What makes GOOD CENTS ~ Grocery Shopping A New Way!

I boast frugality and savings through consumer education by shopping and reviewing items daily.  Being Frugal does not mean being ‘cheap’ it does however mean getting the best possible, quality product at the BEST possible Price.  Is it possible that the GOOD CENTS store opening will actually be able to provide the ‘frugal consumer’ with a good deal on high-quality products?????

GOOD CENTS WILL BE OPENING NOVEMBER 4, 2012 on McKnight Road!

LEVELING OUT THE PLAYING FIELD:

Let’s take a quick look at what is out there currently- at least the 3 that most likely will compete for YOUR business:

ALDI entered our lives years ago, with just a few stores and has expanded greatly! You need to bring your own bags, there is produce, it is tended to and the prices are GREAT!  ALDI does not have a deli or a bakery or a fresh cheese department.  ALDI does not have many name brand items, but it does have other brands that are as good, if not better than MANY leading brands.  The store is a bare bones market, with the necessities and a few extras.  Much of the stock is standard: baking goods, lunch box items, dairy, etc.  Each month there is a special theme, like Italian Foods, Seasonal, etc.  Your grocery bill can be slashed DRASTICALLY by  shopping there and the .25 shopping cart–Ingenious! I love the ALDI store, the brands and it has become a necessity for things like ALMOND milk and Pizza!

BOTTOM DOLLAR:  Bottom Dollar hit the Burgh’ with a bang, just recently and has impacted several people’s lives with the low cost items available.  Bottom Dollar sells many National Brand items, and features many of these items like  everyone’s favorite dipping cookie in milk….HOWEVER, if there is a special buy on an item, Quantity is limited to 2! Bagging your own groceries is also a must, and bringing your bags along, well, highly recommended.  The meat prices on things like CHICKEN will rock your world and even SAM’s Club can’t compete with the great poultry prices in SMALLER packages!  There is no bakery, there is no deli, but there is A NICE PRODUCE cooler.  My problem with the cooler, is it is often out of the more popular items or rather picked over and that is a big part of why I initially visited the store.  The store also has it’s own Membership Card.   The membership card is basically the loyalty program.  It is free to join and you get the best savings by paying the  “member” price on Special Buys and While Supplies Last items.The card also offers a few money saving promo’s during the year.  Finally, if you hate CLIPPING coupons, just virtually clip with your membership and you will save, as long as YOU remember to update! The ads are simple, the savings are great, but again the store is missing a few things.

GOOD CENTS

While the store is not yet opened, I have spent a bit of time studying the new site, and learning what I can so I am prepared to SHOP IT! It would seem that the new GOOD CENTS grocery store that is opening this Sunday on McKnight might have found a way to strike a balance between a BASIC Blue Jeans Grocery store and possible dressed it up to Tuxedo level by providing a deli yet, alleviating any high grocery bills because they buy products that are already great deals so the savings is to be passed on, or that is the buzzzz right now!

THE PREMISE OF GOOD CENTS

TO offer a broad assortment of fresh produce,  full-service deli and cheese departments, with fresh meat cut and ground in-store every day and a wide variety of national brands, all while providing good deals on high-quality products.

The Card: The Good Cents Shopper Card is called the “Centsible Shopper Card” and you will need to use it  to redeem valuable Good Cents coupons.  Here is a little bonus: every time you scan your Centsible Shopper Card, you enter to win a $50 Good Cents gift card! One winner chosen at random per week.

DOES IT MAKE GOOD CENTS?

Since I have not shopped it yet, I can only offer what I can find on the website!  Plastic Bags are 5 Cents each, so BRING your Own Bags! Good Cents offers their brands up to 50% off.

Want to get Really Excited for this opening? Take a look at the circular, right HERE! Amazing.

HERE IS WHAT I HAVE UNCOVERED FOR YOU — CONSUMER EDUCATION BEFORE SHOPPING:

1) Can coupons be used? In addition to our own Good Cents coupons, Good Cents does accept manufacturer coupons, though they  do not double

2) Are there name brand items? There is a broad assortment of national brands at extremely low prices.

3) Entrance into this market means what to us as Pittsburgh Consumers:  Good Cents believes they  have created a unique niche that lives in between a traditional supermarket and a traditional discount store. Key offerings include a huge produce department, meat cut and ground fresh in-store, a full-service deli featuring deli meats and cheeses sliced-to-order, a cheese shop offering over 60 varieties of cheese sliced- or chunked-to order and thousands of national brands, and a selection of our own brand items (Valu Time and Food Club), all at really low prices.

AND HOW IT ENDS?

Really, this is a win/win situation for all North Hills Shoppers!  If you really can’t find what you love at a great price, you could always walk next door, LITERALLY to BOTTOM DOLLAR because they are within FEET of each other! Frugal Grocery Shopping Paradise! Let the gloves come off and BOOM let’s see what Good Cents is made of?

Here’s to great buys, loaded grocery store shelves and National Brands that we can all now soak up the savings by shopping in ONE plaza!

The new Good Cents is located on McKnight Road is right next to the Bottom Dollar!

I was not compensated for this article. Opinions reflected in the article are strictly mine based on shopping experiences in each location! PFM is not an employee with ANY of the aforementioned. I did interview a member of the PR TEAM for a bit of information!