Alice.com offers a new way to get brand names for less on clarkhoward.com

Kroger -- the nation's second largest grocer behind Wal-Mart -- has been selling an unprecedented amount of private label goods. According to the latest quarterly report, 1 in 3 items being sold in the store is Kroger's own brand!

With so much mojo surrounding store brands, manufacturers have started trying to bypass the retailers by selling their brands online at new ultra-cheap websites.

Alice.com is one such example where you can get brand names cheaper than just about anywhere else.

Currently in beta, Alice claims to be cheaper than Amazon for groceries. And Alice always offers free shipping and applies current e-coupons right to your order so you don't have to do any clipping.

Clark thinks we'll see more attempts like this from the brand names to get back into your shopping basket.

It's kind of similar to the outlet store phenomenon, where brand names opened their own retail locations as the department stores and mall retailers moved toward private labels.

What others are saying

Sam's Cheaper
We buy certain items from Sam's on a regular basis, some Member's Mark store brand and other items are name brand. I checked the price of 20 of these items on Alice.com and headed out to the store. I only compared the name brand items. 18 of the 20 items were cheaper at Sam's, with toilet paper and paper towel's coming out cheaper on Alice.com
By pirate @ 10/19/09 12:00:30 PMreport abuse
Slow Shipping
I tried an order from my hotel room while on a trip. The site said the order would arrive 2-3 days later. It's been nearly a week and the order is supposedly going to be delivered today.

There is a pretty limited selection of products. You won't find corn and peas on here. Dry goods, paper products, chemicals, etc. are in good supply.

I eat a lot of organics and use natural cleaners and other products, which are expensive even at discount stores. The prices, with coupons, are better on Alice. I couldn't get much, but did get what I could.

This site charges sales tax on everything, even if the item is tax-free locally.

I find the service handy, selection limited. I'll use it again. But it's not going to be enough to totally avoid the store. It'll just make store shopping a little faster.
By Shawn @ 09/10/09 11:52:37 AMreport abuse
ALICE.COM
TRIED MANY TIMES & MANY WAYS & CAN NOT GET ON TO THE ALICE.COM WEBSITE. DOES YOUR LINK WORK FOR EVERYONE? IT KEEPS SAYING "CAN'T DISPLAY...TROUBLE WITH WEBSITE"!
By JUDE @ 08/16/09 05:52:28 PMreport abuse
Alice.com
I just ordered from Alice.com and was very impressed with the ease of shopping, checking out and delivery. The prices are very competetive and the product selection was good. I have heard they will continue to add products. Not having to watch sale flyers and cut coupons is a real bonus. This will save me a great deal of time and money. Not having to shop with my children in tow will save me money and avoid those last minute purchases. I definitely will use this service again.
By Michelle @ 08/03/09 12:38:48 AMreport abuse
shopatalice.com
I've compared prices to my local wal-mart and grocery store, and Alice is a little cheaper. It's worth checking out. New customers can sign up with this link and get a $10 credit on your account when you spend $50. http://www.alice.com/referral/21380AD8
By Jeff @ 08/01/09 03:19:15 PMreport abuse
alice.com
I don't see any great bargains here. Maybe prices are a lot higher in the large metro areas, but I didn't see anything I couldn't get cheaper at Walmart or by watching the local grocery sore ads. Folgers coffee on Alice was nearly 4.00 more than what I just paid at walmart and Crest mouthwash was $1.00 more even with the coupon. Plus you'd end up with a lot of boxes to get rid of. I often use my own canvas shopping bags, and reuse the store bags I get in waste baskets. I wouldn't want all those boxes. I guess you'd have to be a lot more pscale than me to find these prices a bargain. Might be useful if you didn't have transportation.
By Kathy @ 07/30/09 10:38:09 AMreport abuse
alice.com
They did not most the brands I was looking for, and the one brand they did have they did not have the size of the product I use.
By krava @ 07/18/09 03:44:36 PMreport abuse
Good for some stuff
I just bought $50 worth of stuff on Alice.com. What did I buy? Baby food, deoderant, and laundry soap. I don't buy alot of name brand products to begin with, but some this stuff, especially with the coupons, was cheaper than my local WalMart store. And that's before I drag two kids out to the store to get it. At least I'll have the comfort in knowing I've got some items on hand in case I run out. Yes, I'll still need to go to the grocery store, but I just don't have to worry about these particular items next time. Plus, I had the convenience of being able to read the labels at my leisure, and not with two kids tugging at me. I was able to go to the "coupon $" list and browse for those things first. Diapers were a little more expensive than buying in a store, but not more expensive than diapers.com. The site was a little slow for browsing, but would be really good when you know what you are looking for.
By Christine @ 07/18/09 01:52:10 PMreport abuse
Don't like ALICE
i had to sign up to visit and was unable to get backed out of membership. Prices are too HIGH. and the site seems very intrusive. I don't think i would ever trust it with my credit card/debit info.
By dt @ 07/16/09 12:04:43 AMreport abuse
Kroger and Walmart
Unfortunately, this cat and all of kittens live in Oregon, where we are subject to price fixing, and are loomed over by both Walmart and Kroger store chains ( Fred Meyers).

It just not the price fixing on my cat nip, its also agreements that only Krogers will sell a certain brand or product in a brand line--leaving me only one place and one price to pay regardless.
By Cautious Cat @ 07/15/09 04:29:35 PMreport abuse
cheaper online?
I don't see how it can be more economical to have groceries shipped to you, as opposed to driving to Kroger/Publix and filling up the car. And what about temperature sensive items, e.g. ice cream?
By ed @ 07/15/09 12:16:56 PMreport abuse
Alice.com
I too checked out the website, but like everyone else if you are use to paying sale prices at Kroger etc & using the warehouse stores, prices are considerably more on this site. I guess if you live in timbucktoo and don't have access to as many grocery stores and warehouse clubs then it might be worth your wild. Thank goodness I have the luxury that I do.
By Kim @ 07/13/09 06:36:20 PMreport abuse
Alice.com
I shop at Aldi 99% of the time and Aldi's prices blow Alice away!
By Jan @ 07/13/09 05:01:24 PMreport abuse
Expensive
Alice seems to charge retail for everything (less coupons), WAY more than the Kroger brands I buy. Looks like I still have to go to the store for many items, so I'm willing to sacrifice this convenience for the convenience of a robust bank balance...
By Phil @ 07/13/09 01:08:32 PMreport abuse
alice.com
Looks good and use full site.

Sam
By SAM @ 07/11/09 09:54:12 PMreport abuse
alice.com
Just looked through the alice.com website. Wasn't exactly blown away by their prices. If you are crunched for time I guess it would be a good thing
By c jones @ 07/11/09 09:10:06 PMreport abuse
Alice is Great for Seniors!
I used it to order non-perishables for my mom who lives in another state. She doesn't drive so Alice allows me to help her out. Love the free shipping.

Thanks Clark!
By Layne @ 07/11/09 06:15:54 PMreport abuse
Alice.com
gosh, I wish sites would give some information BEFORE you are forced register all your information (address, DOB, etc.) After registering for an account, I'm notified it only serves the 48 states, figures!
By Misty @ 07/11/09 02:34:34 PMreport abuse
Alice.com
I haven't found anything cheaper than I would buy it at Walmart for. I do like the automatic coupon function though. That may help because I do not worry about coupons to much organization required to use them. Alice.com makes that easy.

- Todd Charske
By Todd Charske @ 07/11/09 11:47:31 AMreport abuse
Bypassing retailers growing
Was waiting to see something like this come along. With hi-end fashion and accessory sites like Hautelook.com to the baby chiconomics of btrendie.com gaining ground for manufacturers, Alice looks like it has possibilities. Thanks Clark.
By Marla @ 07/10/09 01:18:50 PMreport abuse
Alice.com
Who thinks this is a cheaper way to shop? I can do better at Kroger and the Warehouse Clubs. Why would I want to spend over $7.00 on 35 Glad Trash Bags when I can buy 150 of them for less than twice that much at Costco? This was just one of the items I looked at on Alice.com, that I know I pay less for the item elsewhere.
By Nancy @ 07/09/09 07:30:43 PMreport abuse
Thanks
Thanks Clark! I can't wait to check this out!
By Juju @ 07/09/09 05:02:42 PMreport abuse
generic Zyrtec
Went to super-Kroger store @ Chestnut Mtn., GA, a couple weeks ago to pickup a Rx. While in the pharmacy, i went over to the shelf to look @ their generic (Kroger brand) of Zyrtec. It was very expensive, around twelve or fourteen dollars for 15 maybe 20 tablets. But I needed them, so I was going to go ahead & purchase. When the pharmacist called me to the window to talk to me about my Rx, I asked her about the generic Zyrtec, if there were any cheaper brands. Turned out she had a bottle of 100 behind the counter that was cheaper than what I had in my hand! The whole bottle was only $14....I couldn't believe it! I didn't need that many, so she sold me 50 for around $6. What a bargain!! Great news for allergy-sufferers. Be sure to ask the Kroger pharmacist if he/she has it behind the counter. It's not out on the floor.
By jena brunson @ 07/09/09 04:27:26 PMreport abuse
Good, needs to be better
Funny, I was just fiddling with Alice.com last night! It's a great concept, beautifully executed, and yes, it has great prices on brand-name products. That works fine for most dry goods. But I can't bring myself to pay $7 for a bottle of antacid, even one that brings itself to my door, measures itself out, and walks my dog, when I know I can get a bad-tasting generic alternative for $3 on the way to work. Plus, they don't carry certain brands that are important to me, like Charlie's Soap.

I may wind up using it for things that don't have much price variation, such as tin foil, and things that are bulky like toilet paper. But unfortunately, I won't be able to embrace it like I'd hoped.
By Karen @ 07/09/09 04:13:55 PMreport abuse

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Jul 09, 2009 -- Alice.com offers a new way to get brand names for less

What others are saying