[WouldLoveTo]

Originally Posted by JayCT

No, it was the Glastonbury Boulevard store. I found it dark. Some aisles were hard to see merchandise. DW, who shops there all the time noticed it too. Has to do with the darker color scheme and lighting. Before the colors were brighter and the lighting better so it was bright.

Funny I did not like Shaw’s when it was there. Back then I did as much food shopping as she did. Did not care for their meats and produce and found it annoying that they were out of things. How can a major supermarket not have larger bottles of Heinz ketchup? When I asked the manager about it, he said to just buy their store brand instead. They said that for other items I could not find which I found annoying. I just stopped going there after that. Jay

That is so weird! I don't have any light/dark issues in that store, though I'm usually on the perimeter. It is definitely something I'd complain about too - one of my biggest pet peeves in restaurants is lighting so dim that I can't read the menu.

I've noticed that Shop Rite is even worse for brands than Shaw's or Stop and Shop. I remember running in there for a couple of things one day because I was already in the parking lot and could not find what I was looking for in a brand name. Pretty sure it was a muffin mix and a spice or flavoring. I was pretty annoyed as the store brands looked really cheap so I had to go to S&S anyway. Now that I think about it, I don't think they had the muffin mix at all - I was looking at sometime simple like blueberry muffins. And there weren't any empty spots for it.

OTOH they carry individual Hosmer soda and Shady Glen ice cream. S&S has eliminated their store brand cane sugar sodas that you could buy singly. I don't buy soda often but when I do, I don't really need or want a pack of them and I liked that they had $1 ones.

[JayCT]

Originally Posted by WouldLoveTo

That is so weird! I don't have any light/dark issues in that store, though I'm usually on the perimeter. It is definitely something I'd complain about too - one of my biggest pet peeves in restaurants is lighting so dim that I can't read the menu.

I've noticed that Shop Rite is even worse for brands than Shaw's or Stop and Shop. I remember running in there for a couple of things one day because I was already in the parking lot and could not find what I was looking for in a brand name. Pretty sure it was a muffin mix and a spice or flavoring. I was pretty annoyed as the store brands looked really cheap so I had to go to S&S anyway. Now that I think about it, I don't think they had the muffin mix at all - I was looking at sometime simple like blueberry muffins. And there weren't any empty spots for it.

OTOH they carry individual Hosmer soda and Shady Glen ice cream. S&S has eliminated their store brand cane sugar sodas that you could buy singly. I don't buy soda often but when I do, I don't really need or want a pack of them and I liked that they had $1 ones.

My issue was not in the perimeter of the store, it was down the aisles. They were narrow and dark and those stupid displays of useless items they set up in EVERY aisle maks it even worse. I wasn't there during a busy time but can only imagine what a pain it is then.

I prefer Highland Park Market. The meats are excellent but pricier and they don't have the larger sizes in many products I buy but it is definitely a more manageable size and pleasant to shop there. Plus everyone is friendly and helpful so I go there a couple times a week now. Jay

[ryanthegoldengod]

Originally Posted by Stepfordct

Welcome to Ct. Its a great place to do business!!
Most of the competitors pay less and are not union. You complain about Stop & Shops higher prices.....how do you think they pay union goodies?
"Id happily pay more if i knew the employees were being paid more" is a big fat lie. Not for everyone, but most.

Human nature is what it is. We all want the best deal....for us first. Accept that.

Obamacare wrecked health insurance. Most every company has done what they are doing. Passing on costs.

Personally i love the store. Get my banking done, get my gas points, buy whats on sale....my family likes Trader joes. Its all good

I knew it! It's Obama's fault!

[WouldLoveTo]

Originally Posted by JayCT

My issue was not in the perimeter of the store, it was down the aisles. They were narrow and dark and those stupid displays of useless items they set up in EVERY aisle maks it even worse. I wasn't there during a busy time but can only imagine what a pain it is then.

I prefer Highland Park Market. The meats are excellent but pricier and they don't have the larger sizes in many products I buy but it is definitely a more manageable size and pleasant to shop there. Plus everyone is friendly and helpful so I go there a couple times a week now. Jay

That's what I was saying, I don't go down the isles often so I guess I'm not seeing the same issue. My biggest issue after the renovation was that I couldn't find anything, but luckily they put cheat sheets at the end of every isle.

Highland Park! I've heard such good things about them, have not gotten more than a sandwich or an odd item there. I fear it would be like shopping at Whole Foods price-wise. The stores are really nice though!

[kidyankee764]

Originally Posted by JayCT

My issue was not in the perimeter of the store, it was down the aisles. They were narrow and dark and those stupid displays of useless items they set up in EVERY aisle maks it even worse. I wasn't there during a busy time but can only imagine what a pain it is then.

I prefer Highland Park Market. The meats are excellent but pricier and they don't have the larger sizes in many products I buy but it is definitely a more manageable size and pleasant to shop there. Plus everyone is friendly and helpful so I go there a couple times a week now. Jay

You’re lucky you even got a renovation. The one near me was old, with stained flooring and marked up walls. Almost every cart had a defective wheel (pet peeve). It would be one thing if the prices were low to justify shopping there, but that wasn’t the case!

[Mike 75]

Originally Posted by kidyankee764

Stop and Shop has to be one of the worst run grocery stores in the country. Their stores are dingy, produce subpar at best, prices sky high, employees miserable, etc. Hopefully this strike will get corporate to pay attention. If not, I hope they fold.

+1. I don't know why anyone shops there, especially where there are alternative grocery stores in the area. We have two other grocery stores in Wilton that are locally owned and much better than S&S, yet people keep going to S&S. Boggles the mind.

[WouldLoveTo]

Originally Posted by kidyankee764

You’re lucky you even got a renovation. The one near me was old, with stained flooring and marked up walls. Almost every cart had a defective wheel (pet peeve). It would be one thing if the prices were low to justify shopping there, but that wasn’t the case!

Both Glastonbury stores were fixed up. The East Hartford one (Silver Lane) is a pit. I'm not sure there is any hope for that one.

[JayCT]

Originally Posted by WouldLoveTo

That's what I was saying, I don't go down the isles often so I guess I'm not seeing the same issue. My biggest issue after the renovation was that I couldn't find anything, but luckily they put cheat sheets at the end of every isle.

Highland Park! I've heard such good things about them, have not gotten more than a sandwich or an odd item there. I fear it would be like shopping at Whole Foods price-wise. The stores are really nice though!

Whole Foods is expensive because it sells natural and organic foods which are more expensive to begin with. Highland sells the same brands as Stop & Shop only they are a little higher in price. When we were on a tight budget I avoided it because of that but now I go there and just bite the bullet on prices. Can't tell you if its too costly for you or not. Their meats are more but they do have sales which I shop by. They are also much better quality. You might check it out for a shopping trip or two while Stop & Shop is on strike to see if you notice the difference or not. Jay

[WouldLoveTo]

Originally Posted by JayCT

Whole Foods is expensive because it sells natural and organic foods which are more expensive to begin with. Highland sells the same brands as Stop & Shop only they are a little higher in price. When we were on a tight budget I avoided it because of that but now I go there and just bite the bullet on prices. Can't tell you if its too costly for you or not. Their meats are more but they do have sales which I shop by. They are also much better quality. You might check it out for a shopping trip or two while Stop & Shop is on strike to see if you notice the difference or not. Jay

Thanks! I just may, it's really not in my daily travels though. We may be stuck with Shop Rite for awhile. I wish they'd clean up the Aldi's on Silver Lane - I'd go there more otherwise.

[GeoffD]

Originally Posted by Lalalally

$15 hour minimum wage, which is on its way in CT + TOLLS coming all over the state, plus the fact S&s actually offers *pensions*, plus the 5 weeks vacation demanded = the absolute decimation of and death nail in the coffin for either S&S in its entirety; or at a minimum, the death of the “concept” of a S&S full-time employee.

It’s at a lager head, and there is no doubt the S&S full-time employee will lose either way. Writing is on the wall.

They will go the way of the dodo bird

Massachusetts has a $15 minimum wage coming and it has tolls. Market Basket is the dominant grocery store chain in the eastern half of the state. It's non-union. The employees like working there. They have competitive compensation and benefits. They like the owner/management to the point where they went on strike a couple of years ago because another family member took control and was going to sell it to a giant corporation. The other corporate-owned grocery store chains in the region have had a huge wave of store closures. Market Basket beats them on price, service, and quality.



This is all about lousy ownership.