Nooooo!!

21stamps

Well-Known Member
Original Poster
I'm trying not to jump to conclusions and I'm going to give it a chance, but I like my local Whole Foods exactly as it is. I can't imagine how they can lower the prices and keep the same quality that they've always had. I shop there because every single department is superior to what is available in other grocery stores. I have many choices in the area where I live and I don't need or want another generic experience.
Furthermore, my Whole Foods is already so crowded on the weekends that more people really can't fit inside it so I don't see why they need to broaden their customer base in the first place.

Same.


That was very interesting. Thanks for posting! It is becoming mildly frightening. I do not shop at Walmart for some of those reasons. Ever. No matter what toy or item is on "sale". And I'm a republican.lol.. I hate what Walmart has done. Never shopped there, never will.

It makes me very sad that 2 of my favorite stores have now been bought out in the past 2 years. It's the consumers fault. We want everything "cheap" and don't care about the consequences.

Another thing that bugged me about (at least my local) Whole Foods was the confusing layout of the store--odd, circular floor plan, with some aisles in a vertical direction and others in a horizontal one. The signage for the aisles is printed in a light colored font, on a light background. I don't have failing eyesight, but I find these difficult to read from even a short distance away.

All the other grocery stores in my area (there are 5 different chains here) have all their aisles facing in one direction, and have very clear, bold-faced signs for each aisle, that make it quick and easy to find what you're looking for.

I never thought about that before. I just beeline to the areas I want, then get out quickly.lol

Because that makes it more of a game, like a maze. So really entertainment and shopping in one place, hence the higher price. ;)

I've only been to a Whole Foods once, just because until the last few months the closest one was 1 1/2 away and even now the closest one is 45 minutes away. I'm not driving that far for just groceries. When I did go there I did notice many prices were higher than my local grocery, even things like boxed mac and cheese. I did buy a couple things in the cheese section and bakery that I haven't seen in my store and were of a reasonable price. I remember there was a large deli type of section that had some interesting items and at ok prices. The croissants I bought there were very good (better than my store's) and on par with the price I pay at the grocery for their croissants.

I love both Whole Foods and Fresh Market, and have always lived close to both. I still shopped at Publix and now Kroger as well though. There are certain items that I buy at each.. over the past several years the larger chains have carried more organic items which is great. I like getting my fuel points at Kroger, and they often have Horizon milk on sale.

Things like fruit, veggies, olive bar, pre seasoned meat, ready to heat sides- these I will only get from Whole Foods or Fresh Market.

Ha! :p

Actually, my hubs likes to get a few special item things at Whole Foods, that he can't find elsewhere. He mentioned to me today that he is seeing some of the prices a bit lower, since Amazon took over. So that sounds positive for people who shop there on a regular basis.

If prices come down a bit it will be great, I just worry about Amazon ruining a great store.

Maybe, but, having the Amazon connection coupled with lower prices will blow the hell out of the status importance of the place. First thing you know it will be a more refined Walmart.

Never, in my entire life, have I met someone who shopped at Whole Foods for "status". That's crazy.

I don't know anyone who has time to worry about their "status" while running weekly errands such as grocery shopping. What I do worry about is feeding my family nourishing meals free of dangerous chemicals and unhealthy additives, something that Whole Foods makes very easy since they have strict rules about what ingredients are allowed to be in the foods they sell.

Exactly.
 
Last edited:

21stamps

Well-Known Member
Original Poster
The reasons you shop there sounds like the right reason to shop there, convenience and wanting to feed your family good food with ingredients you approve of. However, there a many people that shop at certain places because of a status thing, like if it costs more it must certainly be the best. Or like having name brand stuff because they think it impresses people. If people are shopping at a certain store just to impress people, that is sad but there are people like that.

You've met people who pay more for groceries because of "status"? Not because they like to feed themselves and their family healthy food?

I made all of my own baby food with organic fruits and veggies and armed with baby food recipes. I promise that when I walked into Whole Foods wearing my baby on my chest, hair in a bun, no makeup, and on 1 hour of sleep.. there was nothing "status" about it.Lol


ETA, the Publix in my neighborhood in Florida had valet parking. Even if you didn't valet someone brought your groceries to your car, even if you didn't want them to. The Whole Foods and Fresh Market in my neighborhood did not do either of those things... so wouldn't Publix almost be more fancy and status-like than the other 2?
(Sidenote- oh how I miss Publix deli sandwiches!)
 
Last edited:

21stamps

Well-Known Member
Original Poster
I'm waiting to go over the weekend. I shop Whole Foods almost exclusively, except for a few of my nasty habits(Diet Pepsi). I can see this as a win, sure there is going to be some Amazon touches but improving the supply chain infrastructure(lowering costs) and having the ability to buy their 365 brands online now is the benefit. Amazon already rules my life, I gave into my corporate overlord long ago.

I'm so confused by this after our conversation in another thread.

I do buy items on Amazon, but I have not put it above local retail stores.. because I don't want to see a continuation of another Walmart.
I thought I was supposed to be the capitalist heartless jerk and you were worried about people not affording to live.lol
 

Goofyernmost

Well-Known Member
Never, in my entire life, have I met someone who shopped at Whole Foods for "status". That's crazy.
Status is an internal thing. It's being seen in what are considered the right places. I really doesn't surprise me that never in your life have you met someone who told you they shopped at Whole Foods for "status". It is an implied, if you have to ask, you can't afford it type of thing. But, honestly don't get your knickers in a knot, I was basically tongue in cheek with a slight degree of reality stirred in there.
 

21stamps

Well-Known Member
Original Poster
Status is an internal thing. It's being seen in what are considered the right places. I really doesn't surprise me that never in your life have you met someone who told you they shopped at Whole Foods for "status". It is an implied, if you have to ask, you can't afford it type of thing. But, honestly don't get your knickers in a knot, I was basically tongue in cheek with a slight degree of reality stirred in there.

Funny story, just before Hurricane Wilma I went to load up on more water. Went to Publix- all water sold out. Went to Fresh Market- all water sold out. Went to Whole Foods- literally ran to the water aisle, another girl was standing there staring at the giant bottles of Fiji. I could see the dilemma on her face, I shared it. We looked at each other and I said "Neither one of us wants to pay this crazy price for water to potentially brush our teeth and wash our face with. But I need it, are you going to take some?" She said, "This sucks, but yes. I guess it makes sense that Whole Foods was the last place that would have water. You and I aren't the sharpest tools". We laughed and each took 6 of the 12 remaining litres.

I think those stores become the norm if you live in areas that have them, and if you try to live a healthy lifestyle. No one really thinks twice about it. I think "healthy" is more trendy than the store itself... but there are times when the prices stink.. especially when you end up buying water to use besides drinking.lol At the end of the day though both Whole Foods and The Fresh Market had admirable beginnings and company philosophies. I'd rather give my money to them and get the benefit of quality food.
I don't wish to give more money to Amazon who in my opinion will lesson the quality of Whole Foods eventually.
 

ajrwdwgirl

Premium Member
You've met people who pay more for groceries because of "status"? Not because they like to feed themselves and their family healthy food?

I made all of my own baby food with organic fruits and veggies and armed with baby food recipes. I promise that when I walked into Whole Foods wearing my baby on my chest, hair in a bun, no makeup, and on 1 hour of sleep.. there was nothing "status" about it.Lol


ETA, the Publix in my neighborhood in Florida had valet parking. Even if you didn't valet someone brought your groceries to your car, even if you didn't want them to. The Whole Foods and Fresh Market in my neighborhood did not do either of those things... so wouldn't Publix almost be more fancy and status-like than the other 2?
(Sidenote- oh how I miss Publix deli sandwiches!)

I have known people that have shopped at Whole Foods and other stores because they are sometimes seen as status stores. Whole Foods has a reputation of high prices, whether that is true or not I only have one experience with it (I thought what I purchased was of good value). But I do have a friend that lives near a Whole Foods who has posts on Social Media of not only her shopping there but other stores that are known for higher prices and tends to have bragging types of comments about her brand name clothes and things. And I know that she has put herself in a lot of debt shopping the way she has but she likes the status of people "knowing" she has these things or has gone certain places. I've known people like her my whole life, our high school bully was like this and would make fun of people for not wearing certain clothing brands. There are always status seekers.

And I really don't care if people have certain brands or where they shop. I only really care about what I buy and where I shop. I think the point of my original post was some people see it as a status place, but it is just a store. If people want to shop somewhere it should be because they like the product, see the value of it, and can afford what they buy. If Whole Foods was closer to me and was convenient I would probably shop occasionally there too, but I'm not driving 45 minutes to get groceries when I can drive 15 minutes to a store that has quality stuff. I by all means, wasn't trying to put down people who shop at certain stores.
 

Goofyernmost

Well-Known Member
And how can you be sure that the stuff they are selling you is any healthier that any other place. Isn't that all based on corporate faith? I don't believe that bottled water means it came from a pristine little spring someplace far removed from civilization, but, others have that image. What is in that water that you are specifically drinking is unknown and only because what is there is not overly harmful, doesn't mean it is clean as a whistle or any better then you draw from any faucet in your home. All myth and no provable fact. It's an image... people think that if it's bottled then it is superior. It may be OK, but, better is pretty subjective. To be fair, it is cleaner then contaminated water. As far as we know!
 

StarWarsGirl

Well-Known Member
Yah,. the Wegmans in our area isn't much better. I went there once when they first opened (over a year ago) and never went back after that. ;)
I love our Wegmans. Mostly because if there is something I cannot find anywhere else, I can find it there. They have so much stuff. Teas, gardening supplies, makeup...

I also spend about double the time there that I would had I just gone to Safeway because it's so HUGE. I'll end up wandering and looking in several different aisles before finding what I wanted, Like, why is the powdered Lipton tea located across the store from the regular bagged teas? It's all tea; it should all be together. That's my logic, anyway.
 

njDizFan

Well-Known Member
I'm so confused by this after our conversation in another thread.

I do buy items on Amazon, but I have not put it above local retail stores.. because I don't want to see a continuation of another Walmart.
I thought I was supposed to be the capitalist heartless jerk and you were worried about people not affording to live.lol
I can see how this could look duplicitous. I am certainly not for another WalMart. That model is about stripping/fleecing and bullying the products makers to lower their costs or be blackballed from their inventory. And in the long run can jeopardize the local economy. I still want to see Whole Foods keep their fundamental ideals of locally sourced products and giving the option to pay the higher amount if you see value in the higher quality item. But I think by streamlined their costs and giving these grassroots business an opportunity to see large perspective audience that may be a good thing. If more people can eat healthier and more people have the ability to buy organic without crushing their budget, it could move the needle on the world's farming practices. Still less than 10% of farms are organic.

I get it, Amazon has undermined the publishing business. They are killing retail establishments. They house 90% of the countries data! But they do not necessarily horde their cash. They continue to grow their business by innovation, creating jobs and ideas. And heck they make my life easier.
 

21stamps

Well-Known Member
Original Poster
I can see how this could look duplicitous. I am certainly not for another WalMart. That model is about stripping/fleecing and bullying the products makers to lower their costs or be blackballed from their inventory. And in the long run can jeopardize the local economy. I still want to see Whole Foods keep their fundamental ideals of locally sourced products and giving the option to pay the higher amount if you see value in the higher quality item. But I think by streamlined their costs and giving these grassroots business an opportunity to see large perspective audience that may be a good thing. If more people can eat healthier and more people have the ability to buy organic without crushing their budget, it could move the needle on the world's farming practices. Still less than 10% of farms are organic.

I get it, Amazon has undermined the publishing business. They are killing retail establishments. They house 90% of the countries data! But they do not necessarily horde their cash. They continue to grow their business by innovation, creating jobs and ideas. And heck they make my life easier.

You may be surprised at how similar Walmart and Amazon actually are.
 

Register on WDWMAGIC. This sidebar will go away, and you'll see fewer ads.

Back
Top Bottom