Walmart.  Just because Walmart has great deals doesn't mean that all of its deals are created equal.

Love Thy Neighbor?

Deal of the Day?

Does anyone else think that it's weird that I popped open my email to see this irresistible deal waiting for me.  Yes, get your Book of Mormon storybooks for your kids "plus" get a great discount on that class you've been waiting to take so that you can carry a concealed firearm around with you wherever you go!

Have your kids read about Ammon's mission and great example of love and service to the Lamanites whilst you legally pack heat with your concealed carry license?  Something about this just strikes me as a little off...  :-\

I Got Caught...

I often say that I know all five of my readers.  But there are a lot of people that don't read my blog--even among my family.  One of those non-readers is my wife J.  I once finished a post that I was kind of excited about, hit the "publish" button, and then handed her my laptop and asked her if she wanted to read it.

She said "No" and handed the laptop back.  True story.

One of my favorite posts of my blog so far was my post judging a Thansgiving Display-Off contest that some friends of mine did.  I think J. was just confused when she read it.  She probably wasn't even sure that I actually wrote it!  (That's okay even if she doesn't read my blog though--she has her hands full dealing with more important issues.  =o)

So when I wrote in my "Gift of the Magi" post that I still had one more gift to get for my wife, I felt like I was safe and that J. wouldn't read it until after Christmas.  I wasn't...I got caught!

Here is what I found in my email box early this morning...It was an email from J. to me.

A not-so-subtle hint...

So, like any good husband, I took the hint and decided to check it out.  Here, I'll save you the trouble:

These boots are made for walkin'...

Anyway, I went to the trouble of stopping at Nordstrom on my way in to work this morning, but they are out of stock.  (I left so quickly, however, that I forgot my credit card, so I'll have to stop by again later to pick it up!)

I give J. credit with this suggestion, however, for a couple of reasons...first, I think that they look good (not that I would ever doubt her taste in fashion...).  Second, they are half off right now (I know, I know, don't you just hate those chintzy 40% off sales!)  J., your ability to spot such a great sale in particular makes me especially proud!  =o)

So I'm going to double-down and say that I bet J. will not read this post before Christmas and that the secret of  her "one last" Christmas gift is safe until then.

J., if you do read this before then, I've ordered these and they'll be waiting for you when we get back from Christmas Vacation!  (There was no way to get them here by Christmas...)  You deserve these for being such a great wife and mom--not to mention surviving the drive on a trip that may be remembered in family lore as the "Vomit Comet."

Merry Christmas Eve Eve!

Black Friday Edition

Shopping Pandemonium

Black Friday was yesterday.  It has traditionally marked the start of the Christmas shopping season.  I have heard that it got it's name because it is the day when retail stores go "in the black" for the year and become profitable.

Every year there are stories of people going crazy trying to get in on the great deals.  This year was no exception:

Today's Headlines Re Black Friday

Yes, I'm ashamed to say that the pepper-spraying incident happened in Southern California.  I heard she at least had enough remorse to turn herself in today.  No word on whether she kept the discounted X-Box that she was so desperate to get at midnight!

I like to avoid the crowds at Black Friday.  And if you are going to catch me doing any shopping at midnight, it will be from the internet as I enjoy the comfort of my own home.

My mom and sisters, however, are another story.  They were plotting out their midnight shopping routes on Thanksgiving Night.  I haven't yet heard whether they have recovered yet or if it was even worth it.  I'm sure they'd claim that it was worth missing sleep, but I still have my doubts!

My big online purchases yesterday were a new 23 inch monitor for our home computer from TigerDirect.com and a DVD.  That hit my shopping limit for the day.

Today, J. had me brave the crowds to hit Costco in search of some items that are on the kids' wish list for Santa.  She stayed safely at home and I got to take E. for some quality daddy-daughter time.  I think the real reason E. was excited to go was that I promised her a Costco hot dog and a slushee.  But I was still glad that she came with me.

This might or might not be on Santa's list this year...
...depends on whether Costco gets it back in stock!

Frankly, it was a lot busier when I was at Costco on Wednesday (the day before Thanksgiving).  It got so frenzied that someone actually took out my legs from behind with their shopping cart.  I narrowly avoided biffing it in front of the entire store.  

Yes, this story is true...

If I had, I'm sure that people would have at least been kind enough to step over me or around me as they continued on their merry way!  Maybe if I'd been really lucky, someone might have even stopped!  ;)

What struck me from yesterday and today in my limited anecdotal experience, however, was how few people seemed to be out shopping.  Our brand new Target's parking lot looked pretty empty last night.  I had to go to two Costco's today looking for the things on Santa's list (the first store was sold out) and both were pretty empty.  The I stopped at Walmart today.  Not too busy.

I really hope my experience is wrong.  Our economy could really use a boost from a strong holiday shopping season. 

If you're shopping for others this holiday season, don't forget to
follow Uncle Eddie's advice to Clark Griswold and get yourself "[s]omething really nice!"

I'd love to hear some of your crazy holiday shopping stories...