Talking Prices: Save Money, Shop Small and Local!

I see a great many social media posts asking people to shop small and support local businesses. I am suggesting you shop small to save money as well. We are competitively priced with other small businesses, the big box stores and the online retailers! Surprised? The commercials for the big box stores and online retailers always say they are the most economical, but let me show you how that isn't true. I compared prices at two of the online retailers, Chewys and Petflow. Their prices are pretty much identical, as are their so called "list prices". I am not sure where these list prices come from, but they are not the manufacturer's suggested retail price.

Let's start with the Champion Co. They make Orijen and Acana, two very high quality dry foods. I selected Orijen Original and Acana Pork & Squash to compare prices.
Orijen Original 25 lb., our price 76.99, online price 78.99

 Acana Pork & Squash 25 lb. our price 68.99, online price 68.99

The Champion Co also gives independent retailers a bonus: we can offer the frequent buyer program. After you buy 12 bags your 13th bag is free. So while 13 bags of Orijen from the online retailer would cost you $1026.87, buying from us would cost you $923.88. 13 bags of Acana from the online retailer would cost $896.87, buying from us would be $827.88. As you can see that is a significant savings!

When you look at Fromm on the online retailers they show a list price that makes their price look pretty good. I chose Fromm Gold Adult 33 lb. to compare prices. The "list price" is 68.99, the online price is 46.66. Our price is 47.99. Not a huge difference, but here comes a big savings when you shop local. Fromm also has a frequent buyers program. Buy 12, get your 13th bag for free. So the price comparison for 13 bags is 606.58 from the online retailer, 575.88 when you shop with us.

When you look at freeze dried foods the difference is even bigger. I compared online prices and two of the local big box stores, and was very pleased to see our prices are lower. I selected Primal Freeze dried Duck Formula 14 oz and Sojo's Freeze Dried Beef 8 lb. For the Primal 14 oz Duck Formula our price is 26.99, online price was 30.99 and the big box store was 28.99. Primal also gives us a frequent buyer program, buy 12 and your 13th bag is free.
So let's compare; 13 bags from us is 323.88. Online
is 402.87 and the big box store 376.87.

For the Sojo's Beef Formula 8 lb. our price is 76.99, online
price is 83.14. Again we are able to offer a buy 12 get your 13th free so you are saving even more when you shop with us!

The price comparisons on canned foods were similar as were dry, canned and freeze dried foods for cats. When it comes right down to it, the online retailers and chain stores aren't saving you any money. The online retailers do offer convenience, but certainly not savings.

One of the things we promise our customers is high quality products. We do a lot of research before we bring a product in, and we will never carry a product just because we can make money on it. If I wouldn't give it to my dog or cat I won't sell it to you for yours. That is our pledge to you. My online and big box competitors can't say the same thing, as I saw looking at their websites. The Whole Dog Journal and TheDogDigest.com recently put out a list of the worst dry dog foods and I was appalled to see all of these foods were available online and in the stores. What that says to me is they don't care what you feed your pets as long as they make money selling it to you.