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. This store had mostly
froo froo stuff, and nothing normal. We ended up going to another
grocery to find our dinner. (We were traveling, so buying food to go
back to a hotel room).

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.

spamtrap1888 wrote:
> 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.
>
I shop at Costco knowing that I might not get what I want. I am there
looking for bargains.

<snip>

Julie Bove wrote:

> I shop at Costco knowing that I might not get what I want. I am there
> looking for bargains.

Good old common sense. Well said, Julie.

On Apr 24, 3:53*pm, George M. Middius > wrote:
> Julie Bove wrote:
> > I shop at Costco knowing that I might not get what I want. *I am there
> > looking for bargains.
>
> Good old common sense. Well said, Julie.

And Costco charges only $55 a year for its bargain hunting license.

The only real bargain I ever found at Costco was an Optima battery.
Most things they have for sale are priced the same at Smart and Final.
Costco last week was selling Tide in the giant container for $2 more
than Target. My wife bought Michelins from a tire store near her work
for less than the Costco price. The Sony TV we liked was cheaper at
Best Buy. But my wife likes to shop there, so, so be it. I do like
their boxes of Campari tomatoes, but they're sure not cheap.

spamtrap1888 wrote:
> On Apr 24, 3:53 pm, George M. Middius > wrote:
>> Julie Bove wrote:
>>> I shop at Costco knowing that I might not get what I want. I am
>>> there looking for bargains.
>>
>> Good old common sense. Well said, Julie.
>
> And Costco charges only $55 a year for its bargain hunting license.
>
> The only real bargain I ever found at Costco was an Optima battery.
> Most things they have for sale are priced the same at Smart and Final.
> Costco last week was selling Tide in the giant container for $2 more
> than Target. My wife bought Michelins from a tire store near her work
> for less than the Costco price. The Sony TV we liked was cheaper at
> Best Buy. But my wife likes to shop there, so, so be it. I do like
> their boxes of Campari tomatoes, but they're sure not cheap.

We have the better membership so $110 a year. My husband buys all sorts of
things there. He said they have the best price on golf balls. I buy
cheese, meat, hemp hearts, flax seed (sadly none to be had last time),
canned goods, sometimes cat litter, paper products, supplements, shampoo,
body wash, makeup, beverages... And I use them to send presents to people
in other states. They don't charge postage and their gift baskets are
really good values.

spamtrap1888 wrote:

> > > I shop at Costco knowing that I might not get what I want. *I am there
> > > looking for bargains.
> >
> > Good old common sense. Well said, Julie.
>
> And Costco charges only $55 a year for its bargain hunting license.
>
> The only real bargain I ever found at Costco was an Optima battery.
> Most things they have for sale are priced the same at Smart and Final.

2-lb bag of Philippine mango $15
giant jar of pickled jalapeno slices $6
LOL butter $1.88 (other stores around here charge ~$4)
a dozen fresh croissants $8
KA Pro 6-qt mixer $350

Where I live, those are great deals. (I'm not a member so I don't go
there often.)