Even if you don’t want to make it, I’ve never been in a supermarket that doesn’t offer a fresher option. I’ve even been in gas stations that offer what they at least claim is fresh potato salad.
Maybe if you really, really wanted potato salad and you were in a food desert but the corner 7-11 has canned potato salad you might buy it, but I’ve never seen this before in my life.
I don’t get it.
They might be using it as a base for something else, like breakfast hash browns.
Canned potatoes take on a flavor I don’t like, but there’s no denying the convenience of having shelf-stable cooked potatoes ready to eat or cook with. I keep canned tomatoes in the pantry for a similar reason. I prefer fresh, but if it’s going into sauce or stew, canned is a time saver.