Milk prices

[MissMillie]

Now I realize that dairy farmers have to make a living too, but jeez....

A gallon of milk at the store (mind you, STORE BRAND milk) is running about $3.79.

How come I can go to the convenience store at the gas station and get Hood milk (BRAND NAME milk) for $2.19/gallon?

Why is it less expensive at the convenience store?

[LynzM]

1. I dunno, but it's the same here

Store-brand at the store, $4.19/gal. Brand name at the gas station across the street, $2.69/gal.

EVERYTHING is going to get more expensive as the price of gas goes up, and I think a lot of people don't realize that (I'm not implying you, just saying, people in general...)

[kick-ass-bob]

2. look at the date.

that's why.
x(

[MissMillie]

3. the dates are fine

I bought milk there last night and the code was for March 29th.

It's fresh milk.

[kick-ass-bob]

9. I just said that b/c 1 time

I bought from a C-store and the milk was 4 days old.
:puke:

[MissMillie]

16. At these prices

the milk doesn't stay on the shelf very long :)

[Akoto]

4. I feel your pain.

I'm lactose intolerant, so I have to buy a special type of milk for cooking purposes. Otherwise, I usually end up suffering an unhappy tummy. The lactose-free milk is expensive, and because not a lot of people buy it, they only sell it in the big (and even more expensive) cartons at my store. :(

I guess I'm fortunate in that I hate the taste of milk anyhow, but not so much in that I like to bake!

[skygazer]

5. Do you really think that dairy farmers are the ones getting that money?

I grew up around dairy farms - most of them are out of business now because they were barely making pennies on their product. I honestly don't know who is getting the dough for it, but it's not the farmers.

[MissMillie]

7. Ok... I just didn't want to come across as

someone who didn't recognize the plight of the farmer.

[SheWhoMustBeObeyed]

13. The farmers deserve it but the processors get it n/t

[ewagner]

6. In some cases.....

the chain convenience stores have mastered VERTICLE INTEGRATION. For instance, there is one corporate chain store here in Wisconsin that opened up a 3000 cow dairy farm about three years ago with the idea that it would control milk production from the barn to the store shelf....and they bloody well did.....cheaper prices on the shelf (when they feel like it, otherwise the profit margin is just that much bigger) and probably put 25-30 small dairy farmers out of business......

[Squeech]

8. Loss leaders

Many shops, even convenience stores, decide to sell some product at a loss to try and get more new customers. The idea is that once you walk in the door, you'll see enough other stuff you need that your total purchases will more than make up their loss on that gallon of milk.

I try to buy loss leaders exclusively. My local grocers must hate me.

[MissMillie]

11. I walk in, buy the milk, and walk out

I don't even buy my gas at this store.

[SheWhoMustBeObeyed]

14. That is correct

That's also why in supermarkets the milk aisle is usually the furthest from the entrance. They know you come in for milk so first they wanna waltz you past all the expensive impulse stuff they can (bakery, deli etc).

[LynzM]

15. I never noticed that, but

You're right, now that I think about it... in every store I can see in my head. Damn.

[DustMolecule]

10. Milk at the gas station has ALWAYS been cheaper than

in the grocery store (don't know why, just something that "IS").

Even as a kid I remember walking to the gas station for my mom to buy a gallon of milk (even though she went to the grocery store regularly).

[Midlodemocrat]

12. That isn't the case here.

Milk from the convenience store is about the same price, or higher.