On Sun, 09 Sep 2012 11:31:08 -0400, Gary > wrote:

>gtr wrote:
>>
>> On 2012-09-09 13:43:52 +0000, Gary said:
>>
>> > Glad that I check out the store (finally) but I won't be going back. Trader
>> > Joe's is nothing special, imo.
>>
>> Yeah, the feta and the ginger snaps; that's pretty much all they've got.
>
>I did walk up and down each isle looking at everything yesterday,
>Mr.TakesValiumAtNight.SoAsToNotLoseAnHourOfSleep. OnceOrTwiceAMonth.
>
>None of the prices were impressive. All seemed to be equal or higher than my
>regular store.

TJs is a specialty foods store and many of the products they carry
cannot be brand-duplicated at regular groceries at all or easily. A
lot of them are organics and/or all natural, which appeal to some
folks, maybe not to you. And you do not seem to seek out products with
all natural ingredients. The grocery store would seem more appealing
to you for that, too, but to find such all natural products can be
daunting at a regular market. Some groceries carry them, many, if they
do at all, are limited. YMMV. YOu may have the best grocery stores in
the world.

They are certainly much cheaper for a lot of things, though, but they
may not be the kids of foods *you* buy, so they are of no interest to
you.

.....their 17 oz bittersweet and dark chocolate bars, my go-to
ingredients for baking many things, are superior in quality and much
more economical compared to anything you can get in a regular grocery,
and that includes Lindt and Ghiradelli.

...their little containers of pear sauce are fantastic and not
something I can find anywhere else.

...their imported cheeses, while not a full array of all types, is very
good and very reasonably priced. Same with imported salami or other
charcuterie.

....They have cookies that are just not found easily elsewhere and are
reasonably priced compared to national brands, even if the types of
cookies themselves are not comparable, nor appealing to you
specifically. Your favorite of Murray's, is, frankly, a discount
brand. TJs isn't a discount store. Murray's is the sort of thing they
have on the bottom shelf at CVS around here.

....they have great and reasonably priced fair trade coffees. Cheaper
and more eco-friendly than at the grocery stores. Again, you might not
care, but some folks do.

....they have the cheapest orchid plants I have ever seen. I collect
orchids, so that is important to me. If you don't, you can stay at
your local whatever and shop.

....lots of vegan dishes and ingredients.

....great imported canned tuna. They used to have even better, but they
discontinued it.

...cheapest frozen veggies and frozen fish around. Excellent quality on
both counts.

....they are damned cheap on vitamins and supplements and "green"
household products. If you don't like that stuff, you won't care.

....they suck for produce, generally. It is all pre-packaged and I
prefer local, of possible, BUT this varies from TJs to TJs. The one I
go to here in NJ has crappy produce, the one I visit when in
California, is terrific. Can not beat them for shallots out there.
Hands down. Or for their guacamole combo of 2 avocados, jalapeno,
garlic, tomato, lime and onion all packed together for under $3.

....prepared salad dressings...well, frankly that Is not of much
interest to me one way or the other. I get some Wishbone Italian as a
marinade to have around the house, but other than that, I make my own
dressings....oh, you should like the TJ olive oils, vinegars and mayos
for that.

....NO giant sized anything at TJs. If you like that sort of economy,
you will not find it there.

TJs is not a grocery store. It is a specialty market.

Boron