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I shop at Trader Joe's because there is one very near my house, and the produce is much, much better than anything you'd get at Safeway, Target, Wal*Mart, Giant

by cmccabe 13y ago

I shop at Trader Joe's because there is one very near my house, and the produce is much, much better than anything you'd get at Safeway, Target, Wal*Mart, Giant Eagle, etc. Cutting open a bell pepper to find mold inside is not an experience I want to have again. Nor is buying bagged spinach and realizing that it's already turning brown and soggy. Let's not over-idealize the situation. Trader Joe's does advertise (they keep sending me paper mail) and they do put things on sale from time to time. Thankfully, they don't have any loyalty card bullshit-- that kind of thing is always a big pain. TJ's also carries a fairly limited selection of items compared to most stores. But it turns out that having a limited selection of items that are not shit is preferable to being a giant warehouse of questionable items.

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- cmccabe 13y ago
  I live in the bay area, and I wouldn't buy anything from Safeway that wasn't already in a can or a jar when they got it. And sometimes not even that. In 2012, Consumer reports did a study where only a few "extra virgin olive oils" turned out to actually be extra virgin. Trader Joes has them; Safeway does not. http://www.phoenixhelix.com/2013/03/04/would-the-real-olive-oil-please-stand-up/ http://www.phoenixhelix.com/2013/03/04/would-the-real-olive-... Simiarly, would you buy honey from Safeway? It's not actually pure honey. The FDA doesn't enforce any standards as to what can be labelled honey (although they do provide a grade which tells you what color it is) http://www.foodsafetynews.com/2011/11/tests-show-most-store-honey-isnt-honey/#.UiuislFgoVQ http://www.foodsafetynews.com/2011/11/tests-show-most-store-... Trader Joe's has real honey. Spinach I buy from TJ's keeps for two weeks, but spinach I buy from Target is already wilted after a few days. I don't know if there's anyone out there measuring produce quality, so I can't give you a link. Sometimes, it really is about having a better product, not about marketing, positioning, or other bullshit. (And I guess now we're back on topic?)
Amadou 13y ago
> and they do put things on sale from time to time I think you are mistaken. From their FAQ: "Sale" is a four-letter word to us. We have low prices, every day. No coupons, no membership cards, no discounts. You won't find any glitzy promotions or couponing wars at our stores. If it makes you feel any better, think of it as all our items are on sale, day in and day out. http://www.traderjoes.com/about/general-faq.asp http://www.traderjoes.com/about/general-faq.asp

by cmccabe 13y ago

deleted 13y ago

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cmccabe 13y ago
I live in the bay area, and I wouldn't buy anything from Safeway that wasn't already in a can or a jar when they got it. And sometimes not even that. In 2012, Consumer reports did a study where only a few "extra virgin olive oils" turned out to actually be extra virgin. Trader Joes has them; Safeway does not. http://www.phoenixhelix.com/2013/03/04/would-the-real-olive-oil-please-stand-up/ http://www.phoenixhelix.com/2013/03/04/would-the-real-olive-... Simiarly, would you buy honey from Safeway? It's not actually pure honey. The FDA doesn't enforce any standards as to what can be labelled honey (although they do provide a grade which tells you what color it is) http://www.foodsafetynews.com/2011/11/tests-show-most-store-honey-isnt-honey/#.UiuislFgoVQ http://www.foodsafetynews.com/2011/11/tests-show-most-store-... Trader Joe's has real honey. Spinach I buy from TJ's keeps for two weeks, but spinach I buy from Target is already wilted after a few days. I don't know if there's anyone out there measuring produce quality, so I can't give you a link. Sometimes, it really is about having a better product, not about marketing, positioning, or other bullshit. (And I guess now we're back on topic?)

Amadou 13y ago

> and they do put things on sale from time to time I think you are mistaken. From their FAQ: "Sale" is a four-letter word to us. We have low prices, every day. No coupons, no membership cards, no discounts. You won't find any glitzy promotions or couponing wars at our stores. If it makes you feel any better, think of it as all our items are on sale, day in and day out. http://www.traderjoes.com/about/general-faq.asp http://www.traderjoes.com/about/general-faq.asp