Pedro Sanchez is a “repo man,” weaving in and out of East Valley neighborhoods on the prowl for “wheels.” He doesn’t mean cars. He’s after shopping carts.

GAINESVILLE, Fla. - It looks almost like any other shopping cart, except sensors allow it to follow the shopper around the supermarket and slow down when needed so items can be placed in it, and it never crashes into anyone's heels.

The handles of supermarket carts are scummier than port-a-potties, according to a recent University of Arizona study.

What if, instead of juggling your schedule and battling traffic to get to the weekly farmer’s market, the market came to you? And what if selecting frilly greens and bumpy crookneck squash was as easy as clicking a button?

On Sunday I was at the grocery store, picking up last-minute items for our Thanksgiving dinner and trying to plan for the upcoming week’s meals. Needless to say, I was a bit distracted as I was in a hurry and wanted to get out of there as quickly as possible.

Steve and Annette Economides don't dread food shopping, even as prices rise. That's because the north Scottsdale couple, known affectionately as "America's Cheapest Family," shop so strategically, the faltering economy hasn't hit them hard at the checkout counter.

When Bethany Noble of Mesa eats out, shops or banks, she’s usually getting paid to do so. The 26-year-old mom is a mystery shopper who gets paid to do everyday things and rate the service.

Back in 1927, the stretch of roadway linking Tempe and Mesa — known then as Route 60 and today called Apache Blvd. and W. Main Street — was the only paved highway in the area.

Where did all the small wine and spirits retailers - "bottle shops" - go? Quick scans of Santan Village, Crossroads Towne Center and Santan Gateway turn up nothing. Have all the "big box" stores gobbled up those, too? While at Gateway, I stroll through the SuperTarget and two gleaming rows of well-chosen and well-priced wines greet me. School supplies, socks for the kids, toothpaste, two bottles of cabernet ... I'm going to need a shopping cart.

As holiday bargain hunters prepare to hit the malls for one of the busiest shopping days of the year - Black Friday - police are warning shoppers to be wary of thieves.

A back-to-school shopping spree is given to residents and staff of the Sunshine Acres Children's Home of Mesa by former Arizona Diamondbacks pitcher Russ Ortiz and his family.

As the holiday shopping season moves into high gear, police are beefing up their patrols around shopping centers throughout the East Valley and reminding those in the bargain fray to be alert.

With gasoline and food prices spiking and putting more pressure on families to make ends meet in this tough economy, St. Mary’s Food Bank Alliance wants to help stretch those grocery dollars further with the introduction of its new Value Marketplace program.

With gasoline and food prices spiking and putting more pressure on families to make ends meet in this tough economy, St. Mary’s Food Bank Alliance wants to help stretch those grocery dollars further with the introduction of its new Value Marketplace program.

Hitting the mall with your little bundle of joy this holiday season? Unless you have superhuman strength or more than two arms, you’re probably using a stroller.

Elmer — a pumpkin scarecrow — will greet Gilbert Senior Center guests with candy at a planned Oct. 25 Halloween party that almost didn’t happen.

November 2004

While the holidays bring a lot of joy, they also bring pressure to get more done in a shorter period of time. Additional errands, shopping and appointments challenge us all to become masters of time management.

While the holidays bring a lot of joy, they also bring pressure to get more done in a shorter period of time. Additional errands, shopping and appointments challenge us all to become masters of time management.