The grocery chain Publix has a stranglehold in the Southeast, and for good reason. The store, for the most part, is a fan favorite known for friendly customer service and an absolutely delectable bakery. However, grocery prices are going up at Publix and everywhere else. Despite the rising prices, there are still some great ways to get extra value out of your trip to the grocery store. How? You just need to know the insider secrets super shoppers use to get the most bang for their buck (or, at the least, an amazing shopping experience). In a viral post on Threads, shoppers are sharing their best ultra-secret Publix tips, tricks, and hacks for saving time and money at the store. 1. Publix will season and steam your seafood for you, free of charge “I tried it yesterday and my life is forever changed. Tastiest, freshest shrimp and scallops I’ve had it a while. Only took 10 mins,” the OP said. It’s true: the Publix seafood department will steam your dinner at no extra cost and let you add Old Bay, cajun, lemon pepper, and other seasonings. Pro, super-secret tip: Some users say Publix will even add melted butter to your steamed seafood. Plus, if you really want to cook it at home yourself, they’ll often season it for you and save you the hassle if you ask. 2. The baker and butcher will custom package Publix-brand goodies Want two donuts instead of the six that come in a package? Want just one ribeye steak instead of the two that are packaged together? All you have to do is ask: “The bakery will break any package and you can get exactly the number of items you want…they will also half a loaf of bread…same with butcher, they will half/downsize any package that’s sitting out, just ask,” one user wrote. You can also ask for cuts of meat that aren’t out on display and, if they’re in stock, they’re yours. Some customers even say employees will debone a rotisserie chicken for you, but results may vary on that one depending on how busy the store is. 3. Fresh produce slicing and dicing available on demand “You can also have them cut your fruit down or make you a fresh fruit bowl with whatever you take to them from the produce section,” one user added. Publix slicing is super popular for unwieldy fruits like watermelon and pineapple. It’s a massive time saver. It’s a money saver, too, as pre-sliced fruit costs significantly more than using the complimentary service. 4. BOGO in name only Publix is famous for its BOGO deals—that’s Buy One Get One. Except you don’t have to buy two items to get the discount. Just buying one will still get you 50% off of that item. Better yet, you don’t have to join their club and get marketing texts or emails to get the deals. It’s right there in the name—all available to the Public. 5. Items that ring up too high are free When an item won’t scan properly, you’ve probably heard a dad say, at some point, “Guess it’s free, then!” Maybe this joke originated at Publix. The core Publix Promise states that if “the scanned price of an item (excluding alcohol and tobacco products) exceeds the shelf price or advertised price, we will give the customer one of that item free.” Keep a close eye out next time you’re at the register. 6. Free treat on your birthday If you do decide to become a member of Club Publix, there are some perks involved. Namely, you’ll get a free small cake from the bakery or a half-gallon of Publix brand ice cream completely for free on your birthday. If you’ve ever tried the Publix Premium ice creams, or anything from the bakery, you know that’s a serious perk. 7. Choose your own bread for your pub sub Pub subs are a way of life in the South, but you don’t have to be restricted by the menu choices. “You can go get [Publix] bread off the shelf and they will make your sub on the bread you give them instead of them hard … rolls,” someone suggested. Users say if you choose the popular “White Mountain Bread,” and order a full sub on it, you’ll wind up with two large sandwiches for the price of one. You can also order any meat or cheese available in the deli, not just what’s on the menu. View this post on Instagram 8. You can return almost anything Multiple users report that Publix’s customer service is extremely lenient on returns, even accepting “half eaten” food. The Publix website states it plainly: “If for any reason you are unhappy with your purchase, we want to make it right,” except where prohibited by law. 9. Kids get a free cookie, anytime The bakery at Publix is extremely generous with samples. Some users even say they’re not “supposed” to refuse samples. One of the most clutch offerings in the entire store is the selection of kids cookies available for free at the bakery. It’s a pretty good way to keep your child happy in the cart while you browse the boring vegetables. 10. Publix wedding cake hack Publix is famous for having amazing deals on catering parties, events, and even weddings. One lowkey brilliant hack is to use your local Publix bakery for a wedding cake. On average, Americans spend $540 on a wedding cake. One user wrote about Publix, “They make wedding cakes for a fraction of the cost and they will deliver them [for a small fee].” Fun bonus fact about the Publix bakery: You can buy pre-made, pre-colored frosting for your home baking projects. Yet another time and money-saver that still lets you enjoy the baking process at home. 11. The Publix $5 sushi hack Publix has been offering $5 sushi rolls on Wednesdays for years. That’s already a pretty great deal for sushi that customers say is quite good. However, you probably already know the pattern: You can ask at the counter to customize your order if you don’t like what’s on offer. There may be some limitations based on ingredients, but you can get fresh sushi made-to-order this way for an astonishingly low price. View this post on Instagram The price of groceries isn’t coming down any time soon. Every dollar saved at the checkout counts more than ever. But savvy shoppers also know that if they’re going to pay top dollar, they might as well know all the insider tricks to get the best experience possible. The post Shoppers share 11 secret, life-changing Publix hacks appeared first on Upworthy.