Walmart. I usually pop in once or twice a year for some random thing simply because we happen to be driving by one.
To put it mildly, I’m not a fan of Walmart and will pretty much do anything to avoid walking into one. I know there are tons of people who love shopping at Walmart, but I am not one of them.
We were in Walmart back on March 29th of THIS YEAR {I have no idea why} and I took a picture of the price of ice. Walmart was selling a 7 pound bag of ice for $1.88.
The reason I took a picture was because back in early June of 2024 I snapped a photo of the price of ice at a Walmart store and it was $4.58. Which I thought it was an excessive amount since the local grocery store {Market Basket} was selling it for only $1.99 a bag at the time.
Yada yada yada… We stopped by Walmart yesterday and the price of ice is now $5.48 a bag. In March a 7 pound bag of ice was only $1.88.
Supply and demand? Dynamic pricing? I guess if more people are buying ice in June vs the end of March it makes sense from a business perspective to charge more?
But I also think it’s crazy. Do you know much is ice going for where YOU live? Have you noticed that the price is a lot higher during the summer months than any other time of year?
Side note: The HH spotted a purse in the middle of an aisle and after watching two Walmart employees walk right past it, he walked over, picked up the purse and brought it to the customer service desk.
As we were walking out to the car the HH pointed to an elderly lady getting into her car with the purse. So that was good news.
Jacking up the price of ice though? No bueno.
~Mavis
JulieP says
The HH is a good man! I’m afraid my husband he would be ‘no don’t touch it it could be a bomb’ Lololol 🙂
Price of ice here same all year round more expensive than you I think it’s about £1.40 for a 2kg bag but this time of year the freezers are normally empty the demand is high!
Mavis Butterfield says
Your husband is not alone. “Don’t touch it there could be a bomb in it” was my reaction too. 🙂
JulieP says
OMG so we were driving home from the dentist just now and I was telling him what had happened about the price of ice (he said they not allowed to do that here) and the handbag situation and he proved me right even before I got to the end of the tale! ‘What on earth did he touch it for there could have been a bomb in it’ I laughed so hard I nearly veered off the road 🙂 I know him so well
Mavis Butterfield says
FUNNY.:)
Sue says
Supply, demand, capitalism.
Honestly, I would have picked up the purse, too. In an airport, no. I would alert security.
But in a Walmart, yes.
Pam says
Mavis, I have some issues with Walmart too, but we have deliveries a couple times a week. We are old and have lots of health problems….for about a hundred dollars a year we can have as many deliveries as we need for free if over 35 bucks. Walmart carries everything now it’s like another Amazon. The amount of stress, time, gas this saves is amazing.
Lana says
Same here and we able to join for $49 so that made it even better.
maureen detmer says
i used to shop at walmart at least once a week, have not been in one now for the last two years, i avoid it as well, its always an unpleasant experience…….i pretty much just do all my shopping for whatever online, makes life so much easier…have a good day
Rita says
I like Wal-Mart delivery too. Super convenient. I don’t understand why people hate Wal-Mart yet shop at all of the other big box stores?
PattiC says
I have been buying ice for years from the liquor store and its always been exactly 3.00 inc tax. and still is
Ashley says
I buy ice very infrequently. When I know I will need it I often try to make ice in my own freezer and save the expense. I know…I’m extremely frugal!!
Stacey says
I do that too! I have a huge refrigerator with a freezer drawer. I can pack a lot of gallon bags of ice cubes from my ice maker in there to have on hand when I need them.
suzanne says
Not a Walmart fan either. I’m all for capitalism but pay your employees a living wage. Costco manages just fine in that area and still manages to make a huge profit and they’re about 1/3 the size of Walmart albeit different business models. Having ranted, like you I step in about once a year. I’m also not criticizing anyone who shops there for any reason. Kudo’s to your HH. I love the two finger man pinch on the handle.
Mavis Butterfield says
I thought the way he held the purse was hilarious!!
Lesley Parent says
Same. Like “I’m not really carrying this purse.” Like he wouldn’t commit with all fingers.
Mavis Butterfield says
HA HA HA.
Honeybee says
I thought perhaps he was carrying a man purse. Wouldn’t it be great if men did carry purses so we could put our stuff in it.
Emily Brower says
Not a Wally World fan either, and this isn’t written in their defense. I’m wondering if they are selling two sizes of ice from the same freezer – 7 lbs, and 20 lbs. The smaller would be around $2, and the larger would be $5-6 one.
Heather in Nevada says
Not a Walmart fan. My favorite grocery store closed when Walmart came to our area.
The sad part is Walmart is the closest store to us and I will go 5-10 minutes more to go to Smith’s, etc instead of going to Walmart.
That said, yesterday I went to Walmart since I needed weatherproof spray for my jacket. I also found a pineapple for $1.98. I almost bought peaches until I realized they were 76 cents Each instead of by the pound. (Smith’s has them on sale for $1.49 per pound.)
Sue in SoCal says
I noticed that today when I was there. They have begun pricing loose produce at a per item price instead of by the pound. Grrrr How are you supposed to compare prices vs any other store?
Lori says
Good job HH. You deserve a day off from that honey do list. It figures two Walmart employee’s would walk right past. If it’s not in their job description they won’t lift a finger to do it. I asked for assistance from a Walmart employee in lawn and garden getting something off a self I couldn’t reach. I’m 5’3″. The tall gentleman with the Walmart vest on said he couldn’t help me because that wasn’t his department. Seriously! I hate Walmart!!
Sue T says
Haven’t been in a Walmart in 6 years, don’t miss it.
I like to shop in smaller stores, mom and pop if there’s one around.
Anne Wiebe says
I am VEHEMENTLY against Walmart. Years ago I watched the 2005 documentary “The High Cost of Low Price” and was absolutely appalled. I swore then that I’d never shop at WalMart again. They are making their prices low on the backs of everyone everywhere, especially their workers but everyone else too. I just re-watched it (it’s on YouTube) and got mad all over again. Then I researched, has WalMart reformed since then? The answer is no. They still expect the average taxpayer to support their workers’ healthcare, they still badly mistreat their factory workers all over the world, they still ignore pollution controls, etc. etc. etc. I will never ever support WalMart.
Lisa S. says
Oh gosh, I remember that documentary. That also marked the last time I set foot in a Walmart. And you’re correct, Walmart has not reformed or made any effort to better their employees’ lives despite all their wealth and influence. I won’t spend a single penny there.
Carrie V says
Costco is the best place to buy ice! Huge bags for very low price!
Mavis Butterfield says
I had no idea Costco sold ice.
Sherry in Sumner says
No, he’s just being careful of the potential bomb,
Barbara Benware says
I really dislike Wallmart as well! They tried to build one in my hometown of Lake Placid,NY but we kept them out! Now we have zoning in place so they or another big box store can never build here. I never shop there nor will I . The closest one is a 100mile round trip. For the sake of cheap underware the beauty of Our Beautiful Adirondack Mountains is not SPOILED!!!!!
Michelle says
But if it’s your only option due to high costs of groceries in other local stores… don’t judge. We all do the best we can with what is available.
I loathe Walmart and used to be able to avoid it but not any longer.
Denise says
Not a fan of Walmart either. Do you think the high price of diesel fuel caused the price of ice to rise?
Judy says
Only in a Walmart have I had to wait for a young, healthy employee get out of the handicapped bathroom stall, so I could use it. It’s happened twice and yes, there were other non-handicapped stalls available.
We bought a countertop ice maker since we were tired of paying 4$ a bag once a week.
Good job HH, but don’t do that in an airport. So funny holding the purse, but with body language saying “I’m not really holding a purse”.
Have a great weekend.
Pamela Sheppard says
I don’t buy ice but if I had to my local supermarket sells it for $2.99 for 8lbs. Personally I don’t think that is too bad of a price. We actually have an ice company in the next town over. I’m not sure if they have a small retail part or they are entirely wholesale.
Kathy says
I’m in Longview, WA and several fast food places sell 8lb bags of ice for $1 plus tax. Here it is McDonalds, Arby’s and Burger King. It doesn’t hurt to check.
Jenny Young says
At the moment my local Walmart (around 30 miles from Walmart headquarters) has a small bag of ice (5 to 10 pounds) for $1.97 & a large bag (doesn’t give the weight) for $4.97.
I’m a weekly Walmart shopper thought I almost never go into the store. I have food delivered or do grocery pick up. But if I want bagged ice I go to Sonic.It’s the best ice around. I think the last time I bought ice there it was around $4 a bag.