Kroger or Harris Teeter? (Cary: coupons, buy, pharmacy)

[jkmeca11]

HT Rocks!! Everywhere else seems trashy in comparison in my opinion.

[tortoise944]

Originally Posted by jkmeca11

HT Rocks!! Everywhere else seems trashy in comparison in my opinion.

Again, there are many ways to compare grocery stores, both single factor and multifactor.

Looking at service/selection, HT is the top.
Looking only at price, Kroger is cheaper then HT. (and I bet Food Lion is cheaper then both HT and kroger, but I havnt ever shopped their exclusively).

Its up to each person to determine what % service, selection, and price play in their choices.

For me at this point, price (70%) > selection (25%) > service (5%).

I am still in shock with how much grocery prices have increased for us, both with the move from Ohio (around 15% higher) and this year (like another 10-15% increase) with the drought, price of corn, and the mess with fruit issues with freezing temps this spring.

Nothing quite messes with a nice budget then an unexpected 20-25% increase in grocery prices.

[Wanna Leave Penciltucky]

Neither. Try Lowe's foods, Fresh Market or Trader Joes and Costco.

[rockyhillgal]

I love the prices at Kroegers, but in the last two shopping trips I've come home with chicken that had bad spots on it and pita bread with green mold. The bad spots on the chicken were areas beginning to rot. I automatically put all of our bread products in the freezer to preserve freshness, so I know I came home with moldy pita bread. When you have to throw out food, it doesn't seem like such a bargain anymore.

Last night, we went to Whole Foods for the first time. After walking through its produce section, I thought I'd died and gone to heaven. No more rusty lettuce!!! It doesn't carry everything I need and its prices require judicious planning, but I'll be darned if I bring home rotting, low quality food again for my family. I'm thinking HT for everyday stuff and Whole Foods for produce, meat and dairy.

[dansdrive]

It all depend son convenience. Based on gas prices and where you live should help decide which one is better for you. If you live within a few miles if a Kroger, Harris Teeter, Lowe's, Walmart, Target then it makes sense to shop at multiple ones for the best prices. Now you can even throw in a Walgreens who has good prices on milk. Shop the place with SALES for sale items.

If you live out a ways and don't have a store that is convenient than it will already cost you to drive to the grocery store so you may want to just pick one that has the best prices and service for you. In the long run what you save on gas hitting a few of the stores will help pay for the higher average prices at whom ever you pick.

From a pure service perspective IMHO Harris Teeter's provides the best Customer service.

[Calvitts]

One major difference I have seen between HT and Kroger is the level of customer service and the amount of time spent waiting to check-out. The Kroger nearest me (on NC 54 near Southpoint Mall) seems to always have long lines waiting to check-out. One Sunday evening I was shopping at Kroger with my 75 year young MIL, and all the registers had long check-out lines. We were relieved when an additional register opened up; however, as soon as they opened the new register, they closed off another.

At Harris Teeter I see additional check-outs opened as soon as the front end gets busy. And invariably, throughout the store, HT personnel will ask if I am finding everything okay and do I need any assistance. Love the customer service!!!

[RDSLOTS]

For some things I buy regularly, I found the Kroger closest to me to be actually more expensive -- for example, same brand of organic milk was almost $4.00 for a half-gallon at Kroger, and about $3.19 at Harris Teeter. By comparison, it was $2.98 a few months back at WalMart, but I can't stand having to go there.

I find Harris Teeter to always be clean, and the cashiers and clerks, helpful and friendly. I have had the MGR really research a few products for me, and stock the store (at the corner of High House and Carpenter Upchurch). As much as I detest grocery shopping in general, going to this Harris Teeter is almost a pleasure.

By contrast, while I like the one at Davis Drive and Koppers (I think), it isn't the same for some reason -- probably has to do with management? They are nice enough, but I don't feel like they go out of their way to be helpful or friendly at that HT. Not rude, but just not the same.

With as many grocery stores as what I have access to, within just five miles of my house, I don't understand how they all support themselves. For some things, I will travel down Cary Parkway to both Trader Joe's and Whole Foods. They are well worth the trip for a lot of items, especially wines and cheeses, and some specialty items.

[MAtoNC!]

I bought Kroger Naturally Preferred organic milk $2.55 half gallon. It was on sale. I think it was $2.99 before that. What brand are you buying?

[mszady]

Wow, I just moved to Cary and checked out HT for the first time....it is super expencive! Like double the price of other stores, their sale produce every week are not on SALE! I think Krogers is ok, better then HT.

[RDSLOTS]

Wow, when did you see organic milk for that price? The cheapest I have ever seen it is about $2.98 or $2.99, at Target and WalMart. I buy Horizon Organic milk -- with the cow flying across the carton. I like all of their organic dairy products.

How does the Kroger variety compare?