Comments on: How To Shop at Whole Foods

By: peterb

peterb — Thu, 17 Mar 2005 03:36:47 +0000

I’m using the Express Lane Rules, so 10 apples == 1 item.

Perhaps my ticket average is higher because I can’t resist the allure of the Cheeses Made From Fine Turkish Heroin section.

By: Laura

Laura — Thu, 17 Mar 2005 03:21:52 +0000

I can’t quite figure out what counts as “one item” for the purposes of the math. I am assuming one bulk spinach leaf = obviously not one item, but what about 10 apples? Is that 1 item or 10?

Anyway, as Nat said about ingredients…we tend to end up spending ~$3/item at WF, based on our last two receipts. I recognize that being one of those people with a hate on for processed food helps here — but that’s kind of the thing. For my particular shopping habits, I get higher quality food for about the same price as Giant Eagle would charge me. For someone with different habits, it’s easy to get only marginally better food for twice as much as Giant Eagle.

By: Andrew Plotkin

Andrew Plotkin — Tue, 15 Mar 2005 19:30:41 +0000

The fact that I can walk to Whole Foods any evening of the week, whereas the Strip is only available on Saturday mornings, is a deciding factor for me. I don’t plan a week’s cooking in advance. If I want something, it’s either at Giant Eagle or Whole Foods. If I want *two* things, chances are that I have to go to Whole Foods (or else make two stops).

Yes, I’d rather get raped in the wallet than stop in two stores when one would do.

By: psu

psu — Tue, 15 Mar 2005 16:56:09 +0000

I’ve managed to get half pound chunks of cheese from Penn Mac for at least the last 5 years. They have also started carrying various cheeses that only come in small sizes, so might have relaxed their rules a bit.

By: Nat

Nat — Tue, 15 Mar 2005 15:30:24 +0000

Yeah, WF does tasting — they encourage people to taste and ask questions about all of the cheese.

I coulda sworn I still saw the ‘one pound minimum’ size up at Penn Mac last time I was there. Huh.

By: a

Mon, 14 Mar 2005 23:19:53 +0000

Cheese at Penn Mac: They stopped forcing customers to buy a whole pound some time ago. They also are happy to let you taste. Admittedly, though, this is awkward when it’s Saturday morning and there are 50 slightly impatient people waiting their turn as you’re pondering the creaminess of that 8th sample. But perhaps WF does tasting, too…?

By: Nat

Nat — Mon, 14 Mar 2005 19:14:47 +0000

The big problem with the cheese-at-pennmac solution is that I don’t always need an entire pound of triple-cream brie or whatever.

I know WF is ripping me off for most of the weird cheeses I buy, but I’m a lot less willing to pick up a random new cheese if I have to buy it in gigantic chunks.

Also, it turns out that I’m willing to pay a decent premium to be able to buy things after 4pm on a weekday.

By: Faisal N. Jawdat

Faisal N. Jawdat — Mon, 14 Mar 2005 17:59:15 +0000

Also: write out your entire shopping list, then hit WF and GE in a row. Do this a couple times and you start to notice items which are basically the same at both and cheaper at one or the other. If you go at seperate times you don’t have the inventory fresh in your mind, and the list in front of you.

By: a.

a. — Mon, 14 Mar 2005 04:10:59 +0000

My two cents:

I agree completely re: the deli and prepared foods. The co-op, I feel, has much better (and healthier) prepared foods. On that note, the co-op also has better prices on some produce, such as organic bell peppers (e.g., 2.99/lb vs. 5.99/lb). Unfortunately, the co-op’s produce tends to not always be the freshest and spoil too quickly.

The bulk chocolate is worth it for the most part, unless you are the sort to buy 5-kilo bars. Chocolate Moose in Sq. Hill has decent-priced bulk but not as many varieties.

The amount of money they charge for shiitake mushrooms is outrageous. Lotus has them for less than half the price.

Same as above; replace with olives and Penn Mac.

The cheese prices are truly shameful, but there is no other place to my knowledge that carries the yummy Abergavenny welsh cheeses and 4yr old cheddar that comes close to the kind found in NY.

By: peterb

peterb — Sun, 13 Mar 2005 23:49:41 +0000

Re: Peruvian peasant sandwich

Is it really my fault if exploiting indigenous peoples tastes so darn _good_?

I think not!