Kroger deathwatch

[The_Ginger]

They are scattered around here (one in Ripley, Parkersburg, Charleston, etc.), and seem to be doing alright, although I haven't been to one in a few months.

[gonealookin]

Y'all should all go to Pube Licks, where shopping is pleasurable.

Some people aren't fortunate enough to have a membership card.

Even I have a "membership card" (input phone number at the checkout stand), because I go to Florida once a year.

But even if you haven't registered...allegedly (local area code) 867-5309 gets you the discounts every time at every store.

In Nevada, Kroger operates under the "Smith's" brand name.  I'm not aware that they are particularly struggling.  Raley's, the Sacramento-based chain, is the one that has been closing some stores.

[Dirt Roads]

But even if you haven't registered...allegedly (local area code) 867-5309 gets you the discounts every time at every store.

Who can I turn to?

Publix is purportedly coming to Mebane, North Carolina.  The official report from Alamance County last year said that Publix was being targeted for a 25-acre development on NC-119 South.  Now everybody in Mebane is convinced that they are coming.

I know you think I'm like the others before, who saw your name and number on the wall.

Who saw your name and number on the wall in the newspaper.  FTFY

[hotdogPi]

I'm guessing that someone else in the area code registered 867-5309, and you would be using their account. I don't think the store itself does it.

As for where to find these phone numbers now, I've seen a few sharpied at bus shelters, including a 978 in 781 territory and a different one that outright said that it was for sex. I have not called any of them.

[CoreySamson]

The Krogers in the Houston area seem to be doing well from what I see. They may not be as busy as Walmart or HEB but they are a good 3rd option. They mostly seem to be popular with the elderly from my experience.

[Henry]

Kroger is drawing competition from Publix in this area, but from what I hear (having never set foot in a Publix), Publix is a lot more expensive than Kroger on base staple items.

How Kroger compares to Target on grocery prices is also something I know little about, as there are no Targets within 75 miles of me and when I'm in Target country, I don't shop for groceries there.

Target is stupidly expensive compared to either cheaper stores (Walmart) or better grocery stores (Wegmans) around these parts.

At Target you're paying the "I don't want to be seen at Walmart" tax. 

More like the "Fuck Walmart" tax, especially to those who see the cheaper store as very inferior. Clearly, Target is the Cadillac of big-box stores.

[Max Rockatansky]

Kroger is drawing competition from Publix in this area, but from what I hear (having never set foot in a Publix), Publix is a lot more expensive than Kroger on base staple items.

How Kroger compares to Target on grocery prices is also something I know little about, as there are no Targets within 75 miles of me and when I'm in Target country, I don't shop for groceries there.

Target is stupidly expensive compared to either cheaper stores (Walmart) or better grocery stores (Wegmans) around these parts.

At Target you're paying the "I don't want to be seen at Walmart" tax. 

More like the "Fuck Walmart" tax, especially to those who see the cheaper store as very inferior. Clearly, Target is the Cadillac of big-box stores.

Cadillac hasn't been the "standard of the world" in quite some time.  While Target is the lesser of two evils it isn't the standard of the world either. 

[kphoger]

Clearly, Target is the Cadillac of big-box stores.

Cadillac hasn't been the "standard of the world" in quite some time.

Target is the Mercedes-Benz of big-box stores.

Fancier, and more expensive, but not actually any better.

[Max Rockatansky]

Clearly, Target is the Cadillac of big-box stores.

Cadillac hasn't been the "standard of the world" in quite some time.

Target is the Mercedes-Benz of big-box stores.

Fancier, and more expensive, but not actually any better.

I love using car analogies to describe retail related things at work.  Once during a staff meeting an accident prone employee came up as the topic of conversation and I was asked to comment.  My reply was:

"This is a 305 small block equivalent employee we are talking about.  They looked good on paper but they lack motivation and won't easily accept modification."

Then I said something about writing said employee up.  The employee's manager didn't really get the joke but my investigator did wrote it down.

[wxfree]

My local Kroger opened in the 90s, in a growing part of town, and had no competition nearby.  Then a few years later, the local Wal-Mart (as it was in those days) closed and moved to a Supercenter directly across from Kroger, which put Kroger in a permanent underclass.  They've gotten by for 30 years, but they're the place I go to if I want to pick up one or two things and don't mind paying extra to get in and out of a store that's nearly empty when everything else is busy.  It's a nice option, like an overpriced toll road that avoids traffic, but not one many people use consistently.

[Scott5114]

In places where there's any competition at all, Kroger is going to get utterly stomped.

Why do you think they wanted to buy Albertson's?

I've been in a Smith's (the Las Vegas implementation of Kroger) exactly once. I found their prices so hilarious I haven't been back.

[JayhawkCO]

In places where there's any competition at all, Kroger is going to get utterly stomped.

Why do you think they wanted to buy Albertson's?

I've been in a Smith's (the Las Vegas implementation of Kroger) exactly once. I found their prices so hilarious I haven't been back.

It's funny. Here, I would say King Soopers (Kroger brand) is the cheapest of our options (other than maybe Wally-world, but I have none particularly close to me). King Soopers < Safeway < Sprouts < Whole Foods. Plus Kroger generics are largely good, whereas I haven't found much at Safeway that is great.

[kphoger]

King Soopers < Safeway < Sprouts < Whole Foods.

Whole Foods is the Range Rover of grocery stores.

[JayhawkCO]

King Soopers < Safeway < Sprouts < Whole Foods.

Whole Foods is the Range Rover of grocery stores.

Whole Paycheck is at least reliable.

[kphoger]

Whole Foods is the Range Rover of grocery stores.

Whole Paycheck is at least reliable.

But that's not why people shop there. 

[JayhawkCO]

Whole Foods is the Range Rover of grocery stores.

Whole Paycheck is at least reliable.

But that's not why people shop there. 

I only go there very occasionally - for oysters on their dollar oyster day and for a particular brand of tahini they carry when I make my own hummus. Trader Joe's is the better of the WASPy grocery stores.

[hotdogPi]

Around here, Walmart is not a grocery store. They do have food, but only a few aisles. I would say that 95% of the customer-facing floor space is for other items.

[JayhawkCO]

Around here, Walmart is not a grocery store. They do have food, but only a few aisles. I would say that 95% of the customer-facing floor space is for other items.

Not every Walmart is here either, and then we also have the Neighborhood Markets, which just feel gross.

[kphoger]

then we also have the Neighborhood Markets, which just feel gross.

I've never been in one.  But we have friends from church who call it Small-Mart.

[Rothman]

Whole Foods is the Range Rover of grocery stores.

Whole Paycheck is at least reliable.

But that's not why people shop there. 

I only go there very occasionally - for oysters on their dollar oyster day and for a particular brand of tahini they carry when I make my own hummus. Trade Joe's is the better of the WASPy grocery stores.

Although people tout Trader Joe's produce, I find that most of their stuff just seems like re-boxed processed foods that you find anywhere else.  Seems to be more about packaging than quality.

[JayhawkCO]

Whole Foods is the Range Rover of grocery stores.

Whole Paycheck is at least reliable.

But that's not why people shop there. 

I only go there very occasionally - for oysters on their dollar oyster day and for a particular brand of tahini they carry when I make my own hummus. Trade Joe's is the better of the WASPy grocery stores.

Although people tout Trader Joe's produce, I find that most of their stuff just seems like re-boxed processed foods that you find anywhere else.  Seems to be more about packaging than quality.

I actually do most of my produce shopping (when I have time) at HMart, the local Asian market. Better and cheaper.

[kphoger]

We shop at both Aldi and Dillon's (Kroger), and we buy produce at both.  Garlic and bell peppers from Aldi, pretty much everything else from Dillon's.