Amazon is running a pilot program with some Staples stores for its customers to drop off items they'd like to return to the online retailer, usually at no cost to the customer.

The program is similar to what Amazon does with Kohl’s stores, allowing customers to return items at Kohl’s — with Kohl’s employees typically handling the packaging and shipping of the return. Customers use a bar code Amazon that sends when the customer initiates the return online. The Kohl's/Amazon partnership has been in place since 2017, and Amazon customers also have the option of dropping off returns at UPS stores and other retail sites that are designated Amazon Hub locations.

“We are always innovating on behalf of our customers and identifying convenient solutions to shop and make returns,” Samaha Samaha of Amazon told the online site RetailDive. “We have begun testing select Staples locations as drop-off points for Amazon returns.”

Amazon and Staples did not release the names of the Staples stores participating in the pilot program.

If the pilot is successful and Amazon moves forward with the partnership, it would give customers 1,035 more locations to drop off Amazon returns. That’s how many stores Staples has in the U.S.

Such partnerships are good for retailers that take on the task of accepting, packaging and shipping Amazon returns. And with Staples, Amazon shoppers have another place to drop off returns besides UPS, Kohl's and Whole Foods stores. And like Kohl’s, Staples will gain some potential shoppers, as they head inside to drop off their Amazon returns at customer service. Staples could drum up some business if it pushes merchandise between the store entrance and the designated Amazon return dropoff point.  In Kohl’s case, it put the Amazon return center deep inside the store (or at some Kohl's, it's in the back of the second level of the store). That's a whole lot of potential merch to pass by as you drop off the Amazon package and leave the store. 

Amazon on Returns 

If you’re new to Amazon Prime shopping, you may want to know what Amazon’s return policy is (it could be very different from alternatives to Amazon Prime for free shipping and returns). While the site has not yet said Staples stores are points of return, Amazon clearly outlines the how-tos of making returns.

Note that there are some things you can’t return to Amazon, but they probably aren’t on your holiday giving or receiving list anyway.

Making returns easier for customers by opening up more return locations is yet another perk of Prime. Counting those benefits has become a must for those considering whether or not to cancel Amazon Prime after the Amazon Prime cost went up 17% in 2022. Some perks, including Amazon Treasure Truck and Amazon Drive, have been axed (or soon will be). But 2022 saw a new bonus when Amazon opened up its record vaults to Amazon Prime subscribers.  

Related content

• Best Amazon Prime Perks for the Holidays
• Amazon Prime Benefits to Use
• Amazon Prime Grocery Outlet: Secret Savings 

If you think cryptocurrencies are a good long-term investment, a rewards program like Lolli or a cash back credit card that allows you to earn crypto while spending dollars can let you ease your way into the crypto market. But even though you’re not jumping full on into cryptocurrency this way, it’s still important to keep in mind the additional risk and volatility involved.

Crypto Rewards Programs 

Lolli allows shoppers to earn up to 30% in Bitcoin rewards when they shop online at one of their partner merchants, including Ulta, Nike, Chewy, eBay, Sephora and Staples. Lolli also allows users to link a card with the Lolli app to earn back up to 10% in Bitcoin for in-store purchase at select merchants, such as American Eagle, CVS and Shake Shack. RewardsBunny allows customers to shop online through their platform and earn crypto for every dollar spent. The company has partnered with many major companies, including Booking.com and Walmart. Fold allows customers to earn up to 20% in Bitcoin rewards by offering gift cards that can be purchased from its website and redeemed at popular retailers.     

Credit Cards with Crypto Rewards Programs 

 Many companies also offer traditional credit cards that earn crypto rewards instead of cash, points or miles. Major cryptocurrency exchanges, including Crypto.com, BlockFi, Gemini and Coinbase (COIN) all offer debit and credit cards through which customers can earn rewards in cryptocurrency for spending dollars. These cards allow customers to earn cryptocurrency directly or reward points that can be redeemed for crypto. Most of these cards offer rewards of 1.5% or 2% on most purchases, while some offer higher rewards for certain types of purchases, such as dining or groceries.

A few financial-technology companies also offer credit cards that allow users to earn crypto. SoFi offers a cash-back credit card that allows customers to earn rewards and turn them into crypto when deposited into a SoFi Crypto Account. Upgrade Inc. offers a credit card that earns a flat 1.5% back in Bitcoin. Venmo allows users of its credit card to buy crypto with the rewards earned with the card.  

Risks of Crypto Loyalty Programs 

 One of the biggest differences between crypto and regular loyalty points is the value of the rewards. Loyalty points have a fixed redemption value set by the program, whereas the value of crypto rewards fluctuates with the value of that digital token at any given time. For instance, a credit card that offers 2% cash back means that you can receive $20 statement credit for a $1000 purchase. A credit card (or crypto rewards program) that offers 2% back in Bitcoin means you will receive $20 worth of it. Twenty dollars could’ve bought you 0.00029 BTC on Nov. 8, 2021 and 0.0011 BTC on Nov. 8, 2022 – about 70% less because of the substantial drop in Bitcoin’s value over the past year.

Given the volatility of crypto, this is something very important to keep in mind as your actual payback may be much smaller (or bigger) when you finally choose to trade or spend the crypto you’ve earned.

Another thing to bear in mind is that crypto rewards may come with a tax bill. With regular credit-card rewards or any other reward programs, you don’t face any tax consequences for redeeming them. But if customers redeem cryptocurrency in any form, they may owe taxes to the IRS as the agency treats cryptocurrency as property so anytime a digital asset is sold it triggers a capital gain or loss. 

When your shopping list is long and time is short, it’s tempting to make a single stop at the warehouse club. Face it: Costco, Sam’s Club and BJ’s stock everything from groceries and cleaning supplies to electronics and clothing — often in bulk quantities and often at good prices. Plus, you feel the need to shake your money’s worth out of the annual membership fee you're paying.

You can make it easier for your warehouse club membership pay for itself by taking advantage of periodic membership deals. For example, you can save on a Costco membership right now.

We’ve written plenty about how warehouse clubs are a great place to stock up on toilet paper, various kitchen pantry staples and even wine. For one, there some things you can get without a membership.

But for those items that are member's only, it's still worth thinking twice before tossing it in your cart. There are three big reasons why.

First, buying certain items in bulk is a waste of money if you won't use the product before it spoils or expires. Next, warehouse clubs only carry certain brands so you may be missing out on savings on products where you're not picky about brands.

Lastly, you’re missing out on the money-saving power of weekly sales and coupons — Costco and Sam’s Club don’t accept manufacturer coupons. While BJ’s does, there are certain restrictions that make it harder to maximize savings.

“It's understandable that a lot of people are in a state of mind of stocking up after the past couple years — but don’t let that lead to wasted money and wasted product,” says Kristin McGrath, an editor and shopping expert at Offers.com. “Having stuffed cupboards can also make it difficult to verify what you have, meaning you're likely to accidentally double-buy something and end up wasting more money.”

Here’s a look at 22 common items stocked by warehouse clubs that you might want to pick up somewhere else.

Yes, you can find name-brand cereals at warehouse clubs. However, budget-conscious shoppers know they can grab the breakfast staple for less elsewhere. Top U.S. cereal makers Kellogg’s, General Mills and other cereal manufacturers regularly pass along discounts to grocers who pass them off to customers.

The major manufacturers also make available coupons that can be used at your local grocery store or big-box retailer — but not at Costco, Sam's Club or BJ’s — says Cindy Livesey, founder of LivingRichWithCoupons.com. The warehouse clubs don't take manufacturer coupons.

Not into clipping coupons? Find them instead on the manufacturer’s website or Facebook page. Also, you can stack these coupons with any sale your local retailer is promoting.

“This allows you to get a better deal at the grocery store than what you'd find at a warehouse club,” Livesey says.

Don’t be fooled by the discounted prices you might see on designer clothing items (think: Nicole Miller, DKNY or Calvin Klein) at Costco, Sam’s Club or BJ's.

“If you’re after actual designer apparel, know that the items sold in bulk stores are often more-cheaply-made versions of what's sold in high-end stores,” says McGrath of Offers.com. "If the label or look makes you happy, these could still be solid buys. Just be aware you’re not saving hundreds of dollars on an actual designer-quality item.”

The designer clothing and accessories you’ll find at warehouse clubs are typically constructed using lesser-quality materials and are designed specifically for lower-tier retailers, she adds.

If you’re simply on the hunt for a basic T-shirt or pair of jeans and don’t care about labels, warehouse clubs will offer competitive prices, McGrath says. Just remember that you aren’t getting the same pair of designer jeans that you’d find at Neiman Marcus or Nordstrom.

Remember, warehouse clubs sell a limited roster of brands. "While you might be saving money by buying in bulk versus what you’d pay for that same brand at a non-warehouse store, you might also get pushed to buying a more expensive brand because that’s what the warehouse club has available," says McGrath.

If you wouldn't buy that brand normally, you'd be better off buying lower-priced brands at big-box stores, she adds.

Also, be cautious when purchasing skincare products containing sunblock from a warehouse club, warns smart shopping expert Trae Bodge of TrueTrae.com. SPF degrades over time, and Costco, Sam’s Club and BJ’s usually sell these types of items packaged in sets of two large containers. Before buying, check the expiration date and decide whether you’ll use the product often enough to finish the bulk supply before it expires.

Skincare products containing SPF have a shelf life of up to three years if stored properly, according to Mayo Clinic. So unless you frequently use these types of skincare products or are sharing them with someone else (say, your spouse or kids), you may want to steer clear of buying them in bulk, Bodge says.

You’re better off purchasing a smaller bottle that you know you'll finish before it expires. Pick these smaller bottles up from your local drugstore, where you can take advantage of weekly sales, coupons and loyalty discounts.

Ground spices have a shelf life of two to three years for peak freshness and flavor, according to manufacturer McCormick. If you’re buying standard-size spice bottles (which usually range from 0.6 ounces to three ounces at a traditional grocery store or big-box retailer), finishing them within that timeframe is realistic.

However, when you buy spices in bulk at warehouse clubs, in sizes ranging from six-ounce bottles to five-pound containers, it can take much longer to finish them off – especially if it’s a spice you don’t use often, says TrueTrae.com’s Bodge.

Spices don’t necessarily “go bad” over time, she explains. Instead, the aroma and flavor intensity gradually degrades over time. So that cinnamon apple pie you make that everyone looks forward to at the family reunion may not be as flavorful if the ground cinnamon in it is several years old.

Unless you regularly cook with certain spices (say, curry, cayenne or chili powder), Bodge recommends buying them from your local grocer in smaller sizes so you don't end up wasting money or disappointing diners.

Says McGrath, “Even if you frequently cook in bulk, you’re likely not saving much by purchasing copious amounts of bulk spices.” Looking for bargains on said spices? Grocery deep discounter Aldi has a fine line of organic spices that are a steal at everyday low prices.

For peak flavor, buy whole spices, like cinnamon sticks or whole peppercorns, and grind them as needed. When stored properly, whole spices can maintain their flavor and aroma for up to four years.

For families with young children, shopping at a warehouse club can offer huge savings. But defaulting to Costco, Sam's Club or BJ’s without doing your due diligence could cost you — and this is especially true when it comes to diapers and baby supplies.

We looked at prices for store-brand diapers. Here's what we found.

At Costco, a 192-count package of Kirkland Signature size 1 diapers costs $34.99 (18 cents per diaper). By comparison, at Walmart, you can get a 162-count box of size 1 Parent’s Choice diapers for $17.48 (10.8 cents). Based on unit price, Walmart offers a better deal.

When looking for deals on other baby supplies, such as wipes and diaper ointment, consumers can score big using Amazon's Subscribe and Save program, Offers.com’s McGrath says. The program allows parents to set up auto-delivery on everything from lotion to hair-care products. Amazon Prime members qualify for 20% off diapers and other related products when ordering at least five items per month, she notes.

“You can even skip a delivery if necessary or you need to change diaper sizes. You’re not committed to the size of a giant box of diapers you purchased in bulk a month ago at a warehouse club,” McGrath adds.

Perhaps you’re a new parent or a grandparent who wants to help out. So you think, “diapers? (No!) “How about baby formula?” (No, again). Not from Costco, Sam's Club or BJ's anyway.

“Unless you have multiples, buying too much formula at once can be a mistake,” says Bodge. “Your instinct may be to stock up, but remember that soon enough, your little one will start eating solid foods and eventually wean off the formula. You can give it away or donate it, of course, but be mindful of the use-by date.”

Liquid cleaning products tend to lose their efficacy over time. Huge bottles of liquid dish soap or laundry detergent may not be a smart money-saving strategy — especially if you end up having to use twice the amount of product to get the desired result with a single wash.

“Unless you do a lot of laundry [or wash dishes by hand] very regularly, it is best to buy liquid detergents in smaller quantities,” TrueTrae.com’s Bodge says.

If you prefer to shop exclusively at warehouse clubs rather than making multiple trips to several stores, consider buying powder-based cleaning products instead, Bodge recommends. When stored properly in a cool and dry place, they have an unlimited shelf life.

Adds consumer savings expert Andrea Woroch, “Studies show that dollar store cleaners work just as effectively as name brands so you can save yourself even more by picking up your various bathroom and counter spray cleaners there. Otherwise, you may be able to find better discounts at your local big box store when the brand name is on sale and also stacking a manufacturer coupon or store coupon.”

Before stocking up at warehouse clubs on household products you only need infrequently, consider the size of your home, Offers.com’s McGrath suggests. Buying carpet/upholstery cleaner, plumbing clog remover, air fresheners and other seldom-used products, either in multi-packs or in large containers, will just take up valuable storage space underneath your kitchen or bathroom sinks, she adds.

You might even forget you stored them there and end up not using them at all. For everyday shoppers, big-box retailers are the better option for purchasing these types of household products in smaller quantities, McGrath advises.

If you’ve ever suffered from an unexpected headache only to discover that you're out of ibuprofen (Advil) or acetaminophen (Tylenol), stocking up on a bulk-size bottle of pills during your next warehouse club trip may seem like a smart precaution.

But keep in mind that unless you have a medical reason to use such products daily or have multiple people in your home using them, you might not get through that entire 750-count bottle of pills before they expire, warns consumer savings expert Andrea Woroch.

Pain meds can lose potency over time. This can make them less effective per the recommended dosage. Advil recommends consumers stop using any expired bottles of their products for just that reason.

“To save money, purchase the generic version from your local big box store or drugstore in smaller containers,” says Woroch.

Like to keep your pantry stocked with snacks for binge-watching a new streaming series or powering through all nine seasons of “The Office” again? Then you may be enticed to buy that huge tub of hummus or Buffalo wing dip at your warehouse club of choice.

Yes, you get more for the money. However, will you be able to eat that entire 40-ounce container of hummus by the time you’re done catching up on “Yellowjackets” in just two days? Let's hope not.

Unless you’re buying food for a party or have a large family, you should only buy refrigerated hummus, cheese dip and salsa in smaller quantities, consumer savings expert Woroch recommends. These perishable food items go bad after a specified amount of time once opened.

Remember, the expiration or use-by date on these foods refer to its unopened shelf life. Once you break that seal, you usually need to finish off the container within a few days. For example, the packaging on Sabra brand hummus containers includes a disclaimer that states it should be consumed within seven days after opening.

On a unit-price basis, you might end up spending more at a traditional grocery store, but you're more likely to finish the smaller container. If you’re dead set on scoring a deal, pay attention to weekly sale ads at places such as Target or Walmart, which regularly offer discounts on chip dips and spreads, Woroch notes.

If the apocalypse ever happens, those six-pound cans of beans you’ve got stashed in your kitchen pantry may come in handy. Otherwise, you’re better off buying regular-sized canned goods from your local grocery store that you’ll actually finish, suggests LivingRichWithCoupons.com’s Livesey.

According to the Canned Food Alliance, canned goods can last up to two years after the date of purchase, so shoppers should stock up in moderation. It's also a good idea to periodically go through your pantry and pull out any close-to-expiring cans so you can be sure to use them before they go bad.

Some grocers even offer exclusive deals on canned items at various times of the year when prices are slashed, Livesey says. She notes that ShopRite grocery stores (located in Connecticut, Delaware, Maryland, New Jersey, New York and Pennsylvania) offer a two-week-long sale known as the “Can, Can Sale” twice a year. It includes deep discounts on canned goods and other kitchen and household items.

Kroger, a national grocery chain, also hosts “Mega Event” sales that require shoppers to buy a certain amount of select items (including canned goods) in order to get $1 off each item.

So here’s where using coupons and stacking them with discounts at supermarket chains when they have sales is a money-winning method compared to warehouse shopping.

If you're planning to stock up on chicken, beef or seafood during your next warehouse club visit only to stash it in the freezer when you get home (with no immediate plans to use it), reconsider.

Unless you're prepping for a large family gathering or have a house full of kids, there's a good chance you might forget it's even there. By the time you do remember, that four-pound bag of tilapia may be covered in freezer burn.

There's nothing wrong with stocking up on meats you cook regularly — especially if you like to meal prep. But for lesser used meats, opt for smaller quantities at your local grocers. You'll be less likely to overbuy.

When you do buy meats in bulk, don't stick the bulk package straight in the freezer. Instead, separate it into smaller portions. That way, you can defrost just what you need for your next meal, without exposing the whole package to frequent temperature fluctuations.

Also, be sure to keep an eye out for weekly sales at your favorite grocery chain or coupons in the Sunday paper.

For example, in central Virginia, we regularly see buy-one-get-one-free deals on packages of sausages, bone-in chicken breasts, pork tenderloins and spare ribs at the regional chain groceries. If you're lucky enough to have a dedicated, independently-owned butcher shop, your deals may be even greater.

Fresh fruits and vegetables can be expensive — especially if you're buying organic versions from specialty supermarkets. Local farmers' markets wind down as the colder weather rolls in and the recent tariffs are making some products more expensive.

But before you plunk down your hard-earned cash on big boxes of fruits and veggies, ask yourself some questions first, says TrueTrae.com’s Bodge. How many people in your household will eat those items? Will they be able to finish them all before the produce starts to go bad?

If you answered no to the latter question, your money is better spent buying the smaller package that you'll actually finish.

Notes Woroch, "Unless you’re preparing for a large gathering or party, buying fresh produce in bulk can be a risky move since these foods have a short shelf life and may spoil before you eat them. Be especially careful when buying fruits and vegetables that spoil faster than others such as berries, bananas and avocados."

As you walk the aisle of your favorite warehouse clubs, those huge packages of pretzels, cheese curls or organic tortilla chips might tempt you. But be cautious, experts advise.

"These snacks are typically a good deal, especially if you have several people eating them at home or if you’re planning a party, but if it’s just you and your partner/roommate at home, they can either lead to overindulging or go stale before you have a chance to finish the container," says TrueTrae's Bodge.

Remember, snack food companies typically discount food items for supermarket chains, especially around holidays. Said supermarket chains pass the deals on to you. There are also coupons, which often become plentiful seasonally. But warehouse clubs mostly shun coupons.

Stocking up on toothpaste can be a money-smart move no matter if you're single or have a family. That's because it has a longer shelf life than other personal care items. Toothpaste containing fluoride can last up to two years, according to Colgate.com. If you often find yourself running out at the worst times, buying toothpaste in bulk at your favorite warehouse club may seem like a no-brainer.

But you'll want to comparison shop before throwing that multi-pack into your cart the next time you're at Costco. You'll likely find better deals at your local drugstore or big-box retailer, especially if you shop weekly sales, stack coupons or remember the old retail trick of looking at the lowest shelves, where the cheaper brands live.

Keep in mind you'll need to be flexible on the brand and can expect variations in product size versus what's available at a warehouse club.

Vitamins, herbal supplements and the like can be pricey, especially if purchased at a pharmacy or specialty store. If you're only concerned about price, then, yes, most warehouse clubs will offer better deals on bulk-size quantities.

However, there's another factor to consider before you buy, suggests TrueTrae.com’s Bodge. "Unless more than one family member is sharing the vitamins with you, they may expire before you finish the bottle," she says.

While vitamins don't necessarily "go bad" after their expiration date, they can lose their potency, according to Healthline.com. (Chewable vitamin tablets and vitamin gummies degrade faster.)

So if you're taking a dietary supplement to manage a nutrient deficiency, taking expired pills may not be as effective.

To help ensure you get your money's worth, Bodge recommends checking the expiration date, then calculating how long it will take to finish that bulk-size bottle or two. If it's after the expiration date, you may want to buy those supplements in smaller quantities elsewhere. Doing this math helps avoid having to toss out half-empty bulk-size bottles of vitamins, which amounts to money wasted.

When it comes to personal care items, it can pay to comparison shop before committing to a bulk-size package of a desired item. While warehouse clubs are known for their deep discounts, you might still score better deals on the same brand-name products known for quality at other retailers.

This includes razors, which TheKrazyCouponLady.com’s Demer says are almost always cheaper at a big-box retailer or drugstore during their weekly sales or when you use a manufacturer's coupon.

Cooking oils — think: extra virgin olive, avocado and sesame — can be costly, especially if you’re buying organic. That prompts some warehouse club shoppers to purchase one of those behemoth containers (usually around 2 liters) filled with their cooking oil of choice.

Compare the per-unit price of the warehouse club’s oil and smaller quantities at traditional grocers — the bulk-size version is typically the better overall deal.

Before you buy, think about how often you’ll actually use that oil, experts say. Cooking oils have a much shorter shelf life than other kitchen pantry staples such as dry noodles or canned sauces.

An opened bottle of olive oil can last about three months when stored in a pantry and four months when stored in the refrigerator, according to FoodSafety.gov.

If you cook often or have a family, you’ll probably finish one of these large bottles before it starts to spoil. If you’re cooking just for yourself or a significant other, it’s much more cost-effective to buy smaller bottles of cooking oil when they go on sale at your neighborhood grocer.

Skip the books section the next time you're checking out the floor displays or searching online at your favorite warehouse club. In addition to offering a limited selection of books, warehouse clubs usually won’t beat the prices on Amazon, according to the smart shopping experts we talked to.

If you happen to see a book that really piques your interest, LivingRichWithCoupons.com’s Livesey offers this pro tip: “While at the store, use the Amazon app to scan the book to see how much it sells for before buying it from the warehouse club.”

If you’re not a regular Amazon shopper and don’t have the app downloaded on your smartphone, check prices using the secondhand book site ThriftBooks.com, says Woroch.

"Although you may find a small discount on various books sold at warehouse stores compared to a local bookstore, you can often find better deals elsewhere," Woroch says. "For children’s books, head to a discount retailer like TJMaxx and HomeGoods to scope out their selection at up to 60% off," plus, via Thriftbooks, you can even apply a coupon from CouponFollow.com for more money off.

From summertime picnics to holiday gatherings, it's good to have disposable plates, cups and utensils on hand. Warehouse clubs aren't the best place to score those restaurant-size packages of disposables.

"I can tell you from experience that buying these items in bulk is not a great idea unless you entertain outdoors a lot," says Bodge. "We are a family of three, and while we picnic a fair bit in the summer, and have gatherings in our yard occasionally, it’s going to take years to use up those items that I bought at Costco. So, while they saved me money when I bought them, they are now taking up precious real estate in my already-crowded basement. I would have been better off buying them at the grocery store."

My ophthalmologist's office, like so many others, has an eyeglass store attached to it. My ophthalmologist said I should get my eyewear at Costco. So I have, for many years.

Others say to get your prescription glasses at warehouse clubs with caution.

"I am a huge proponent of the budget-friendly eye exams available at many wholesale warehouses (membership is not required, in many cases)," said Bodge. "But I have found the selection of glasses to be wanting. The prices are decent, but there are glasses online at sites like Zenni and EyeBuyDirect.com that are more stylish and affordable. And these sites have virtual try-on.

If you visit Costco, Sam's Club or BJ's on a random Saturday or Sunday on an empty stomach, you'll probably walk out feeling stuffed. That's because they are back to offering free food samples that you can enjoy as many times as you want.

Members can score sample-size versions of everything from mini quiches to potstickers. While this is a tasty perk, warehouse clubs are hoping you'll like these free goodies so much that you'll impulsively toss a bulk-size package or two into your shopping cart.

But if you do, warns Offers.com's McGrath, "this becomes a much bigger investment than your average grocery store impulse purchase." Not only will you need to find space in the freezer or cupboard to store your bulk purchase, but if your family ends up not liking that 48-count box of snack bars you bought on a whim, you may never finish them by yourself, she notes.

Just ask the huge bag of potstickers I bought on a whim two months ago after sampling them at Costco. It hasn't been opened yet.

Related Content

• Five Things You Can Get at Costco Without a Membership
• 20 Kirkland Products Retirees Should Buy at Costco
• Costco vs. Sam's Club: Which Warehouse Club Is Best for Your Wallet?

If you shop for groceries at Target, you’ve no doubt noticed the rapid rollout of Good & Gather, the retailer’s newest line of store-brand products. Get used to it. Target expects to have some 2,000 private-label grocery items under that banner by the end of the year, ranging from organic produce and quick meals to snacks and drinks.

Store brands are big business. Supermarkets saw $75 billion in private-label sales in 2018, a 1.5% uptick from the previous year, according to a study by the Food Marketing Institute. Sales for mass merchants, including Target and Walmart, soared to $5 billion, up 7.4%.

The launch of Good & Gather is squarely aimed at Walmart and its popular (and dirt cheap) Great Value store brand. How’s Target competing on price so far? To find out, we shopped Walmart and Target stores in Northern Virginia to compare private-label prices on an assortment of grocery staples. Here’s what we found.

A half-gallon of Good & Gather lactose-free milk rang up at $3.39. At Walmart, a half-gallon of Great Value lactose-free milk was $2.87. A half-gallon of Good & Gather 2% reduced fat organic milk was $3.19. Walmart was selling it for $3. A half-gallon of Good & Gather almond milk was $2.89. Walmart was selling its Great Value almond milk for $2.87. Winner: Walmart.

Say cheese, Walmart: An 8-ounce package of Good & Gather sharp cheddar cheese slices was $2.29. A similar size package of Great Value sharp cheddar cheese slices was $1.84. An 8-ounce package of Target’s Good & Gather shredded cheese (multiple varieties) was $1.99. Walmart was selling 8-ounce packages of its Great Value shredded cheeses for $1.74. Winner: Walmart.

Walmart aced in packaged deli meats, too. Target was selling 9-ounce packages of Good & Gather deli meats (oven-roasted turkey breast, honey ham, etc.) for $2.69. Similar size packages of Great Value deli slices were selling for $2.48. Winner: Walmart.

Neither Walmart nor Target has the best reputation for fresh produce, but they’re both stepping up their game, especially in organics.

Target was selling 12-ounce packages of Good & Gather baby carrots for $1.99. Walmart was selling 16-ounce packages of organic baby carrots for $1.46. Winner: Walmart.

Five-ounce packages of Target’s Good & Gather organic spring mix were selling for $2.39. Walmart’s private-label organic spring mix was selling for $2.56. Winner: Target.

We tried to match up chopped kale, but it was a little dicey. Target was selling packages of Good & Gather chopped kale for $2.99 a pound. Walmart was selling its private-label organic green kale for $4.26 a pound. Winner: Target.

We were a little surprised that we couldn’t find a Walmart knockoff of cartons of the popular LaCroix flavored sparkling water, considering many grocers including Aldi and Wegmans have private-label answers to LaCroix. But Target did: Its 8-pack of 12-ounce cans of Good & Gather flavored sparkling water was $2.99. The only comp we could find at Walmart was an 8-pack of the real LaCroix for $3.88. Winner: Target.

We found 24-packs of 16.9-ounce bottles of Good & Gather purified drinking water for $2.69. Walmart was selling 40-packs of 16.9-ounce bottles of purified drinking water for $3.98. Winner: Walmart (on a price-per-bottle basis).

For those of us who suddenly have a need to buy distilled water, Target’s Good & Gather is on the ball. Gallon bottles are 85 cents. Nonsense, says Walmart. One-gallon bottles of Great Value distilled water are 60 cents (and they’re easier to handle). Winner: Walmart.

When you can’t have fresh fruit in your morning smoothies, frozen is a good alternative. Target knows this. Its 48-ounce private-label packages of various fruits sell for $10.69. Similar size packages of Walmart’s Great Value frozen fruit, however, were $8.47. Winner: Walmart.

We’ve got organic vs. non-organic here, with big differences in prices in a product lineup just about every grocery store now has: private-label cereals. Target’s Good & Gather organic Frosty Flakes or Honey Nut Hoops (boxes range from 12 ounces to 12.25 ounces) were selling for $3.19. Walmart’s non-organic Great Value Frosted Flakes (15-ounce box) were selling for $1.56, and Great Value’s Honey Nut O’s (12.25-ounce box) were selling for $1.23. Winner: Walmart.

Target knows many households go through lots of peanut butter, so it scanned the supermarket horizon and produced its own 40-ounce jar of Good & Gather natural creamy or crunchy peanut butter spread and priced it at $2.79. Walmart was already there with its 40-ounce jars of creamy or crunchy peanut butter selling for $2.26. Winner: Walmart (though Target boasts its PB is 90% peanuts).

Looking for smaller jars? Good & Gather’s 16-ounce jars of organic crunchy or creamy peanut butter sell for $3.99. If you could do without the organic and just go for natural, you’ll save a lot of dough at Walmart. It’s 16-ounce jars of Great Value natural peanut butter spread sell for $1.18. Winner: Walmart, naturally.

Target is upping the ante with fresh snack lineups under the Good & Gather private label, from tortilla chips to organic popcorn. We squared off some of those products with Walmart’s Great Value private-label brand.

A box of four, 1.4-ounce bars of Good & Gather fruit and nut bars were $4.29. Walmart was selling boxes of four, 1.4-ounce peanut and almond nut bars for $3.44. Winner: Walmart.

At Target, packages of six, 4-ounce containers of Good & Gather applesauce were $1.99. At Walmart, packages of six, 4-ounce containers of Great Value applesauce were $1.43. Winner: Walmart.

Target’s 10-ounce containers of Good & Gather hummus in a variety of flavors were $2.99. Similar size packages of Walmart’s private-label hummus were $1.98, a buck less. Winner: Walmart.

Dividends play an unsurprisingly prominent role when it comes to long-term wealth creation. Indeed, take a look at the best stocks of all time, and you'll see that most of them have long histories of returning cash to shareholders through regular dividend payments.

We know this thanks to research by a finance professor who made a startling discovery about the stock market: Over a 90-year span, 96% of all stocks collectively performed no better than risk-free one-month Treasury bills. After analyzing the lifetime returns of 25,967 common stocks, Hendrik Bessembinder, of Arizona State University's W. P. Carey School of Business, determined that just 1,092 of those stocks -- or about 4% of the total -- generated all of the $34.8 trillion in wealth created for shareholders by the stock market between July 1926 and December 2016. Even more striking, a mere 50 stocks accounted for well over one-third (39.3%) of that amount.

Although price appreciation did much of the heavy lifting, dividends played a key role in wealth creation, as well.

Now, here's a look at the 10 best-performing dividend payers since 1926, culled from these top-50 stocks.

Stocks are listed in reverse order of the dollar amount of lifetime wealth creation, which includes reinvested dividends. Dividend yields are calculated by annualizing the most recent quarterly payout and dividing by the share price. Current stock data as of April 16. Analysts' ratings provided by Zacks. For more details on Bessembinder's study methodology and findings, download a copy of his paper, "Do Stocks Outperform Treasury Bills?"

• Lifetime wealth creation: $355.0 billion
• Annualized return (September 1929-December 2016): 10.5%
• Current dividend yield: 3.5%
• Current analyst ratings: 6 strong buy, 1 buy, 6 hold, 0 sell, 1 strong sell

When it comes to income investing, Procter & Gamble (PG, $78.61) is synonymous with reliability. P&G, which has been in the Dow Jones Industrial Average since 1932, has paid shareholders a dividend since 1891 and has raised its dividend annually for 61 years in a row. Few stocks are as venerable and dependable. P&G's products are also known for reliability. The company owns some of the best-known brands in the business including Charmin toilet paper, Crest toothpaste, Tide laundry detergent, Pampers diapers and Gillette razors.

Despite selling consumer staples that are supposed to be less sensitive to the ups and downs of the economy, Procter & Gamble is sensitive to competition. The growing popularity of discount retailers stocking cheaper store brands has been particularly challenging. Look to the stock price for proof: Shares in P&G have lost 2% in the last five years versus a 65% gain for the Dow.

• Lifetime wealth creation: $368.2 billion
• Annualized return (December 1972-December 2016): 18.4%
• Current dividend yield: 2.4%
• Current analyst ratings: 10 strong buy, 0 buy, 14 hold, 0 sell, 0 strong sell

It stands to reason that the world's largest retailer happens to have one of the best-performing stocks over the long haul. But it's been a long road to greatness. At the close of its first day of trading on the New York Stock Exchange in 1972, Walmart (WMT, $86.84) was worth 4 cents a share, adjusted for splits and dividends. From humble beginnings as a single discount store, Walmart now operates more than 11,600 retail locations around the globe and employs 2.3 million workers.

The emergence of Amazon (AMZN), in particular, as a competitor has prompted Walmart to invest heavily in its e-commerce business, and the early returns from these efforts look promising. In February, the company dropped "Stores" from its corporate name in a bid to move its image beyond its brick-and-mortar origins. A component of the Dow since 1997, Walmart has increased its dividend every year since 1974.

• Lifetime wealth creation: $390.4 billion
• Annualized return (July 1926-December 2016): 11.0%
• Current dividend yield: 3.7%
• Current analyst ratings: 13 strong buy, 0 buy, 4 hold, 0 sell, 0 strong sell
• Chevron (CVX, $120.70) is yet another member of the Dow delivering a disproportionate share of the stock market's wealth creation since 1926. It's also been a reliable deliverer of dividend income. With 30 consecutive years of annual growth in its cash payouts to shareholders, Chevron's track record instills confidence that the dividend will continue to rise well into the future.

Chevron's origins as a company date back to the 19th century and run through John D. Rockefeller's legendary oil empire. Chevron operated for decades as Standard Oil of California, though the Chevron brand was used on products as far back as the 1930s. The corporate name didn't officially change to Chevron Corp. until 2005. (Immediately prior to that, the company was known as ChevronTexaco in recognition of its 2001 merger with Texaco.) Chevron, under its various names, was a component of the Dow from 1930 to 1999, and then again from 2008 to the present.

• Lifetime wealth creation: $426.2 billion
• Annualized return (October 1944-December 2016): 15.5%
• Current dividend yield: 2.6%
• Current analyst ratings: 8 strong buy, 2 buy, 6 hold, 0 sell, 2 strong sell
• Johnson & Johnson (JNJ, $131.86) operates in several different areas of health care, including pharmaceutical products and medical devices. The company is best-known, however, for its over-the-counter consumer brands including Listerine mouthwash, Tylenol pain reliever and Johnson's Baby shampoo. J&J has been at the health-care game for a very long time. Founded in 1886 by three brothers, the company created the first commercial first aid kits and it was the first to mass-produce dental floss – all before 1900. Its iconic Band-Aid bandages hit the market in 1921.

Somewhat surprisingly, J&J wasn't added to the Dow until 1997, even though shares had been publicly traded since 1944. The ever-rising dividend, along with the popularity of its products, eventually made the stock too conspicuous to ignore. J&J has increased the amount of its annual cash payout to shareholders every year since 1963.

• Lifetime wealth creation: $470.2 billion
• Annualized return (July 1926-December 2016): 17.7%
• Current dividend yield: 4.1%
• Current analyst ratings: 10 strong buy, 0 buy, 3 hold, 0 sell, 0 strong sell
• Altria's (MO, $64.25) origins can be traced back to a 19th century tobacco shop in London. Today, the company's operating businesses continue to focus on tobacco including cigarettes (Philip Morris USA), smokeless tobacco (U.S. Smokeless Tobacco) and cigars (John Middleton). Altria also owns St. Michelle Wine Estates, a major wine producer. The company is best known for its iconic Marlboro brand of cigarettes, but at one time or another Altria and its predecessors had a hand in other famous names including Miller Brewing and Kraft Foods.

The stock originally joined the Dow in 1985, when the company was called Philip Morris Cos. The name changed to Altria in 2003, and the stock was replaced in the Dow in 2008. Philip Morris International (PM) is a separate publicly traded company that was spun off from Altria in 2008 to sell cigarettes outside the U.S.

• Lifetime wealth creation: $520.2 billion
• Annualized return (July 1926-December 2016): 13.8%
• Current dividend yield: 3.9%
• Current analyst ratings: 3 strong buy, 2 buy, 11 hold, 0 sell, 1 strong sell

Think of International Business Machines (IBM, $157.89) as the granddaddy of tech stocks. The company, which began operating under its current moniker in 1924, was originally included in the Dow from 1932 to 1939. It was added back to the industrial average in 1979 and remains a component to this day. In many ways, IBM's history is a history of 20th century technological progress.

As for the current century, it's a tougher call. IBM produces computer hardware and software for businesses. Consulting is another important area of operation. However, cloud-based services appear to be the future, and IBM has no shortage of competition. Amazon, Microsoft (MSFT) and Google (GOOGL) are just some of the well-known tech companies jostling for space.

• Lifetime wealth creation: $608.1 billion
• Annualized return (July 1926-December 2016): 10.7%
• Current dividend yield: 5.6%
• Current analyst ratings: 2 strong buy, 1 buy, 7 hold, 0 sell, 2 strong sell

As hard as it may be to believe these days, shares in General Electric (GE, $13.33) have been one of the best bets in history. That may not be the case going forward. Shares in the industrial conglomerate have lost more than half their value over the past 52 weeks. Heck, they're down almost 60% on a price basis over the past decade. The Dow, meanwhile, is up more than 90% over the last 10 years.

The company has undergone tremendous change over time. Its latest transformation was spawned during last decade's Great Recession. In response to tightening regulations, management was compelled to sell off the company's sprawling financial operations, a powerful source of profits. The GE of today is a sputtering industrial conglomerate, and investors aren't quite sure what to make of its prospects. Warren Buffett, renowned for his patience, finally threw in the towel and sold his remaining stake in GE in 2017.

General Electric, one of the original 12 Dow stocks, might not have a place in the blue-chip average for much longer.

• Lifetime wealth creation: $629.8 billion
• Annualized return (April 1986-December 2016): 25.0%
• Current dividend yield: 1.8%
• Current analyst ratings: 20 strong buy, 1 buy, 4 hold, 1 sell, 1 strong sell

In 1975, Bill Gates dropped out of Harvard to start a computer company with childhood friend Paul Allen. In 1985, the first Windows operating system went on sale. A year later, Microsoft (MSFT, $94.17) went public at $21 a share (or the equivalent of 6 cents a share once the price is adjusted for stock splits and dividends). The company quickly revolutionized personal computing and created a generation of so-called "Microsoft Millionaires."

Not long ago, Microsoft's glory days looked to be behind it as sales of desktop PCs slipped into a seemingly irreversible decline amid the consumer shift to mobile technology. However, the company is experiencing a renaissance thanks to the move away from licensed software to cloud-based subscription software. Today, Microsoft is a top player in cloud computing and its stock reflects this success. Microsoft joined the Dow in 1999 at the height of the dot-com boom.

But you know what often gets overlooked in this story? MSFT has been paying rising dividends since 2004.

• Lifetime wealth creation: $745.7 billion
• Annualized return (January 1981-December 2016): 16.3%
• Current dividend yield: 1.5%
• Current analyst ratings: 13 strong buy, 0 buy, 13 hold, 0 sell, 1 strong sell

True, the vast majority of Apple's (AAPL, $175.89) lifetime wealth creation comes from price appreciation. Investors can thank the iPhone for the eye-popping run-up in the value of the stock in recent years. Before founder Steve Jobs debuted the revolutionary smartphone in 2007, Apple was a well-regarded maker of pricey personal computers that catered to niche markets. In the 10-plus years since, more than a billion iPhones have been sold. Shares in Apple have gained more than 900% since the gadget's initial release and the company's cash hoard has grown to epic proportions.

Indeed, with a record $285 billion cash pile, it's safe to say that dividends are going to be a fixture of Apple's future. The company first started paying dividends in 1987, but was forced to scrap the payout in 1995 amid a cash crisis. Apple brought the dividend back in 2012 and has hiked it annually ever since. To get a sense of the dividend's importance to returns, note that AAPL stock is up 191% over the past five years by price alone. Add in the dividends, however, and the total return comes to 221%.

• Lifetime wealth creation: $1.0 trillion
• Annualized return (July 1926-December 2016): 11.9%
• Current dividend yield: 4%
• Current analyst ratings: 3 strong buy, 0 buy, 9 hold, 0 sell, 2 strong sell

Between 1926 and 2016, Exxon Mobil (XOM, $78.54) created a staggering $1 trillion in wealth, according to the "Do Stocks Outperform Treasury Bills?" research study authored by Bessembinder. No doubt the reliable dividend that Exxon has paid out to shareholders since 1882 has contributed mightily to the energy giant's remarkable performance. Over the last 35 years alone, amid cycles of oil booms and oil busts, the company has increased its dividend payment at an average annual rate of 6.3%.

Exxon has been part of the Dow ever since the industrial average expanded to 30 companies in 1928. Back then it was known as Standard Oil of New Jersey. The name officially changed to Exxon in 1972.

Like rival Chevron, Exxon has to contend with uncertainty regarding the future of fossil fuels, not to mention the wild swings in oil prices. The stock's performance reflects that uncertainty; Exxon's share price is lower today than it was a decade ago.

But hey, at least the dividend checks kept coming.

Shoppers often face a conundrum: Should they pay more for fresh, top-quality groceries or opt for low prices and no-name brands? Now, discount grocery chains aim to deliver both quality and value.

Look for bargains on fresh produce, organics and healthier foods free from artificial ingredients—goods previously seen as reserved for high spenders—at a growing number of discounters, including Aldi, the soon-to-be-opened U.S. branch of Germany’s Lidl chain and Whole Foods’ budget offshoot, 365 by Whole Foods Market.

Aldi, which plans to have nearly 2,000 U.S. stores by 2018, undercuts ordinary supermarket prices by 35% to 40%. The trade-off for a discounter’s low prices is typically smaller stores and fewer employees to help out. If you covet Kellogg’s cereal or Chobani yogurt, you may be out of luck—many products will be the store’s brand. (The quality of private-label foods is generally similar to national brands; they may be produced by the same manufacturers.) You’ll find staples, but a limited variety

of each.

Lidl plans to open locations along the East Coast by 2018. It will have larger stores than discount competitors, will likely offer a mix of national and private brands—and it could start a price war. “When Lidl enters a market, it makes a splash by undercutting the price leaders,” says Mike Paglia, director of retail insights at Kantar Retail.