Home » Features »

New Towers store prices don’t stack up to competition

By on September 22, 2003 12:00 am in Features / no comments

 
email
Store comparison (lowest price in bold)
  C3 Wal-Mart 7-11 Save-A-Lot
1 dozen eggs — $1.08 $1.19 $1.15
1⁄2 gallon milk $1.99 $1.54 $1.99 $1.69
Loaf white bread $2.49 $1.25 $1.50 $1.09
4-pack toilet paper $1.89 $.88 $1.55 $.89
200-ct. aspirin $2.30 $1.92 $3.18 $.99
2 liter Pepsi $.99 $.98 $1.79 $.99
Doritos, large bag $3.29 $2.96 $3.29 $2.50
14 oz. cereal $4.59 $1.86 $3.99 $1.69
3-pack bar soap $2.69 $1.78 — $1.79
Penny pinching Towers residents craving a bowl of cereal and some toast,
or just hoping to wash their hands, may want to sidestep Convenience to the
Third Power.
The convenience store in the walkway connecting the Towers lobby to Kesseler
Hall provides many every-day products at a higher cost than 7-Eleven, Wal-Mart
and Save-A-Lot — the three stores Central Michigan Life used to compare prices
with to the Tower’s store.
In the comparison, the prices of products such as milk, chips and soda
were comparable with 7-Eleven, but higher than Wal-Mart and Save-A-Lot. Products
like cereal, bread, soap and toilet paper were more expensive at the Tower’s
convenience store than the others.

Penny pinching Towers residents craving a bowl of cereal and some toast,
or just hoping to wash their hands, may want to sidestep Convenience to the
Third Power.

The convenience store in the walkway connecting the Towers lobby to Kesseler
Hall provides many every-day products at a higher cost than 7-Eleven, Wal-Mart
and Save-A-Lot — the three stores Central Michigan Life used to compare prices
with to the Tower’s store.

In the comparison, the prices of products such as milk, chips and soda
were comparable with 7-Eleven, but higher than Wal-Mart and Save-A-Lot. Products
like cereal, bread, soap and toilet paper were more expensive at the Tower’s
convenience store than the others.

Chad Davis, who works at the store, said the higher prices are expected.

“Our prices are comparable to 7-Eleven, but our prices are higher than
stores like Wal-Mart because we buy things in smaller quantities and have
fewer suppliers,” the Dewitt senior said.

For example, a loaf of white bread at the Tower’s store cost $2.49, compared
to $1.25 at Wal-Mart, $1.09 at Save-A-Lot and $1.50 at 7-Eleven.

Store Manager Greg Hall, who has worked with Campus Dining for four years, is looking at ways to lower prices, Davis said.

“We are still figuring things out here, but we try to run specials every week,” he said.

Still, some students in the Towers don’t complain about the higher prices,
and instead praise the store for its convenient location and safety.

Camden junior Matt Kidwell is a resident assistant in the Towers and uses FLEX dollars to make late-night food runs.

“The location is great and they take FLEX dollars, which is even better,” he said.

South Lyon junior Mat Hopson said the store’s safety and economy also are factors in the popularity of the store.

“Who knows what is out there at night?” Hopson said of traveling to other
stores. “Not to mention the high gas prices — I’d rather pay a little extra
for food than a lot more for gas.”

Davis said most customers are freshman who do not have cars or are in a hurry, making the store a popular and busy place.

“It gets so busy in here that we can’t keep the store stocked sometimes,” he said.

 

Related Posts