U.S. CitiesCity-Data Forum Index
Go Back   City-Data Forum > U.S. Forums > Texas
 [Register]
Please register to participate in our discussions with 1.5 million other members - it's free and quick! Some forums can only be seen by registered members. After you create your account, you'll be able to customize options and access all our 15,000 new posts/day with fewer ads.
Jump to a detailed profile or search
site with Google Custom Search

Search Forums  (Advanced)
Business Search - 14 Million verified businesses
Search for:  near: 
Reply
 
Unread 08-27-2010, 11:18 AM
 
487 posts, read 591,063 times
Reputation: 240
Quote:
Originally Posted by Jennibc View Post
Clearly, you are not the price-sensitive consumer that I am
I second that! I do almost all of my grocery shopping at TJ's and with a cart full of organic produce, dairy items and meats my bill has never been over $200. There's no way I could get out of Whole Foods with the same products for the same price. Over the course of a year, that difference really adds up.
Reply With Quote Quick reply to this message

 
Unread 08-27-2010, 11:51 AM
 
1,850 posts, read 1,783,727 times
Reputation: 837
Trader Joe's has less selection than big grocery stores, but this is on purpose. They carry a few brands that people grow to trust. So rather than carrying 50 varieties of peanut butter, they carry just a few. They sell more of each, rather than spreading sales out over the larger number, so they can get volume discounts. So the smaller selection pays off with lower prices. If you don't like what they have to offer, then this model doesn't work for you. But if you do like their products, you save a lot of money, and get products you enjoy. I think most TJ's devotees also shop in other places because TJ's just doesn't have everything you may need. But who cares, if you love what you do get from there? For example, TJ's has always been weak when it comes to produce. They are getting better, but who wouldn't prefer a farmer's market? I used to buy bananas there, but not really much other produce.
Reply With Quote Quick reply to this message
 
Unread 08-27-2010, 01:34 PM
 
Location: Austin, TX
1,901 posts, read 1,456,718 times
Reputation: 2206
Quote:
Originally Posted by doctorjef View Post
Who needs Trader Joe's when you've got Central Market and Whole Foods!
Because Central Market and Whole Foods cost a fortune.
Reply With Quote Quick reply to this message
 
Unread 08-27-2010, 01:36 PM
 
Location: Greenville, Delaware
4,209 posts, read 4,328,247 times
Reputation: 1890
Oh well, then I guess you'll just have to shop at Randall's.
Reply With Quote Quick reply to this message
 
Unread 08-27-2010, 01:45 PM
 
15,425 posts, read 20,654,993 times
Reputation: 5336
We have the cheap version in Dallas - ALDI - hoping that is a harbinger of TJ's...
Reply With Quote Quick reply to this message
 
Unread 08-27-2010, 03:29 PM
 
Location: Avery Ranch, Austin, TX
3,732 posts, read 3,595,418 times
Reputation: 1372
Quote:
Originally Posted by Lakewooder View Post
We have the cheap version in Dallas - ALDI - hoping that is a harbinger of TJ's...
Alas, I wouldn't hold my breath!

Alas AND alack regarding their eschewing an appearance in Austin! Oh, well...we'll make do.
Reply With Quote Quick reply to this message
 
Unread 08-28-2010, 05:23 PM
 
8,152 posts, read 8,286,341 times
Reputation: 3414
I've shopped at TJ's recently in SF and NY over the summer...and I can say that the assortment is nothing special. I could see going there for the coffee (pretty good) and the nuts, but the rest is nothing compared to WF, or even CM. Acronyms! It's just 'meh' in my book!
Reply With Quote Quick reply to this message
 
Unread 08-28-2010, 09:37 PM
 
381 posts, read 638,307 times
Reputation: 137
It is the price that sets it apart! I was there just recently during a family vacation and I found the same goats cheese I've been buying here in Austin for $2 cheaper! It was that way across the board. I love Central Market but cannot afford it. I'm on a tight budget and TJ's let's me still feel a little indulgent. I'm not going to whine about it though. I've found Sprouts and Sun Harvest to have fabulous produce at rock bottom prices so that makes me happy
Reply With Quote Quick reply to this message
 
Unread 08-28-2010, 10:06 PM
 
516 posts, read 562,777 times
Reputation: 162
Quote:
Originally Posted by mimimomx3 View Post
I've shopped at TJ's recently in SF and NY over the summer...and I can say that the assortment is nothing special. I could see going there for the coffee (pretty good) and the nuts, but the rest is nothing compared to WF, or even CM. Acronyms! It's just 'meh' in my book!
I don't think anyone who loves Tj's is trying to compare it to WF or CM as they are a very different type of supermarket. What we love about TJ's is the price based on the quality of food. I have yet to find any market that compares to them in price. I could get twice as much food at TJ's compared to what I spend at other markets. Even their organic food (and they offer a large variety) is less than other markets. I have shopped at Sprouts and didn't really care for it. Sun Harvest was pretty good, but again you just can't beat TJ's prices for the type of food they sell.
Reply With Quote Quick reply to this message
 
Unread 08-29-2010, 01:21 PM
 
8,152 posts, read 8,286,341 times
Reputation: 3414
Quote:
Originally Posted by eichlerfan View Post
I don't think anyone who loves Tj's is trying to compare it to WF or CM as they are a very different type of supermarket. What we love about TJ's is the price based on the quality of food. I have yet to find any market that compares to them in price. I could get twice as much food at TJ's compared to what I spend at other markets. Even their organic food (and they offer a large variety) is less than other markets. I have shopped at Sprouts and didn't really care for it. Sun Harvest was pretty good, but again you just can't beat TJ's prices for the type of food they sell.
Maybe I didn't shop the right things, but the things I did see where comparable in price- I don't buy 'convenience' foods except Annie's Mac n Cheese- cheaper at HEB, Kashi frozen foods- cheaper at HEB. Sprouts sells a lot of low carb bread stuff I can't find anywhere else. The produce at HEB and Sun Harvest are terrible. I gladly pay more at WF (and sometimes CM) or even Randalls for produce that lasts longer. The TJ's in San Francisco I went to had a horrible meat counter- it was small and very limited.
Reply With Quote Quick reply to this message
Please register to post and access all features of our very popular forum. It is free and quick. Over $53,000 in prizes has already been given out to active posters on our forum. Additional giveaways are planned.

Detailed information about all U.S. cities, counties, and zip codes on our site: City-data.com.


Reply
Please update this thread with any new information or opinions. This open thread is still read by thousands of people, so we encourage all additional points of view.

Quick Reply
Message:


Options
X
Data:
Loading data...
Based on 2005-2010 data
Loading data...

123
Hide US histogram

Over $47,000 in prizes was already given out to active posters on our forum and additional giveaways are planned!

Go Back   City-Data Forum > U.S. Forums > Texas

All times are GMT -6. The time now is 01:59 AM.

© 2005-2013, Advameg, Inc.

City-Data.com - Archive 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24 - Top