--- description: Long waits, dirty stores, and, most importantly, high prices are among the reasons so many consumers are breaking up with their once-steady supermarkets. In a... title: Cheaper Groceries: Why Shoppers Switched Supermarkets image: https://static.time.com/v3/assets/bltea6093859af6183b/blte6ca90b665e992db/698685a906f2c1a69232de40/73666929.jpg?branch=production&width=3840&quality=75&auto=webp&crop=16:9 ---  * [World](/section/world/) ## World Update your preferences in [Account Settings](/account/preferences/) Close * [Smart Spending](/tag/smart-spending/) ## Smart Spending Update your preferences in [Account Settings](/account/preferences/) Close # There's a Good Chance You Dumped Your Supermarket Last Year by [Brad Tuttle](/author/brad-tuttle/) ## Brad Tuttle Update your preferences in [Account Settings](/account/preferences/) Close Mar 28, 2014 6:17 PM CUT  Freezer aisle in grocery store Freezer aisle in grocery storeGetty Images by [Brad Tuttle](/author/brad-tuttle/) ## Brad Tuttle Update your preferences in [Account Settings](/account/preferences/) Close Mar 28, 2014 6:17 PM CUT Long waits, dirty stores, and, most importantly, high prices are among the reasons so many consumers are breaking up with their once-steady supermarkets. In a recent survey conducted by [_Consumer Reports_](http://www.consumerreports.org/cro/magazine/2014/05/how-to-be-a-smarter-supermarket-shopper/index.htm "undefined"), one-third of subscribers said that they stopped shopping at a nearby grocery store last year. By far, the biggest reason cited for the breakup was the store was just plain too expensive. Year after year in this survey, 20% to 30% of shoppers have said that they’ve given up on a supermarket due to poor selection or quality, long checkout waits, or a general lack of cleanliness. This year, however, there was a significant rise in consumers pointing to exorbitant prices as a reason for dumping a store, named by 58% of those surveyed, compared to 43% in 2011. Certainly, the increasingly fierce [competition for grocery shoppers](http://time.com/26146/time-to-say-goodbye-to-your-supermarket/ "undefined") being fought not only by traditional supermarkets but warehouse clubs, drugstore chains, and dollar stores as well, combined with [rising prices for meat](http://time.com/12468/beef-its-whats-no-longer-affordable-for-dinner/ "undefined") and other grocery staples, are among the factors causing consumers to jump ship to a new, likely cheaper shopping outlet. Walmart, the world’s largest retailer, tended to give _Consumer Reports’_ readers the most reasons to shop elsewhere. Walmart finished dead last in the ratings among 55 supermarkets. Roughly 80% of the Walmart shoppers surveyed said they had at least one complaint about their experience, compared to 56% of shoppers overall citing at least one gripe with their grocery store. Whereas 19% of all consumers complained about not enough checkout lines being opened at supermarkets, 53% of Walmart shoppers said the number of checkouts wasn’t up to snuff. Likewise, 27% of Walmart shoppers complained about basic items being out of stock, compared to just 6% of everyone surveyed. Of course, most people shop at Walmart because of its “everyday low prices,” and for many, the prospect of saving money outweighs the downsides. But _CR_ readers claim that 14 of the top 20 grocery chains have prices on par with Walmart, including [Costco](http://business.time.com/2012/02/10/survey-costco-given-retail-crown-for-best-shopping-experience/ "undefined") and [Trader Joe’s](http://business.time.com/2013/07/29/how-two-german-owned-sister-supermarket-brands-became-hot-trendsetters-in-the-u-s/ "undefined")—two chains that also get consistently high customer ratings in terms of quality and service. (**MORE:** [Meet the Low-Key, Low-Cost Grocery Chain Being Called ‘Wal-Mart’s Worst Nightmare’](http://business.time.com/2013/08/07/meet-the-low-key-low-cost-grocery-chain-being-called-wal-marts-worst-nightmare/ "undefined")) And if it’s truly the cheapest of cheap prices you’re after, the cheapskates at [Cheapism](http://www.cheapism.com/cheapest-grocery-store "undefined") just published a grocery price-comparison showdown, pitting Walmart against traditional supermarket Kroger and Aldi, a sister brand of Trader Joe’s that sells almost no national brands. Secret shoppers rounded up a basket of 37 standard grocery items (though not necessarily the same brands), and Aldi was named the cheap champ, with a total bill that was 15% less than Walmart and 23% less than Kroger. This probably shouldn’t come as a surprise: In previous surveys, Aldi has come out on top as shoppers’ [favorite low-cost grocery store](http://business.time.com/2011/06/13/the-nations-favorite-low-cost-grocery-store-is/ "undefined"). Mind you, there are tradeoffs to shopping at a place like Aldi, starting with the absence of brands you’d recognize, and continuing on to its [small stores and small selection](http://business.time.com/2012/10/08/right-business-right-time-struggling-economy-means-boom-times-for-discount-grocer-aldi/ "undefined"), as well as policies that some find a turnoff, including no coupons and no credit cards accepted. ```json [{"@context":"https://schema.org","@type":"NewsArticle","@id":"https://time.com/41852/theres-a-good-chance-you-dumped-your-supermarket-last-year/","mainEntityOfPage":{"@type":"WebPage","@id":"https://time.com/41852/theres-a-good-chance-you-dumped-your-supermarket-last-year/"},"headline":"There's a Good Chance You Dumped Your Supermarket Last Year","datePublished":"2014-03-28T18:17:01.000Z","dateModified":"2026-02-21T07:01:36.238Z","description":"Long waits, dirty stores, and, most importantly, high prices are among the reasons so many consumers are breaking up with their once-steady supermarkets. 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