Ten Reasons Why I Love Shopping at Publix

Back in the fall of 1999, I was a brand new graduate student at the University of South Carolina. I had moved to Columbia, South Carolina from Virginia and was all alone in a new city with not a friend to speak of. Although I don't think South Carolina and Virginia are all that different, there's one thing South Carolina has that Virginia doesn't have, Publix supermarkets.

I still remember my very first shopping experience at Publix. I had just been in Columbia for about a week and was still getting oriented. I went to a shopping mall to pick up a few new clothes and decided to get some groceries on the way home. I spotted the big sign for Publix and was feeling curious, mainly because I had never heard of the chain before. I stopped in and was immediately impressed by very customer oriented supermarket. The lighting was pleasant. The store was spotlessly clean. There were many attractive displays. Most of the employees were friendly and seemed genuinely concerned about whether or not I was finding what I needed. When I checked out, the friendly cashier chatted me up, asking me how my day was going. After I paid, a very friendly bagger helped me carry my groceries to the car. No tip was expected, either. That was the beginning of a beautiful friendship between Publix and me. Unfortunately, I lost contact with my "old friend" when I moved back to Virginia after I graduated.

My husband Bill and I have been living in Georgia for the past year and a half. Georgia is another state where Publix has a presence, so we've been enjoying being able to shop there on a regular basis. Unfortunately, we just found out that we have to move to North Carolina, where Publix does not have a presence. So, in the interest of processing my grief over losing easy access to Publix, here are ten reasons why I love shopping at that store.

Reason number one: No loyalty card program

I may be alone in my thinking, but I can't stand supermarket loyalty card programs. I hate having to fumble for them when it's time to check out. I hate the fact that they're used to track my purchases. I hate the fact that in order to get the lower price, you have to submit to using them. Our local Kroger has a loyalty card program and half the time, we can't find the card when it's time to pay up, so the checker just uses a generic card. I wonder what the point of that is? Isn't the whole purpose of a loyalty card program to get customers to sign up and use the card? Why have two prices if the checker is just going to let customers use a generic card anyway? I did some research and came to the conclusion that customers don't really get a break using those cards. It just seems like they are because there's a higher price next to the lower one for loyalty card users.

Publix does not have a loyalty card program. Everybody pays the same price. No one has to allow the checker to scan a special card in order to track purchases. Checking out is simple and respectful. I like that a lot.

Reason number two: Friendly employees

Every Publix I have ever shopped in, whether it be in South Carolina or Georgia, has been staffed with very friendly employees who seem to be happy working at Publix. My husband often stops at our local Publix on his way home from work. Since he's in the Army, he wears a uniform. It's not unusual for the ladies in the bakery to call him over and offer him a sample of cake while they thank him for his service. Everybody from the stockers to the checkers to the people working the fish and meat counters is pleasant and seems genuinely interested in helping customers get what they need.

Reason number three: Publix supports higher education

There is one exception to Publix's policy on supermarket loyalty programs. Publix participates in a program called Upromise, which allows students to save money for college. This program, which has over 800 partners and 10 million members, allows families with students to get a percentage of cash back for qualifying purchases. The money is kept in an account which can be invested in a 529 college savings plan, used to pay down student loans, or presented in a check that can be used for college expenses. Now that I think about it, I probably could have been using Upromise to pay down some of my own massive student loans!

Reason number four: Publix is committed to diversity and inclusivity

I have noticed that in most of the Publix supermarkets I have shopped at, there have been several employees there who have some kind of disability. At our local store, I've seen a couple of young people with Down's syndrome bagging or stocking groceries; they are always friendly, very hard working, and seem grateful for the opportunity to work. I'm glad to see that Publix has such an inclusive hiring policy.

Reason number five: Excellent store brand products

Bill and I often purchase Publix brand products in an effort to save money. We use their canned and frozen vegetables, paper products, laundry detergents, generic drugs, pastas, and baking supplies on a regular basis. They are always top quality and we have yet to be disappointed with a single one of them. They're also significantly less expensive than the national brands.

Reason number six: Buy one get one free deals!

Every week, Publix has several buy one get one free deals. There are usually several bins full of the featured items, which run the gamut from olive oil and fruit juices to canned goods and snack foods. The buy one get one free deals are a great way to stock up on staples that we use often in our house or try new products. Although not every product offered is appealing to me, enough are that I regularly stop by the buy one get one free area to take a look.

Reason number seven: Baggers will carry your groceries and pack your car for you and don't expect tips

Having spent a lot of time shopping at military commissaries, I know that some baggers work for tips. I have no problem tipping baggers, although I don't carry cash as often as I used to and that can turn into an awkward situation. At Publix, baggers who carry your groceries for you and load them into your car are part of the shopping experience. While Bill and I don't always need the bagger's help, it's nice to know they're there to help and don't expect a handout for doing their jobs, even if most of them deserve one.

Reason number eight: A pleasant shopping environment

One of the things I love about shopping at Publix is the fact that the store has such a pleasant ambiance. The lighting is not overly harsh like it is in other supermarkets. The aisles are nice and wide so people can get around each other. The bakery always smells of fresh baked products and the specialty meat counter is always spotless. And while there are some non-food related products for sale at Publix, they seem to be kept at a minimum. Our Publix sells Le Creuset stoneware, which is a nice touch.

Reason number nine: Recipes and cooking tips

Publix almost always has someone doing a cooking demonstration or passing out recipe cards. In fact, Publix even runs a program called Apron's. Apron's has cooking classes in several locations in Florida and Georgia. Apron's focuses on simple, easy to prepare meals for busy people who like to eat well.

Reason number ten: An excellent pharmacy

Thankfully, I have had no reason to use the Pharmacy at Publix since we've lived in Georgia. My husband Bill, however, has had to pick up drugs there because the military pharmacy where he usually gets his prescription medications doesn't stock one of the drugs he needs. The pharmacy workers at Publix are uniformly excellent and very helpful when it comes to dealing with insurance. Publix pharmacies also participate in programs that make getting prescription drugs more affordable. In fact, Publix even offers free 14 day supplies of commonly prescribedantibiotics. All you have to do is bring in your prescription and if it's on the list of antibiotics Publix supplies for free, you don't have to pay.

Overall

As you might be able to tell, I'm sad that moving to North Carolina means having to say goodbye to shopping at Publix once again. It really is one of my favorite places to shop for groceries. I really believe in their slogan, "Where shopping is a pleasure" because it always has been for me. I only hope that someday Publix expands beyond Florida, South Carolina, Georgia, Tennessee, and Alabama. Or maybe Bill and I will get lucky and get to live near Publix again someday.

Sources

www.nocards.org

www.publix.com

www.upromise.com

Personal experience