Consumer Reports Supermarket Rating
Fred/Libby Barclay
I received my Consumer Reports magazine yesterday, and it's all about
grocery shopping and how to save.
They surveyed 32,599 people and the rankings are based on service,
perishables (quality of meat and produce), price and cleanliness.
They have 59 stores listed, with the highest overall score being 87 out
of 100, and the lowest being 64.
The top ten~
1. Wegmans
2. Trader Joe's
3. Publix
4. Raley's
5. Harris-Teeter
6. Fareway
7. Costco
8. Whole Foods
9. Market Basket
The bottom ten~
49. Pick 'n Save
50. Dominick's
51. Tops Markets
52. Pathmark
53. Food Lion
54. Giant
55. Winn-Dixie
56. Walmart Supercenter
57. Shaw's
58. A&P
59. Waldbaum's
I thought it was interesting how low Walmart scored. People must shop
there even though they hate it!
Libby
blake murphy
either that or they don't have the money to go anywhere else.
your pal,
blake
Nancy Young
> I received my Consumer Reports magazine yesterday, and it's all about
> grocery shopping and how to save.
>
> They surveyed 32,599 people and the rankings are based on service,
> perishables (quality of meat and produce), price and cleanliness.
>
> They have 59 stores listed, with the highest overall score being 87
> out of 100, and the lowest being 64.
>
> The top ten~
>
> 1. Wegmans
That's a nice supermarket chain, that's for sure.
> 2. Trader Joe's
> 3. Publix
> 4. Raley's
> 5. Harris-Teeter
> 6. Fareway
> 7. Costco
> 8. Whole Foods
> 9. Market Basket
>
> The bottom ten~
>
> 49. Pick 'n Save
> 50. Dominick's
> 51. Tops Markets
> 52. Pathmark
> 53. Food Lion
> 54. Giant
> 55. Winn-Dixie
> 56. Walmart Supercenter
> 57. Shaw's
> 58. A&P
> 59. Waldbaum's
>
> I thought it was interesting how low Walmart scored. People must shop
> there even though they hate it!
From what I've seen and heard, there are a lot of people living
where there isn't any choice than shop there.
nancy
Mr. Bill
Barclay) wrote:
>I thought it was interesting how low Walmart scored. People must shop
>there even though they hate it!
I don't buy Walmart meats, Libby for the obvious reasons. Their
produce is no cheaper than other groceries. But I do by all my
canned goods. Del Monte, Dole, Bush, Stokley brands are always 25 to
30 cents cheaper than any near by grocery. Old El Paso brands are
particularly cheaper since you would think you were in Tijuana on a
Saturday morning.
Wayne Boatwright
>
> I received my Consumer Reports magazine yesterday, and it's all about
> grocery shopping and how to save.
>
> They surveyed 32,599 people and the rankings are based on service,
> perishables (quality of meat and produce), price and cleanliness.
>
> They have 59 stores listed, with the highest overall score being 87 out
> of 100, and the lowest being 64.
>
> I thought it was interesting how low Walmart scored. People must shop
> there even though they hate it!
>
> Libby
Only three of the top ten are in my area; Trader Joes, Costco, and Whole
Foods. I don't consider Trader Joes and Whole foods for general shopping,
and Costco sells almost everything in quantities too large to be practical
for two people.
Walmart Supercenter is the only one of the bottom ten in our area. We do
shop there once a month or so for certain staples where the prices are
better and the quantity is reasonable. However, we also have WalMart
Neighborhood Markets, which are structured more like a regular supermarket
and seem to have higher quality items in produce, etc.
In our area, Fry's, Safeway, and Albertson's are the major national chains,
as well as a local chain called Basha's. We shop mostly at Basha's, Fry's,
or Safeway, in that order.
--
Wayne Boatwright
"One man's meat is another man's poison"
- Oswald Dykes, English writer, 1709.
enigma
news:1iaxx9wt6125f$.gb9i8llnpy58$.d...@40tude.net:
> On Sat, 4 Apr 2009 09:29:49 -0400, Fred/Libby Barclay wrote:
>
>> I thought it was interesting how low Walmart scored. People
>> must shop there even though they hate it!
> either that or they don't have the money to go anywhere else.
well, Market Basket was in the top 10, & in NH you can't get better
food deals than at Market Basket (some of the stores are weak on
produce however).
people around here that shop for groceries at Wal-Mart either don't
bother to comparison shop or they buy because they're already there
(now i'll shup up about that...).
i have been doing much of my shopping at Shaw's, because they have
decent produce. not wonderful like Wegman's, but better than average
for this area. however, due to the downturn in my personal economy,
i'll be doing a lot more shopping at Market Basket.
i'd love having a Wegman's closer than 300 miles away though ;)
lee
Bobo Bonobo®
> On Sat, 4 Apr 2009 09:29:49 -0400, Fred/Libby Barclay wrote:
> > I received my Consumer Reports magazine yesterday, and it's all about
> > grocery shopping and how to save.
>
> > They surveyed 32,599 people and the rankings are based on service,
> > perishables (quality of meat and produce), price and cleanliness.
>
> > They have 59 stores listed, with the highest overall score being 87 out
> > of 100, and the lowest being 64.
>
> > The top ten~
>
> > 1. Wegmans
> > 2. Trader Joe's
> > 3. Publix
Of the Tampa grocery stores, it was the most expensive.
> > 4. Raley's
> > 5. Harris-Teeter
> > 6. Fareway
> > 7. Costco
> > 8. Whole Foods
They must not have given much weight to the "price" factor.
> > 9. Market Basket
>
> > The bottom ten~
>
> > 49. Pick 'n Save
> > 50. Dominick's
> > 51. Tops Markets
> > 52. Pathmark
> > 53. Food Lion
Their stores at least used to be dirty and smelled bad.
> > 54. Giant
> > 55. Winn-Dixie
Even worse that Food Lion? Wow. That takes some doin'.
> > 56. Walmart Supercenter
> > 57. Shaw's
> > 58. A&P
> > 59. Waldbaum's
>
> > I thought it was interesting how low Walmart scored. People must shop
> > there even though they hate it!
>
> > Libby
>
> either that or they don't have the money to go anywhere else.
Or in many small towns, Wal Mart has driven the small grocers out of
business. Plus, you can get all the Wal Mart type stuff in the same
trip, i.e. a quart of oil. I run up to Wal Mart for milk and
half&half, when Aldi isn't open. They're closer and cheaper than the
supermarkets.
One really awful thing is their brined beef (enhanced with a
solution).
>
> your pal,
> blake
--Bryan
gilb
"Nancy Young" <rjyn...@comcast.net> wrote in message
news:MwJBl.195162$6t7....@newsfe21.ams2...
That's always been a problem I've had with CR. A majority if their "top
choices" of products they review are frequently not available to the average
consumer.
Jean B.
& Shop. That and Shaw's are the usual grocery stores here.
Market Basket, Trader Joe's, and Whole Foods too. The MB that is
near here is just awful, so I have an irrational prejudice against
it. A pity because it is cheaper. Therefore, I do find myself
going there more these days.
--
Jean B.
Jean B.
I totally agree re the MB. Shaw's, here in Massachusetts anyway,
is very expensive compared to Stop & Shop, which, in turn, is more
expensive than Market Basket. In spite of the nasty MB near here,
I find myself shopping there more.
--
Jean B.
Ed Pawlowski
"Fred/Libby Barclay" <fre...@webtv.net> wrote in message
> 7. Costco
> 8. Whole Foods
> 9. Market Basket
> 56. Walmart Supercenter
Interesting groupings. The first three listed here do not compete with each
other head to head but each has a purpose. Much of what is available at
one store is not available at the others. We don't have a Costco, but BJ's
is close to it in concept. They get the majority of our grocery money for
chicken parts, whole pork loins, cleaning supplies, paper goods. Whole
Foods gets a portion, mostly for their selection of cheeses that the other
two don't carry, the special cuts of meat or fish, the selection of oils,
vinegars and the like. Market Basket gets the every day loaf of bread, the
jar of mayo that lasts a long time so we don't buy the 5 gallon pail at the
warehouse store. Wal Mart is OK for canned stuff but I won't buy meats there
as they are adulterated. They are my last choice for anything.
Tracy
I also agree about Market Basket, but don't tell my husband. He'd go
every week if he could. We don't go often because it is not very close
to home but their prices are worth it. Usually we tie a trip to New
Hampshire (to the State Store) with a trip to Market Basket.
As for Shaw's, I really really dislike going there. It's not just
prices, it's the layout of the store that bugs me. Maybe it's because I
tend to prefer Stop and Shop and feel more comfortable there...I dunno.
Shaw's tend to be smaller and more cramped too.
I heard a rumor not too long ago that a Wegman's was coming to Westwood.
Westwood would still be a drive for me, but I would definitely check it
out.
Tracy
cshenk
> > They surveyed 32,599 people and the rankings are based on service,
> > perishables (quality of meat and produce), price and cleanliness.
They must have been in limited areas. Thats a very small sample when you
think about it.
> > The top ten~
> > 1. Wegmans
> > 2. Trader Joe's
> > 3. Publix
> > 4. Raley's
None of those here, but a TJ's is slated to open?
> > 5. Harris-Teeter
Decent but easily 1/3 more for many if not most things. Quality not that
notably different but can find some of the more unusual things there. Most
notable differences is it is 24/7 and has a small selection of wider spots
for 'parking with kids' (I believe about 4 out of 100, with 12 or so
handicap ones). Enough room to roll those bigger 2 toddler carts up to the
door of your car.
> > 6. Fareway
> > 7. Costco
> > 8. Whole Foods
> > 9. Market Basket
None of those here either
>They must not have given much weight to the "price" factor.
I'd say off hand, they did not.
> > The bottom ten~
>
> > 49. Pick 'n Save
> > 50. Dominick's
> > 51. Tops Markets
> > 52. Pathmark
> > 54. Giant
> > 55. Winn-Dixie
None of those here but I do recall a Winn Dixie some time back.
> > 53. Food Lion
>Their stores at least used to be dirty and smelled bad.
It's all in the local management. The ones here are decent and i would
expect an area specific rating to place them in the top 10 along with
Krogers (not mentioned).
> > 56. Walmart Supercenter
We have those. I found out fast there is something wrong with their fresh
produce. It's not obvious but it always molds or something else fast. I'll
get a few canned things there or a known brand of dog biscuits, but little
else. I did check them out at the start though when we came back stateside
and they seemed good. Then, they changed produce managers and it went
downhill fast.
Nan
I would LOVE to have a Wegmans, a Trader Joes, a Whole Paycheck,
whoops, I meant Whole Foods, and Costco.
It galls me that we're in the capitol of Delaware and have none of
these. I wouldn't even mind if we only had to go 30 miles for them,
but they're all at least 50 miles away.
We have many of the lowest on the totem pole. It's a shame!!
Tracy
> We have Shaw's too. I would be curious to know the rating of Stop &
> Shop. That and Shaw's are the usual grocery stores here. Market Basket,
> Trader Joe's, and Whole Foods too. The MB that is near here is just
> awful, so I have an irrational prejudice against it. A pity because it
> is cheaper. Therefore, I do find myself going there more these days.
>
Which one is that Jean? Just curious - so I know to avoid it. We usually
shop at one in Nashua.
-Tracy
cshenk
>"cshenk" <csh...@cox.net> wrote:
>
>> > > 56. Walmart Supercenter
>>
>> We have those. I found out fast there is something wrong with their
>> fresh
>>
>> produce. It's not obvious but it always molds or something else fast.
> I have found that to be true at Sam's Club also; it's like the items have
> been in transit to the store long enough that much of their shelf-life is
> gone before the consumer gets their hands on it.
Yes, same problem with BJ's on *some things* so we learned to be careful. I
get the impression if you are on a major access for food transport, this
isnt as well noticed but if you are an off laying area of the highways
(google for Norfolk VA and you'll see we arent a major route for much, more
an outbound one for seafoods etc and sea shipping), you tend to have more
notable problems with fresh veggies.
It's pretty much like a truck has to divert from Richmond VA to us. Oh we
are big enough that that happens, but the low end scale places get the stuff
that is almost dead by that spot and wouldnt last til NY city etc. The
higher end spots use either local produce or pay to get the same level as
what NY/CT etc get diverted over to here.
Less than 40,000 people were surveyed. This tells me, probably not one
person in my area since only 3 of the stores they mention are local and one
of the bottom ones is actually very good here.
Andy
> perishables (quality of meat and produce), price and cleanliness.
How ridiculous is that, that they couldn't come up with 32,600 people. Stupid
price tag mentality BS!!!
My east coast ACME (Albertsons) probably ranks 200 on the Bottom 10 scale!
Andy
Kris
Hi Libby,
Does it say where Meijer's ranks?
Thanks,
Kris
Fred/Libby Barclay
I'm going to list the other stores in the nationwide survey when I get
enough time this afternoon or tonight. I should have realized that
everyone would want to know where their local market is ranked.
Libby
tween...@mypacks.net
Where are these Wegmans?
I was recently in a Winn Dixie - was surprised at the overall
atmosphere, prices, and a guy actually went in back to find me some
fresh spinach.
Regardless of price differences, I still tend to go to the market
nearest me. Time and gas are still a factor for me.
I laughed at CR's tips for saving money - maybe I read ti wrong, but
at no point did they simply say to cook as close to scratch as
possible.
My grocery expenses so far this year are LOWER than it was same time
last year.
boulanger
"blake murphy" <blakepm...@verizon.net> wrote in message
news:1iaxx9wt6125f$.gb9i8llnpy58$.dlg@40tude.net...
But is it cheaper? My d-i-l bought some grocery items there thinking that
they would be cheaper and my regular SM was significantly cheaper.
They *advertise* that they have the lowest prices but does anyone check them
out? I strikes me that the vast majority of shoppers (J.B. Priestley's
"Admass") accept everything that they are told as truth.
Dale P
Makes me wonder where this study was done. As with most here, we only have
Whole Foods, Costco from the top and WalMart from the bottom. Our main
groceries are Safeway, King Soopers (Kroger), Albertson's for middle and
WalMart for lower and Whole Foods for upper end.
My problem is I really like the produce at King Soopers, but the meat is
much better at Safeway. Albertson's has great prices on staples, but is not
convenient to me. WalMart is avoided completely.
We have a small chain called Sunflower Market that has great meat, bulk
foods, a lot of organics, etc. The problem with them is that the produce
has been unpredictable in the past. If I want an eggplant for that evening,
they may have beautiful ones or they may be old and bruised. I usually have
to stop at the King Soopers after stopping at Sunflower. At least they are
across the street from each other.
I would love to be able to shop more at Whole Foods, but it is not
conviently located to me and of course the prices can be sky high.
Dale P
>
enigma
news:gr7t2v$ol7$1...@nntp.motzarella.org:
> I also agree about Market Basket, but don't tell my husband.
> He'd go every week if he could. We don't go often because it is
> not very close to home but their prices are worth it. Usually we
> tie a trip to New Hampshire (to the State Store) with a trip to
> Market Basket.
the one in South Nashua is better than the one in Hudson (or it was
when i lived down that way)... the thing i find odd about all the
Market Baskets is they all look a bit run down, even the newer
ones.
> As for Shaw's, I really really dislike going there. It's not
> just prices, it's the layout of the store that bugs me. Maybe
> it's because I tend to prefer Stop and Shop and feel more
> comfortable there...I dunno. Shaw's tend to be smaller and more
> cramped too.
there's a Super Shaws in Machester that's really nice, but it's in
Manchester... i like the Shaws in Concord Heights. it has a
sensible layout, unlike the ones at Fort Eddy plaza & Hooksett.
> I heard a rumor not too long ago that a Wegman's was coming to
> Westwood. Westwood would still be a drive for me, but I would
> definitely check it out.
Wegmans is planning two MA stores, Westwood & Northborough, but
dates are TBD still.
lee
Christine Dabney
>We have a small chain called Sunflower Market that has great meat, bulk
>foods, a lot of organics, etc. The problem with them is that the produce
>has been unpredictable in the past. If I want an eggplant for that evening,
>they may have beautiful ones or they may be old and bruised. I usually have
>to stop at the King Soopers after stopping at Sunflower. At least they are
>across the street from each other.
We have Sunflower here as well. The produce is usually pretty decent,
and inexpensive. I usually check out their online ads, and then go
and see what looks good. I don't go with a preconceived notion of
getting something...unless it is a really good deal.
Went there yesterday, and they had asparagus at a better price than
usual. Got some of that, as well as some zucchini... They had piles
of eggplant on sale, but I couldn't decide what I would want to do
with one, so I didn't get any of that.
There are two more Sunflowers opening here in town over the next
year....
Christine
--
http://nightstirrings.blogspot.com
Joseph Littleshoes
Fred/Libby Barclay wrote:
> I received my Consumer Reports magazine yesterday, and it's all about
> grocery shopping and how to save.
>
> They surveyed 32,599 people and the rankings are based on service,
> perishables (quality of meat and produce), price and cleanliness.
>
> They have 59 stores listed, with the highest overall score being 87 out
> of 100, and the lowest being 64.
>
> The top ten~
>
> 1. Wegmans
> 2. Trader Joe's
For some reason i have started to get Trader Joe's catalogues in the
mail, up until that happened i was curious about the stores that so many
people here find fascinating.
Having seen the catalogue im no longer interested. Im pretentious
enough on my own, i don't need a grocery store to provide me with a
patina of sophistication at inflated prices:)
--
JL
Andy
> There were 32,600 respondents; as with CDC and "patient zero", CR starts
> counting with "respondent zero" ;-). Fifty-thousand respondents were
> scheduled to participate; however, the rest hung up in frustration of
being
> unable to understand the questions asked by the Call Center CR used.
>
> Coming up next month; "Best Off-shore Call Centers" , India, Phillipines,
> Latvia, Iceland or ?????? Available May 12 at newstands and your
mailbox.
> 8-0
l, not -l
OH!, So you're a Saturday STOOGE!!! eh?? Why I oughtta!...
;D
Best,
Andy
Jean B.
Yes, I'd like to see a Wegman's--not in Westwood though. Shaw's
seem to vary a lot. I was in one a week or so ago in Sudbury (for
those not from this area, it is a pretty upscale town), and it was
just a horrible store. Stop & Shop is pretty good. I was just in
the Watertown one, and it seems to be a phase 2 of reorganization.
That may have been the least desirable one I knew of.
My Market Basket experience is strange, skewed by the one in
Burlington. (Take a peek if you venture out to H-Mart after it
opens.) It is dingy, with very cramped aisles. Very crowded. I
knew they varied a lot, and yet I was stunned when I went to one
in Billerica recently. It was spacious, bright, and not too
crowded even on a Saturday afternoon. (This one was in a strip
mall near Bob's--not the one up the street near K-Mart.) I could
shop there with no pain.
It was nice to see that MB even has some things I generally have
gotten at Whole Foods. Obviously, the price is considerably lower
at MB--and I can use the savings now.
--
Jean B.
Jean B.
Wow! I would have thought you'd have these stores there.
--
Jean B.
Jean B.
This one is in Burlington, Mass. Near the almost-closed Expo, and
the closed Linens n Things, if you are at all familiar with the
area. If you are not, perhaps you will venture out after H-Mart
opens. It will have a food court like our favorite Super 88. Now
I read it will also have nonfood stalls!!!!! I am glad I am still
close enough to avail myself of this!
--
Jean B.
Jean B.
reasonable to me for many things.
--
Jean B.
Tracy
Ahh, Burlington. I think that is the one the DH dislikes the most. I
don't go to Burlington much except for the mall.
If H-Mart ever opens, I will definitely be visiting more often. The
Super 88 is such a downer these days...
-Tracy
Kajikit
Barclay) wrote:
>
>I received my Consumer Reports magazine yesterday, and it's all about
>grocery shopping and how to save.
>
>They surveyed 32,599 people and the rankings are based on service,
>perishables (quality of meat and produce), price and cleanliness.
>
>They have 59 stores listed, with the highest overall score being 87 out
>of 100, and the lowest being 64.
>
>The top ten~
>
>1. Wegmans
>2. Trader Joe's
>3. Publix
>4. Raley's
>5. Harris-Teeter
>6. Fareway
>7. Costco
>8. Whole Foods
>9. Market Basket
>
>The bottom ten~
>
>49. Pick 'n Save
>50. Dominick's
>51. Tops Markets
>52. Pathmark
>53. Food Lion
>54. Giant
>55. Winn-Dixie
>56. Walmart Supercenter
>57. Shaw's
>58. A&P
>59. Waldbaum's
>
>I thought it was interesting how low Walmart scored. People must shop
>there even though they hate it!
>
>Libby
I agree with Winn-Dixie and Walmart supercenters being so low in the
rankings! I went to Walmart for groceries once and it sucked bigtime.
But if you have one of the Walmart 'neighbourhood markets' around it's
a much better shopping environment.
George
>
> blake
No, just folks responding to big box marketing. I have been dragged into
walmart supercenters a couple times and know that it would definitely
cost more to buy the same stuff there.
maxine
It's cheap. Period. We have Shaw's in our area, and they have the
longest checkout lines, and generally the least helpful staff, altho
at 9 last night I found one who was good enough to go in back and find
something for me that was on sale and not on the shelf. I wrote him
up, but it took three people to find me the form to do so.
maxine in ri
Goomba
> That's always been a problem I've had with CR. A majority if their "top
> choices" of products they review are frequently not available to the
> average consumer.
Such as? I've never experienced that problem (if it is one?) I'm pretty
darn average.... lol.<wonders if that is something to aspire to?>
Pixmaker
Here in South Florida, we have Publix, Walmart, Winn Dixie and Whole
Foods.
We find Publix to be the best across the board but their produce
prices are outrageous.
Walmart is good for national brands, especially canned goods.
Produce is high (red potatos at $1.19/pound recently.) The meat is
awful, probably because most of their meat is Select grade. I suspect
some of it is even Standard grade. Generally lesser-grade foods.
Winn Dixie generally poorly stocked and many foods are not carried.
Procuce very high except for the occasional sale. Meats are not bad,
mostly choice and resonably priced. Lots of "buy one, get one free"
sales.
BJ's club is pretty good and you don't have to buy huge quantities.
Costco is, well, COSTCO. Very nice meat department with good
selections of choice grade beef at good prices. You can't buy just one
steak but you can buy 4 at a nice price.
We also have a number of small, independent produce shops which are
usually lower priced than the chain stores.
DaveinFLL
On Sat, 4 Apr 2009 09:29:49 -0400, fre...@webtv.net (Fred/Libby
Fred/Libby Barclay
Okay.......here are the rest of the stores in the consumer survey. For
some reason I left off #10, so I'll start with that . . .
10. WinCo Foods
11. Stater Bros.
12. Hy-Vee
13. Piggly Wiggly (pertain only to stores
in Wisconsin, Iowa and Ilinois)
14. Aldi
15. Fry's Food Stores
16. Fred Myer
17. Save Mart
18. King Soopers
19. H-E-B
20. SuperTarget
21. Hannaford
22. ShopRite
23. Ingles Markets
24. Schnucks
25. County Market
26. Dillons
27. Price Chopper
28. Cub Foods
29. Sav-a-Lot
30. Big-Y
31. Bashas'
32. Meijer
33. Giant Food Stores
34. Smith's Food & Drug
35. Bi-Lo
36. Vons
37. Kroger
38. Sam's Club
39. Ralphs
40. Weis Markets
41. IGA
42. BJ's Wholesale Club
43. Albertsons
44. Safeway
45. Jewel-Osco
46. Giant Eagle
47. Acme
48. Stop & Sop
49. Pick 'n Save
This survey was held between April 2007 and April 2008. The survey
covers a total of 48, 831 visits; and findings reflect the experiences
of their readers, not necessarily those of the general population.
maxine
The survey is their annual one from last year, so that's how many
folks answered the questions on that part of the survey.
Price is important if you are trying to save. I do shop at a number
of stores, simply because I pass them on my way home. I don't go out
of my way more than half a mile, but then, with so many good produce
and fish stores in the area, why would I? S&S and Shaws are generally
pricier than PriceRite, which has a better selection of the things I
buy than Aldi's which has the good prices on dairy and eggs. I try to
avoid buying wrapped veggies, since the extra packaging is, to me,
wasteful.
maxine in ri
maxine
> Tracy <karac...@bc.edu> wrote innews:gr7t2v$ol7$1...@nntp.motzarella.org:
Dang them! Neither of those is near anyplace I go regularly!
maxine in ri
maxine
Oddly, TJ's prices are not all that bad, on the store brands. And
those are comparable if not better than the sorts of things you'll
find in the mass markets.
maxine in ri
Puester
> Tracy <kara...@bc.edu> wrote in
> news:gr7t2v$ol7$1...@nntp.motzarella.org:
>
>> I also agree about Market Basket, but don't tell my husband.
>> He'd go every week if he could. We don't go often because it is
>> not very close to home but their prices are worth it. Usually we
>> tie a trip to New Hampshire (to the State Store) with a trip to
>> Market Basket.
>
> the one in South Nashua is better than the one in Hudson (or it was
> when i lived down that way)... the thing i find odd about all the
> Market Baskets is they all look a bit run down, even the newer
> ones.
I feel that way about Safeways, too. Does anyone have any
idea why they keep the produce section very
dark? There are almost no overhead lights although the
produce cases are lit individually. I know bright
lights are bad for potatoes (our Albertson's covers all the
potatoes with burlap bags overnight.)
It always makes me think crawly things will come out of the
vegetables at Safeway and I won't see them.
gloria p
maxine
> Okay.......here are the rest of the stores in the consumer survey. For
> some reason I left off #10, so I'll start with that . . .
> 14. Aldi
> 48. Stop & Sop
Very interesting. I hate the stuff at aldi's except for milk and
eggs, sometimes cheeses. But they are low-priced.
Stop& Shop is less expensive than Shaws mostly, but other than a few
items I can't find elsewhere, they're too expensive for my blood.
maxine in ri
maxine
> some reason I left off #10, so I'll start with that . . .
Thank you for taking the time to type them in.
maxine in ri
Kajikit
Barclay) wrote:
>
>Okay.......here are the rest of the stores in the consumer survey. For
>some reason I left off #10, so I'll start with that . . .
>42. BJ's Wholesale Club
>43. Albertsons
>44. Safeway
>45. Jewel-Osco
>46. Giant Eagle
>47. Acme
>48. Stop & Sop
>49. Pick 'n Save
>
>This survey was held between April 2007 and April 2008. The survey
>covers a total of 48, 831 visits; and findings reflect the experiences
>of their readers, not necessarily those of the general population.
I don't know why BJs is so low on the list... their food quality and
service are pretty good, around here anyway. We like them much better
than Costco.
notbob
>> The top ten~
>>
>> 1. Wegmans
>> 2. Trader Joe's
>> 3. Publix
>> 4. Raley's
>> 5. Harris-Teeter
>> 6. Fareway
>> 7. Costco
>> 8. Whole Foods
>> 9. Market Basket
Total crap, as usual from CR. All those stores do the same thing. They
sell loss-leader items and screw you blind on the rest. Buy when on deep
sale. Ignore the rest.
nb
Ed Pawlowski
"Kajikit" <kaj...@jagcon.com> wrote in message
>
> I don't know why BJs is so low on the list... their food quality and
> service are pretty good, around here anyway. We like them much better
> than Costco.
We don't have a Costco so I can't compare. I do, however. live about equal
distance from three BJ's stores and they are not equal. If you were to visit
each of them you'd be able to rank them 1, 2, 3 easily. Individual mangers
have different standards for their crews, different parking lot layout for
ease of getting to the store entrance, carts, personality of the cashiers
all make a difference. Some stores just have a better "feel" to them.
Jean B.
Yes, the MB in Burlington is just awful. :-(
--
Jean B.
Jean B.
Oh my! Look at Stop & Shop!!!
--
Jean B.
Dale P
news:13164-49D...@storefull-3172.bay.webtv.net...
>
> Okay.......here are the rest of the stores in the consumer survey. For
> some reason I left off #10, so I'll start with that . . .
>
>>
> covers a total of 48, 831 visits; and findings reflect the experiences
> of their readers, not necessarily those of the general population.
Thanks, it makes more sense when I see all of the stores. One point I would
make is that each store can be very different, even just a few miles away.
My closest, newest King Soopers is a real pain. The people are rude
(customers and employees) and the service is poor. Same with some of our
Safeway stores. Yet one of the Safeway in our proximity is great. I think
the manager of each store can make a great store or a mediocre store.
Dale P
>
Christine Dabney
>Perhaps what you don't like (I don't either) is their particular brand of
>marketing. If the opportunity presents itself; visit a TJ's and, with an
>open mind, try the kinds of products you do like, I think you'll be pleased.
When I get back to the SFBA, I will pick up JL and take him to a
TJs... ;)
Christine
--
http://nightstirrings.blogspot.com
tween...@mypacks.net
> Interesting!
>
> Here in South Florida, we have Publix, Walmart, Winn Dixie and Whole
> Foods.
My big beef with Publix is the packaged produce. I wrote the home
office about it, and got the pat reply that they were protecting my
produce ( do they think ppl don't rewash produce at home?) and that
they are glad to break up packages. Oh sure, it wastes their time and
mine, not to mention packaging material. I wonder what their answer
is to that.
This may seem small, but I hate the parking lots . Angled spots with
barriers. Gimme drive thrus any day.
I don't belong to Costco or any of the other clubs as it wouldn't pay
me to drive that far for the savings. My friends belong and they
waste a lot pf money on gas to go every few weeks and load up on junk
in large quantities.
Waiting for the day I can visit a Trader Joe's.
Arri London
blake murphy wrote:
>
> On Sat, 4 Apr 2009 09:29:49 -0400, Fred/Libby Barclay wrote:
<snip>
> > 54. Giant
> > 55. Winn-Dixie
> > 56. Walmart Supercenter
> > 57. Shaw's
> > 58. A&P
> > 59. Waldbaum's
> >
> > I thought it was interesting how low Walmart scored. People must shop
> > there even though they hate it!
> >
> > Libby
>
> either that or they don't have the money to go anywhere else.
>
> your pal,
> blake
The original Walmarts were located where there weren't any other places
to shop. Might still be the case?
Ed Pawlowski
<tween...@mypacks.net> wrote in message
I don't belong to Costco or any of the other clubs as it wouldn't pay
me to drive that far for the savings. My friends belong and they
waste a lot pf money on gas to go every few weeks and load up on junk
in large quantities.
********************************************
Yes, it is possible to load up on junk and waste gas. It is also possible
to save a lot of money by careful and sensible shopping. Some items I buy
are far cheaper and easily pay for the 40 mile round trip. Do you want to
pay $1.89 or $3.89 for the same boneless pork loin? Do you want to pay
$1.29 for $.70 for the same chicken thighs? How about butter at $1.55
instead of $3.99?
Some things I like to buying quantity and have, others we don't use much of
so we buy at the local store even if it costs a bit more. A 40 mile trip is
$3 in gas, but the savings on the pork alone is about $10. Te savings to
fill two propane tanks is another $10 a few times a year. We make the trip
once a month and spend about $250.
Ed Pawlowski
"Arri London" <bio...@ic.ac.uk> wrote in message
>
> The original Walmarts were located where there weren't any other places
> to shop. Might still be the case?
You may be right is the south where they started. Not the case at all here
in New England, one of the last areas they built. We still have plenty of
stores if Wal Mart went away, just as we did before they came. Many chains
have come and gone is the past 20 or 30 years though.
Ames
Bradley's
Two Guys
The Fair
Lechmere
Giant
Jumbo
Caldor
Zayres
Montgomery Ward
Filenes
Edward's
Finast
probably a bunch of others I've missed
Steve Pope
[ Costco ]
>Yes, it is possible to load up on junk and waste gas. It is also possible
>to save a lot of money by careful and sensible shopping. Some items I buy
>are far cheaper and easily pay for the 40 mile round trip. Do you want to
>pay $1.89 or $3.89 for the same boneless pork loin? Do you want to pay
>$1.29 for $.70 for the same chicken thighs? How about butter at $1.55
>instead of $3.99?
If you're only buying non-animal products it is more difficult
to justify the Costco membership.
Steve
Bobo Bonobo®
Shhhh! If there weren't folks who foolishly paid full price, you and
I couldn't get those loss leaders.
I mostly shop at Shop'n Save, a Supervalu chain.
>
> nb
--Bryan
Becca
>
> Or in many small towns, Wal Mart has driven the small grocers out of
> business. Plus, you can get all the Wal Mart type stuff in the same
> trip, i.e. a quart of oil. I run up to Wal Mart for milk and
> half&half, when Aldi isn't open. They're closer and cheaper than the
> supermarkets.
> One really awful thing is their brined beef (enhanced with a
> solution).
One of my friends is visiting this weekend, and she owned a bicycle shop
until Walmart opened Her store closed one year later, along with the
store next door to her, which was a fabric store. This is why some
communities do not care for Walmart.
Becca
Jean B.
Your list brings back memories.
--
Jean B.
Andy
Not to mention, Walmart is the most employee discriminatory, un-green
company on the planet!!!
I wouldn't spend my last red cent there!
Andy
Ed Pawlowski
"Becca" <be...@hal-pc.org> wrote in message
> One of my friends is visiting this weekend, and she owned a bicycle shop
> until Walmart opened Her store closed one year later, along with the
> store next door to her, which was a fabric store. This is why some
> communities do not care for Walmart.
Yet some high end bike shops are thriving. You can't compete with Wal Mart
for the every day kids bike but when it comes to higher end stuff WM has
nothing like it.
George
> Becca said...
And if you want a shock in PA check out the taxes they pay and compare
them to yours (they don't pay any). All of the wally properties are KOZ
zones which were intended to promote startup small business who were
creating good jobs by offering low or no taxes.
But somehow wally qualifies. Thats why you will see that wally will move
literally across the street every 8 years. Currently we (PA taxpayers)
just completed in my area at two different locations literally leveling
a mountain, adding a highway interchange, traffic control signals,
utilities etc simply so wally could move across the street to reset
their tax exemption. Also in PA over half of all state budget money
spent to aid low income people goes to wally employees. A relative who
works for a state agency showed me the information wally gives to new
employees about how to get stuff from the state to make up the
difference in their salaries and lack of benefits.
George
active in biking and often friends who want to get into biking will ask
for recommendations.
We have two very competent reasonably priced local bike shops that will
spend the time to make sure you get a good fit and won't sell you a pile
of junk. While they have $5,000 bikes you don't have to spend a lot more
than wally to get a good bike. They will ignore my recommendations
because wally tells them they are their buddy in all of their marketing
and buy a POS bike that has crappy components and doesn't work smoothly
and maybe doesn't even fit them so they will go out one time and get
disgusted and never try again.
If enough people do this the local bike shop can't keep the doors open.
I know the place I usually use is hinting about closing.
Andy
George,
Why must you go on and depress me like that???
Ya BUM!!!
Best,
Andy
brooklyn1
A small bicycle shop should have easily survived, they should have been
selling far superior products, be highly knowledeable about bicycle
technology, and service what they sell, Walmart sells mostly low end
bicycles and gives zero service. The same is true for a fabric store,
Walmart fabrics are garbage, and Walmart has no one who can give sewing
advice.
Most often the big box stores put the small privately owned specialty stores
out of business because for many years small neighborhood stores were the
only show in town and took advantage: they over charged and gave lousy
service, and many sold inferior products at large markup... I see that all
the time; paint store, hardware store, lumber yard, office supply store,
fabric store, window treatment stores. appliance store, the list is endless.
There is no reason to patronize a small neighborhood shop when they over
charge AND do not give service... most people will pay higher prices IF they
are properly serviced and not met with rudeness. The small neighborhood
stores disappeared because they were unwilling to respect their customers,
they never had to. However there are still plenty of small sole
proprietorships that do quite well, because they adjusted their attitude.
My small town had stores that didn't make it, the small Ace Hardware owner
was rude, just sat there, would never get up to help find something, when
you asked for something at best if he acknowleded your presence at all he'd
say in a begrudging tone to say end of aisle three... if you bought
something or not he never said thank you, come again. But we have a toy
store that beats toys r us all to heck, they give customers undivided
attention and their politeness is sincere. Small stores got knocked out of
business because they never should have been in business to begin with, but
often they were the only show in town... they didn't have the business
acumen to deal with competition... they're the type with the mindset that
believes sampling produce is bad... success in business is predicated on one
reaps what they sow. Our new toy store has been there three years, and has
already expanded to take over the next store space... whether their parents
buy something or not every kid that enters their store leaves with a free
complimentary toy... it's amazing how quickly a disappointed kid's tears
stop when a 25¢ waterpaint set is thrust in their hand, and how far that
goes towards people returning.
cshenk
> Ed Pawlowski wrote:
>> Yet some high end bike shops are thriving. You can't compete with Wal
>> Mart for the every day kids bike but when it comes to higher end stuff WM
>> has nothing like it.
> And you don't have to spend a lot more to get good quality. I am very
> active in biking and often friends who want to get into biking will ask
> for recommendations.
There's a local one here and I won't trust any others with my bike. It's a
genuine Japapnese Cultech. Not the light little racing model which is all
you see here, but the real workhorse type used to pull loads or work-carts,
deliver goods (anything that doesnt mandate a truck).
He works on high end bikes but also will fix (upgrade) the lower end ones
for kids if the frame is made of anything better than pot metal. As a
sideline, he works on smaller mopeds and scooters too which is filling the
gap nicely.
He also has a lot of good bike gear like decent helmets and side mirrors
that aren't crappy and fade out in 6 months.
Ms P
>
>
>
> The original Walmarts were located where there weren't any other places
> to shop. Might still be the case?
Right. All those people sat around naked and ate dirt because there wasn't
any place to shop? Of course there were places to shop. They just weren't
mega coporation marts.
Not only were there places to shop but they were owned by the same people
that lived in the community. People worked in those places. Those places
to shop bought their goods from manufacturers and farmers in other
communities. And so on and so on.
Now there's only mega corp and they buy everything you could need from
China. The wages at mega corp are so low the people that used to have
decent paying jobs and could afford to shop at local stores can only afford
to shop at mega corp and that's only because the other people in their
community help support them with food stamps and medicaid.
And now mega corp is so large and bloated they're spreading like some kind
of disease. They have put so many small stores and manufacturers out of
business they have become the only place to shop.
But they were most definitely not the only place to shop to start with. It
took concerted effort on their part to make it that way.
Ms P
cshenk
> Fred/Libby Barclay <fre...@webtv.net> wrote:
>
>> I received my Consumer Reports magazine yesterday, and it's all about
>> grocery shopping and how to save.
>>
>> They surveyed 32,599 people and the rankings are based on service,
>> perishables (quality of meat and produce), price and cleanliness.
>
> The fact that they only surveyed Consumer Reports subscribers makes
> the whole survey completely flawed.
My thoughts too but it was at least interesting to see. I also *suspect*
that people who are consumer reports *subscribers* have above average
incomes hence the higher end stores mostly came out on top? Thats what it
seemed to be from my angle at least.
> A typical consumer only has 3-4 stores to choose from and their
> opinions are relative to some imaginary standard. It's meaningless
> to rate the stores next to each other unless everyone is able to
> shop at most of the stores being surveyed.
I didnt even recognize the name of some of them and others I know only from
friends who have mentioned them.
Lets see, my area: Norfolk roughly but well south of the nearest TJ's (a
100+ mile round trip). No particular order other than as they come to mind:
Harris Teeter (F) (V) 1m
Krogers (F) (V) 1.2m
Food Lion (V) 2m
Big Lot (Big Lots?) 1.5m
Sams 1m
BJ's (B) (P) (C) (N) (O) 1.5m
Walmart 1.2m
Farm Fresh (F) (V) 2m
American Asian Market (F) (P) (D) (V) (C) (O) 3m
Of them, I've not used Sams or Big Lot and rarely Walmart (cans, shampoos
etc)
F= Fish/seafood, V = Fresh Veggies, B= Beef, P= Pork, C= Chicken, N=
Non-grocery Misc, O= Other food items. I listed what I use each one for.
The Asian Grocery (AAM) is actually a small chain here and probably not
related to any of similar name elsewhere. It's well known locally though
and almost everyone I know has been there at least a few times if not a
regular customer.
Being in a large city, all of these are within 3 miles of my house. I
listed distance too.
There are other big chains too, but these are the ones I am familiar with.
So if they wanted a survey of the 8 first listed ones, my area would work.
But then, they have local surveys on them and here, Krogers and Farm Fresh
do well as does BJ's and Sams (and our local AAM). Krogers, Farm Fresh, and
Food Lion are all variable in quality depending on area and the regional
managers.
maxine
Jean, you read my mind. A tad more local, but Almacs Supermarkets,
Bread & Circus ( bought out by Whole Paycheck), Further afield, Steve
and Barry's <?> a sports clothes store.
maxine in ri
maxine
I've not bought a new bike in 40 years, and that one was a paint-
chipped frame that the guy made into a 5-speed for me (I never did
like 10-speeds). The rest of our bikes over the last 20 years have
been sidewalk specials or dumpster diving finds. Hubby usually finds
they need some minor repairs, does them (it pays to be mechanically
inclined) and off we go. I'm now riding a 15 speed that doesn't go
into high gear, so it's a 10 speed. DH has one that all the folks in
the MS 150 drool over, since it's an classic of some sort or another.
Oh, wait. we did spend $60 for my DD's bike. Came off of Craigslist.
maxine in ri
maxine
> Fred/Libby Barclay <fre...@webtv.net> wrote:
> > I received my Consumer Reports magazine yesterday, and it's all about
> > grocery shopping and how to save.
>
> > They surveyed 32,599 people and the rankings are based on service,
> > perishables (quality of meat and produce), price and cleanliness.
>
> The fact that they only surveyed Consumer Reports subscribers makes
> the whole survey completely flawed.
>
> opinions are relative to some imaginary standard. It's meaningless
> to rate the stores next to each other unless everyone is able to
> shop at most of the stores being surveyed.
>
Not flawed, any more than any other self-selected group. But for the
people who do read CR, or subscribe to it, it's a good-sized
representative sample.
You couldn't really do a nation-wide survey like that, since there are
many stores in small areas where the sample would be too small to draw
any meaningful information from. "I do all my shopping at Dave's
Markets" a 4 store chain in RI only. What would their rating on the
list be (probably pretty high, since they have good prices, good
selection, and very good service) but what good would that do someone
in Iowa?
A lot of their store surveys don't do me much good, since many chains
haven't gotten here yet. Hmart, for example, or 88. So I make do
with the small, cramped Asian markets, all 4 of them in my
neiborhood. I'm bummed that the one Medeterranian market has now
switched to Japanese-Korean goods.
maxine in ri
malte...@gmail.com
Dale P
news:d15ab7a5-c702-4a25...@w9g2000yqa.googlegroups.com...
I know what you mean about Costco. We dropped our membership for years, and
would use the neighbor's card for the occasional trip for a special need.
Then they opened a new Costco near us last fall. I am really enjoying
shopping there. The produce is great, and even with just two of us, very
little goes to waste. The big bag of onions are a great product at a great
price. Items we cannot use up, we split the bag with friends. The apples
and pears are the best I've ever had, and the price is a fraction of the
grocery stores. We buy meat and freeze it. That has been hard for me to
get used to, as I always just bought fresh meat as we needed it. I now have
to remember to get meat out of the freezer for tomorrow's meal. They have
a great selections of frozen fish that is always excellent quality. I wish
Costco had a better selection of canned goods, as I do not mind buying
quantity of an item that keeps. My contact lenses are also major cheap at
Costco. The laundry, dishwasher, detergent and so on are good prices, but
not much better than the sales at other stores. The only thing that is too
big a buy for us is the spring mix salad. I usually end up dumping some of
it, but it still comes out cheaper and better than the super market. We do
NOT buy junk or items we would not buy anyway.
We don't have Trader Joes, and I don't think they will come here soon as
they cannot sell wine in the grocery here. But Whole Foods is selling a few
stores that would be great locations for TJ. The TJ's I have been to look
like a lot of fun stuff. Time will tell.
Later,
DP
Dale P
blake murphy
> blake murphy wrote:
>> On Sat, 4 Apr 2009 09:29:49 -0400, Fred/Libby Barclay wrote:
>>
>>> I received my Consumer Reports magazine yesterday, and it's all about
>>> grocery shopping and how to save.
>>>
>>>
>>> I thought it was interesting how low Walmart scored. People must shop
>>> there even though they hate it!
>>>
>>> Libby
>>
>> either that or they don't have the money to go anywhere else.
>>
>> your pal,
>> blake
>
> No, just folks responding to big box marketing. I have been dragged into
> walmart supercenters a couple times and know that it would definitely
> cost more to buy the same stuff there.
actually, there is no wal-mart within striking distance of me. but even if
there was, i don't think i would go there unless it was for a specific
item, which wouldn't be groceries.
your pal,
blake
blake murphy
> gilb wrote:
>
>> That's always been a problem I've had with CR. A majority if their "top
>> choices" of products they review are frequently not available to the
>> average consumer.
>
> Such as? I've never experienced that problem (if it is one?)
when i was thinking of buying a new computer last spring, at least two of
their top choices (budget division) weren't available anywhere, even
online. this was maybe two months after the issue came out.
but the only thing i've heard that they routinely suck at evaluating is
audio equipment. i do check out (when possible) what they have to say
about small appliances and the like.
your pal,
blake
blake murphy
> Tracy wrote:
>> Jean B. wrote:
>>> We have Shaw's too. I would be curious to know the rating of Stop &
>>> Shop. That and Shaw's are the usual grocery stores here. Market
>>> Basket, Trader Joe's, and Whole Foods too. The MB that is near here
>>> is just awful, so I have an irrational prejudice against it. A pity
>>> because it is cheaper. Therefore, I do find myself going there more
>>> these days.
>>>
>>
>> Which one is that Jean? Just curious - so I know to avoid it. We usually
>> shop at one in Nashua.
>>
>> -Tracy
>
> This one is in Burlington, Mass. Near the almost-closed Expo, and
> the closed Linens n Things, if you are at all familiar with the
> area. If you are not, perhaps you will venture out after H-Mart
> opens. It will have a food court like our favorite Super 88. Now
> I read it will also have nonfood stalls!!!!! I am glad I am still
> close enough to avail myself of this!
if it's anything like the h-mart near me (wheaton, md - listed as silver
spring for some reason), you're in for a treat. jesus, they have a lot of
stuff! it's tilted towards korean.
your pal,
blake
blake murphy
> Fred/Libby Barclay wrote:
>> I received my Consumer Reports magazine yesterday, and it's all about
>> grocery shopping and how to save.
>>
>> They surveyed 32,599 people and the rankings are based on service,
>> perishables (quality of meat and produce), price and cleanliness.
>>
>> They have 59 stores listed, with the highest overall score being 87 out
>> of 100, and the lowest being 64.
>>
>> The top ten~
>>
>> 1. Wegmans
>> 2. Trader Joe's
>
> For some reason i have started to get Trader Joe's catalogues in the
> mail, up until that happened i was curious about the stores that so many
> people here find fascinating.
>
> Having seen the catalogue im no longer interested. Im pretentious
> enough on my own, i don't need a grocery store to provide me with a
> patina of sophistication at inflated prices:)
how odd. i find their flyers surprisingly down-to-earth. you gotta admit
they're a little different.
your pal,
blake
blake murphy
>
> I don't buy ANY prepared food (lobster-stuffed, bacon-wrapped, blah-blah -
> pop it in the oven/microwave/blah), at TJ's or at the chains; that kind of
> thing they do seem to go overboard describing in their mailing. I don't
> drink, therefor don't buy, wine, another thing they seem to push in their
> mailings.
i'm a sucker for clip art, so i think their flyers are funny.
your pal,
blake
Lin
> i'm a sucker for clip art, so i think their flyers are funny.
LOL! As a graphics and marketing person, I think they are quite
effective in their "anti-graphics" approach. They don't need the
flash-bang effect to get the message across. Less is more, perhaps?
They do seem to value artists that can do signage lettering and
illustration by hand in each store. That might be a cool job to have if
you are a cartoonist and can create on the fly.
--Lin
cat
> Fred/Libby Barclay <fre...@webtv.net> wrote:
>> This survey was held between April 2007 and April 2008. The survey
>> covers a total of 48, 831 visits; and findings reflect the experiences
>> of their readers, not necessarily those of the general population.
> 36,000 people took the survey documenting 48,000 trips to the
> grocery store? That would mean a awful lot of people never even
> shopped at any of those stores.
> A recently published survey found that 94.42% of all surveys had
> serious flaws. And this on is no exception.
I don't take any of CR's "surveys" to mean anything. Their methodology is
completely removed from standard polling procedure, because it's a
self-selecting group. It only includes CR readers, who are likely more
educated and affluent than average, and of those, only CR readers who choose
to respond to the questionnaire. I can accept anecdotal reports from their
readers, but not any rankings or statistics.
cybercat
"cat" <catsand...@nospam.meow.com> wrote in message
news:Sy7Cl.21818$Q42....@newsfe12.iad...
*spraying wildly*
This is my turf, beeeetch.
jpstifel
l, not -l wrote:
> On 4-Apr-2009, Joseph Littleshoes wrote:
>
>
>>Having seen the catalogue im no longer interested. Im pretentious
>>enough on my own, i don't need a grocery store to provide me with a
>>patina of sophistication at inflated prices:)
>>JL
>
>
> Wow, I don't know where you buy your groceries; but, here (STL)
Trader Joe's
> prices are very good when compared to the regional chains.
Did you miss the "Oakland Chinatown" thread. I get what you quote
prices for at better prices there. But your right about the following.
> Perhaps what you don't like (I don't either) is their particular brand of
> marketing. If the opportunity presents itself; visit a TJ's and, with an
> open mind, try the kinds of products you do like, I think you'll be
pleased.
>
>
I have not been to a TJ's store, only looked at a catalogue that was
just too, too
over the top in the 'cutesy' department. I really don't need a pep talk
to buy a stock of broccoli, and if i want a jar of tomato sauce i don't
need a sales pitch to decide what to purchase.
That TJ's catalogue almost seems to me to be rather obsequious.
I wont shop at our local "Whole Foods" because of all the cosmetics they
sell, their collective aromas i assault me as i walk in the door.
--
JL
sf
wrote:
>I have not been to a TJ's store, only looked at a catalogue that was
>just too, too over the top in the 'cutesy' department. I really don't need a pep talk
>to buy a stock of broccoli, and if i want a jar of tomato sauce i don't
>need a sales pitch to decide what to purchase.
It's not like that at all, JL. The staff is there to answer questions
and stock shelves, not be used car salesmen.
--
I love cooking with wine.
Sometimes I even put it in the food.
Bob Terwilliger
> I don't take any of CR's "surveys" to mean anything. Their methodology is
> completely removed from standard polling procedure, because it's a
> self-selecting group. It only includes CR readers, who are likely more
> educated and affluent than average
...much like Usenet users?
Bob
Joseph Littleshoes
I can see how some people would consider it charming, quaint etc. but it
doesn't appeal to me.
There's such a plethora of "mom & pop" type independent food merchants
in my neighborhood i cant recall the last time i had to go out of the
neighborhood for a food purchase.
I have convinced the elderly relative there is no need to get the cheap
turkeys during the winter holidays, her frugal nature in the past made
them almost impossible for her to pass up, but now days i buy a 10 pound
or so capon at a local butcher so no need to make a trip to 'safeway'.
And since her Dr.'s put her on a low salt & low sugar diet i don't buy
any packaged or processed foods anymore.
Last time i fixed her favorite 'stove top stuffing' for her it sent her
to the hospital:( way too much salt.
Im about to start jam making in an attempt to make her jam with less
sugar than the commercial products.
Fortunately i found a peanut butter with no salt or sugar. I can make
my own peanut butter but its tedious and im a bit concerned about
wearing out my food processor to do so.
Basically the TJ's, WHole Foods, Andronico's type 'upscale' markets
don't appeal to me for a variety of reasons.
There's a big 'supermarket' out in the far east bay in an affluent
suburb that has wall to wall carpeting, 'gold' plated (colored) shopping
carts with calculators & scanners built in and the time i was there a
small 'chamber orchestra' sort of group of tuxedo clad musicians on a
stage playing classical music. Everything there exorbitantly priced as
you might expect, even valet parking if you desire it.
--
JL
Joseph Littleshoes
sf wrote:
> On Sun, 05 Apr 2009 14:10:25 -0700, jpstifel <jpst...@major.net>
> wrote:
>
>
>>I have not been to a TJ's store, only looked at a catalogue that was
>>just too, too over the top in the 'cutesy' department. I really don't need a pep talk
>>to buy a stock of broccoli, and if i want a jar of tomato sauce i don't
>>need a sales pitch to decide what to purchase.
>
>
> It's not like that at all, JL. The staff is there to answer questions
> and stock shelves, not be used car salesmen.
>
>
I was talking about the TJ's catalogue. I have never been to the actual
store.
--
JL
Becca
> Becca said...
>
>
>> Bobo BonoboŽ wrote:
>>
>>> Or in many small towns, Wal Mart has driven the small grocers out of
>>> business. Plus, you can get all the Wal Mart type stuff in the same
>>> trip, i.e. a quart of oil. I run up to Wal Mart for milk and
>>> half&half, when Aldi isn't open. They're closer and cheaper than the
>>> supermarkets.
>>> One really awful thing is their brined beef (enhanced with a
>>> solution).
>>>
>> until Walmart opened Her store closed one year later, along with the
>> store next door to her, which was a fabric store. This is why some
>> communities do not care for Walmart.
>>
>>
>>
>
>
> Not to mention, Walmart is the most employee discriminatory, un-green
> company on the planet!!!
>
> I wouldn't spend my last red cent there!
>
> Andy
>
When I was married to my ex-husband, I needed to purchase rechargeable
batteries, I was on my way out of town. I ran into Walmart to get them
and I refused the bag. I hid the receipt, because he would have been
upset if he knew I walked through the doors at Walmart. lol
Becca
Becca
> Fred/Libby Barclay <fre...@webtv.net> wrote:
>
>
>> This survey was held between April 2007 and April 2008. The survey
>> covers a total of 48, 831 visits; and findings reflect the experiences
>> of their readers, not necessarily those of the general population.
>>
>
> 36,000 people took the survey documenting 48,000 trips to the
> grocery store? That would mean a awful lot of people never even
> shopped at any of those stores.
>
> A recently published survey found that 94.42% of all surveys had
> serious flaws. And this on is no exception.
>
>
Statistics are like bikinis, what they reveal is interesting, but what
they hide is critical.
Becca
Ed Pawlowski
"Joseph Littleshoes" <jpst...@isp.com> wrote in message
> Basically the TJ's, WHole Foods, Andronico's type 'upscale' markets don't
> appeal to me for a variety of reasons.
>
We go to TJ's and Whole Food on occasion. They are high priced on some
items, but they are equal or even lower on sale items, special buys, and
they have things the other markets just do not carry. WF is the only place
I know that has Cotswold cheese, for instance. You just have to pay
attention and get the things not easily found elsewhere if that is what you
want.
Becca
> Okay.......here are the rest of the stores in the consumer survey. For
> some reason I left off #10, so I'll start with that . . .
>
> 10. WinCo Foods
> 11. Stater Bros.
> 12. Hy-Vee
> 13. Piggly Wiggly (pertain only to stores
> in Wisconsin, Iowa and Ilinois)
> 14. Aldi
> 15. Fry's Food Stores
> 16. Fred Myer
> 17. Save Mart
> 18. King Soopers
> 19. H-E-B
> 20. SuperTarget
> 21. Hannaford
> 22. ShopRite
> 23. Ingles Markets
> 24. Schnucks
> 25. County Market
> 26. Dillons
> 27. Price Chopper
> 28. Cub Foods
> 29. Sav-a-Lot
> 30. Big-Y
> 31. Bashas'
> 32. Meijer
> 33. Giant Food Stores
> 34. Smith's Food & Drug
> 35. Bi-Lo
> 36. Vons
> 37. Kroger
> 38. Sam's Club
> 39. Ralphs
> 40. Weis Markets
> 41. IGA
> 42. BJ's Wholesale Club
> 43. Albertsons
> 44. Safeway
> 45. Jewel-Osco
> 46. Giant Eagle
> 47. Acme
> 48. Stop & Sop
> 49. Pick 'n Save
>
> This survey was held between April 2007 and April 2008. The survey
> covers a total of 48, 831 visits; and findings reflect the experiences
> of their readers, not necessarily those of the general population.
>
>
Thanks for posting this.
Becca
sf
<jpst...@isp.com> wrote:
>Im about to start jam making in an attempt to make her jam with less
>sugar than the commercial products.
>
There seem to be lots of recipes on the internet.
>Fortunately i found a peanut butter with no salt or sugar. I can make
>my own peanut butter but its tedious and im a bit concerned about
>wearing out my food processor to do so.
I always thought peanut butter was something to make using your
blender.