9NEWS: Browser Extension Can Compare Grocery Prices for You

Grocery prices have increased significantly since before the pandemic, and shoppers are finding new ways to keep their grocery bills under control.

A recent 9NEWS report looked at how consumers are using technology to find better grocery prices, including CartHappy, a browser extension that compares prices across multiple stores and helps shoppers determine when switching retailers is actually worth it.

Grocery prices continue to put pressure on shoppers

According to data cited by 9NEWS, grocery prices in the Denver metro area have increased 27% since before the pandemic, with prices up nearly 3% from the previous year.

For shoppers trying to save, one common strategy is visiting multiple stores to find the lowest price on individual products.

But making several trips can come with its own costs — including time, gas and convenience.

As CartHappy creator John Laramie explained in the report, shoppers can end up driving to multiple stores to save money without considering the cost of making those extra trips.

What if your grocery cart could do the shopping around?

That's the idea behind CartHappy.

CartHappy is a free Chrome extension that compares grocery prices across participating retailers while you shop online.

According to 9NEWS, CartHappy compares more than 350 million grocery price points every day across the U.S., covering retailers including Walmart, Target, Kroger and Costco.

The extension works in the background while you shop. When you add an item to your online grocery cart, CartHappy can check how that same product is priced at other nearby retailers.

Finding savings without making unnecessary trips

9NEWS put CartHappy to the test with a package of wild blueberries.

The comparison showed that the same product was $4 cheaper at another nearby retailer.

But finding a cheaper price isn't the only part of the equation.

CartHappy is designed to help determine whether the potential savings are actually worth switching stores. If moving several products to another retailer creates meaningful savings, CartHappy can show you the opportunity.

If the savings aren't significant enough, it can also tell you that staying with your current store makes more sense.

Save without guessing when to switch stores

This distinction is important when comparing grocery prices.

One store might have cheaper blueberries, while another could have better prices on most of the rest of your cart.

Rather than assuming that one retailer is always cheaper, CartHappy looks at the products you're actually buying and helps you understand where your cart could cost less.

If splitting your shopping between stores makes sense, CartHappy can help identify which products to move and build a second basket for you.

Coupons can be automatic too

Price comparison isn't the only way CartHappy can help shoppers save.

The extension also includes an automatic coupon-clipping feature for participating retailers.

Once shoppers build their online grocery cart, CartHappy can identify available coupons and clip them to the shopper's loyalty account automatically.

That means shoppers don't have to search through a retailer's coupon section and manually add every available offer.

Turning grocery price changes into useful information

Grocery prices can vary significantly between retailers and can change over time.

For most shoppers, keeping track of all those changes manually isn't realistic.

CartHappy brings that information into the shopping experience, allowing shoppers to see when a better price is available and whether the potential savings justify making another trip.

The goal isn't necessarily to shop at multiple stores every week. It's to help shoppers understand when it makes sense to switch, when it makes sense to split a cart, and when it's better to stay where they are.

Featured in 9NEWS

We're excited to see CartHappy featured in 9NEWS as part of a report on how technology is changing the way consumers shop for groceries.

The story highlights an important part of grocery shopping today: finding a lower price isn't always enough. The real question is whether the savings are worth the extra time, effort and cost of getting them.

CartHappy helps answer that question by comparing the prices in your actual grocery cart and showing you where the potential savings are.