Live data from Hacker News

Eggspensive

eggspensive.net

21–30 of 307 posts

Re: Eggspensive

#21

Now you've given me something to ponder on the entire day -- why do the Walmarts within 10 miles of me have different prices? Some at $3.23 and others at $2.42. A 28% difference. Do other products have this same price difference? Are some stores consistently priced lower and should I shop at those instead of the one I go to?

Definitely other products at Walmart vary this way, I notice it as a frequent traveler across the US, I think practically all SKUs are fair game. Dehydrated camping meals are one thing I frequently take advantage of when I'm traveling and can grab them for lower price, sometimes up to 50% lower than my 'home' Walmarts.

Interesting to ponder where Bentonville area stores fall on this continuum. (Headquarters of Walmart in a small town in Arkansas) Anyone have anecdata?

Re: Eggspensive

#22
I think there's something a bit misleading about these prices.

This is reporting prices of $2.76 per dozen at a Wallmart near me. I happened to visit that store yesterday and I know damn well there were no eggs being sold at even remotely close to that low price.

The Eggspensive site seems to be picking up on this dozen eggs, which happens to be not available at this or any other store in the region. They also are not available to purchase online. The site says they can be shipped in 3 days but it doesn't give me an add-to-cart button.

https://www.walmart.com/ip/Great-Value-Large-White-Eggs-12-C...

I don't know how it's scraping prices, but it should discriminate as to whether eggs at a price are even available.

EDIT: Actually, those exact eggs seem responsible for making most of Southern California appear to have insanely cheap eggs. Outside of getting lucky, this is almost certainly not the case. Go to any grocery store in SoCal and you'll primarily see eggs between $5 and $8, if not exclusively.

Nicely made site, though! Keep up the good work.

Re: Eggspensive

#24

Now you've given me something to ponder on the entire day -- why do the Walmarts within 10 miles of me have different prices? Some at $3.23 and others at $2.42. A 28% difference. Do other products have this same price difference? Are some stores consistently priced lower and should I shop at those instead of the one I go to?

I don't think it's specific to walmart, I've noticed that prices in supermarkets (Target, Walmart, etc.) located in lower priced neighborhoods tend to be lower than those in higher priced neighborhoods. The same item, same brand, same everything, but price difference can be from 10-30% different, sometimes more.

Re: Eggspensive

#25
post #17

The variability here inside of single cities (look at Norfolk, VA for example - and remember this is just Walmart, not Walmart vs high-end grocery etc) is really highlighting to me that we need something to upset grocery delivery to either a) make it easier to order specific items from different locations with the best price or b) induce more perfect price competition between neighboring grocery retailers

Alternately: some neighborhoods are less price sensitive and there’s not really a problem.

The positive flip side is that the “low” prices in a given region are probably lower than they would be if the stores had more efficient competition, and that’s to the benefit of people who are price sensitive.

Re: Eggspensive

#26

Now you've given me something to ponder on the entire day -- why do the Walmarts within 10 miles of me have different prices? Some at $3.23 and others at $2.42. A 28% difference. Do other products have this same price difference? Are some stores consistently priced lower and should I shop at those instead of the one I go to?

You can also do this with fast food restaurants. A great example near me is a Taco Bell that doesn't have a drive through but is surrounded by a bunch of apartments where the nearby locations that do have drive up windows are cheaper.

I would be curious to know the wealth gap between those two areas, but my gut would assume the more expensive eggs are at the poorer Walmart. Captive audience with less options. It's expensive to be poor. (Like that Taco Bell example)

Re: Eggspensive

#27

With the obsession over egg prices you’d think everyone is eating two dozen per day or something.

Lots of things have eggs as an ingredient, from breakfasts, to breads, pastries, ramens and pastas.

Re: Eggspensive

#28
This is great. As a European, I would have thought the Southern USA would be the poorest states, so the cheapest. But it looks like the Midwest actually has the cheapest eggs?

Re: Eggspensive

#29
That’s crazy. Just across the border in Canada, we are currently paying $2.21/dozen (converted to USD).

Re: Eggspensive

#30

Now you've given me something to ponder on the entire day -- why do the Walmarts within 10 miles of me have different prices? Some at $3.23 and others at $2.42. A 28% difference. Do other products have this same price difference? Are some stores consistently priced lower and should I shop at those instead of the one I go to?

[deleted]
Post reply on HN