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Sunday, October 02, 2016

Viewer Opinion: Salisbury's Acme

What a disaster. While the store is nice enough looking, the prices are out of this world. Giant was much cheaper and the price point was on line with Walmart. Now days after the Acme invasion, most people are going to the Walmarts instead of the over-priced Acme.

Someone said Acme has been here twice before and failed both times. I wonder why?

Some prices are a whole $4 more than Walmart, so it's worth the time to go there instead of Acme. In an economy like what we have right now, was this really a smart move?

Proof: The other night at 7:00pm, Acme was practically empty. I didn't even have a problem going to a cashier. No lines. I asked her if she had gotten complaints about the prices and she stated, "A lot."

I was also told no rewards card, no gas discounts. What's the point of wasting your money when you can go up the road and buy more for less?

Heard they replaced the Superfresh in West Ocean City, too. Are the prices as high there as they are in Salisbury? What am I saying? They're probably higher.

Giant had a good run in Salisbury. Now the bet is, how long will it be when this Acme shuts down like the two others before? Six months? A year?

67 comments:

Anonymous said...

Acme didn't "fail" here before. Acme market were all over the eastern shore for over 50 years. Much like Giant Acme markets were bought by a mega grocer and their higher ups decided to focus on the Pennsylvania market and slowly started closing the majority of MD and DE stores..

Anonymous said...

Wasn't there an Acme store out where Shoreline Appliances is now in the Twilley Center for many years? I remember going there as a kid with my grandmother. She preferred Giant but sometimes went there for sales.

Anonymous said...

Yes Acme is expensive but I'd like to know what the items were that you compared between Giant and WalMart to say that Giant was in line with WM price-wise. I never saw that once that I can recall

Anonymous said...

1223 I saw it. Eggs and Butter were cheaper at Giant. And Walmart never has 5 or 4 6packs of coke for $10. They had some cheaper items. Muffins were $3.99 like Walmart. Now they jacked up everything. $4.49 for four pack of muffins verses $3.99 at Walmart. My tea 12 pack is $14.79 at Acme but $10.99 at Walmart. And coffee on average is way higher at Acme now. Everything went up!

Anonymous said...

I loved Giant, especially the meats. Had high hopes for Acme but their prices are simply ridiculous. I guess I'll have to go to a butcher for meats and Walmart or Food Lion for everything else.

Anonymous said...

I dislike trolls like 12:23. Even giant was higher than walmart, but acme is much higher and everyone is talking about it and has noticed it. The author has nothing to prove to you. All you have to do is talk to someone who has been there.

I doubt they are here for the long haul because they did not remodel the store, they just restocked the shelves with their preferred product.

I can not find anything I used to buy at giant, which means I have to go to harris teeter to get what I used to buy.

Even Sams club has but back on what they carry and I can't get what I used to buy there either.

Everyone is offering more expensive less quality items or not carrying certain items at all.

Welcome to the bury. Where non-organic and GMO is the king.

Anonymous said...

Yes they were here twice before and high then, watching my pennies as I have done all my life. I never shopped at Giant or Acme unless it was buy 1 get 1 free sales, or a really good buy, and shopped there for Thanksgiving and Christmas for a deal on turkeys. I always remembered too that Acme had the best steaks, but now Sams is a better deal because you get even more for your money. I divide my meats up because It is just my husband and I and Sams sells in bulk.

Anonymous said...

I'm one person so Sam's is out of the questioned. I'd have food rot in my fridge in no time at all. And they do come with bulk pricing so while cheaper by the unit, what i'd throw out wouldn't make it cost effective. It's almost cheaper to cruise the fast food places for what I eat even though its a slow death.

Anonymous said...

Giants prices were never comparable to Wally Worlds. But I'd rather spend a little more, than have to enter the hell hole that is wally world.

And like any grocer, if you don't shop the sales, you get screwed.

Hey look, 3-12 packs for 7.77. Not too shabby. 1.69 per pound for Boneless skinless chicken breasts. 2.88 a pound for 80/20 ground beef. $0.79 5 pound bag of Green Giant russet potatoes. The horror of Acme's high prices lol

Anonymous said...

For the pricing we would've been better off with a real grocery store like Albertson's, Trader Joes or something on that line. The prices are too expensive for this market for sure.

Anonymous said...

And you all want a Harris Teeter!!!! Talk about high prices. Acme's everyday prices are quite less then Harris Teeter's. You have to watch the sales just like anywhere else.

Anonymous said...

12:45 nice try but once the grand opening sales are gone, reality will hit because there is no way anyone is selling chicken breasts at that price long term, or anything else for that matter.

Anonymous said...

Hastings in Delmar..

Anonymous said...

I bought .49 eggs but they're jacking them back up to $1.99 a dozen for Large. Used to be at Giant i could buy a dozen jumbos for this $2.04. So the grand opening sale was a ruse to lure you back from the sticker shock of opening weekend. Do we have idiot tattooed on our heads?

Anonymous said...

12:23 - If you used Wall-Mart's savings Catcher you would often get rewards when a lower price for the same item was advertised at Giant.

Not only are Acme's prices generally more than 10% higher than Giant's were, you'll find a lot of things you used to buy aren't being carried. Go to the deli and find it's not constantly crowded like when it was Giant. Course your selection is primarily limited to overly expensive Boar's Head.

The worst part is that the same employees who were always friendly, smiling, and helpful are now seemingly shy, withdrawn, and embarrassed.

For me it will be back to Wall-Mart with a few trips to Harris Teeter.

Anonymous said...

Being an old male cheapo shopper for decades this is my take. Acme first hit O.C. this past winter. Like all stores, except F.L (my go-to/saves gas) which is close by I usually shop price/volume/need. I wait for a store sale on my always necessary to have on hand, go-to products. the My go-to soft drink is always Coke. I wait until any store sells four 12 packs of cans @ 4 for $10. The same with butter, cheese etc. (food staples). Dollar tree sells medium eggs @ 18 for $1, good texture Italian bread $1 decent potato rolls $1. Fresh breads come in Tuesdays & Thursdays. My same day ground chuck only at Gerald Hockers Millville De. store (no 73/15 lean for my burgers) Meats? I buy when necessary, small portions because I tire of same foods quickly and it gets thrown out to the cats. Almost every staple product necessary comes on sale, that's when you buy, not when you need it. O.C. Acme (clean store) had a ton of good sales when they first opened but that seems to happen alot less now? I see Walmart as a bad investment for my food $$$'s, as well much of what Giant sells. Price matters to me unless I'm starving. It's less about the $$$'s and more about needless waste.

Anonymous said...

My husband and I took the trip to the Giant in Easton. Filled the cooler and stocked up! So worth it to me!!

Anonymous said...

So I have finally figured out that this is what you women do while us men are watching football.... sit around and complain about the prices of food at Acme

Unknown said...

I prefer Acme and for one I am glad it's back. The bakery is fresh, the meats are fresh and cut on site. I am beyond thrilled it's back! Considering the way Walmart is always so crowded and barely any registers open and the way it treats it's employees, Acme is a breath of fresh air. So I pay a little more sometimes, I've found out the hard way, cheaper is not always better. Freshness is. So if all I have to complain about are the prices, I'll choose Acme every time. Plus, it's convenient and close. The money I would spend on gas to go to the edge of town to Walmart is the same difference on cost. I hope Acme stays around for a long time.

Steve said...

Milk gallon
ACME $3.29 sale
Food Lion $4.39
WM $3.30

Can Veggies
ACME $1.10, sale 10/ $10
FL $1.09
WM $.57 LIBBY, GG 4/$288, DelM $4/ $3.58

25 lb. sugar
ACME $20.99
FL 10 lb. $4.99, (=25 lb for $12.50)
WM $11.99 /25 lb.

Cheerios
ACME $3.45 to $4.76/ lb, lg. vs. small box, 14 oz. vs. 1 lb+
FL $4.25/ lb in a 12 oz box, $3.19
WM $2.98 for 12 z. box

Honey Bunches of Crunch
ACME $3.96/ lb, $3.59 for 14.5 oz box
FL $3.99/ lb.,
WM $3.28 for 18 oz. box, or $2.92/ lb.

That was today. Also, ACME did have some GREAT sales on meats, eggs, and other often bought items, so it's a good time to grab those. I tried to price regular items usually not on sale. And I remember many cereals at $4 a box from Giant, and trying Giant 22 years ago, a full basket hit me for $275! I only went there after that for their meats, as they were fresh butchered and had no "12%" solution taking the meat flavor out.

So, There. You. Go.

Anonymous said...

Can't afford their pencil sharpening moments. Would think most in this area can't afford such a luxury either. They had their chance and failed miserably!

Anonymous said...

Acme pays a living wage, Wal-mart Does not. all of you people complaining about the prices are probolly the same ones that want 15.00/ hour. you just wait...

Anonymous said...

I was there on opening day and it was my immediate impression that there are overall higher prices than Giant and fewer useful sale items. I miss the Giant already.

Anonymous said...

.79 potatoes, lol. They are normally $4.99 a bag (grand opening price I paid because we needed them). Was told by the produce dept that they will not be carrying a lot of things, like the store brand bag of potatoes. So expect to pay $4.99 going forward. In my opinion, it seems like there is less of a produce area, but that could be deceiving.

I think what most of us miss, is that we always had more of a variety at giant, and they certainly did not have empty shelves or hooks during a non holiday week. If we did not want to pay for perdue chicken, the giant brand was often times considerably cheaper

The deli...the counter height is ridiculous and the new paper number system is archaic at best. We like Boars Head in my family, so we have always paid a higher price (these have not changed in the 3x I have been there). The salad display is to busy. Plus Chef Jerry is not back there mixing them up
:(

The employee do seem down, maybe they are tired of hearing us bitch and complain, maybe they are unhappy as well. I do know they can not wear their team jersey's on Sundays anymore, ACME rules. I think someone in front of me today was talking about how they can only wear the Eagles Jersey's because that is who ACME sponsors??? Who knows.

Anonymous said...

and they are treating their employee ( all of them are on probation that are from giant foods) with disrespect trying to make them quit.

Anonymous said...

12:45pm
Acme and Safeway are owned by Albertsons. If you go to the Acme website, it says Albertsons down at the bottom of the screen.

Anonymous said...

The Buryians are against a little change , thanks for the facts 3:13 , what the hell are you guys worried about when your country is falling apart , idiots. Food is the least of my concerns!!

mdsenior said...

I went by about a hour ago and the parking lot was full.

Anonymous said...

3:06 - I will interpret, "I am so rich, I don't care what it costs, I buy what I want."

Whatever.

Anonymous said...

5 PM we will see what you have to say when there isn't any

Anonymous said...

For those of us that are willing to pay a little more for quality and service, please bring a Harris Teeter or similar to Salisbury.
I'm pretty sure it would succeed.

Anonymous said...

Was just there today - they are high, I only bought a dozen eggs, .79 cents, and left. Looked around but store is not for me - I can shop Food Lion and find everything I want much cheaper.

Anonymous said...

It sucks travel 30 minutes to Millsboro, Delaware To go to Giant Food Inc and it was well worth it priced better way way cheaper it's more cleaner and bigger and better.

Anonymous said...

Sure is funny that so many well written replies are slamming ACME for their prices. So who is really writing them? Somebody in Arkansa?

Anonymous said...

Can you see another "affordable housing complex" coming to this lot?

Anonymous said...

i miss Giant

Anonymous said...

12:45 Acme is Albertsons

Anonymous said...

It's the same prices Giant had! You people just blindly shopped there before without price checking! They were always the highest in town! that's why I never got all my pantry there.Wine and meat without 12% solution is the only 2 things I bought there.

If they keep those two things the same, I'll continue.

Hastings is really great for meats as well.

Anonymous said...

Idiots really. I shop at Harris Teeter fresh meats and a great staff. Wal Mart is full of grown adults wearing their pajamas and spandex. Enough said. Ghetto trash from front to back period

Anonymous said...

Yes, Acme is very expensive. But we have no control over this. I absolutely do not like this store. Giant was very reasonable. So again, no choice in this area. Food Lion is a joke, so won't be shopping there. There is an Acme right in Ocean City and it's even higher with very little variety. Looks like a separate trip to trashy Walmart for taxable items, like cleaning products and laundry soap. The walmart North appears to be better managed. Cashiers not as illiterate or rude. Store is better organized. Giant will never come back. We are stuck with Acme.

Anonymous said...

The Acme Faberware thing is the worst. Spend $1600 (160 pts at $10 a pt) & get a free faberware pan you can get anywhere for at most $40...and its not like its a good quality pan..its cheap quality junk from China.

I know its not everyones cup of tea but Bylers in Harrington is worth the drive from the Salisbury area. We go twice a month at least.

Anonymous said...

I've noticed a higher price. Happy they carry Boars Head meats! My main concern is that my produce isn't lasting... Shredded lettuce in the bag is brown after 2 days and the expiration date has many days left. Avocados rotten to the core after 3 days...

Anonymous said...

9:17 you obviously don't pay much attention. You buy wine and say there's no increase. Black Box was $20.95 (21.95 at Tax Free but without the 9% add on). At Acme it's $23.95 on sale with$2 off. Where I went to school -not Wi-Hi- $23.95 was more than $20.95. Might want to pay attention. The meat was all prepackaged in the Mid-West, with preservatives. At least Acme does have butchers on staff.

Anonymous said...

10:58
I bought some steaks that were on sale this week. They were purchased Friday. On Sunday when I took them out of the fridge they were already starting to turn brown. The expiration date is the 27th on all of them. The bag of salad I also bought on Friday was also starting to turn brown.

Anonymous said...

10:31
I don't care for either the Salisbury or Fruitland Walmarts. Neither keep the store stocked. They are out of the same things week after week, yet they have 100 of a different variety that never sells.

Anonymous said...

I was at the Walmart North tonight/Sunday and I must say I saw a lot more college students shopping than usual. What a pleasant surprise not having to look at only illegal aliens using WIC Checks and EBT Cards and most family members unable to speak English.

Anonymous said...

That's the very definition of "fail".

Anonymous said...

The % increase in pricing reported here is much higher than the wage differential between Walmart and Acme. Your argument is invalid.

Anonymous said...

Just wait till the Aldi gets here

Anonymous said...

As a person who has people employed by both Acme and Walmart, I can say with certainty, that Acme doesn't pay a living wage unless you've been with the company for 20 years or more. Walmart starts at $10.00 an hour, Acme, even though it is union, starts at minimum wage and only goes up .20 an hour every six months. As for Harris Teeter, be careful of what you ask for. They are even more expensive than Acme. I checked out the one in Easton when it opened. Unless they are having a sale, I'll choose either Giant or Acme over Harris Teeter.

Anonymous said...

People say Giant is was better for the meat dept. Yeah that was 2 years ago when they actually had a meat dept. They removed all the cutters and made them clerks so they could ship in meats from Pennsylvania.

In fact Giant was even cited by the FDA for miss labeling their meat after they made this switch. My wife worked there for years and was very sad to see the meat department go as it did.

Now at least Acme has brought back butchers and you can get the custom meats you used to get at Giant before they outsourced it.

Anonymous said...

I've heard the same comments from my wife. "I hate the new Acme!" I like the one in OC. Great bakery and deli. Just assumed prices were higher because it was OC.
But, this is another example of government intervention gone awry! The FTC (Federal Trade Commission) required the removal of Giant because of the grocery store monopoly in Salisbury - they would all be owned by the same parent company. Instead of allowing the people to decide, they chose for them. Kind of like the Non-affordable Care Act! I'm here from the government, and I'm here to help. Yeah, right. Please vote for smaller government in November!!!

Anonymous said...

High prices bc of thugs stealing.

Anonymous said...

The money I would spend on gas to go to the edge of town to Walmart is the same difference on cost. I hope Acme stays around for a long time.

September 25, 2016 at 3:06 PM

you get one mile per gallon?

Anonymous said...

Acme in Easton is top quality! Hopefully this will be true in Salisbury. I shop there once a month when I take my mother shopping who lives in Cambridge.

There is more choice and better shopping options in Easton. Cambridge like Salisbury also only has Food Lion and Walmart to pick from. Sad to say, but I think the main problem isn't population, but economics.

Household incomes on average are higher in Easton, so businesses and stores flock there. Until business conditions get better here in Salisbury and the surrounding area, I don't see anything great coming to Salisbury.

Anonymous said...

So if Easton has a higher income, why are the prices lower in that Acme store? I checked a few things we buy regularly when I was over there and they were lower there than our new store here where income is lower.

Anonymous said...

Giant prices were never in line with Wal-Mart. Giant was overpriced

Anonymous said...

Lol

Anonymous said...

Acme is treating their employees awful. They seem to be all talk. Demoting employees that have been there for 20 some years. So fake.

Anonymous said...

Sounds like they're making a good impression in Salisbury!

Anonymous said...

If acme got federal subsisies like Wal-Mart did it wouldn't be so high. So take the chance on someone who know how to work the system to help us . We are on the cashier end of this economy the the CEO.

Anonymous said...

At least you have choices.

Anonymous said...

I don't ever look at prices when I shop really, I know for myself and my little one it was about $100 a week at Giant. Last week, shopping no differently than I do every week, I spent $150 at Acme. It's a shame. I hate both Food Lion and Walmart. Giant was a bit higher yes but I cannot afford an extra $200 a month in groceries. It's a shame because I liked the Acme, I felt like they kept a lot of things Giant had.

Anonymous said...

I hate both Food Lion and Walmart. Giant was a bit higher yes but I cannot afford an extra $200 a month in groceries. It's a shame because I liked the Acme, I felt like they kept a lot of things Giant had.

October 2, 2016 at 12:06 PM

If you are judging Food Lion by the store on Snow Hill Rd. I can understand your frustration. It's not a very good store and doesn't have the best class of people there. But there are others that are much better in this area if you don't mind driving a few miles more.

Anonymous said...

The worst food lion is in Princess Anne. No customer service.

Anonymous said...

There use to be an Acme in Cambridge many moons ago and I only went there if I had a major deal with coupons. Way too expensive then and it sure appears that the stores' management style hasn't changed. We have went in to look also and found that the majority of things are WAY too high and it's simply not economical to just jaunt in there to use a coupon.
My fellow readers, they're banking on you coming in for one deal that is offered and then buying more of their high items because you're simply there.
Don't let them screw you.

Rob said...

Than maybe you should look at the prices before buying. An educated consumer is our best customer....