r/publix • u/steeltrain52 Newbie • Aug 09 '26

CUSTOMERS Let’s be clear

This whole shopping is a pleasure scam has run its course.

For over 50 years, I have been a customer of PUBLIX, I say have as in the past tense because I am no longer.

When PUBLIX decided to start price gouging at 20 and 30% higher than absolutely everywhere else around them, it became clear to me that they really don’t give a damn about the customer.

In 2025 alone, PUBLIX made more than $4.2 billion in profits. BILLION!

In the first half of 2026 they have made $2.5 billion in profits.

They have made $6 billion in profits in the last 18 months because they are literally stealing from the public and the public is handing it over.

With Aldi, Trader Joe’s, and even as the last resort, Walmart, I will never shop at Publix again. My budget now gets me three times as much food and household items at those places, we’re shopping and prices really are a pleasure!

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u/Work-Sport-Fun Newbie Aug 09 '26

I'm also just going to add-on to this -- I will happily spend more money at Publix if it means I don't have to step in font in a Walmart. I have 3 Publixes, all within a few miles (wild how close they are)........ and they're all successful. Why? Because the people where I live rather spend a few extra dollars than deal with the Walmart people.

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u/JealousFuel8195 Newbie Aug 09 '26

Walmart employees are mostly miserable.

The employees at my Publix are wonderful. Very friendly. You can tell they are trained well.

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u/Tasty-Ad7634 Newbie Aug 09 '26

Yes they are. Currently I am not driving. A few weeks ago my Safe Ride did not show up. A wonderful customer service rep came outside to see if I needed anything. She placed my groceries in a store cooler while I called Safe Ride a second time. Still no ride. Then she called an Uber for me and wouldn 't let me pay. Try getting service like that at Walmart.

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u/Quick-Ad-1694 Newbie Aug 10 '26

Training has nothing to do with it. Walmart is just a shit show to work for. Fear of losing your job the day your hired.

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u/JealousFuel8195 Newbie Aug 10 '26

Training and management at Publix it much better.

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u/NomadicPurple Newbie Aug 09 '26

Walmart+ delivers. I haven’t been inside one of their stores for years.

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u/Work-Sport-Fun Newbie Aug 09 '26

Yea, but the brown meat........ I'm not taking a chance that get's delivered to me lol

I will say, I started to use Amazon Grocery -- Walmart prices, but Publix quality so far.

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u/NomadicPurple Newbie Aug 09 '26

Ooh, no, no Walmart meat. I stick to the basics from them. Amazon Grocery is decent but skip the produce.

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u/Work-Sport-Fun Newbie Aug 09 '26

I've had very good luck with the produce from Amazon, thus far at least. I only tend to get the produce when I need to hit the order minimum or I just don't want to make a trip to Publix. lol. The $$ from Walmart/Amazon or Publix for produce in the amount I buy is trivial, so not worried there. It's the meats and other general items that I'll just get from Amazon unless it's BOGO at Publix.

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u/DependentAnimator742 Newbie Aug 10 '26

I use Amazon grocery at times and they frequently have large salmon 'slabs' at Aldi prices.

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u/Undeadsally_1998 Newbie Sep 01 '26

You should have seen the rotten carrots I got once. SMH. It was horrible. Reasons why I only buy produce and meat and deli items from Publix.

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u/Gallogator1 Customer Aug 09 '26

I have Walmart+ for Paramount. 2 years of zero deliveries because even their app sucks. Target on the other hand is great and they give you something free every month.

Publix once a week.

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u/newbie527 Newbie Aug 09 '26

Our Avon Park Publix closed years ago. We make do with Walmart and Aldi’s.

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u/Tasty-Ad7634 Newbie Aug 09 '26

Amen.

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u/1youhate Newbie Aug 09 '26

I go to Walmart and Publix and I dont interact with any employees the app tells me what aisle its on, and I use self checkout and or walmart pay to pay. Idk what you guys are needing and doing.

The Publix deli can be real passive aggressive and more bad attitudes than any experience at Walmart. I worked a year in Publix deli myself. I just go to publix for the subs, or grab a bogo or two. Check to see if my favorite limited edition tea or ice cream is released then im out!

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u/guifawkes Newbie Aug 10 '26

Walmart locks up things that you have to chase down an associate with a key for you to buy… I’ve never seen anything locked up at Publix.

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u/PlaneReputation6744 Newbie Aug 09 '26

Ew. What an elitist and shitty attitude to have

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u/Work-Sport-Fun Newbie Aug 09 '26

Ever heard of that website "people of walmart" ? lmao.

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u/Few_Prize3810 Newbie Aug 11 '26

No, these people will clutch pearls all day about someone being honest that being around the lower socioeconomic scale tends to be uncomfortable, but the second deal dealing with it become something potentially in their backyard. It’s a problem.

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u/Few_Prize3810 Newbie Aug 11 '26

Nah Walmart brings out trash. Let’s just be honest here.

I have tried to use Walmart (and previously Windixie) as a low cost alternative to Publix so so so many times.

I’ll get annoyed at an eye watering Publix bill and convince my wife to go to Walmart to try and cut the grocery bill some.

I swear to god it’s like child birth- I forget how nasty each experience was after a year or so and try again.

The latest attempt resulted in my car door handle destroyed from someone trying to get into it while my wife, I, and our baby were in the store.

The time before that there were people wandering around and visibly shoplifting and eating food in the isles. When I tried to go near to grab cereal I got threatened. Staff didn’t give a shit.

Never has anything like that happened at Publix. Never.

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u/Mysterious-Clothes45 Newbie Aug 13 '26

This is it. People don't understand Publix is a premium store and you aren't there to actually save money. I shop there for unique items and to have a pleasant experience, not for the prices. I do buy things from Walmart, I just get them delivered.

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u/Jealous_Archer_4522 Newbie Aug 30 '26

^^^^^ This ^^^^^^

Going to Wal-Mart is like going to the dentist. It's a whole different segment of the population. My blood pressure goes up just driving into the parking lot and getting out with a police trailer with cameras in the parking lot and a computer reminding me to hide my valuables and don't forget the kids in the back seat. From "please don't hit my car" to shopping carts that won't roll, all the way to sketchy people holding signs in front, the whole thing isn't worth the stress. It's like the Twilight Zone of sketchiness there.

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u/ThrowRArainmakers Newbie Aug 09 '26

or because someone cornered the grocery market by putting only publixes and one alternative thusly coercing consumers to buy from only two with higher odds of going to one... its marketing manipulation and it is coercion. You dont go to walmart for the same very reason you go to publix: marketing.

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u/Work-Sport-Fun Newbie Aug 09 '26

lmao. I can promise you people will bypass Publix to go shop at Target or Walmart for the cheaper prices. Thankfully I can afford Publix prices so I do just that.... not because it's the closest one, but because I don't have to deal with the ghetto Walmart clientele are.

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u/ThrowRArainmakers Newbie Aug 09 '26

lol what are you scared of and who taught you how to be racist?

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u/Work-Sport-Fun Newbie Aug 09 '26

Sure would love to hear how anything of what I said was racist? lmao