My first trip to whole foods

Currently back with my parents for the summer, I had to go to the grocery just down the street (dominion) for some BBQ supplies for a gathering I was holding this coming weekend. Get some burgers, hot dogs, etc.

Unfortunately on my way out, I made eye contact with my father..

"So where are you going?"

"Just out, gotta get some supplies for the bbq this weekend"

"Oh I'm going grocery shopping soon, tag along?"

"Meh, alright we'll walk, get some exercise."

"Nah we're gonna need to take the car"

Then it hit me.

"I'm going to whole foods, you should come."

"Uh, why? I told you studies have shown that organic produce and poultry has no apparent advantages over normal food, that and it just seems pretentious as hell"

"Well you've never been have you? Your mother likes the produce and meat, I personally like the peanuts. It's a great store"

He was right that I've never even set foot in one...so I decided to hop in the car and go for a ride.

My God it was worse than I thought...seriously $70 for 2 rib eye steaks?! An entire section devoted to "smoked meats and mousse"?!

"When did you guys start going here?"

"Right when you left for university, they just moved in and we gave it a try"

While I was upset by the prices, I was more disturbed by how subtly pretentious the staff was. For example, when an empty cart near my father started drifting down the aisle, some shelf stocker kept telling him to go get his cart, nevermind the one right BESIDE him stocked full of various overpriced food (seriously $14 for a loaf of bread?). While I suspect the fact my father and I being Chinese had something to do with the shelf stocker nearly interrogating my dad to get the runaway cart instead of looking at some noodles and loading them into his already full cart, I'll just assume they treat everyone equally.

The pretension of the shoppers and staff alike isnt the worst thing, the worst part of the trip for me was seeing some people desperately looking at a $3 apple or a $12 piece of chicken and feverishly putting it into their shopping cart, eagerly trying to keep up with the joneses. I personally find it disgusting to try and live beyond your means for the sole purpose of pleasing others.

But enough ranting, a couple good things came out of the journey. I got my burgers, buns, and various fix-ins and am eager to see if they really are 4x better than the ones I buy at the local grocery. The cashier was also very, very good looking.

The store also gave me a good business idea. People want to feel wealthy no matter what, that is why stores such as Starbucks and Whole Foods continue to thrive (and expand, with Whole Foods Market coming into competition by both Korean and Italian food conglomerates making their way across the pond). Why not exploit this human need further?

70 bucks for two steaks is a complete rip off. I'm sorry, but they are grossly overpricing.metallica_fan42

If it's expensive, it's worth it :wink:

[QUOTE="metallica_fan42"]70 bucks for two steaks is a complete rip off. I'm sorry, but they are grossly overpricing.steppinrazor88

If it's expensive, it's worth it :wink:

I'll agree to a certain extent, but really...

The funny thing was this old trophy wife shopper kept staring at my dad to move out of the way as if she thought he wasn't going to buy any of a certain ground chuck meat and other stuff at the deli counter, and she was right. We happen to be friends with the people who run that particular meat company, and they themselves are solely in the business because the markup is well over 400%.  

[QUOTE="steppinrazor88"]

[QUOTE="metallica_fan42"]70 bucks for two steaks is a complete rip off. I'm sorry, but they are grossly overpricing.Zealot_02_basic

If it's expensive, it's worth it :wink:

I'll agree to a certain extent, but really...

The funny thing was this old trophy wife shopper kept staring at my dad to move out of the way as if she thought he wasn't going to buy any of a certain ground chuck meat and other stuff at the deli counter, and she was right. We happen to be friends with the people who run that particular meat company, and they themselves are solely in the business because the markup is well over 400%.  

That was probably my mother.....you guys should've killed her :x

So if the burgers and buns really ARE 4X better than the ones at your local grocery store, will you continue to shop at whole foods?megagene

If the very, very cute cashier ever traced my credit history and called me, then I might drop by to say hello :P

But seriously no. The whole shopping experience for me there is way too aggravating and I've had similar organic meat before (see above post) so most likely not. Especially with the whole idea that you need to wear argyle with a suit jacket when you shop (seriously I saw like 20 of them), I much prefer dumping items into my cart wearing the 3 S's (shorts/shirt/sandals). 

[QUOTE="metallica_fan42"]70 bucks for two steaks is a complete rip off. I'm sorry, but they are grossly overpricing.steppinrazor88

If it's expensive, it's worth it :wink:

While many of the items found there are very overpriced, tend to keep an eye out for sales. When the Chicken Breast is on sale I snag that. Anyone that says you can't tell the difference between Whole Foods meats, and others is wrong.

But I do agree on the price issue. As far as the attitude, well it may be that one store, but the handful I've been in they are all very nice.

lol 14 bucks for a loaf of bread. Not in this lifetime.Squidward117

It was some sort of olive/feta cheese/something else combo sourdough too, I just like my dempster flaxseed bagels.

To the mod, I would disagree on the meat tasting differently from regular grocery store meat. A high end meat from the loblaws (which is still quite inexpensive compared to Whole Foods), tastes quite similar to the steaks they rip your wallet out of in whole foods. Perhaps plain there may be a subtle difference, but once you add sauces and garnishes the difference rapidly diminishes in my opinion. Also getting meat with similar fat content rapidly closes the gap. 

It reminds me of a vodka study I saw on 60 minutes. Each participant was told to sample 7 kinds of vodkas and see if they could identify their personal favourite (typical trendy eurotrash: grey goose, ketel one, level, etc) and tried to guess. The $20 bottle was rated the highest, the grey goose was rated the lowest for having a "syrupy texture", as per usual, participants were in utter shock. When drinks were mixed, no difference could be found between any of the 7 drinks.

The sad thing is, most participants will most likely keep buying top shelf vodka despite this knowledge.

The store also gave me a good business idea. People want to feel wealthy no matter what, that is why stores such as Starbucks and Whole Foods continue to thrive (and expand, with Whole Foods Market coming into competition by both Korean and Italian food conglomerates making their way across the pond). Why not exploit this human need further? Zealot_02_basic

While many of the items found there are very overpriced, tend to keep an eye out for sales. When the Chicken Breast is on sale I snag that. Anyone that says you can't tell the difference between Whole Foods meats, and others is wrong.

But I do agree on the price issue. As far as the attitude, well it may be that one store, but the handful I've been in they are all very nice.

solidruss

It reminds me of a vodka study I saw on 60 minutes. Each participant was told to sample 7 kinds of vodkas and see if they could identify their personal favourite (typical trendy eurotrash: grey goose, ketel one, level, etc) and tried to guess. The $20 bottle was rated the highest, the grey goose was rated the lowest for having a "syrupy texture", as per usual, participants were in utter shock. When drinks were mixed, no difference could be found between any of the 7 drinks.

The sad thing is, most participants will most likely keep buying top shelf vodka despite this knowledge.

Zealot_02_basic

Totally disagree with this.  I can tell the difference between top shelf vodka and bar vodka by taste.  In addition, the top shelf vodka's are filtered multiple times which means no hangover...no matter how much you drink.

[QUOTE="solidruss"]

While many of the items found there are very overpriced, tend to keep an eye out for sales. When the Chicken Breast is on sale I snag that. Anyone that says you can't tell the difference between Whole Foods meats, and others is wrong.

But I do agree on the price issue. As far as the attitude, well it may be that one store, but the handful I've been in they are all very nice.

xaos

Yup, you would be wrong... Whole Food chicken breast is far more tender and full of taste without having to do much with it. It's not just me, everyone I know says the same thing.

Yup, you would be wrong... Whole Food chicken breast is far more tender and full of taste without having to do much with it. It's not just me, everyone I know says the same thing.

solidruss