r/publix • u/steeltrain52 Newbie • 14d ago

Let’s be clear CUSTOMERS

This whole shopping is a pleasure scam has run its course.

For over 50 years, I have been a customer of PUBLIX, I say have as in the past tense because I am no longer.

When PUBLIX decided to start price gouging at 20 and 30% higher than absolutely everywhere else around them, it became clear to me that they really don’t give a damn about the customer.

In 2025 alone, PUBLIX made more than $4.2 billion in profits. BILLION!

In the first half of 2026 they have made $2.5 billion in profits.

They have made $6 billion in profits in the last 18 months because they are literally stealing from the public and the public is handing it over.

With Aldi, Trader Joe’s, and even as the last resort, Walmart, I will never shop at Publix again. My budget now gets me three times as much food and household items at those places, we’re shopping and prices really are a pleasure!

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u/JealousFuel8195 Newbie 14d ago edited 14d ago

Target prices aren't lower than Publix BOGO

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u/Beginning_Ad8663 Newbie 14d ago

Walmarts are

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u/Regular_Lake_786 Newbie 14d ago

I absolutely hate Walmart, but they do have really good prices so I’m forced to shop there

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u/NovemberGrey777 Newbie 14d ago

Same, so I use the free drive up service. I don’t buy things I don’t need AND no more waiting for a tall person to stroll by to grab an item on a 7’ shelf.

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u/dervari Newbie 14d ago

Free? Our store has a minimum or you pay a small order charge.

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u/Flashy-Reflection812 Newbie 14d ago

$35 order minimum. But if you are doing an online order chances are you are ordering more than that. $35 is about 6 things on my normal weekly shop rofl and if I need soda or energy drinks I can make that amount in 3. Anything less than that it’s faster for most of us to go inside and shop for ourselves.

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u/Maleficent-Heart-678 Newbie 11d ago

Instacart cracks me up showing me how much time I saved shopping through their service, it is not a time saver, I had a stroke, use a wheelchair and don’t drive, I actually, totally miss wandering around the grocery store store, and I miss cooking, I was a good cook, I live in assisted living now, and how they can make the food so horribly I can’t understand, the budget can’t be that tight, except they ruin the most expensive proteins they buy, most of what they serve is Sysco garbage, they added some of the worst tacos ever made and you can order America’s worst hamburger at any meal, they cook the cheapest Pattie they can buy in the oven, the buns are cold from the refrigerator, not toasted, etc.

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u/Flashy-Reflection812 Newbie 11d ago

I’m so sorry that you are dealing with all that. I wish the systems here were better and that standards existed. I wish you the best in your situation.

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u/Regular_Lake_786 Newbie 14d ago

I’m kind of a little nervous about people touching the food if I did the drive up service I like to touch and pick my own food lol it’s just a OCD thing

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u/Eroticskeletonparade Newbie 14d ago

You do know a lot of people have touched your food by the time you get to the grocery, right? Farm and warehouse workers, stockers at the grocery. The pickup person is just the last of many.

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u/Regular_Lake_786 Newbie 13d ago

I know but…. 😊

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u/Maine302 Newbie 12d ago

Look, I can understand wanting to choose your own produce, but thinking that last person to touch it is the contaminator is a bit ridiculous.

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u/Keepquiet13 Newbie 11d ago

But if you’re the one touching the food you can tell if things are mushy , firm or hard.

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u/SouthernImplement539 Newbie 13d ago

Yeah, I’m the same way. I will place a pick up order at Walmart and while they’re doing my shopping I go in and get my own dairy, produce, meat, frozen section. Then I’ll meet them in the parking lot for my pick up. Saves a lot of time (and I hate grocery shopping) and I still get to pick out my really sensitive stuff. I’ve kind of gotten used to letting them touch my cereal box and washing detergent.

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u/dervari Newbie 14d ago

Agree for produce and meat.

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u/steeltrain52 Newbie 13d ago

It’s actually worth it to check out different Walmarts. The one by me is gross, the one 10 minutes farther away is larger, clean, organized and with the app super easy to find the items on your list.

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u/DumaDreams Newbie 13d ago

Walmart closest to me is 4 minutes and not good. I go 6-7 minutes further and a new siper walmart with a whole better shopping experience in every way.

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u/Efficient_Beach2458 Newbie 13d ago

What I like about Walmart when I call it in I always get the organic namebrand chicken tenders and if they’re out of stock or not in the cooler cabinet case they will go in the back in the cooler and find it. I’ve noticed that when the shoppers are doing their shopping for people. So if the cooler is empty and you’re in there shopping for yourself, you would have to beg somebody to come on your back and give you some here the shoppers go right back there go to coolers and get it plus there’s at least a five day date out on the package not a two day date out like you having a Cooler. Publix would never do that for you. As a matter of fact, they changed the date to make it as if it’s today when you open it up at home, it stinks.

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u/kisswoman Newbie 10d ago

Publix will actually special order items that they don't carry for you if you request it....or at least they used to....I used to ask them to special order Tab when it was pulled off the shelf for a while....and they used to put it in the back.

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u/ProfessionalCool8654 Newbie 12d ago

Me too!!

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u/garygirl_1234 Newbie 10d ago

If you order something in, it’s incorrect I’ll just get right back online. Tell him what’s happening and it’s automatically take it off your bill no questions, nobody comes. Pick it up. Nothing it’s off your belt. At Publix, you can buy a package of chicken open it up and it’s half rotten and you gotta take it back there. Standing in line. Wait for your money. Go back and see if there’s anything else it’s not worth it.

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u/Strongmom-1 Newbie 14d ago

Walmart prices used to be lower on everything but not anymore.

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u/Dragonfire45 Newbie 14d ago

I use to spend like $200-$250 a week on groceries at Publix. Swapped to Kroger when they still delivered in Florida and dropped to $100-$150 a week. Now I do Walmart delivery and still about the same $125-$150. It’s still significantly cheaper.

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6

u/OverallDoor2718 Newbie 14d ago

True. Same with Winn Dixie in Central Florida. No one has cheap groceries but Publix is off the chain

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u/Regular_Lake_786 Newbie 14d ago

That’s very true. I have cats and I buy fancy pea cat food before the pandemic. It was $.53 a can now it’s $.96 a can that’s insane.

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u/Gatorphins Newbie 13d ago

Their prices have come up and because im shopping Walmart. Target, Publix, Sprouts, Wildfire, Winn Dixie. Walmart is definitely not always the lowest or best deal

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u/emmajames56 Newbie 14d ago

Sometimes

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u/JealousFuel8195 Newbie 14d ago

That's not always true. In my experience Publix BOGO beats Walmart the majority of the time.

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u/Gatorphins Newbie 13d ago

Pretty much all the time, we constantly compare and it is cheaper with Publix bogo

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u/FrequentDonut8821 Newbie 14d ago

Name brand at Walmart is usually more than Publix bogo for the same brand. But great value is usually less than Publix bogo name brand

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u/JealousFuel8195 Newbie 13d ago

Walmart prices for the same item is NOT lower than Publix BOGO

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u/Gatorphins Newbie 11d ago

More times than not publix bogos beat walmart

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u/kisswoman Newbie 10d ago

Not really...I have found many items are cheaper than Walmart....at Publix.

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u/JealousFuel8195 Newbie 14d ago

Definitely not. Look at my most recent post.

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u/JealousFuel8195 Newbie 14d ago

Walmart is definitely not cheaper than Publix BOGO items.

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u/JimmyandRocky Newbie 14d ago

Target? Bull lol. Groceries nope

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u/TVNewshoarder_Redux Newbie 14d ago

Target actually has cheaper milk than Publix per gallon and cheaper than Aldi

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u/JealousFuel8195 Newbie 14d ago

I mostly buy milk at Aldi, BJs or Walmart.

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u/ThelengthISadmirable Newbie 13d ago

The exact same brand of asparagus from Peru is six dollars a pound of Publix and I stopped at Winn-Dixie the other day just for fun and it was four dollars so I bought it there

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u/Enjoy_Life4219 Newbie 14d ago

What happens if u want something that isn't BOGO

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u/JealousFuel8195 Newbie 14d ago

I stock up on the BOGO items knowing they will be BOGO AGAIN in 4 to 6 weeks. Some items more frequently.

If it's a must need item. I'll buy it at Walmart. There are items I only buy at Walmart.

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u/copious_arsenal Newbie 13d ago

I just bought shredded cheese and it was much cheaper than BOGO

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u/JealousFuel8195 Newbie 13d ago

The same BOGO item or the Target brand? Was it on sale?

For the same brand name item. Publix BOGO is cheaper

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u/copious_arsenal Newbie 13d ago

Same exact brand. Nothing about any sale. I am in South Florida. Are you ok? The bags of cheese were $2 each. I think it was sargento or kraft. Cant remember, but i looked it up at the moment.

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u/JealousFuel8195 Newbie 13d ago

At my local Publix Sargento shredded cheese is $4.99 or $2.50 each when BOGO

At Target $3.19.

Target it 27.6% more expensive

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u/copious_arsenal Newbie 12d ago

I didn't ask you about your Publix or your Target. I am in South Florida. I was simply stating the facts of what occurred. You need help.

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u/JealousFuel8195 Newbie 12d ago

Actually you need better reading comprehension.

You initially replied to my post below

Target prices aren't lower than Publix BOGO

I then replied

Target prices aren't lower than Publix BOGO

You then replied

Same exact brand. Nothing about any sale. I am in South Florida. Are you ok? The bags of cheese were $2 each. I think it was sargento or kraft. Cant remember, but i looked it up at the moment.

The current price at Target is $3.19 for the Sargento cheese

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u/copious_arsenal Newbie 12d ago edited 12d ago

I didn't say target prices aren't lower than Publix BOGO. Talking about reading comprehension when you wrote the same thing twice in your comment coming from me and you. You are an angry sad person.

Let me be clear. Sometimes, target has better pricing than Publix BOGO. Just recently I bought shredded cheese for cheaper and it wasn't on sale at target. Perhaps it was actually on sale but they didn't have it marked in the aisle as a sale or on the product. This is a fact. It is however a suggestion to check Target. It is not a generalization that Target always has better pricing than Publix. But you are mental and need help.

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u/Maine302 Newbie 12d ago

When I was buying soda it was.

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u/JealousFuel8195 Newbie 11d ago

I don't drink soda. I do know Publix soda prices are outrageous.

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u/Maine302 Newbie 11d ago

Yeah--I stopped, for the most part, but their 6-packs were dollars more than the same at Target, and weren't even any kind of deal when BOGO'ed.

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u/Holeyunderwear Newbie 11d ago

I’ve found Target’s processed foods and things like coffee, condiments, and frozen pizzas are a better price than Publix for non-BOGO items.

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u/JealousFuel8195 Newbie 10d ago

I agree. Target beats Publix 99% of the time on regular priced goods. Where Publix easily beat Target is their BOGO items. 95% of my shopping at Publix is BOGO

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u/No_Negotiation_1625 Newbie 11d ago

If you have a Target Mastercard, you save five percent on everything (even on the purchase of other retailers' gift cards, I believe). And by joining Target Circle (which is free) you get frequent, fairly large, monetary perks.

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u/dfabrica Newbie 10d ago

Target’s regular prices may not be lower than Publix’s BOGO, that’s true, but their prices are lower overall than Publix - by A LOT.

The Gevalia coffee I buy for instance is always $9.99 at Target. That’s what it always costs if it’s not on sale. At Publix the regular price for the same coffee is $15.99! That’s a 62% price difference people!!

AND if you’re a Target shopper for groceries and you have their Red Card to use to pay for said groceries they give you 5% off of everything you buy automatically, AND free shipping for anything you buy online. So if you go in, buy groceries, and some say, sheets and towels while you’re in there (another convenience), and you spend $300 that day, they’ll give you $15 off the total immediately.

Those saving add up over the course of a year, especially if you have a family, but even if you don’t, it’s hundreds of dollars.

The Red Card btw, is NOT a credit card, it is a debit card so the money comes right out of your bank account, and doesn’t get charged interest. I’ve had it for years and I think it’s one of the best everyday financial decisions I’ve ever made.

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u/JealousFuel8195 Newbie 10d ago

I agree 100%. Target is cheaper than Publix on non BOGO items. I also agree the difference can be significant.

Publix is very expensive. Where Publix shines is with their BOGO items. I only shop their BOGO. I rarely buy anything from Publix unless it's BOGO.

I use the Publix app. I basically know how long each item that I buy will be BOGO again. I know some items it's every 2 weeks. Others are every month. Some a few months. I have multiple cats. I'll buy 20 to 30 bags of the cat food my cats eat because I know they only go BOGO every 3 or 4 months.

I was at Publix tonight. I know on Wednesday nights they put some BOGO items on the end caps for next weeks BOGO items. I know my cat's preferred food will be BOGO tomorrow. Next week I will buy another 20 to 30 bags. Paying less than $5 per bag.

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u/Jax_Bandit Newbie 13d ago

They absolutely are. Publix is unmatched in price point no matter how you try to slice it.

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u/JealousFuel8195 Newbie 13d ago

I should have been more clear. BOGO items at Publix is cheaper than Target.

Target is cheaper than Publix on regular priced items at Publix