On Sunday, September 9, 2012 8:43:57 AM UTC-5, Gary wrote:
> heheh Don't worry, Tommy Joe, i'm not talking about you. You're funny and
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> amusing with your posts! You're pretty cool, imo. :-D
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>
>
> Yesterday, I *finally* made it to and checked out my local Trader Joe's
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> store (aka: TJ). It's only been open here for almost 4 years now and only
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> 1.5 miles from my home. It was about time that I finally checked it out.
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>
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> I was at that shopping center and decided to finally take a few minutes to
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> investigate.
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> One thing I wanted to buy was in their recent newsletter....The Greek Style
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> Feta Dressing for salads. As I love feta cheese crumbled on salads, I
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> wanted to try that. So I bought that for only $1.99 for an 8oz jar...a fair
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> price.
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>
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> The second thing I wanted to try was their "Triple Ginger Snaps" that at
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> least 2 people here raved about. I like those so worth a try, if they are
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> "all that."
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>
>
> The feta dressing: Disappointing taste. It's nothing more than cheap tasting
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> ranch dressing with just enough feta cheeze blended in smoothly to give you
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> a hint of that taste. I'll use it but I'll NEVER buy that crap again. Next
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> time, I'll crumble some real feta cheese on my salad and use a decent salad
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> dressing.
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>
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> As for the "to die for" Triple Ginger Snaps? YAWN!!!!
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> This was my biggest disappointment. I've always bought Murray brand ginger
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> snaps. I tried the TJ brand yesterday and expected the clouds to part and
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> hear angels singing. Nope. Just plain old ginger snaps at twice the price.
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>
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> To be fair though, I bought a bag of my regular brand this morning and did
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> the taste test side by side.
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>
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> I think my old Murray brand is better (or at least equal) and it's much less
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> cost.
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> Murray brand ginger snaps: $2.49 for 16oz bag
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> Trader Joe's Triple ginger snaps: $3.99 for 14oz plastic container
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>
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> I also wandered the isles while I was there and I was not impressed with
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> their prices. In most cases, I see that I can get better prices at my
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> regular grocery store.
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> Glad that I check out the store (finally) but I won't be going back. Trader
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> Joe's is nothing special, imo.
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There's one very close to here, and I very seldom go there. They do have good prices on milk and half&half, about the same as ALDI. If I were to go there, the draw would be their reasonably priced raw milk Cheddar, or 100% blueberry or 100% cranberry juices.
One thing nice is that their staff members tend to be friendly, without being obsequious or exhibiting any hint of smarminess. It's too bad that more of our retail chains aren't managed by Germans. TJ's staff are great, but ALDI's are sublime. They work so quickly and efficiently, and never give off disgruntled vibes.
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> G.

--Bryan