Health Food Store = Overcharging?
#4485 - 03/29/03 05:21 PM
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Lana_Marie
Reged: 01/31/03
Posts: 1968
Loc: Saskatchewan. Canada
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Hi Everyone -
I just wanted to comment that this weekend I made my first trip to a health food store for some
specialty items which I could not find in my grocery store (ie: soy cheese, oil free peanut butter etc).
I couldn't believe the prices for these things!!!!! Peanut Butter (the same size as the small Skippy jar) was
$7.49? Soy cheese for a small block (Like the same size as a cheese slice and about 10 stacked) was $6.80!
I was just flabbergasted by these prices! How does anyone afford to shop there all the time? 
Has anyone else found the Health Food Store crazily priced - or is it just us Canadians who are suckers? LOL
Lana_Marie
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Lana_Marie
Proud Mommy to Bentley Taylor
Born May 12, 2004 9lbs, 3oz
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yeah, that sucks doesnt it? I cant stand the high prices. In fact, often i have to poorly because my parents think its just plain stupid to pay the extra bucks for organic, soy stuff.
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-Angela
Healed in Jesus' Name 
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I find that I have to watch what I purchase at the Health food stores, but sometimes they're even cheaper than the market. Eggs, cereal, crackers (the brands I purchase) are all higher priced at the regular market than at the health food stores. Check what your regular market carries that you need, ie the soy cheeses, many times they carry it (they make it hard to find though) and it may be less expensive than at the health stores (sometimes you are buying an item that's considered specialty and you have no choice but to go to the health food shops). You will have to figure out which stores is the best place to get which items. At the regular markets, watch carefully the dates though as they don't turn over the specialty foods as fast as a health food market.
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Yes, some health food store prices are insane. However, some things (like bulk foods and spices) are dirt cheap. I really pick and choose what I buy at health markets vs. regular grocery stores. Some specialty items, like soy milk, are cheaper. But regular staples (like peanut butter and cereal) I always get at regular groceries. In a way it's a hassle, because I have to divide shopping between different stores (actually, I do produce shopping at Asian and other ethnic markets, so that's three separate stops). But I try to save up for a long health food store list so I only have to go once every few weeks. The staples I get there aren't perishables.
Best,
Heather
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Heather is the Administrator of the IBS Message Boards. She is the author of Eating for IBS and The First Year: IBS, and the CEO of Heather's Tummy Care. Join her IBS Newsletter. Meet Heather on Facebook!
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Lana - us Americans are being suckered in Health Food Stores too. Have you tried the produce section of your grocery stores? That's where I find some soy cheese, the soy buttery spread, soy cream cheese and soy sour cream. They're not with the regular dairy...don't ask me why not. And there's also a section where the milks are that have soy cheeses too, along with soy yogurts. But, if you still can't find the products in the grocery stores, guess you'll have to give in. Don't they have more than one grocery store where you live? Sometimes I have to drive an hour and a half to find stuff, but then I stock up so I con't have to go as often. But then I live up with the "hill people", so I guess I shouldn't complain. At least when I go to town here on the hill, I can find a parking place with no trouble. I'd say it's a fair trade.
Getting back to the prices, yeh, Jessie James used to use a gun...but the healthh food stores don't need one, do they? The Soy Buttery Spread that Heidi told us about was around $6.75 at the HFS and at the grocery store it was about half that amount. I don't understand why they charge so much if they're paying the same amount for their product as the grocery stores--but then again, I guess they can't get volume discounts. Guess we'll never know.
sharon
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Sharon
"Anything Chocolate"...that is all!
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I decided to try the Soy Garden Natural Buttery Spread (instead of my usual Earth Balance Natural Buttery Spread--they're made by the same company and have virtually the same ingredients). But I only paid $2.50! $6.75??? I'm just in shock! But the "health food store" I go to is not one of those Mom'n'Pop deals, it's Wild Oats, so like any chain, I guess they can afford to charge less. Thank goodness!
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That must make it difficult for you then, cuz your parents are most likely controlling your money situation - I'm just complaining - but you can't have it even if you want to!
I am sorry!
Lana_Marie
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Lana_Marie
Proud Mommy to Bentley Taylor
Born May 12, 2004 9lbs, 3oz
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Karin - I did check for the soy cheese at my grocery stores and found a soy cheese but there was only an jalapeno soy cheese loaf and I just wanted regular soy cheese.
I will just have to settle for getting only my cheese there, then it's not so bad.
Lana_Marie
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Lana_Marie
Proud Mommy to Bentley Taylor
Born May 12, 2004 9lbs, 3oz
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HI Heather -
I noticed that the bulk spices were really cheap - but I also do my grocery shopping at a market where bulk spices etc are available and they are quite comparable in price.
The peanut butter I bought has no oils in it and is actually made with soy nuts and it doesn't taste too bad. I haven't been able to find anything like that in my grocery store so I don't mind buying it there then
Lana_Marie
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Lana_Marie
Proud Mommy to Bentley Taylor
Born May 12, 2004 9lbs, 3oz
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Lana_Marie
Proud Mommy to Bentley Taylor
Born May 12, 2004 9lbs, 3oz
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We only have one health food store here - that I have been told of - there is another one in a city about 1 hour from us - and they are a huge chain - it may very well be worth the trip there to check things out.
Even if it is once a month!
Lana_Marie
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Lana_Marie
Proud Mommy to Bentley Taylor
Born May 12, 2004 9lbs, 3oz
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Have you put in a suggestion or request to your market for the foods you're looking for? Most here in the US will look into carrying them for you.
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Angela
#4606 - 03/31/03 09:10 AM
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Karin
Reged: 02/11/03
Posts: 483
Loc: Southern California
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Angela: I have a brainstorm! Have you thought about getting an after school/weekends job at your local health food store? You could get an education daily on health food items, a discount and even probably some freebies (many have samples to give away). More importantly you could make some money to purchase your own specialty foods.
While it may not be the right timing now, keep it in mind for future use!
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Actually I haven't but maybe I could check into it - I really can't see this grocery market carrying anything special for just one person because they are so large.
Lana_Marie
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Lana_Marie
Proud Mommy to Bentley Taylor
Born May 12, 2004 9lbs, 3oz
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They should at least try to carry it, you may not be the only one wishing they had it! I'm going to request the Soy Garden Buttery Spread as I can't find it anywhere, even at the health food stores.
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HI; I LIVE IN cANADA AS WELL AND Ihave been looking all over for soy cheese,especially cream cheese as I LOVE CREAM CHEESE ON BAGELS)WHICH STORE DID YOU GO TO?
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i don't know how big of a chain this is, but here in Orlando we have a WONDERFUL place called Whole Foods Market. they have lots of good organic food and soy cheeses and rice/soy ice creams and all kinds of wonderful things. i went NUTS the first time i found it. and they are reasonably priced... still higher prices than reg. grocery stores, but better than little specialty stores.
here's the website, to find out if there's one near you:
http://www.wholefoodsmarket.com
they also have a bunch of recipes and articles and things. check it out!
beth
Edited by juniorrachel (03/31/03 11:31 PM)
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Karin,
thanks for the great suggestion, but unfornatly there isnt a health food store around here thats drivable. (closest one is near 40 minutes away)
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-Angela
Healed in Jesus' Name
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I went to Old Fashion Foods and they have cream cheese there too. I had the cheese last night with some crackers and it was good - a little sticky, but good.
Lana_Marie
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Lana_Marie
Proud Mommy to Bentley Taylor
Born May 12, 2004 9lbs, 3oz
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where is old fashions located?
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Quote:
i don't know how big of a chain this is, but here in Orlando we have a WONDERFUL place called Whole Foods Market. they have lots of good organic food and soy cheeses and rice/soy ice creams and all kinds of wonderful things. i went NUTS the first time i found it. and they are reasonably priced... still higher prices than reg. grocery stores, but better than little specialty stores.
here's the website, to find out if there's one near you:
EIW!!! Whole Foods here in NJ is sooooo expensive!!! Maybe it's b/c it's located in a rich town. I now go to Trader Joe's! TJ's are priced lower than Shop Rite or Food Town over here!!! Whole Foods from my experience, is TOO EXPENSIVE. I HATE that store!!!
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I'm in Saskatchewan and they have a few locations across Canada I think! You can check this link and see if there
is one near you www.oldfashionfoods.com
Where are you in Canada, Louise?
Lana_Marie
--------------------
Lana_Marie
Proud Mommy to Bentley Taylor
Born May 12, 2004 9lbs, 3oz
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Quote:
Quote:
i don't know how big of a chain this is, but here in Orlando we have a WONDERFUL place called Whole Foods Market. they have lots of good organic food and soy cheeses and rice/soy ice creams and all kinds of wonderful things. i went NUTS the first time i found it. and they are reasonably priced... still higher prices than reg. grocery stores, but better than little specialty stores.
here's the website, to find out if there's one near you:
EIW!!! Whole Foods here in NJ is sooooo expensive!!! Maybe it's b/c it's located in a rich town. I now go to Trader Joe's! TJ's are priced lower than Shop Rite or Food Town over here!!! Whole Foods from my experience, is TOO EXPENSIVE. I HATE that store!!!
really? well i should look and see if there's a trader joe's here. because the little special health food stores are really expensive. i think mostly because they're small and have to have high enough prices to make money
beth
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