Why do people say Whole Foods is so expensive? (1 Viewer)

[urbanhack]

I'll walk through and only buy items that are amazon prime discounted.  

 

[bostonfred]

I've been searching for a great toast recipe for years, thank you.

This is the best post on fbg in years 

 

[-fish-]

People still go to grocery stores?   

The Whole Foods brands are priced comparably to other stores.   With amazon prime, there are discounts and free delivery.  I don't know what backwater state you live in that you can't get booze at your Whole Foods, but they have a full liquor section here in civilization.   

 

[Cowboysfan8]

People still go to grocery stores?   

I refuse to have some kid that stocks  shelves at the grocery store pick out my produce and fresh meats

 

[-fish-]

I refuse to have some kid that stocks  shelves at the grocery store pick out my produce and fresh meats

Then use instacart.  A rational person chooses your items for you.  

 

[General Malaise]

related

 

[tommyboy]

Whole foods is crap

 

[johnnycakes]

The only thing we get at Whole Foods is meat, and that's because quality trumps cost.  For anything else, we go to Market Basket.  

 

[GroveDiesel]

The main reason we don't go there is the nearest one is 30 minutes away at least, but we have a more local version called Fresh Market, which does pretty much the same. I don't understand why paying for food that's had less done to it is slightly more expensive, but the prices are closer than they have been.

I’m just guessing that there is a decent amount more spoilage for organic produce which increases costs. And if they are “certified” organic in any way, then there’s probably a decent cost in showing they are compliant.

 

[Nigel]

The only thing we get at Whole Foods is meat, and that's because quality trumps cost.  For anything else, we go to Market Basket.  

We’re in same hood I think. My wife does our big shops at MB but I can’t bring myself to go. Too chaotic, long lines to check out and mostly incompetent cashiers. And the women shopping at WF are way hotter, GB Winchester mommies. 

 

[Don Hutson]

It's posts like these that remind me how lucky we are to have the market that we do 2 blocks away. Our weekly grocery bill only exceeds $60 when alcohol or meat are involved. Otherwise we get out of there at $20something then just add about the same amount in staples at Aldi. 

For a family of five?  Your family must be on the broke-college-student diet.

 

[MAC_32]

For a family of five?  Your family must be on the broke-college-student diet.

This is this weekend's shopping list:

Red peppers $0.69/lb

Green peppers $0.99/lb

Sprouts $0.99/lb

Asparagus $0.99/lb

Avocados $0.49

Red leaf $0.99/lb

Honeycrisp $0.99/lb

Bananas $0.29/lb

May get out of there closer to $10 this week. 

 

[Binky The Doormat]

This is this weekend's shopping list:

Red peppers $0.69/lb

Green peppers $0.99/lb

Sprouts $0.99/lb

Asparagus $0.99/lb

Avocados $0.49

Red leaf $0.99/lb

Honeycrisp $0.99/lb

Bananas $0.29/lb

May get out of there closer to $10 this week. 

GTFOH  ...these are the same prices as when your mom was cheating with me. 

 

[Don Hutson]

This is this weekend's shopping list:

Red peppers $0.69/lb

Green peppers $0.99/lb

Sprouts $0.99/lb

Asparagus $0.99/lb

Avocados $0.49

Red leaf $0.99/lb

Honeycrisp $0.99/lb

Bananas $0.29/lb

May get out of there closer to $10 this week. 

A week's worth of grocery shopping for a family of 5.  Seems legit.  You still eating rations that you squirreled away for the Y2K scare?  Or maybe you're a hunter/gatherer with a freezer full of venison and a cabinet full of morel mushrooms?  I'm mostly a gatherer but I'll eat some venison if you're offering.

 

[PIK95]

The crackers I like for my pub cheese are like $8 for the package.  That's a bit much imo.  

 

[MAC_32]

A week's worth of grocery shopping for a family of 5.  Seems legit.  You still eating rations that you squirreled away for the Y2K scare?  Or maybe you're a hunter/gatherer with a freezer full of venison and a cabinet full of morel mushrooms?  I'm mostly a gatherer but I'll eat some venison if you're offering.

Nah, that's just the market. Aldi list is:

Milk x2 $1.89

Eggs $0.79

Cottage Cheese $1.50

Shredded colby jack $2.49

Beans x3 $0.89

Pineapple $0.99

Grape tomatoes $1

Carrots $0.89

Elbow pasta $1.39

Hummus $1.79

The freezer is already full of meat though. Got some good buys throughout February. Ribeyes for $4something, sausages for $2, ground turkey was bogo, chopped up a $1.99 pork tenderloin, and same with $1 chicken breasts. 

 

[the moops]

Whole foods is crap

This is quite incorrect. You may not like the place, but it certianly has high quality produce and seafood and meats. 

 

[DallasDMac]

People still go to grocery stores?   

Yes.

 

[Long Ball Larry]

It wasn't a criticism (although I am usually critical of organic). It was a response to the OP's question. If your average person walks in to a Whole Foods to buy things like bananas, they are going to say it's expensive because they don't usually pay organic prices for their bananas at their usual grocery store.

Organic being more expensive + WF only having organic = WF is "so expensive" to your typical grocery shopper.

Whole Foods doesn’t have only organic.

 

[parasaurolophus]

People say whole foods is more expensive because the prices are higher. And because other stores are cheaper. 

 

[jhib]

Whole Foods doesn’t have only organic.

Really? Huh. Thanks for the correction. Shows how much I know about them. I thought all their produce was anyway.   Misunderstood the whole "certified organic national grocer" thing.

 

[DallasDMac]

Whole Foods is pretty far from where I live. I think I'll pass on the extra-long drive to pay more for foods I can get a half mile away.

 

[Mr. Ected]

no one can full shop there.  to me it’s for specialty items, like gluten and dairy free, which my wife trudges through.

This is my issue with WF, as a shopper for a family of 5 with teenagers (incl. boys) I couldn't buy only stuff at WF, I need a 'regular' grocery store for 'plain old ordinary' products that they down't sell at WF.

I spend almost $200 every time I am there somehow. 

As shown above with a family of 5 with teens, I wish I could only spend $200 grocery shopping.

Also wegmans > Whole Foods 

Wegmans for 

- cold cuts (love their Just Roast Beef and Carved Off The Bone turkey and ham - it just tastes better to me without all the extra crap)

Try their Cajun Turkey. Awesome, a bit of extra spice/flavor. If you like spicy, their Jalapeño Cayenne Cheese or when they have it their Hatch (Pepper) Cheese are both great. (I think the hatch is a Jack-based cheese.)

- booze (their mark up is several dollars lower per bottle on the stuff i drink)

Here in VA, we can only get wine/beer from grocery stores; all hard alcohol must be purchased from state. :(

- yogurt (their super probiotic yogurt is awesome)

- produce and salads

Usually when I go on the weekends, my wife will retreat to their upper floor cafeteria and she loves the soups, salad bar and sushi.

- prepared soups (all of them are good imo and pretty low calorie) 

Love their chowder and their chicken noodle. Here is the recipe for the Clam Chowder.

Their prepared foods are good, they're very expensive by the pound or in packages.

True, but they are great in a pinch. The turkey breast in gravy is delicious, and easy to make!!

I love Wegmans. I do all of my shopping here (besides Costco). To me their meat and produce and other fresh products are on par with WF, but once you are past there, it is like a regular grocery store, with standard products that you would find everywhere at similar prices. (Can you get a Twinkee at WF? ) In addition, their brand name products are as good as name brand products at better pricing.

I am in an odd situation with my inability to drive (seizures), in that I am only able to get to the store once per week, and can't hop from store to store as I'd like to, to get best deals and such, so I find that Wegman's allows me to get everything I need in one spot. Also, they have great staff, that are helpful and very nice, and I find that an additional reason to go back to a store.

My daughter would have me note that she like's Wegman's because she is a fanatic of The Office, and they usually have Wegman's products in their break room.

 

[the moops]

This is my issue with WF, as a shopper for a family of 5 with teenagers (incl. boys) I couldn't buy only stuff at WF, I need a 'regular' grocery store for 'plain old ordinary' products that they down't sell at WF.

What plain old ordinary things cant' you find at Whole Foods?

 

[Mr. Ected]

It may have changed in the years since I have stopped going there, but I was never able to find stuff like say “Kellogg’s Frosted Flakes” it was always something like “(insert character) ‘s organic sugar free sweetened flakes” or something like that. At a higher cost.

 

[eoMMan]

Went to Whole Foods for the first time today in awhile...place is still silly expensive. I used my Prime membership at checkout but it didn't make much difference. 

I give them credit for having many brands and items you can't find elsewhere. However, the items they do carry that you can find elsewhere are definitely more expensive. Stuff like Dave's Killer Bread, Stonyfield yogurt, etc.

 

[jvdesigns2002]

Went to Whole Foods for the first time today in awhile...place is still silly expensive. I used my Prime membership at checkout but it didn't make much difference. 

I give them credit for having many brands and items you can't find elsewhere. However, the items they do carry that you can find elsewhere are definitely more expensive. Stuff like Dave's Killer Bread, Stonyfield yogurt, etc.

I ended up signing up for amazon prime a couple days into the lockout. Taking care of my 80 year old diabetic mother just made me very weary of going to grocery stores and getting exposure to the masses.  They offer Whole Foods delivery—and while delivery windows are hard to come by—I’ve done it a few times.   The prices are definitely moderately to significantly more than standard grocery stores in my opinion.  The convenience has been great and worth it to me—but I would not call Whole Foods a low or well priced grocer by any means. 

 

[Mister CIA]

I shop Whole Foods exclusivley for chicken and beef; that's it.  Well, their pizza by the slice is awesome, but I digress.

I typically score a whole chicken for less than ten bucks. If skirt steak is on sale, I wipe'em out and invite the world to my place.

 

[DallasDMac]

I just tried to sign up via Amazon Prime. It said "get in line biznitch." All to get some no-name brand TP.

 

[Ministry of Pain]

Hasn't been the same since Jeff Bezos took over. 

 

[Long Ball Larry]

I just tried to sign up via Amazon Prime. It said "get in line biznitch." All to get some no-name brand TP.

Yeah I been on that list for like 2 months...

 

[DallasDMac]

Yeah I been on that list for like 2 months...

Our local grocery store was stocked with copious amounts of TP today, Charmin included. So Whole Foods and their no-name brand TP can suck it. Hah!