For three weeks, the team Protect Yourself conducted a careful investigation into the prices of 25 common products in the seven largest pharmacy chains in Quebec. The results of this study revealed which pharmacy is the most advantageous. We explain everything to you.
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An in-depth investigation into the prices of common products
To make this comparison, journalists from Protect Yourself analyzed the prices of 1,200 items, spread across a selection of 25 common products, such as acetaminophen, deodorant, toothpaste and toilet paper. Prescription medications were excluded from this study. The seven chains compared were: Jean Coutu, Brunet, Familiprix, Pharmaprix, Uniprix, Proxim and Accès Pharma (from Walmart).
Two types of baskets were studied:
- The basket of national brandsincluding popular products like Tylenol, Colgate and Cashmere.
- The economic basketcomposed of house brand products, supplemented by national brand products when necessary.
The results: Walmart in the lead, Pharmaprix and Familiprix lagging behind
The results are clear: Walmart easily tops the rankings. The basket of national brand products costs 245 $either 28% cheaper than the most expensive brand. But by opting for store brands when available, savings can reach up to 32 %. Walmart particularly stands out on medicines and first aid products, where its prices are significantly lower than those of its competitors.
In second place, Jean Coutu ranks well thanks to its affiliation with the Metro group and the presence of its house brands Personal et Selectionwhich allow it to offer a wide choice of products at competitive prices.
On the other hand, at the bottom of the ranking, Pharmaprix et Familiprix have much higher prices. At the house of Pharmaprixthe economic basket cost 274 $either $87 more than at Walmart. At the house of Familiprixthe same basket returned to 267 $making it one of the most expensive options, especially for body and hygiene products.
Is it really advantageous to shop at several pharmacies?
According to Florence Dujoux, journalist at Protect Yourselfit depends on your geographical location. If you have several pharmacies near you, it may be interesting to compare prices and take advantage of promotions, which generally vary between 11 % et 30 % reduction. However, if this means traveling several miles to save a few dollars, transportation costs may cancel out the savings. In this case, it may be wiser to choose a pharmacy that offers competitive prices on all of your products.
