Muscatine

Fareway gets my vote! I buy probably 99% of what I need there. I get a few things at Menard's that are actually cheaper than Wal-Mart and I also wait till they have kitty litter on sale there and then stock up. I rarely go to Wal-Mart and the only time I go to Hy-Vee is if they have something on sale and I'm in the area. Hy-Vee's prices are way too high for the things I buy, plus as Janitor said, I get tired of their checkers/baggers talking over my head and rarely even saying "hello."

Once in a while I go to Aldi, but it's very rare. I've had very bad luck with their packaged produce...seems like what's on top is OK, but the bottom is almost always spoiled. Their milk seems to spoil faster than anybody else's too.

Never bought anything at any of the convenience stores, but I'd bet their prices are sky-high...same for Walgreen's. Sometimes they have sale prices that are good, but the rest of the time it's too expensive.

Hey BB, when you hit on a good plan, stick with it. Lol.

I shop equally at Walmart and Hy-Vee, with an occasional trip to Fareway too.  I prefer Hy-Vee over Walmart for their sliced meats/cheeses and produce.  Walmart has better prices on the staple items I buy every week....cereal, milk, coffee, chips, snack crackers, etc.  I don't usually buy produce at Walmart.  It's just not very fresh most of the time.    I've heard people say they'd never buy meat at Walmart, but I have, and have never had a problem.  I love Menards--and am always surprised to find some quirky little grocery item at a decent price when I go there for something else. 

I can't say I've had horrible service at any store in town, but to rank the grocery stores?  Tops by far in service is Fareway.  Hy-vee 2nd, and Walmart a very distant 3rd.  Believe it or not, I've had excellent service at Walmart!   

For convenience stores, my two favorite are Hy-Vee Gas and Westside Store.  Some of the others are just too filthy.  Oh, Steamboat Landing is super clean as well :)

I have never had rude service anywhere. One trick I learned from a movie I saw (can't remember the title) is to always address the checker and bagger by their names. (read their badge) Another trick is to be sure to say hello to any of the shift managers by name. (also on their badge) It makes the checker and bagger think you're good friends with the management. You will notice much better service. Although I've never had to, there's nothing keeping you from telling one of the managers about a rude checker.

Hy-Vee is most fun, they always ask, "Did you find everything?" and I always answer with something funny like, "Yes, you did a bad job hiding it."

Here's 13 things your grocer won't tell you:

1. If you hate crowds and lines, shop at dinnertime (5 to 9 p.m.) or even later. Only 4 percent of shoppers hit the aisles between 9 p.m. and 8 a.m. Least-crowded day of the week? Wednesday.

2. Go ahead and reach way back for the fresh milk. Everybody does.

3. Coupons with a bar code are easy to scan. The other ones take an eternity. But if you’re willing to wait … 4. That star fruit has been here a lot longer than the broccoli. Familiar produce turns over more quickly than exotic things.

5. “The more products you see, the more you are likely to buy,” says Marion Nestle, author of What to Eat. “That’s why the aisles are so long and the milk is usually in the far corner.”

6. Like employees with a good attitude? Shop at chains that are employee-owned, suggest customer-satisfaction surveys. When employees have a stake in the profits, it shows in their attitude.

7. The “grazers” order food at the deli, eat it as they’re shopping, and get rid of the wrappers before they check out. We also call that stealing.

8. I’m not just selling groceries, I’m selling real estate. Look high and low-literally-for good values from smaller manufacturers who can’t afford to stock their products in the eye-level sweet spot.

9. We’re marketing to your kids too. That’s why we put the rainbow-colored cereals and other kiddie catnip at their eye level.

10. Be wary of “specials.” When people see signs with numbers-”8 for $10!” “Limit: 5 per customer”-they buy 30 to 100 percent more than they otherwise might have.

11. The baby formula is locked up because thieves resell it on the black market. Ditto for the cough and cold medications, smoking-cessation products, razor blades, and batteries.

12. Driving your Ferrari to the Piggly Wiggly and want to avoid shopping-cart dents? Park far, far away.

13. You’ll end up tossing 12 percent of what you buy.