Of course the economy of scale applies to that membership fee. Scaling across more kids makes a better value prop.
As for Formula? You can't just change to whatever is cheapest that week.
Then stock up, and seriously? Their shelf stocking doesn't work that way. Any SKU ordered (other than food stuffs and specialty seasonals) are stocked for, at least, one month in any given location before long term stocking is decided on
My experience is otherwise. Maybe in your experience through multiple brands is that they are all the same, but your experience is equally limited.
The simple fact that my experience says otherwise, however, does disprove yours.
> Then stock up
On diapers?
I can't believe you have children and would "stock up" on diapers. Kids grow.
Shaving 2-3 hours a month off the shopping time budget? F yes. I hate shopping.
Amazon: $45.99 (doesn't include the $2 coupon on the page). Also, on the page: Pay as low as $26.74 ($0.18 / count) with Subscribe & Save and Amazon Mom
Target: $47.19 Target also offers a subscription, and 5% additional savings if you use their credit card.
Maybe their are additional savings, but I didn't see any of it mentioned. Maybe it's different for formula for wipes, but I didn't feel like checking that, too.
http://www.amazon.com/Pampers-Swaddlers-Diapers-Economy-Coun...
http://www.target.com/p/pampers-swaddlers-diapers-economy-pl...
Plus, Target is a smaller package (my son grows like a weed, I want just-in-time inventory), I get another penny per diaper off with the credit card, and Target accepts stacked coupons, which typically translates to another $0.05-$0.10/count discount.
Also, the we don't use it, but the Target generic brands are very high quality and cheap. Saved us a bundle when my son was on formula and the Enfamil coupons ran out!
1. Amazon has more size choices. 2. You didn't say up front you were comparing different diaper brands. Maybe they are just as good. However, we've tried different diaper brands in the past, and went with those we knew would work.
Not that any of this changes things. I was just curious about the pricing. We use Pampers because we found them to be the best for what we needed. Now though, we get them free. =/
Anyone who thinks all diaper brands are the same has never had the experience of choosing poorly. =)
When I buy things like you describe, I price check at walmart.com. typically amazon is less after shipping.
Huh? Where did you look?
For formula, diapers, wipes, etc. Amazon didn't come close to Target, even without coupons. Amazon was like $23 for diapers that were $19.99 at Target. I've been a prime member forever, and wanted to use Amazon, but it easily cost 10-20% more, even with automatic ordering. Combine Target retail or sale prices with coupons and the 5% credit card discount and it was an unbeatable combo.