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510 points bookofjoe | 2 comments | | HN request time: 0.001s | source
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hamdingers ◴[] No.46182469[source]
Even if they accurately charged shelf prices, these places are still a ripoff targeting the vulnerable. The list price is low but the per-unit price is astronomical compared to grocery store prices.
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burnt-resistor ◴[] No.46183457[source]
Yup. Dollar General is worse than a convenience store like 7-11, it's an expensive inconvenience store.

And we need more local co-op grocery stores like Berkeley Bowl, the Davis Co-op, and ATX Wheatsville.

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zdragnar ◴[] No.46185452[source]
I have yet to visit a co-op that had cheaper than grocery store prices. Every single one focused on quality over cost savings.
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1. phil21 ◴[] No.46187207[source]
This was not always the case. 30 years ago the customer base for bulk co-op places were lower-middle class/poor folks who had a decent amount of financial acumen. You'd go there with your own containers and buy staples by the pound. Or special order that 50lb bag of oats or flour for 1/4th the per-lb price of the local grocery store.

They slowly morphed into bougie health nut/conspiracy hippie stores during my lifetime. Closest thing I've found to what I remember them being are food service stores which tend to require a business tax ID to buy from.

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2. burnt-resistor ◴[] No.46209449[source]
Davis Co-op c. 2000 was legit cheap and good. I lived across the street from it for some time.

I can do without the "health/wellness" aisle of mystery fluid bottles almost entirely. Whole Paycheck Foods and a lot of independent grocers also have this fad and it's depressing that borderline Miracle Mineral Solution nonsense is allowed through under-regulated "supplement" exceptions. More power to those who benefit from ever-so-slightly-helpful / placebo vitamins-supplements but it seems like mostly from snake oil of a century ago.

Anyhow, there are/were more decent grocers. Like Lundari's 30 years ago in the SF Bay Area. The status quo isn't the only available option.