For those who do the Kroger pickup and in-store shops, you're aware that both have item number minimums (8 items and 3 items respectively). I don't know if others do this as well, but I typically try to optimize my order dollar-wise to get fairly close to the reimbursement amount. Sometimes that means trying to find inexpensive things to buy. My favorites are a single banana (usually about $0.20) or a packet of kool-aid ($0.25 - $0.35 or so). Curious if anyone has other ideas for inexpensive grocery items to meet the item minimums? The bananas get eaten quickly in my house but the kool-aid is starting to pile up

Aldi is my grocery store, this due to their pricing. When I complete a Kroger assignment, I choose items that are priced at or near Aldi. When, though, Kroger has clearance and/or sale items significantly below Aldi, I will exceed the three item minimum and $9 reimbursement.

If I do grocery stores, I normally buy things that we will need anyway like milk, bread, mac and cheese, lunch snacks, etc. and just consider the reimbursement an offset from my regular grocery bill. Can you add other fruits like a single apple or orange? Individual drinks?

Yeah, single produce items work. Most are going to run more than $1 though. I'm still searching for that $0.25 unicorn item.

A couple of grapes?

Yes! That’s a great idea. I’d probably do more than a couple though . Thanks for the idea!

I do single fruit. Nut packs that are by the cash register. Liquid hand soap. A bottle of water.

I'm a weekly ad front page buyer. Most good sales are on the front but I check the whole thing across 5 stores to be sure something is the lowest price. I only buy sale items unless it's an emergency or something that's almost never on sale, like milk. If it's not at the lowest price, I don't need it. I'll wait.

Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 08/16/2023 09:55PM by sestrahelena.

8 ounce cans of tomato sauce are less than $1.

Single serve yogurt depending on brand is 99 cents. Can you buy one cookie at the bakery? Sample/travel size toothpaste or shampoo?

Plantains and garlic cloves. 59 cents. I like fried plantains for breakfast.

Individual ramen noodle packets (the non-fancy kind)
Jalapeno peppers
(Edited to add the peppers)

Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 08/17/2023 07:07AM by Susan L..

A single carrot, lime, or lemon.

@mueagles wrote:

Yeah, single produce items work. Most are going to run more than $1 though. I'm still searching for that $0.25 unicorn item.

One carrot or one jalapeno.

Thanks all! These are great ideas. Some I've used in the past and some are new. I'll have to try them out.

@mueagles wrote:

Thanks all! These are great ideas. Some I've used in the past and some are new. I'll have to try them out.

There was a great post some time ago that had all kinds of ideas in it for things to shop for. There were recommendations for things to buy when you were all stocked on food, like ziplocks, candles and batteries as well as smaller filler items, $.60 cornbread, single carrot, etc. I remember getting a lot of great ideas from that thread.

The problem I'm having right now with a specific grocery shop is inflation.

Reimbursement is only $10. I would normally buy a bag of produce and put it on the bottom of the cart to see if the cashier noticed it.

Well what used to be 5 lb bags are now only 3 lb bags and they cost $4-6.

That doesn't leave much to purchase other groceries and forgetting you had something on the bottom of the cart . Generic $1.10 soda used to be one thing but how much soda can you buy?

2 bags of generic chips and 5 bottles of soda and you're over reimbursement.

Thank you. I did search the forum for anything similar before I posted but I’ll see if I can find that thread you’re referring to.

And yeah the reimbursement has been $9 since as long as I can remember…even with the former MSC. Something more like $15 or even $12 would be much more useful.

@wrosie,

Inflation? Nah! Haven't you heard? It's Transitory! And I've heard many people approved of the policy and checked boxes to get us here. ROFL

Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 08/18/2023 06:52AM by maverick1.

Inflation is not the problem. Pricing is the problem. I was watching some show a few weeks ago and I heard that word (pricing), come out of the mouths of some of the biggest conglomerates in the food/grocery business. While the consumer is complaining about the high cost of products, the corporations are raking in record PROFITS. I heard them say they attribute their continued profit ( not sales) increase to pricing, and the plan is to continue pricing accordingly. They have hid behind inflation. Yes, initially prices were raised in part because of inflation, but they padded those increases. The inflation rate has come down from it's peak of 9.1% to 3%, but you have not seen consumer prices reduced to match that. And you won't. They have trained the consumer to pay these prices and they are making record profits as a result. Meanwhile, inflation gets all of the blame. The corporations love it. Cal-Maine 718% profit increase... Kraft Heinz. 448% profit increase... Conagra 56% profit increase... General Mills 97%....Tyson Foods 50% to name a few. Retailers like WalMart and Kroger have profit increases too. These PROFIT increases occurred why we are complaining about the high cost and blaming it on whatever/whoever you have been blaming. Pricing... remember that word. I heard those guys say it, and then I looked at their profits. By the way, Cal-Maine with their 718% profit increase last quarter, is the U.S largest egg producer. So for those who complained about how high eggs have been,,,,, there you go.

Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 08/18/2023 09:13AM by 1forum1.

Regarding increasing the reimbursement, I am not holding my breath. The mystery shopping company, and more importantly, their client, are operating a business and they want maximum return at minimal cost. Apparently, they have found the sweet spot. I have seen 700 grocery shops hit the board and 2 hours later there are only 200 left. If there were no limits, those would be gone too. When shops are flying off the board at that rate, what is the motivation for the business to increase the reimbursement?

@1forum1,

Ah, you drank the Kool-Aid. Just as their narrative indicated. You are a good peasant. They are so glad you couldn't even finish ECON-101...ROFL

I completely agree with 1forum1's above posts.

@maverick1 wrote:

@1forum1,

Ah, you drank the Kool-Aid. Just as their narrative indicated. You are a good peasant. They are so glad you couldn't even finish ECON-101...ROFL

What?

The way I look at it is it's a $9 reimbursement on stuff I would be buying anyway and I'm getting paid $9 for about 10 minutes worth of work that I would be doing anyway if I was going grocery shopping. The report takes no time at all and I'm only having to check a couple other things I wouldn't normally be checking for if I was shopping for myself.

The fuel shops are super simple also.

And yes, they're flying off the board because they're easy and with increased costs, people are taking these to offset grocery expenses.

Would it be nice to get a little bit more? Yes, but I'm happy to do that at the current rate. I just don't go very far!

When I was first out in my own, a neighbor and I went to a farmers' market to shop for a recipe I was making. I asked for 2 cloves of garlic. The clerk looked at me like I was crazy.

@whosear wrote:

Plantains and garlic cloves. 59 cents. I like fried plantains for breakfast.

In store shops checking 6 or 7 produce items, 6 or 7 meat , 2 milk and cheese take more than 10 minutes if you the shop correctly. Noting produce, cashier, bagger description checking rest room all take time. Not sure how @anyone can do the shops in 10 minutes if you actually check everything rather than simply pretend you did. Report has many questions including uploading receipt so not sure it is easy. Foodluver must have some secrets to do a shop in 10 minutes. I have done many and never able to complete in 10 minutes…if full serve there is usually wait to check out…lately even wait at self check so not only 10 minutes by any means. And when I shop for myself I do not check everything that is listed in report.

Edited 2 time(s). Last edit at 08/19/2023 11:58AM by OldmanJames.

@OldmanJames wrote:

In store shops checking 6 or 7 produce items, 6 or 7 meat , 2 milk and cheese take more than 10 minutes if you the shop correctly. Noting produce, cashier, bagger description checking rest room all take time. Not sure how @anyone can do the shops in 10 minutes if you actually check everything rather than simply pretend you did. Report has many questions including uploading receipt so not sure it is easy. Foodluver must have some secrets to do a shop in 10 minutes. I have done many and never able to complete in 10 minutes…if full serve there is usually wait to check out…lately even wait at self check so not only 10 minutes by any means. And when I shop for myself I do not check everything that is listed in report.

The 10 minutes worth of work is inputting the report, which is extremly easy including uploading the receipt.

Edited 2 time(s). Last edit at 08/19/2023 01:45PM by pegleg2000.

@pegleg2000 wrote:

@OldmanJames wrote:

In store shops checking 6 or 7 produce items, 6 or 7 meat , 2 milk and cheese take more than 10 minutes if you the shop correctly. Noting produce, cashier, bagger description checking rest room all take time. Not sure how @anyone can do the shops in 10 minutes if you actually check everything rather than simply pretend you did. Report has many questions including uploading receipt so not sure it is easy. Foodluver must have some secrets to do a shop in 10 minutes. I have done many and never able to complete in 10 minutes…if full serve there is usually wait to check out…lately even wait at self check so not only 10 minutes by any means. And when I shop for myself I do not check everything that is listed in report.

The 10 minutes worth of work is inputting the report, which is extremly easy including uploading the receipt.

Exactly, I'm looking at produce ,meat ,and milk when I shop. And I generally go to the restroom and wash my hands anyway. So it's just the report entry and capturing names which doesn't take any time at all.