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Mar 09, 2009 -- Salvage stores offer cheap food, but not for the faint of heart
The recession has been a real boon for supermarkets as more people having been buying store brands and eating at home instead of going out to restaurants.
But what can you do when even the supermarkets are not cheap enough for you?
In a new trend, some people have begun shopping at salvage food stores. These are the types of stores -- usually located in metro areas -- that sell dented cans and all kinds of food that is very nearly expired. To say that the prices are rock-bottom is an understatement.
Our producer Joel tried salvage stores when he was in college. He jokes that he's surprised to be disease-free after repeatedly going around 10 or 12 times. They can be that dirty in his experience!
But Joel estimates that he saved up to 75% off traditional food prices by shopping at salvage stores.
Clark is intrigued by the idea of salvage stores and has vowed to check one out. We'll let you know how it goes…
Unfortunately, Clark won't be able to answer any questions submitted via commenting. If you have a question, please try posting it to our message boards.
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What others are saying
Great Savings
I have been shopping at a store called Grocey Outlet for over 16 years and are still alive. I have found food to at large stores to be outdated and molded more because of the low turnover. However these stores don't carry the same inventory all the time so if you see a deal grab it because if you come back 1 or more days later it won't be in stock. I don't advise buying electronics
You can deal with dented cans and close to expired food if you want to.
Do your research. You can but dented cans and close to outdated food. People are so stuck on "Oh we can't eat that, it's dented". Look, bottom line, America does not want to drink faucet water and want to buy (bottle water) faucet water because they think "Oh it's dirty" when bottom line it's the same water (tap water) except the water companies do not has as many regulations as far as testing the water like regular old tap water. Give me a Break! C'mon Clark Howard comment on this stuff!
Flea Markets
In Our Area Of Southwest Ohio, our local flea markets are full of salvage foods, and to this date we have never had a problem and get really good deals
Salvage Stores
I live in a smaller town, and our "salvage store" has a lot of great deals, a lot of them well into their sell by date. Many items are simply over-runs. I have found brand of jelly at my local store that is WAY better than the national brands, and some of the other products are not affected by seel by dates. Tabasco((tm)) sauce does not expire! Years ago many items did not even carry experation dates.
Aldi
Try Aldi instead - perfectly new, good products at great prices. You won't recognize the labels, but the quality is just as good as any grocery store. We are getting more and more there and save a ton.
Salvage stores
Me & my sibs loved it when mom went to the bakery outlet stores!
It wasn't just bread, but it was rolls & cakes & pastry's OMG! Good stuff!
She froze most of it & rationed it to us kids. I miss those days!
I buy a lot of stuff that is discounted because it is near or just a bit past it's "sell by date". 99% of the time, the food is just fine.
I've noticed that some pre-packaged meats now have this stamp on them: Use or FREEZE before XX/XX/XXXX
I do draw the line at dented cans & ripped packages, though. Doesn't matter if it is human or pet food. If the can is dented or the package has been ripped, I won't buy it.
Salvage Stores
Be careful of rancid oil for anything like pretzels or snack crackers.
Salvage Stores
Winco isn't a salvage store. Although Grocery Outlet is.
Salvage Stores
Here in the West Coast, there's a chain called WinCo. I'm not sure that they are considered "Salvage" stores, but I have saved well over 70% of my grocery bill in the past year shopping there.
salvage foods
Be careful for dates and weavils in the goods made from flour/brans.
Salvage Stores
I think I go to these kind of stores regularly. I find yogurt with a week or so to go and trust me my two teens eat it with time left before it expires! I've also found new weird items that later appear in the EXPENSIVE stores! Cheese is my current favorite because I find different brands from other parts of the country that are great. I've taught my sons to check dates, but really its fun and saves a lot of money. I also do the bread outlet with close date bread that goes in the freezer. I'd also like to say the people that work at these stores are really nice too!
SALVAGE FOOD
...day old bread stores went out of business in NE Ohio 15 years ago.....too much labor and upkeep to sell for dirt cheap prices....also, much of this is high car high fat food....if you want to stay slim, you will not stuff yourself with this high carb fat fodder..unless you run 15 miles a day
"day old bread" stores
My parents raised me on stuff from the "day old bread store" - a local Butternut Bread Bakery Thrift Shop. It was clean, well-lit, and nothing was truly "expired" - most items were maybe a day or so away from expiration, but still perfectly good to eat. Nice selection, we got bread, rolls, snack cakes, peanut butter, lots of good stuff. They are still around, and have several stores scattered around the town where I live. Check citysearch.com for Butternut Bread Bakery Thrift Shops near you.
Salvage Food
I grew up in a family of people who know how to save a penny. When I first started off on my own, I did the same thing as your producer. Today while going through the grocery store I still have trouble passing by the scratch & dent discount buggy. I gotta look for the specials; Like box of ceral for 1$ & such.
Salvage stores
Clark, As a former certified food service manager, I can tell that I would have been in deep trouble for selling badly dented cans, or the food product than came in them. When the expiration date arrived, the food went into the dumpster: no questions. Could not sell it or give it away. Too much of a chance of botulism in the first instance, or different bacteria in the second case. These regs were federal, state and local.
Been using them for years no problems.
Salvage Food
Sometimes you will find a pallet full of Ceral boxes that have 2 months to go of a new concept that just never took off. It might be worth going just to buy ceral for 75 cents box. (don't count on finding any updated toys inside)
