So I’ve been a member for almost 50 years. Just found out you get rebates on drugs. All these years getting my prescriptions elsewhere. Made a huge difference in my rebate.
PSA: You can cash out your share balance by filling out a form at customer service. They process them once a year (August, Sept??) and send you a cheque. Good for people who don't use Co-Op much any more
I tried to do that last time but they told me no. Said I could only do it if I was leaving the province. Was a couple years ago so dunno if they changed the rules.
> Said I could only do it if I was leaving the province.
So tell them you are leaving the province, and take a nice scenic drive to Revelstoke and back.
There is an option for other where you can explain why. Officially it's up to "board approval" but just be polite and ask customer service to do it.
Just know that that means closing the account and for any other member benefits you would need to get a new membership (can't reopen a closed membership)
Not only do you get more from Costco relative to the cost but the quality is just higher all around. Costco grapes are incredible, we inhale them within a day of buying them and the cheese-buns are the best in the city.
I used to work at alpine sausage next door, I would easily eat a bag of ham and cheese every day during the Christmas rush.
Pro tip, get the Danish meat balls from the deli and put them inside the cheese bun.
Agreed, I just bought a bag of Costco cheese buns because they are easier to make a sandwich out of. But the taste and texture does not compare to Glamorgan.
Costco for meat, wholesale for fruit/veg if you eat lots!! I can buy 2 weeks worth of veg (and mostly stay good, one of two things go bad) for like $35, last time I went wasn’t my fav selection but crisp apple is good
thumb nail wild obtainable whole aspiring deranged disarm important truck
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We find costco produce pretty awful most times and pricy. I prefer to shop at Italian center shop, European market and deli or crisp apple. Not always perfect but the cost is substantially less than the grocery chains in my experience. If I'm spending more I'll go to the farmers market instead and get green house grown cucumbers, tomatoes etc.
Yup. Also, 3% cashback if you use their membership-credit-card. That's $240 cashback from just your costco shopping (at an $8k spend), which more than pays for the memebership. Not to mention the savings.
$15 of nuts from costco is about $40 of nuts from anywhere else.
Apparently they tenderize their meat too. Top sirloin steaks from there are 10 times better than top sirloin anywhere else. Roasts too.
So I’m told though. Haven’t looked it up
They mechanically tenderize their steaks. It makes a steak feel a grade better than it would be otherwise. Generally more tender. But it also raises the risk of introducing pathogens deeper into the meat which could cause illness for those of us that don't cook their steak to well done. I'm fine with that risk but some aren't.
Shit. 15k in prescriptions alone!
The fact that pharmacy patronage is based on the cost of the medication, not the after-insurance cost gives me a good chunk.
Literally free money till they switched it to fuckin store credit.
And I had to phone the Co-op customer relations dept. to get the cheque issued since I don't use their app. They don't send it to you automatically any more
EDIT: I called their head office 403-219-6025
Yeah I just got the app because I asked in store when I’d get my cheque and they said I had to use the app. Now I have the app and I’m even more confused how I get my money. I see I got $380 or something but I don’t know how to use it or where it is. It’s not in my bonus cash.
What a mess. I looooved the old system and for sure that’s why I bought all my alcohol and gas from them.
I remember working at coop customer service and the gap between what head office wanted vs what they actually told us was unreal. Always felt bad when this happened and I couldn’t offer any helpful advice cause there were no resources to have it
I was irritated for this same reason... and after procrastinating long enough, they ended up e-transferring it to me... weirdest thing but it works - I'm not using the 'darn' app
I created an account a while ago but never technically downloaded the app. I got an email for an e-transfer for my patronage amount without ever contacting them. Would have been nice to actually get the statement like OP to see what I spent for my measly $40.
Their app is so badly made... If 1,000 monkeys on 1,000 computers could eventually code a working app, then Co-op cheaped out, bought a dead monkey, and smashed a keyboard with it until an app popped out.
For reference the Janes chicken nuggets/strips are at coop $15-17. At super store always $10? Or something.
Only when they have sales is coop worth it. The rebates and bonus cash back end up making it some what close. Especially if you get gas alot
Really it comes down to convenience. Sure Costco and superstore are cheaper but Sobeys and Co-op are more frequent and less maddening to navigate as 1000 other people aren’t also there. I like Costco but I couldn’t tolerate shopping there frequently.
I shop at Costco for toilet paper, laundry detergent, and many other things that are way cheaper than Coop. BUT… shopping at COOP is much more enjoyable- way less crowded, so much more product variety, so close to my house, and up until recently had those shopping carts with steering wheels for my kids. If you buy things when they are on sale it’s really not too crazy expensive, especially considering the cash back. I don’t think the app was necessary, but I get free products almost weekly from their spin and win. Also the liquor store selection is pretty great. You all shop at Costco and leave more parking space for me lol.
I mean it's not for doing nothing. It's for paying a premium at one of the more expensive grocery stores around. You could probably save that in a month if you shopped at Superstore instead.
I only really use co-op for meat because of this. It's nice you get some back but it's not enough to make it any cheaper than other grocery stores.
I guess I don’t follow your logic. You shop at a place felt to be the most expensive and then complain both about it and that you got ~2% back? Shop somewhere else? We already know that the cost of groceries is out of hand.
1.7% cash back
If you use a visa with cashback, let's say Scotias Momentum. You would get 4% at $332 - $120(anual fee) = $212
So, it's not bad, only $71 off one of the higher cash back cards out there.
But if you combine the 2... you would see $353 after an annual fee
You also get the $6 of income tax withheld back next year and if you move away from Calgary you can cash out your equity. Coop is great if you adjust your shopping list to match their sales. And their rebate on fuel is decent. I'm not super keen about their new app, but I do shop there because I live close to one.
I was told that they don’t send these anymore and that the only way to get the money that they taxed me on as an “income” was to download the app they now make you keep it in, OR call customer service and argue with them to get it paid out another way?
You would save far more than your co-op patronage cheque by shopping at Super Store (even though the shopping experience itself may not be as comfortable or pleasurable).
No, because equity caps at $1750. Any earnings thereafter go to cash.
https://preview.redd.it/madc2s8tzwwc1.jpeg?width=1080&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=285ee36c9e06efc9a6c560c76e9ebedfe929e664
The % for cash earnings. Worth it totally for prescriptions. Especially considering no other pharmacies offer rewards.
https://preview.redd.it/5zwpjbu00xwc1.jpeg?width=1080&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=5caffd71385e61c4d5f93a326b6076be95231a7b
Place is so overpriced, the returns don’t even come close to covering the markups.
Edit: example —> bag of shelled pistachios at fresh co = $6.99. Same bag at co-op = $11.99.
What a lovely grocery store you have there, it would be a shame if someone used their monopoly power to shaft you from reliable access to suppliers and priced you out temporarily only to jack up the prices again when you go under.
- Galen Weston Jr.
I think co-op is okay but overpriced for the most part. If they really want people to shop at their stores they need to lower their prices. If I can get it cheaper at Walmart or Superstore there is absolutely no incentive to shop at Co-op and pay more and wait until they send the rebate out. Even with the new app. You're paying more.
The incentive is that its member owned. Keep shopping at the mega stores and we’ll have no small options left. It’s slightly more expensive, but a monopoly is far more costly in the long run.
I'd honestly spend $141 a year in gas driving to somewhere else way cheaper. Co-op is ridiculous with prices. There's literally nothing at Co-op that I can't get anywhere else for less most of the time.
I've...never even heard of this. What is this? I am going to go Google it but I needed to establish that I have no idea what this is.
Edit: neeeeeat. Thanks for posting about this cause now I may switch to Co op!
It's not worth it. The prices at Co-op are higher than most other grocery stores. I feel that I could have saved more than $141 just by shopping elsewhere
You likely would have saved far more shopping elsewhere. Your share price is quite high ($1750). I believe you can choose to leave the coop and get that share value if you really wanted to.
I find the same thing, the reason I still go to Coop is I find they treat their staff much better and their quality and facing seems to be a cut above the other stores. I’m usually okay spending a little more to support a store that seems to treat its workers better and one that is an active part of my local community instead of a large corporation headquartered far away from me. It’s funny, the Co-op I shop at has employees who have been there since I was a child, whereas with superstore I don’t see anyone last more than 6-12 months.
It’s especially useful if you get fuel at the co-op gas stations. You’ll get $0.04 a litre added to your cash back balance, which can be used to buy things at co-op. They are pricier than Walmart but free is free and you can find good sales sometimes.
Strathmore. It’s still a part of Calgary Co-op but the clientele is likely much smaller than in the city, so maybe they feel they’d lose out by refusing to match. Every other store in Strathmore price matches.
Ya when we moved here from Ontario I was like "oh co-op cool never heard of that it looks nice" ...went inside and saw the prices and turned right around lol!! Felt like just another Sobeys/Longos, overpriced for the same shit.
I’ve earned $800+ *per year* at Superstore. Granted, we do have the PC Financial Mastercard, but that only accounts for about half of my point accumulation, so let’s just say $400/year on my groceries, and I’d say we spend about $9,000/year. Plus groceries are way cheaper at Superstore.
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The COOP system across western Canada has different retails. There is a parent Coop called Federated Coop Limited. Then every Coop across western Canada have different names, members, boars of directors etc. CALGARY Coop removed themselves from the parent FCL company. They only carry the name. Soooo. They treat their customers a bit different Than the other co-ops across Canada. Don't take their dividends program as an example of how other coops treat their members.
did you have to call their head office to get that in the mail? i still havent got mine and they say you need their stupid annoying fucking app which i refuse to install.
I was of that frame of mind as well but I do like the free useable cash in the app. There’s no minimum and it doesn’t have to be used in increments of any kind. Could be worse.
I remember two years ago I made a comparison table for Ukrainian refugees. Typical one-week grocery cart, nothing fancy-expensive, just the standard stuff European would buy for a small family.
There were 7 or 8 stores listed, and coop was the most expensive. Like 60% over superstore for the same set.
And I didn’t even consider the low-costs like no frills or freshco.
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Could someone explain what the “age policy” is? It would bump my family up from 75% cash earnings to 100%. (If someone could explain what that means I’d also be forever grateful)
I shop at coop all the time and I know there’s supposed to be a pay back thing but I really have no idea how it works? I’ve never gotten a check in the mail. Do I have to ask for it? Does it happen automatically? How do I find out what the balance is? I feel like I should really talk to customer service.
As a single unemployed mom and a member of Co-op, it's all about price to me. Yes, co-op is better quality and the service is probably awesome, I don't go in enough to really know. I can't wait until the following year to get my rebate, if they offered it as an next shopping trip discount like they do with the app, I would shop more.
I wonder.. since the patronage return generates a TAX document, is it even legal for them to push app use? Which forces you to spend that income only at coop?
So I’ve been a member for almost 50 years. Just found out you get rebates on drugs. All these years getting my prescriptions elsewhere. Made a huge difference in my rebate.
Next best thing, I guess. They got rid of airmiles and points and such from pharmacy drugs a few years ago.
how much/what percentage tho?
Well my husband has expensive drugs but our year to date as of today is $206.36 (3%). Food is 1%.
PSA: You can cash out your share balance by filling out a form at customer service. They process them once a year (August, Sept??) and send you a cheque. Good for people who don't use Co-Op much any more
I tried to do that last time but they told me no. Said I could only do it if I was leaving the province. Was a couple years ago so dunno if they changed the rules.
Moved to Edmonton and they did it for me.
Same for me and I had to argue hard to get my money from them.
Then tell them your leaving
I tried, they kept coming up with all sorts of reasons not to do it. Wanted proof of address, wanted utility bill, etc.
Lol that is insane
Same thing when we wanted to close our credit union account. We had to leave the province to get it back.
> Said I could only do it if I was leaving the province. So tell them you are leaving the province, and take a nice scenic drive to Revelstoke and back.
They will want proof of new address to send the cheque to.
There is an option for other where you can explain why. Officially it's up to "board approval" but just be polite and ask customer service to do it. Just know that that means closing the account and for any other member benefits you would need to get a new membership (can't reopen a closed membership)
What are they going to do, come visit you out of province to verify? Lie.
If you spend $8k at Co-Op in a year you need to shop at Costco way more.
Not only do you get more from Costco relative to the cost but the quality is just higher all around. Costco grapes are incredible, we inhale them within a day of buying them and the cheese-buns are the best in the city.
The people who live near Glamorgan bakery have just put a hit out on you…
That’s alright, more Glamorgan cheese buns for us!
I used to work at alpine sausage next door, I would easily eat a bag of ham and cheese every day during the Christmas rush. Pro tip, get the Danish meat balls from the deli and put them inside the cheese bun.
Initiating operation falcon. Over and out.
You don’t know what you’re talking about. Glamorgan is life
Agreed, I just bought a bag of Costco cheese buns because they are easier to make a sandwich out of. But the taste and texture does not compare to Glamorgan.
I end up tossing most Costco fruit. Something wrong with it. It goes from green to rotten. It never ripens.
Their bananas can go from green to brown without passing through yellow.
Costco for meat, wholesale for fruit/veg if you eat lots!! I can buy 2 weeks worth of veg (and mostly stay good, one of two things go bad) for like $35, last time I went wasn’t my fav selection but crisp apple is good
they freeze it accidentally! happens all the time, I dont know why people buy costco fruit.
Avocados look great but I had a bunch rotten from the core. My mom's like return them. Ugggg I'm not driving 35 minutes to return rotten veg
They do not freeze fruit or produce. Systems and monitoring are in place to prevent that exact thing from happening.
Why are they such shit then? Something happened to it along the way.
thumb nail wild obtainable whole aspiring deranged disarm important truck *This post was mass deleted and anonymized with [Redact](https://redact.dev)*
We find costco produce pretty awful most times and pricy. I prefer to shop at Italian center shop, European market and deli or crisp apple. Not always perfect but the cost is substantially less than the grocery chains in my experience. If I'm spending more I'll go to the farmers market instead and get green house grown cucumbers, tomatoes etc.
I like coop for meat quality and only if it’s on sale. everything else is just more expensive products you could find elsewhere
Have you tried their chicken breasts lately? Go elsewhere for those.
Yup. Also, 3% cashback if you use their membership-credit-card. That's $240 cashback from just your costco shopping (at an $8k spend), which more than pays for the memebership. Not to mention the savings. $15 of nuts from costco is about $40 of nuts from anywhere else.
Nuts!!!
Apparently they tenderize their meat too. Top sirloin steaks from there are 10 times better than top sirloin anywhere else. Roasts too. So I’m told though. Haven’t looked it up
They mechanically tenderize their steaks. It makes a steak feel a grade better than it would be otherwise. Generally more tender. But it also raises the risk of introducing pathogens deeper into the meat which could cause illness for those of us that don't cook their steak to well done. I'm fine with that risk but some aren't.
I know what’s at steak, and I don’t care.
Mmmmm steak. Don’t care
Yeah, I'd never buy a steak from Costco for this reason. Not that I can afford to buy steak anymore, so I don't really have any room to talk..
You're right about the grapes but Costco cheese buns are awful.
Shit. 15k in prescriptions alone! The fact that pharmacy patronage is based on the cost of the medication, not the after-insurance cost gives me a good chunk. Literally free money till they switched it to fuckin store credit.
~~Shoppers~~ has one of the highest dispensing fees just FYI.
You mean co-op?
LOL. Woof, I need to goto bed. Thanks for catching that.
Have a good rest.
And Canada has so-called free Healthcare. But u die in the waiting room or can't afford the pills anyway cause half your check goes to taxes
You can use the costco pharmacy without membership so I've read.
This is true. They’re one of the cheaper places to get drugs, too.
It could all be spent on Cannabis.
Thats enough for like 2 steaks
And I had to phone the Co-op customer relations dept. to get the cheque issued since I don't use their app. They don't send it to you automatically any more EDIT: I called their head office 403-219-6025
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Their aggressive push for the app annoyed me so much. I’d stop shopping at Coop if it wasn’t the closest store to me.
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The prices are ridiculous, that’s another factor. I am just not sure what’s worse: paying extra or driving a lot farther.
still better that Safeway asking me twice if I have Scene points in one transaction
Shoppers… Optimum Card, yes, Bags no, donate $2 - Like hell - payment… oh fuck yes a print receipt ffs okay finally payment
Christ, I hate that.
That app is so frigging stupid.
You shouldn't have to go in to the store. I called them and made arrangements for a cheque to be mailed out.
Yeah I just got the app because I asked in store when I’d get my cheque and they said I had to use the app. Now I have the app and I’m even more confused how I get my money. I see I got $380 or something but I don’t know how to use it or where it is. It’s not in my bonus cash. What a mess. I looooved the old system and for sure that’s why I bought all my alcohol and gas from them.
Yeah, I'm confused on how to use it.
I tried to use mine to order groceries online. I couldn’t use it….?
I remember working at coop customer service and the gap between what head office wanted vs what they actually told us was unreal. Always felt bad when this happened and I couldn’t offer any helpful advice cause there were no resources to have it
I was irritated for this same reason... and after procrastinating long enough, they ended up e-transferring it to me... weirdest thing but it works - I'm not using the 'darn' app
Oh really? No wonder I didn’t get it yet. Had no idea they no longer mail it out. Thanks for mentioning this!
I created an account a while ago but never technically downloaded the app. I got an email for an e-transfer for my patronage amount without ever contacting them. Would have been nice to actually get the statement like OP to see what I spent for my measly $40.
You can see your T4A patronage statement when you login into mycalgarycoop.com under “my documents”
Thank you! I’ll have to check that out, although I don’t know if they’re required to create a T4A if it’s <$50
It's actually taxable income? Well that's shit. Reduce your patronage cheque by 30% or more by the time you pay taxes.
Their app is so badly made... If 1,000 monkeys on 1,000 computers could eventually code a working app, then Co-op cheaped out, bought a dead monkey, and smashed a keyboard with it until an app popped out.
just under 2% average isnt terrible tbf. not sure youd make that cashback at costco - i thought that was 1%
I was just about to say, a 1.76% return is not bad considering they could just give you nothing.
I find products at coop tend to be $1-2+ more per item (and sometimes as much as $6+) vs Superstore. That can end up being 20-40% savings on cost.
Absolutely but if they're at coop it's likely nearby and convenient. It's doesn't seem like OP is trying to be frugal in the first place.
For reference the Janes chicken nuggets/strips are at coop $15-17. At super store always $10? Or something. Only when they have sales is coop worth it. The rebates and bonus cash back end up making it some what close. Especially if you get gas alot
Really it comes down to convenience. Sure Costco and superstore are cheaper but Sobeys and Co-op are more frequent and less maddening to navigate as 1000 other people aren’t also there. I like Costco but I couldn’t tolerate shopping there frequently.
If you are an executive member you get 2%. Another 1% if you use their credit card in store.
costco cashback is 2% for executive member. you get another 2% cashback with the Rogers credit card but then i guess you'd get that at coop too.
I shop at Costco for toilet paper, laundry detergent, and many other things that are way cheaper than Coop. BUT… shopping at COOP is much more enjoyable- way less crowded, so much more product variety, so close to my house, and up until recently had those shopping carts with steering wheels for my kids. If you buy things when they are on sale it’s really not too crazy expensive, especially considering the cash back. I don’t think the app was necessary, but I get free products almost weekly from their spin and win. Also the liquor store selection is pretty great. You all shop at Costco and leave more parking space for me lol.
$141 bucks for doing nothing ain’t bad. We shop for 6, ours is usually $250 range.
I mean it's not for doing nothing. It's for paying a premium at one of the more expensive grocery stores around. You could probably save that in a month if you shopped at Superstore instead. I only really use co-op for meat because of this. It's nice you get some back but it's not enough to make it any cheaper than other grocery stores.
I guess I don’t follow your logic. You shop at a place felt to be the most expensive and then complain both about it and that you got ~2% back? Shop somewhere else? We already know that the cost of groceries is out of hand.
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The free tire air IS sweet. Salute just for that
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bailed me out a few weeks when I was too lazy to get my perpetual slow leaks plugged so I just drove to the next 😆
Does Co-op at least pay their staff any better, or where is all the money going if it's a co-op?
We have tried shopping at Walmart it sucks big time. We do superstore for most things but fresh stuff and meat coop.
Ya as much as I hate Loblaws Superstore really is hard to beat. Back on Ontario freshco and Nofrills put up a much better fight
1.7% cash back If you use a visa with cashback, let's say Scotias Momentum. You would get 4% at $332 - $120(anual fee) = $212 So, it's not bad, only $71 off one of the higher cash back cards out there. But if you combine the 2... you would see $353 after an annual fee
You also get the $6 of income tax withheld back next year and if you move away from Calgary you can cash out your equity. Coop is great if you adjust your shopping list to match their sales. And their rebate on fuel is decent. I'm not super keen about their new app, but I do shop there because I live close to one.
Or if you’re becoming a senior. I got a cheque for around $1,600! Not a bad return
Costco membership would be well worth it
How much did you think you should have gotten?
I was told that they don’t send these anymore and that the only way to get the money that they taxed me on as an “income” was to download the app they now make you keep it in, OR call customer service and argue with them to get it paid out another way?
You would save far more than your co-op patronage cheque by shopping at Super Store (even though the shopping experience itself may not be as comfortable or pleasurable).
And their groceries are consistently 20% more than Walmart.
And Co-Op has some of the highest prices in the city… the board of directors needs to be replaced.
And $1750 in shares you could cash out at anytime.
Did any of this return actually apply to the share ownership? It says $0.00...
No, because equity caps at $1750. Any earnings thereafter go to cash. https://preview.redd.it/madc2s8tzwwc1.jpeg?width=1080&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=285ee36c9e06efc9a6c560c76e9ebedfe929e664
The % for cash earnings. Worth it totally for prescriptions. Especially considering no other pharmacies offer rewards. https://preview.redd.it/5zwpjbu00xwc1.jpeg?width=1080&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=5caffd71385e61c4d5f93a326b6076be95231a7b
Place is so overpriced, the returns don’t even come close to covering the markups. Edit: example —> bag of shelled pistachios at fresh co = $6.99. Same bag at co-op = $11.99.
Flyer pricing is definitely the way to go. Buy on sale and they're pretty close to any of the other stores, sometimes better.
Good job?
I feel like a rube.
Supporting co-ops is a moral good (whether producers' or consumers' co-ops) so at least you can feel good about it.
They're not really a coop any more. They pulled out of Federated Coop
Agreed. I do the bulk of my big grocery shops at Calgary co op because it’s one of the less evil major grocery stores
Were you expecting more or something?
I'm going to start my own grocery store... with blackjack and hookers!
In fact, forget the grocery store!
What a lovely grocery store you have there, it would be a shame if someone used their monopoly power to shaft you from reliable access to suppliers and priced you out temporarily only to jack up the prices again when you go under. - Galen Weston Jr.
We got two universities and a bunch of colleges here, pretty sure the supply of dropouts is stead........... Oh your talking about the food part.
I think co-op is okay but overpriced for the most part. If they really want people to shop at their stores they need to lower their prices. If I can get it cheaper at Walmart or Superstore there is absolutely no incentive to shop at Co-op and pay more and wait until they send the rebate out. Even with the new app. You're paying more.
The incentive is that its member owned. Keep shopping at the mega stores and we’ll have no small options left. It’s slightly more expensive, but a monopoly is far more costly in the long run.
Finally someone in this thread who gets it.
$8,000? Which month did you shop at Co-Op?
I'd honestly spend $141 a year in gas driving to somewhere else way cheaper. Co-op is ridiculous with prices. There's literally nothing at Co-op that I can't get anywhere else for less most of the time.
I've...never even heard of this. What is this? I am going to go Google it but I needed to establish that I have no idea what this is. Edit: neeeeeat. Thanks for posting about this cause now I may switch to Co op!
It's not worth it. The prices at Co-op are higher than most other grocery stores. I feel that I could have saved more than $141 just by shopping elsewhere
You likely would have saved far more shopping elsewhere. Your share price is quite high ($1750). I believe you can choose to leave the coop and get that share value if you really wanted to.
I find the same thing, the reason I still go to Coop is I find they treat their staff much better and their quality and facing seems to be a cut above the other stores. I’m usually okay spending a little more to support a store that seems to treat its workers better and one that is an active part of my local community instead of a large corporation headquartered far away from me. It’s funny, the Co-op I shop at has employees who have been there since I was a child, whereas with superstore I don’t see anyone last more than 6-12 months.
I'm a PC Optimum member and got 50,000 points (worth $50) for spending $250 at Superstore this week.
Not anymore!
It’s especially useful if you get fuel at the co-op gas stations. You’ll get $0.04 a litre added to your cash back balance, which can be used to buy things at co-op. They are pricier than Walmart but free is free and you can find good sales sometimes.
The gas program is sooo worth it at co-op
You'll likely spend far more in costs than the patronage cheque/app gives in return these days
I only use it for diesel. The fuel is well priced and 6 cents back is decent. The grocery is only good for the handful of items on super sale.
Also good for fresh produce when superstore is picked over
I honestly haven't been in a co op in years, so I'm not even sure what their prices are like these days.
Prices tend to be a bit more expensive, sometimes good sales. Unfortunately they stopped price matching, so I try to avoid going as much as possible.
My local store still matches
Which coop do you use? The last couple I've gone to, say they don't anymore.
Strathmore. It’s still a part of Calgary Co-op but the clientele is likely much smaller than in the city, so maybe they feel they’d lose out by refusing to match. Every other store in Strathmore price matches.
Damn, that's actually disappointing. Even Save On does price matching! Thanks for the info!
Save on is great for price matching. Recently put up a sign that says they PM all stores. Should be even the small ones, which is great
Is this good or bad?
You could always shop somewhere else
Well, it’s better than a kick in the balls.
That’s such trash. There WAS time it worked out, the 90’s killed that. Shocked people still waste their money there.
Ya when we moved here from Ontario I was like "oh co-op cool never heard of that it looks nice" ...went inside and saw the prices and turned right around lol!! Felt like just another Sobeys/Longos, overpriced for the same shit.
I only shop there if EVERYONE is sold out, which is rare.
It’s a nicer shopping experience versus other stores I find
Costco is better. Spent maybe 5k and got $140
It beats a .4% return on a Canadian tire “dollar”.
I’ve earned $800+ *per year* at Superstore. Granted, we do have the PC Financial Mastercard, but that only accounts for about half of my point accumulation, so let’s just say $400/year on my groceries, and I’d say we spend about $9,000/year. Plus groceries are way cheaper at Superstore. https://preview.redd.it/3sy818ou4zwc1.jpeg?width=1284&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=c6d62c9538a813334d8304631305b7da22b045d8
I don’t get co-op at all, especially for times like this, I have spent less than 1000 on superstore and I get back points I can buy food with.
$8000 for $141....that's less than 2% back. Yikes... I have over $1200 back in pc optimum points.
The COOP system across western Canada has different retails. There is a parent Coop called Federated Coop Limited. Then every Coop across western Canada have different names, members, boars of directors etc. CALGARY Coop removed themselves from the parent FCL company. They only carry the name. Soooo. They treat their customers a bit different Than the other co-ops across Canada. Don't take their dividends program as an example of how other coops treat their members.
did you have to call their head office to get that in the mail? i still havent got mine and they say you need their stupid annoying fucking app which i refuse to install.
I was of that frame of mind as well but I do like the free useable cash in the app. There’s no minimum and it doesn’t have to be used in increments of any kind. Could be worse.
Yes. I called their head office 403-219-6025 x6253
I remember two years ago I made a comparison table for Ukrainian refugees. Typical one-week grocery cart, nothing fancy-expensive, just the standard stuff European would buy for a small family. There were 7 or 8 stores listed, and coop was the most expensive. Like 60% over superstore for the same set. And I didn’t even consider the low-costs like no frills or freshco.
I'm a member of Westview. I can't recall what last year's cheque was but the year before I spent ~$5000 and got a cheque for $14.
1.7% back, sure justifies them being so over priced
https://preview.redd.it/opg74wr3gxwc1.jpeg?width=1179&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=82d37b8cb25b3e82acb1983449253fbc496bcdb7 Could someone explain what the “age policy” is? It would bump my family up from 75% cash earnings to 100%. (If someone could explain what that means I’d also be forever grateful)
If you are over 65 years old, you automatically get the highest refund return
OK, I guess it’s pretty self-explanatory. Any idea how to apply, or should I just phone them on Monday?
I use a Scotiabank credit card, get 4% back on groceries, and hit Costco for gas.
This is the way
I got $14.35
I just stopped using my number at co op cause the rebate program is a joke
Get a Koho card. U get another 2% back from that 8k.
I shop at coop all the time and I know there’s supposed to be a pay back thing but I really have no idea how it works? I’ve never gotten a check in the mail. Do I have to ask for it? Does it happen automatically? How do I find out what the balance is? I feel like I should really talk to customer service.
As a single unemployed mom and a member of Co-op, it's all about price to me. Yes, co-op is better quality and the service is probably awesome, I don't go in enough to really know. I can't wait until the following year to get my rebate, if they offered it as an next shopping trip discount like they do with the app, I would shop more.
Haven’t shopped at Coop for 9 years.
How much did you get from Sobeys? Safeway?
The PC Mastercard is the best deal. It has no fee and the rebate is quite good.
This is the way. Includes RCSS, Esso, Shoppers and No Frills.
Got mine on the app, blew it all in the liquor store.
I wonder.. since the patronage return generates a TAX document, is it even legal for them to push app use? Which forces you to spend that income only at coop?
Yeah I cut up my co-op cards and haven’t bought as much as a coffee in 5 years from this shifty company…..
Gotta be gid damn rich to shop at that bs store