I often hear from people that they picked up this or that at a “big box” store because it was cheaper.  Well…. last week I decided it was time to do another price analysis with a big box store (we did one about a year ago).  My analysis did not take into account any sales or special offers – it was strictly day-to-day pricing on the items.  Here’s what I found.

At one  store, I compared prices on 44 identical items.  These are the only 44 items that we both carry, so I didn’t pick & choose to skew the results.  I included every single item that both of us sell.  Of the 44  items, Fido’s Market was lower priced on 42 of them (that’s 95% of them).  Our price on those 42 items was, on average, 18% lower than the big box store.  In one instance, the big box store’s price was 58% higher than Fido’s!

Let’s also not forget that they are buying in much larger quantities than Fido’s does, and more than likely, they get bulk buying discounts because of it.   So, not only are they charging you more for the same item, they’re probably paying less for it to begin with.

Beyond pricing, which we’ve determined is not necessarily lower at a big box store, shopping with small independent businesses are great for the local economy and your community.

And finally, while you may be able to find a “similar” item for a slightly less price, I would venture to guess that:

• The similar item isn’t as high of quality as the item we carry.  Quality and safety are priority #1 for us here at Fido’s Market.
• There has been no concern for where or how the item was made, or what materials/ingredients were used in making it.  At Fido’s, we take all of this into account when choosing products.  It’s not just about the product, but also about the company making the product (are they concerned with animal welfare issues, are they concerned with the environment, etc.).
• You won’t find someone as knowledgeable about any of the products as we are about all of the ones we carry.  We take the time to research and learn about each of our products before they even enter our store…and we even learn about ones we don’t carry so we can discuss those with you as well.

The next time you think you’re saving a buck at a big box store, you might want to think again.  And think of Fido’s Market.  We’re your neighborhood pet supply store – here to help however we can!