- NEWS
- Murder defendant: 'Dating Game' proves point 10 minutes ago
- Rowdy storm moving into O.C. 18 minutes ago
- 8-vehicle crash closes major road 8 minutes ago
- Tustin police search for robbers in 4 crimes 29 minutes ago
- SPORTS
- SI exposes Winter Olympians 2 hours & 29 minutes ago
- Laker Rim Shots 2-8-10
- Sneak peek: SI swimsuit edition 2 hours & 18 minutes ago
- Angels' Shields won't be ready to start spring training
- BUSINESS
- Office romance flirts with disaster 2 hours & 14 minutes ago
- Here's why Toyota is recalling the Prius 2 hours & 34 minutes ago
- Temp work pointing to a recovery?
- $16.5M apartments sale sets record 3 hours & 31 minutes ago
- ENTERTAINMENT
- AfterWork: Hooters in Lake Forest
- Will H.B. woman be the next 'Bachelorette'? 14 minutes ago
- Ed Harris pulls us through 'Wrecks' 3 hours & 39 minutes ago
- 'Housewife' denies she has a new boyfriend
- LIFE
- Cocktail ideas for Valentine's Day 3 hours & 11 minutes ago
- Kaiser is top HMO in state ranking 26 minutes ago
- Study: Junk food ads make kids fat, not TV 37 minutes ago
- Heidi Montag surgeries hurt women, docs say
- TRAVEL
- OPINION
Ralphs is dropping prices, limiting double coupons
June 24th, 2008, 3:00 am · 39 Comments · posted by Nancy Luna, Staff Writer
Attention shoppers. It looks as if Ralphs is doing what consumers have been begging them to do for years: lower prices. (Updated story here.)
In a large print ad published Sunday, the Southern California grocery chain teased to a big event happening Wednesday in stores. “Coming soon to a Ralphs near you! Wednesday, June 25. New Lower Prices every day.”
The full-page ad, in both the Orange County Register and Los Angeles Times, also talked about introducing a new “rewards” program.
Does this mean the end of club cards? What about double coupons? Will Ralphs continue this tradition, under the new pricing system?
On Monday, Ralphs spokesman Terry O’Neil said: “I will get back to you tomorrow.”
Stay tuned.
I have to say: I first heard rumors of a pricing strategy change at Ralphs a few weeks ago. At the time, I ran the rumors by O’Neil. Like Monday — instead of denying anything, he said this: “We have no comment.”
Some shoppers say local store managers have already spilled the beans about certain changes. In addition to the lower prices, South Orange County Ralphs employees are telling customers that starting Wednesday coupons will only be doubled up to $1. So, a 75-cent coupon, will get you an additional 25 cents off . That’s it. (Note: if true, grab your coupons and run to your nearest store today.)** see update below
With consumers seeking more value these days, I can see why Ralphs might be changing its tune. Nowadays, Southern California have been bombarded with a range of grocery store choices — from Fresh & Easy to Sprouts to convenience stores. Many appeal to consumers because they offer low, everyday prices.
By no coincidence, Kroger — Ralphs’ parent company — is releasing its quarterly earnings today. So, I’m sure we’ll know more soon. Ralphs operates roughly 266 stores in Southern California, including 38 in Orange County.
Tell us: What have you heard from your local Ralphs grocery clerks? Write in and let us know.
–
**7:30 a.m. update: Just woke up and noticed today’s flier insert in my paper reads: “New Lower Prices Every day. Look for the yellow tags throughout the store.” It also talks about a “New limited Double Coupons.” In fine print it says “if coupon exceeds 50 cents and is less than a $1, its value will be increased to $1.”
Related links:
- Ralphs shoppers irked by coupon changes
- Ralphs giving bonus money to shoppers
- Ralphs halts double dipping on coupons (2006)
- Smart & Final warehouses, including one opening soon in Stanton, will be bigger and offer more basic groceries. (OCR)
- Upscale Japanese convenience store coming to O.C.
- Grocery prices soar to 17-year high
- Consumers plan to spend federal rebates on groceries, survey says
- Consumer Reports: top 10 ways to save money at the supermarket
- Fast-food chains target consumers with recession-busting meal deals
Reader Comments
Comments are encouraged, but you must follow our User Agreement.- Keep it civil and stay on topic.
- No profanity, vulgarity, racial slurs or personal attacks.
- People who harass others or joke about tragedies will be blocked.
39 Comments
Leave a Reply
-
ADVERTISEMENT
-
Restaurants Out of Business
The recession is forcing many Orange County restaurants to shutter, and we're trying to track them all for you. Check out our O.C. Restaurant Closure List for the latest updates. -
-
-
Report: Restaurants on Twitter
Special report: Restaurants are jumping on the Social Media bandwagon. But is Eating and Tweeting luring diners? READ FULL STORY
- How Twitter-savvy are chains? CLICK HERE to see how the Fast Food Maven rates local and national chains on Twitter.
-
Preview: Seasons 52 and Capital Grille
Slide show exclusive: Preview South Coast Plaza's two new sister restaurants -- Seasons 52 and Capital Grille. Both Darden-owned chains will replace later this year the space once occupied by The Clubhouse. -
-
O.C. Frozen Yogurt Shops
-
Contact the Fast Food Maven
Follow the Fast Food Maven on Twitter or 'Friend Me' on Facebook.
Send tips reviews, gripes to nluna@ocregister.com
Nancy Luna, the Fast Food Maven
The Orange County Register
625 N. Grand Ave.
Santa Ana, CA 92711-1626
-
-
-
-
-
16th annual People's Choice
From your favorite restaurants and shops to the best day spa in town, here are your choices for the number one places to eat, shop and play in O.C.
Browse the 2009 Best of Orange County winners -
ADVERTISEMENT
Bye Bye Ralphs! My family, extended family including in-laws, grown children and lots of friends shop at Ralphs even though their produce prices are higher than “Farmer’s Market” stores like Sprouts and Henry’s because we could balance things out using double coupons from the Sunday Newspaper. Costco has lower stapes prices purchasd in quabtity. The local Mexican markets have much lower meat and produce prices. We might use Ralphs as a sort of convenience store to fill in but if they as rumored, also do away with Club Card saving on pet food and the senior discount on pricate lake products, we will not shop there ever again. So adios Ralphs!
I truly believe the big grocery stores are becoming obsolete and it is their own fault. When you become accustomed to smaller stores like Fresh and Easy and Trader Joe’s and then return to one of these stores, you start to realize what you love about the smaller stores. The lack of quick checkout, friendly people and ease of finding what you need are glaringly apparent in these stores. If they aren’t willing to change, they’ll go the way of the dinosaur.
I walked out of Ralphs a few days ago as soon as I looked at their produce and meat prices and then headed to Albertsons where limes, bell peppers, and green beans were literally half the price.
I find myself going to Trader Joes (prices have really spiked up there), Fresh and Easy, Albertsons and even Target.
The major chains need to end these dumb club cards and just give us honest pricing. What good is a “special card price” on peanut butter when their milk is 25-35% more than at Trader Joes?
Costco and Trader Joes- forget Ralphs, Albertsons, Vons.
Another thing about the big stores is having to have a card or phone number to put into their system every time, so you can pay normal price. Then you can have a line up of people and one person not have a card, and they wait for him to fill it out . Holly crap. dowm with the so called savings cards at all the stores. All it does is give them a way to snoop into what you buy and helps them. Kill the cards and have a normal price. your lines will go quicker that way
I shop at Ralphs because of the great deals i get with coupons! Once the double coupons stop I STOP shopping at Ralphs!!!
I’m done with Ralphs. The only reason I shopped there was because of their coupon policy–I generally save $25-$30 a trip with coupons alone. Now Ralphs wants to offer me 1% back for every $500 I spend?!? No thanks! I’ll take my coupons to Vons, or shop Trader Joes which I prefer anyway! I heard from a cashier they are completely doing away with doubles in July, but don’t try to get a straight answer out of customer service. When I emailed about the current policy change I was told it was for San Diego only–this was last week!!
No loyalty here, I follow the cheap prices. If Ralph’s have legitimate cheaper prices, im there. If they want me to use a dumb little card, so be it.
I honored the picket lines and never once shopped at the major grocery stores during the strikes. Now I rarely shop at them out of my own choice. Trader Joe’s and Super Irvine are just vastly superior, especially if you will not buy anything with hydrogenated oils (trans fats).
I read an article about this in the LA Times today. As of tomorrow Ralph’s will only double coupons for a total max value up to $1 in Los Angeles. So anything 50 cents and under will be doubled and everything over 50 cents will max out at $1. This is disappointing, but I’ll have to see how their new “lower” prices pan out. Luckily my brain is pretty good at storing prices and so I generally know where the lowest prices are combined with coupons. Maybe that won’t be quite so lucky for Ralph’s. It’s not as if other stores don’t sell the same things….
Vons stopped their double coupons temporarily a few years ago. I think it lasted 6 months or so before they brought it back. I cut back my Vons shopping in half during that period.
I’ve been clipping coupons since I picked up the habit in college, but the savings I get is usually a smaller portion compared to the weekly ad specials. I normally save 35-50% off using the combo of weekly ad specials and coupons. The double coupons savings usually made up 10-15% of the savings at most. The weekly ad specials usually dictate where I shop each week.
I’ll look at the new Ralph’s lower pricing, and determine if it’s worth continuing to shop there.
all i care about are reasonable prices. even though i can walk to my local ralphs, i would rather drive 5 miles to my nearest trader joe’s and produce market where the prices are 1/3 of what i would pay at ralphs. you tell me, would you rather pay $1.99/lb for grapes or $3.99/lb??? even with higher gas prices, i still save in the long run.
I just spoke to Ralphs Club Card Customer Service. I was told that one of the card deals, 10% discount for seniors buying private label products will go away July 31st. A clerk in the store this morning told me that by that same dats Ralphs planned to do away will ALL double coupons. Vons, here I come!
I use grocerygame.com on a weekly basis to see how I can use my double coupons to strategically get items for free, or nearly free, at Ralph’s. They typically have offered more opportunities than Vons for freebies. But now, with this new policy, my savings will be less and it would be just as well if I went to T Joe’s for most of my shopping. They have nicer food, no junk in the ingredients (for the most part) and they are usually pretty goofy in there, making it a more pleasant and personal shopping experience.
Bye Ralph’s!
I do allot of shopping as a secret shopper and I have to say that Ralphs is probably the most expensive, followed by Albertsons, and then Vons. Trader Joes is cheap but limiting with the useful products you can buy. Henrys is cheap but seriously the quality of produce is not always the best and there you are limited to. For overall value and quality, right now I would give the advantage to Fresh and Easy - especially since they give out $5.00 coupons. So for every $20 you spend you get $5.00 off. I think there will have to be closures and mergers of grocery stores soon. I think you will probably see some Ralphs and Vons close in the next year. In fact, the other day I went looking for a Vons in Irvine, using my GPS and it lead me to what had been a former Vons - interstingly now a Korean grocer off of Yale and Irvine Blvd.
I forgot to mention that I went to new Vons in Long Beach, the one that is trying to replicate a Fresh and Easy. I have to say it was nice but the prices are still too high. And if anyone from Vons is listening I have to ask the following question. What is up with those stupid wood fired ovens? So you bake a few loaves of bread in them. When I see a wood fired oven in a store I want to have the capability of purchasing a wood oven pizza. You tempt us with the ovens but all you idiots do is bake maybe 15% of all your bread products in them while the rest of the time its just for show. Oh one last thing. I did have a good prime rib dinner at a Ralphs deli the other day for only $6.99 which for what its worth was a good deal.
Slow news day?
Good coupons are a huge waste of time and resources.
Now if they would just stop soliciting me for donations and donate to their favorite cause out of their “own profits” I would be happy.
Oh if anyone from Fresh and Easy is listening - please please have some outdoor or indoor seating at your stores so I can purchase my prepared meals and eat on the premises. This would kick butt because I would make Fresh and Easy a lunch destination; one that is cheap and convenient.
The only reason I ever went to Ralphs is because of the double coupons and when the items involving the coupons were also on sale. They have always been one of the most expensive stores around. They also have a history of advertising “leader” items and NOT having them when you went into the store. I seem to remember radio coverage on a contest that they backed out of a number of years ago. Most people I know do not like Ralphs just for that reason. I know some people that are employed by Ralphs and they don’t have too much to say of a positive nature. It’s just a matter of time for the stores.
I’ll still shop at Ralphs for items I can’t get at Trader Joes. The Ralphs on 17th Street is actually extremely nice compared to the Pavilions near Lido. Same of the cashiers are really nice and felt bad for them during the strike. Pavilions is just awful. The carts are always dirty and disgusting. Some of the employees are very unfriendly to the point I avoid their lines. I had a terrible experience at the deli trying to order a premade panini… in the end I was overcharged and their was a hair in it. Not to mention their high prices and lack of selection.
I don’t like the lack of friendly staff at these big-box grocers. Some are nice, but it seems like too many are just doing the job, and have no desire to smile, or treat you like a customer.
I love the people at TJs. Friendly, helpful, always smiling. And they are non-union. Gotta love that!
I can cut my bill in half using double coupons. I go to Ralphs to get my family the little extra fun products using coupons. I do not buy anything at Ralph’s without a coupon. I guess today is the last day for shopping at Ralph’s. It’s really sad, I have saved thousands of dollars over the years and now I’ll have to try something different.
I may start shopping at Ralphs if they quit taking coupons. Nothings worse then being behind some fat lady with 500 coupons and she can’t find the one’s she thinks she has.
As a former Ralphs employee of 11 years it is sad to see what they have become over the last couple of years. Since I quit last year I haven’t shopped in their stores unless I need something really quick or as a matter of convience. Their prices are OUTRAGEOUS! It is so shocking to walk out of that store with 3 bags in your hand and realize that you just spent 100 bucks…and you say to yourself what the hell did I just buy for that amount of money! I find it more cost efficient to travel from Trader Joes, Henrys, Target and other smaller chain stores to get what I need. Now with their lastest gimmic of lower prices and rewards program…it is just bringing down their prices from something outrageous to something a little bit more tolerable but lets face it, it is still going to be over priced. There is no reason why a box of wheat thins should cost 4 dollars. Insane! As far as their double coupons go they are in a world of hurt! That is what Ralphs is famous for and why they have the customers they have. I was a cashier and every single customer ALWAYS had coupons for what they purchased, you were nutty not to shop with coupons and that nifty club card! I really think they are on their way out if they don’t get smart and realize that there are MANY other choices to shop and people will make the effort to shop else where…they did it during the strike what makes coporate think that they wont do it this time around?
Am I the only “Gringo” who loves the Mexican markets? There are several in Costa Mesa along is it 17th? The ones I go to have produce specials one day with prices like 5 cukes for $1 and then meat specials another day. My Spanish is not very good so sometimes I have issues with what I am buying but the prices in all those stores, Santa Ana as well, are terrific. .99 Only Stores also have great produce prices, see their ad in today’s Register. They also have great prices on things like dried peas and beans and other grocery staples. I won’t shop Ralphs again except for loss leaders. We have lots of choices around her Costco, Henry’s, TJs, Target grocery ads, etc.
Anyone still shopping at Ralphs, be sure to check the code dates on the products. You do not want to get any out of code merchandise.
Why on Earth would CaseClosed assume that anyone who uses coupons would be fat? Maybe you meant to write “some smart lady”?
Ralphs has financed their newly remodeled stores on the consumers’ backs. I stopped shopping at my local Ralphs when they completed the remodel because they cut the meat and produce depts by 1/2, and dropped many products I usually buy. And instead they expanded their deli and prepared foods dept. There are so many other options for lower priced groceries, I don’t know how they will survive. I only use Ralphs for the misc item anymore. And I never see lines at the registers when I go in. Sorry!
I just saw the Ralphs ad that breaks tomorrow. Nothing special. For example on the front page supposed to be “HOT” is Kellog’s Cereals for $2 a box or as Ralphs puts it “2 for $4″! Problem for them is Target has the same cereal for $1.20 a box counting the $5 gift card they give you when you buy 4 boxes. Who does Ralphs think it is kidding. And 1% back??? I get 10% now on pet stuff. $10 back when I buy $100 of cat food and etc. I get 10% for the Golden Age deal. Now it will be 1%. No way I will stay.
Ralph’s won’t be getting much of my business any longer with no double coupons. I count on these to balance my food budget, which is important for seniors on fixed incomes. Trader Joe’s, Henry’s, Target and WalMart all have better prices on without coupons.. And, then there is always our favorite - Costco! Ralph’s may be “shooting themselves in the foot”. I was also told by the floral manager last month there is no more floral going to the “clearance” shelves in the back of the store! Rather, she said, it will be disposed of. That makes no sense! Too many changes make for unhappy customers, or former customers in my case.
First trip to the higer priced Ralphs!
Yesterday the clerk who fields calls on the Club Card line at Ralphs/Kroger Central told me that “Senior Discounts”, the 10% discount on private label products would be available until July 31st. WRONG INFO! They are missing from the deal as displayed on my grocery tape this morning. These kinds of discounts AR common. RiteAid does it too for example. I have a “EasyLiving or some such named RiteAid card, get 10% off private label products and 10% off everything I buy on Tuesday. Today on my register receipt the senior discount is missing but in its place there is a message promising seniors “double rewards” in the Ralph’s Get Paid to Shop program. I guess that means 2% on private label in place of what civilians, youngsters get, 1% but we get the 2% on everything now. If more than 20$ of my purchases were private label in the past, I lose. I think they were; milk, bread, butter, juice, cheese … I (formerly!) bought all their Ralphs and Kroger products. Also instead of getting the credit instantly you have to wait up to 3 months to get the “rebate”.
Giving the DEVILS their due, I did see some lowered prices, at least for now. Fancy Feast cat food, the expensive one, was .75 instead of .99 but I used to buy it with a doubled $1 coupon. Private label lactose free milk is $3.29 and used to be $3.69 less 10%. Most items seem to be unchanged especially fresh foods like produce and meat.
I will go back later today to sign up for the reward card as I have tax rebate deal related gift cards that I have to use at Ralphs and I will ask questions at that time.
You must remember, Ralph’s may offer new low prices for temporarily for next few months after the policy change. After a few months, they will gradually raise the prices especially on non-key items. Also, what is define as new low price? Lowering price on a item from something that normally cost $3.49 to $3.44 is a new low price. It not a big discount. Ralph’s will lower price on many items very small increments fulfilling their promise. Overall, you will not save much unless you buy certain things on sale or more popular items.
Here is another trick Ralph’s pass along as new low prices. They will ask the manufacturer to supply a slightly reduce version of a item, E.G. 8oz->7oz can of veggies. Ralph’s will get a slightly lower unit cost on item and pass it along. Yes, you get a lower price with a reduce quantity. Again, you get a new low prices.
Ralph’s new program is just a ploy to weed out unprofitable consumers and replace it with more profitable consumers. Ever wonder why Ralph’s has shutdown there so called unprofitable stores main in poor and lower class communities. The one does exist has limited cashiers and customer service. Some may say, their produce, seafood, meats and other perishable maybe slight lower quality. E.G. Gasoline producers will sell 80% of the top layer gasoline in a gasoline truck to their own gas stations, they sell lower 20% with all the silt to the independence. The same thing for groceries. Ralphs will sell the better quality of same meat to Newport Beach and slight less quality of the meat to Santa Ana.
Don’t buy into their new lower prices. Ralph’s should be more honest and share the real intent.
Thinking about the new double coupon policy a bit more and what my use of coupons are, this may not affect me as much as I thought. On a typical shopping trip, I use around 6-10 coupons, but only 2 or 3 are in the 50 cent to $1 range. That may be about $2-3 in double coupon savings per trip, not a huge amount, and the savings might be made up in the lower prices in general.
Previously, Ralph’s did cap the double coupon value to $1 extra, so that a $1 coupon would be worth $2. But a $2 coupon would only be worth $3 off, with the maximum $1 value for doubling.
Not sure how long this lower everyday pricing thing will work. I do remember Ralph’s doing it on selective products that I bought over the past couple of years. I specifically remember it on the Marie Callender’s frozen meals, where it normally retails for $3.50-5.00 each. For about 6 months to a year, they lowered the price to $2.55 for all the items, and the price didn’t fluctuate upward at all, but it didn’t go on sale for a lower price either. This lasted until sometime recently this year, when the prices jumped back up to the $3.50-5.00 retail.
At least they’re not completely doing away with double coupons, as Vons did a couple of years ago.
For me coupon shopping is a hobby, not just a money saver. Ralph’s has provided the perfect venue for my hobby. Now I’m off to Von’s.
Most families can absorb Ralphs added prices starting today with no double coupons, etc.and they are higher (Nectarines in today’s Ralphs ad are .88 a pound but are .47 a pound at Henrys!) It is the senior citizens who can’t work another job and who don’t get raises (Social Secirity up almost nothing this year while health care, gas, food are all skyrocketing.) Ralphs today did away with the plan whereby seniors could buy Ralphs brand foods whcih let’s face it are not exactly the best all the time (Have you tried their version of Frosted Flakes???? don’t!) But the seniors got a 10% break on those items. As of today they get 1% or 2% payable in 3 months. All the seniors I know are headed for Vons, Henrys, Costco, etc.
I saw where Ralphs is bragging about sales of their private label stuff. Yeah, to seniors but not any more!
Just checked out RAlph’d add for the week…There are some pretty good deals. I think everyon eon here read “no more doubling coupons over $1″ and forgot to read “new lower everyday prices” They hav 18pks of beer for $8.88!!!! Nobody can beat that with or without a coupon!
Either bring back the double coupons or Im not coming back.
I predict the Ralphs chain will go under and be replaced by discount grocery stores such as Jons or dollar stores.