Price-Conscious in Toronto: A One Dollar Price-Difference between Wholefoods and Loblaws
Two weeks ago, I was at Wholefoods (Hazelton Lanes) and discovered Pom’s new line of lighter tea drinks. They were $3.99 each. A little pricey, I thought. Last week, I was at Loblaws (Bathurst and St. Clair) and found the same drinks for $2.99 each—one dollar less. Not a small amount! Last night, back at Wholefoods, I noticed a display of Pom Teas close to the cash, obviously for last-minute/impulse purchases. This prompted me to ask a Wholefoods team member if they "price-matched." Instead of simply saying, "No," she volunteered three reasons whey they don’t: (1) They are good to their employees, and start them off at $2.50 more an hour than anywhere else. (2) They offer food samples. (3) Customers can bring food back after tasting it if they don’t like it. She then told me to wait a minute while she checked with team leaders. Naively, I wondered if a one-time goodwill discount was being arranged. On the contrary! Another fact was transmitted as to why Loblaws is more price-smart. Apparently, they have 1200 stores…and Wholefoods is unique in Yorkville. Exiting Wholefoods, a little perplexed by the justifications, I looked back over my shoulder and witnessed sniggering team members. I’d like to hope that the price issue, and my raising it, wasn’t cause for their amusement.
