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News-Sentinel.com Your Town. Your Voice.
Opening Arguments

Food fight

This must be the new version of "champagne taste on a beer budget":

For people who live in very drivable communities, low prices are likely to be a primary consideration, Livingston said. That’s one reason he said stores like Wal-Mart, Aldi and Target are attracting customers who may have previously shopped at more traditional grocery stores, like Safeway or Albertsons.

On Tuesday, Life Inc. asked readers what bothers them most about grocery stores. More than 50,000 readers responded to our survey, and although many said they don’t like dirty stores and long lines, the most common gripe was high prices.

Many of our readers admitted they grudgingly shop based on price.

“Love Trader Joe's, Co-op, Whole Foods, etc. but low price comes first,” one reader wrote.

“Luv/Hate with Walmart. We are disabled and on a fixed income -- go to Walmart for prices but hate the store,” another reader commented.

My own particular "love it except for the price" place is  Fresh Market out on Jefferson Boulevard. I don't avoid it, though. I do my regular shooping at Scott's or Kroger's and hit Fresh Market every month or six weeks to indulge myself in a few exotic things. Don't like the food at Walmart -- low prices aren't enough of a lure. I'd shop at Meijer  if it were closer to me.

Comments

Harl Delos
Wed, 04/04/2012 - 11:42am

The Albreicht Discount chain, AlDi, managed to drive Walmart out of Germany with their low prices.  The quality of the fresh beef and pork, and fresh produce at Costco attract me, too.

I also shop at dent-and-bang stores a lot.  (There used to be a nameless one operated by an Amish family on Graber Road, a couple of miles off 37, open one day a week. Don't know if it still exists.) I still have to go to a regular supermarket when I want something specific, such as Coco Wheats or beau monde spice, but not often.

Walmart used to be a favotite store, but after Sam died, they rapidly went downhill with rude clerks, and empty shelves.  They can talk all they want about turning their merchandise 12 times a year, but f I take a list of twelve items and they only have eight of them in stock, they're forcing me to go to the competition. That's asking a lot for a cripple like me; I simply go to the other store first and pay $2 more for $80 of food.

I'd shop Meijer's if they were closer, too.

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