Comments on: Yen & You: The truth behind konbini prices

By: karen

karen — Tue, 25 May 2010 11:42:32 +0000

What supermarket are you going to and where do you live? I think that factors a lot here. The supermarket prices you mention are definately higher in my local Tokyo supermarket, where conbini prices are high – but not as drastic as what you mention.

I can get things that cheap if I go to a 99store or a 100yen store.

Also – are you comparing the same brands here? And – what time of day are you shopping? Are you comparing supermarket evening discount prices to bulk standard conbini prices? The comparisons just seem a little too drastic, thats all….

By: Al

Al — Wed, 24 Feb 2010 10:05:04 +0000

You can get many things at Lawson 100 for less than most Supermarkets.

By: Craig

Craig — Wed, 17 Feb 2010 00:46:39 +0000

I totally agree and try to avoid them if possible. The only problem lies in the fact that there are sometimes some nifty little products that I can only find in a konbini and not in a super.

I’m a sucker for these, and konbini always have the rapidly changing seasonal stuff that the supers don’t even bother with.

Totally a sucker for this marketing….

By: JapanSoc

JapanSoc — Tue, 16 Feb 2010 13:45:02 +0000

The truth behind konbini prices…

Ever wondered what you’re really paying for the convenience of the konbini? It may be more than you think. See a price comparison of items in the konbini versus the supermarket….

By: Joe

Joe — Tue, 16 Feb 2010 13:40:56 +0000

I agree with Brody, I find the rice balls at the Kombini’s much better tasting than the ones at the super market. Though it might be that I shop at Manso.

By: Japundit

Japundit — Tue, 16 Feb 2010 13:39:54 +0000

Story added…

Your story has been featured on Japundit! Here is the link: http://www.japundit.com/LivinginJapan/The_truth_behind_konbini_prices...

By: Joshua Zimmerman

Joshua Zimmerman — Tue, 16 Feb 2010 05:43:30 +0000

I have to disagree with Brody. I’ve always found, in my own experiences, that Supermarket bentos are way way better than Konbinis bentos. Plus they have a much better variety of bentos.

By: Brody Nixon

Brody Nixon — Tue, 16 Feb 2010 04:46:09 +0000

That’s fine, except for the bit about having “equal quality” or being the same noodle dishes and packaged foods. Anyone who’s eaten a broad range of things from both the major konbinis and from local supermarkets can tell you that there’s an enormous difference in quality: konbini bentos, noodles, and rice balls taste much, much better than their supermarket counterparts. It’s not true in every case of course, but in many.

Konbinis are still overpriced and everyone knows it, but when you compare them to most supermarkets, it’s just a matter of getting what you paid for.