On Apr 24, 2:14*am, "
> wrote:
> On Apr 23, 2:09*pm, "Kent" > wrote:
>
>
>
>
>
> > "Julie Bove" ...
> > "sf" > wroteinmessage
>
> .. .
>
> > > On Sun, 22 Apr 2012 22:49:06 -0700, "Julie Bove"
> > > > wrote:
>
> > >> So I now know that these two are one and the same. *I do remember seeing
> > >> a>> Smart and FinalinOakland. *I always wanted to go there but was never
> > >> able
> > >> to.
>
> > >> So for those of you who go there... *What do you buy? *I don't
> > >> necessarily>> need to buy large quantities of things most of the time. *However, once
> > >> my>> husband moves back here I will be needing some thingsinlarge
> > >> quantities.>> Amazing how much food one man can consume! *Anyway....
>
> > >> We didn't have time to browse every aisle like we wanted to. *I saw super
> > >> good prices on produce and cheese. *And the bread was cheap. *12 pack
> > >> sodas
> > >> were more expensive than the sale price at most groceries. *And this
> > >> week, 2>> stores that I know of are giving out free stuff if you buy 3 of the 12
> > >> pack>> Coke products. *We got the skinny cans at Albertson's for free and>> Vitamin>> water at Target. *Target was also giving out chips if you bought the>> skinny
> > >> cans but we didn't need the chips.
>
> > >> Anyway... *What sorts of things should I look for there? *Thanks!
>
> > > Just walk down the aisles of the one you will shop at and scope it> out, Julie.*Theyoften have a really good price on butter, but> Safeway just got a new brand that's veryinexpensive and other brands> are usually on sale. *I have 3 S&F/C&C nearby andthey're all> different.*Theydo haveindustrial sized cans of stuff andincertain> stores (I think the ones labeled as Cash & Carry) there are walkin
> > > meat lockers where you can buy whole cuts of cryovac meat. *The first> time I ever saw Mayocoba beans, it was a 25pound bag at Smart &> Final. *I like dried beans, but notinthat quantity.
>
> > I didn't realizetheywere all different! *Here, Safeway is one of the
> > highest priced places to shop. *I rarely go there. *Only if I just need acouple of things and am by one or iftheyhave a sale on something.*Theydo
> > have good sale prices sometimes.
>
> > I think Safeway's exorbitant prices are pretty uniform everywhere. *Theirservice is pretty marginal. Everyone frowns, unlike Trader Joes.
>
> Perhaps you should fill out a comment card. Safeway has a very big
> service program, and it includes being friendly, *greeting with a
> smile, etc. Your description doesn't fit with my Safeway, or the ones
> i go to when I travel.
>
> I hated Trader Joes. The people were nice, yes, but everything was
> weird. I wanted to make a salad, and I could not find a normal Ranch
> dressing. There was some light version, but that was the only one.
> Most stores have multiple brands to choose from.

Costco doesn't, but the lack of variety doesn't keep people from
shopping there. Further, Trader Joes has housebrands wherever
possible.

> This store had mostly
> froo froo stuff, and nothing normal.

In that way it's a lot like Whole Foods, which appears to be
successful as well.

> We ended up going to another
> grocery to find our dinner. (We were traveling, so buying food to go
> back to a hotel room).

Trader Joe's has sandwiches and salads ready to eat. Other foods they
sell just need to be nuked.