Chewy Edges Walmart and PetSmart in North Atlanta Pet Supply Price Check
A local price comparison shows Chewy slightly outperforms Walmart and PetSmart in overall pet supply costs. Major pet food prices are nearly identical, but treats and litter reveal larger differences that affect the total.
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Pet owners along Market Place Boulevard in Cumming can buy a 35-pound bag of Purina Pro Plan at PetSmart for $74.99, drive down the road to Walmart and pay $74.48, or order it from Chewy for the same $74.48.
Across a larger cart, however, small differences begin to accumulate.
A four-item order containing dog food, cat food, dental treats and cat litter cost $161.07 at Chewy. Walmart finished $4.83 higher at $165.90, while PetSmart reached $168.46. The difference between the lowest and highest totals was $7.39, or less than 5%.
Prices were checked Aug. 24 and reflect ordinary one-time purchases. The comparison excludes sales tax, delivery charges, subscriptions, coupon codes, memberships and loyalty rewards. Store prices and availability can change.
On mobile: swipe left to see the full table.
Food did not decide the winner
The two bags of food accounted for more than two-thirds of the order, yet their prices barely changed from one retailer to another.
The dog food cost $74.48 at Chewy and Walmart and $74.99 at PetSmart. The cat food was $34.48 at Chewy and Walmart and $34.49 at PetSmart.
For households that spend most of their pet budget on food, switching retailers may accomplish little unless a particular sale or recurring-order discount is involved. A North Atlanta resident who needs food immediately can buy it locally without paying a meaningful premium over the online price.
Greenies created nearly the entire gap
Dental treats produced the clearest difference. The 36-count package of Greenies cost $33.12 at Chewy, $36.97 at Walmart and $39.99 at PetSmart. The $6.87 spread on that one product accounted for most of the difference between the complete orders.
Cat litter was much closer. The 35-pound pail cost $18.99 at Chewy and PetSmart and $19.97 at Walmart.
The results suggest that food may not require much comparison shopping, while treats, litter, toys and other supplies deserve a closer look. Those smaller items can vary far more than the large bags that dominate the receipt.
Hollywood Feed offers another route to the lowest price
Hollywood Feed was not included in the four-item comparison, but information provided by the specialty retailer after publication adds another option for local shoppers.
When Hollywood Feed carries an identical product, the company says it will honor a lower price currently offered by another retailer, including Chewy and Amazon. Eligible sales and promotions can also receive the lower price. The offer applies online and in stores, subject to conditions including product availability and verification of the competing offer.
Hollywood Feed could not be assigned Chewy’s $161.07 total because the retailer must carry the same four products in the same packages. When an identical item is available, however, customers may be able to pay the lower competing price while shopping at Hollywood Feed. The complete conditions appear in the company’s pricing guarantee.
Hollywood Feed has three Cumming stores, on Bethelview Road, Buford Highway and Keith Bridge Road, along with locations in Alpharetta, Johns Creek and other nearby communities.
The company also places considerable emphasis on product knowledge. Meg Skirius, a senior program manager for Hollywood Feed, told North Atlanta Star that store employees complete 40 hours of continuing education annually on subjects including pet food, allergies, treats and behavioral concerns. Pet owners can also use Hollywood Feed University, a free collection of recorded classes and upcoming online courses.
That training does not change the cost of a bag of food. It does, however, give shoppers another consideration beyond the numbers in the basket, particularly when they need help choosing food for a pet with allergies, digestive problems or other specific needs.
The cheapest order may not be the most practical
Chewy finished first among the three retailers priced, but Walmart was only $4.83 behind. For a shopper already heading to Walmart for groceries, waiting for another delivery may not be worth the difference. PetSmart cost $7.39 more while offering the services and selection of a dedicated pet store.
If a household bought this exact combination every month, choosing Chewy over Walmart would save about $58 over a year. The difference between Chewy and PetSmart would reach approximately $89. Actual savings would depend on how quickly each household uses the food, treats and litter.
Hollywood Feed’s policy makes the practical result less tidy than the posted-price table suggests. Chewy had the lowest listed total, but shoppers may be able to receive the same lower price from a nearby specialty store when it carries the identical product.
For widely sold national brands, the local premium is smaller than many shoppers might expect. The more useful strategy may be to buy food wherever it is convenient, ask whether a competitor’s lower price will be honored and pay closer attention to treats, litter and the other supplies placed beside it in the cart.
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