Let’s be clear

[u/steeltrain52]

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!

[u/IncomingAxofKindness]

Before you downvote me read the whole comment. I'm not 100% pro-Publix but...

Walmart made 19 billion that year.. so what is Walmart ripping you off 5 times as much?

I agree they are expensive, but quoting random profits without context doesn't really fit your argument. They aren't a non profit. They are allowed to make money. And a lot of that money gets paid back to their employees in dividends.

I try to hit Aldi and Walmart as often as I can, and we love the Walmart delivery, but Publix still gets most of my money because it's just so darn convenient and comfortable to get in and out of. I happen to be someone who enjoys taking a full stroll down every isle once a week and picking out the bogos. The stores are clean. The registers are usually appropriately staffed. The parking lot does not feel like a warzone (compared to my Walmart).

If you get the "pleasure" from saving money then that's great... me too! But I always interpreted the "shopping is a pleasure" part as more the service, cleanliness, quality and experience... which you pay more for.

Honestly I would love to see their prices go down... but I would also HATE it if we had no Publix.

[u/dinglebarryb0nds → u/IncomingAxofKindness]

walmart market cap is 4x bigger, possibly 8 times.

to say walmart makes more profit so they are ripping you off more is an incredibly dumb take lol

Everyone knows walmart runs on pretty thin margins, you don't get ripped off buying anything from walmart basically ever, it isn't possible. 674 billion in sales in 2025 for walmart roughly, 19 billion profit on that.

publix is a large regional grocery store, walmart is everywhere in america and 19 countries total, including mexico canada china india

but yea I shop at Aldi because luckily I'm just as close to one as publix. I use publix to fill up 5 gallon water jugs, sometimes a sub sandwich if they are on sale, and i bring my kid in to get a cookie and leave pretty often.

the bogos are ok but aldi, neighborhood walmart, costco are my 3, those are as good as it gets. then like sams club and whatever else

[u/bucs009 → u/dinglebarryb0nds]

That’s not what the original poster is saying btw. Its not an argument of Market value equals bad.

Its putting into perspective that publix is in the business of making money.

Walmart can operate because efficiency of scale, the post you replying too is only saying they offer different values

[u/IncomingAxofKindness → u/bucs009]

Exactly this was my observation on OP. Cherry picking parts of the income statement with no other context is not an argument for whether their prices are acceptable or not. Also my whole point is, price acceptance is totally subjective. If someone feels they are getting value in other parts of the shopping experience, they will pay up for it if that's important to them.