On Fri, 25 May 2012 16:58:08 -0800, Mark Thorson >
wrote:

> The new ones are only about 20% smaller
> than the old ones.
<snip>
> Granted the cups and coffee are free, but it does
> seem like a sneaky way to reduce costs -- the sort
> of thing I expect from Safeway but not a good store
> like Trader Joe's. A store that cares about its
> customers and doesn't try to shave a little cost
> at every opportunity. I hope this is not a harbinger
> of things to come. That would ruin Trader Joe's.

This matters why? I have never even thought about getting a "free
coffee". Not a freeloader and don't eat/drink while I shop anyway.

--
Food is an important part of a balanced diet.

The new ones are only about 20% smaller
than the old ones. I wouldn't have noticed
if I didn't have a few of the cups in my car.
Usually, I finish my coffee in the store, but
occasionally I get out to my car before finishing,
so I accumulate a few empty cups. Today,
I stacked the cups together to throw them away,
and one cup wouldn't fully nest within the others.
I examined the cup below it to see if some foreign
object was getting in the way, but that cup was
empty. Comparing the two cups, I saw the older
cup is larger than the new ones. The difference
is just small enough that I didn't notice until
trying to stack the old and new cups together.

Granted the cups and coffee are free, but it does
seem like a sneaky way to reduce costs -- the sort
of thing I expect from Safeway but not a good store
like Trader Joe's. A store that cares about its
customers and doesn't try to shave a little cost
at every opportunity. I hope this is not a harbinger
of things to come. That would ruin Trader Joe's.

On May 25, 5:53*pm, sf > wrote:
> On Fri, 25 May 2012 16:58:08 -0800, Mark Thorson >
> wrote:
>
>
>
> > The new ones are only about 20% smaller
> > than the old ones.
> <snip>
> > Granted the cups and coffee are free, but it does
> > seem like a sneaky way to reduce costs -- the sort
> > of thing I expect from Safeway but not a good store
> > like Trader Joe's. *A store that cares about its
> > customers and doesn't try to shave a little cost
> > at every opportunity. *I hope this is not a harbinger
> > of things to come. *That would ruin Trader Joe's.
>
> This matters why? *I have never even thought about getting a "free
> coffee". *Not a freeloader and don't eat/drink while I shop anyway.
>

I always thought that the cup is for tasting, not for drinking.

On Fri, 25 May 2012 16:58:08 -0800, Mark Thorson >
wrote:

>
>Granted the cups and coffee are free, but it does
>seem like a sneaky way to reduce costs -- the sort
>of thing I expect from Safeway but not a good store
>like Trader Joe's. A store that cares about its
>customers and doesn't try to shave a little cost
>at every opportunity. I hope this is not a harbinger
>of things to come. That would ruin Trader Joe's.


What is sneaky about it? Should they announce that our free coffee is
now smaller?

Sneaky is when you charge the same price and reduce the volume, like
the 57 ounce OJ, the smaller jars of mayo, etc.

A store that cares about is customer watches costs so they can
continue to offer good service. Nothing is "free", but wrapped into
the costs that all customers pay. That little old lady in line behind
you paid a portion of your free coffee.

On May 25, 5:58*pm, Mark Thorson > wrote:

> The new ones are only about 20% smaller
> than the old ones.

I had a taste of coffee about an hour ago at a TJ I think
is near you (in Santa Clara Co., CA). The bottom of the
cup was imprinted with "4 oz." Are they just using up
the old cups?

On May 25, 5:53*pm, sf > wrote:

> This matters why?

Because only consequential matters are discussed here.

On May 25, 7:57*pm, Ed Pawlowski > wrote:
> On Fri, 25 May 2012 16:58:08 -0800, Mark Thorson >
> wrote:
>
>
>
> >Granted the cups and coffee are free, but it does
> >seem like a sneaky way to reduce costs -- the sort
> >of thing I expect from Safeway but not a good store
> >like Trader Joe's. *A store that cares about its
> >customers and doesn't try to shave a little cost
> >at every opportunity. *I hope this is not a harbinger
> >of things to come. *That would ruin Trader Joe's.
>
> What is sneaky about it? *Should they announce that our free coffee is
> now smaller?
>
> Sneaky is when you charge the same price and reduce the volume, like
> the 57 ounce OJ, the smaller jars of mayo, etc.
>
> A store that cares about is customer watches costs so they can
> continue to offer good service. *Nothing is "free", but wrapped into
> the costs that all customers pay. *That little old lady in line behind
> you paid a portion of your free coffee.

On the other hand, if a store featuring so many house brand products,
which moreover it keeps rotating in and out, did not offer samples to
customers, many products would just languish on the shelves. (Sure
they offer a money-back guarantee, but who brings over, say, a half-
eaten can of tomato sauce for a refund? Uneaten food goes in the
garbage, never to be bought again. )

The cost of samples is really a marketing expense. But you're not
meant to nourish yourself on them. Maybe at Costco you can get away
with it.

On 5/25/2012 9:56 PM, spamtrap1888 wrote:
> On May 25, 5:53 pm, > wrote:
>> On Fri, 25 May 2012 16:58:08 -0800, Mark >
>> wrote:
>>
>>
>>
>>> The new ones are only about 20% smaller
>>> than the old ones.
>> <snip>
>>> Granted the cups and coffee are free, but it does
>>> seem like a sneaky way to reduce costs -- the sort
>>> of thing I expect from Safeway but not a good store
>>> like Trader Joe's. A store that cares about its
>>> customers and doesn't try to shave a little cost
>>> at every opportunity. I hope this is not a harbinger
>>> of things to come. That would ruin Trader Joe's.
>>
>> This matters why? I have never even thought about getting a "free
>> coffee". Not a freeloader and don't eat/drink while I shop anyway.
>>
>
> I always thought that the cup is for tasting, not for drinking.

No Trader Joes near here so I have only been in them a few times. In
each case they had a counter set up in the rear of the store for coffee
tasting. They had maybe two types they were featuring and they would
give you a little sample size cup.

A local food provision place that also has two "direct to the public"
operations has a setup located as soon as you walk in. They have various
coffees they are featuring available as self service. They have maybe 5
oz cups.

Having samples available is basic marketing that is cheap to do and it
really works.

On 5/25/2012 10:57 PM, Ed Pawlowski wrote:
> On Fri, 25 May 2012 16:58:08 -0800, Mark >
> wrote:
>
>>
>> Granted the cups and coffee are free, but it does
>> seem like a sneaky way to reduce costs -- the sort
>> of thing I expect from Safeway but not a good store
>> like Trader Joe's. A store that cares about its
>> customers and doesn't try to shave a little cost
>> at every opportunity. I hope this is not a harbinger
>> of things to come. That would ruin Trader Joe's.
>
>
> What is sneaky about it? Should they announce that our free coffee is
> now smaller?
>

Exactly, free sample sizes are certainly up to the discretion of
whomever is offering them. I guess someone could demand their money back
if they were upset.

> Sneaky is when you charge the same price and reduce the volume, like
> the 57 ounce OJ, the smaller jars of mayo, etc.

I see a lot of 16 oz canned goods are now down to 14.5 ounces. I
sometimes buy canned tomatoes with chili peppers. I thought it was my
imagination that the cans looked small when I saw a display on an end
cap. I read a label and saw that the 16 oz can was now 10.5 ounces.

>
> A store that cares about is customer watches costs so they can
> continue to offer good service. Nothing is "free", but wrapped into
> the costs that all customers pay. That little old lady in line behind
> you paid a portion of your free coffee.

On 5/26/2012 2:09 AM, MotoFox wrote:
> And it came to pass that sf delivered the following message unto the
> people, saying~
>
>> This matters why? I have never even thought about getting a "free
>> coffee". Not a freeloader and don't eat/drink while I shop anyway.
>
> That's no way to live.

Yes, samples that are free will always be fat-free :_)

--
Jim Silverton (Potomac, MD)

Extraneous "not" in Reply To.

On Sat, 26 May 2012 00:31:07 -0700 (PDT), spamtrap1888
> wrote:

>On May 25, 7:57*pm, Ed Pawlowski > wrote:
>> On Fri, 25 May 2012 16:58:08 -0800, Mark Thorson >
>> wrote:
>>
>>
>>
>> >Granted the cups and coffee are free, but it does
>> >seem like a sneaky way to reduce costs -- the sort
>> >of thing I expect from Safeway but not a good store
>> >like Trader Joe's. *A store that cares about its
>> >customers and doesn't try to shave a little cost
>> >at every opportunity. *I hope this is not a harbinger
>> >of things to come. *That would ruin Trader Joe's.
>>
>> What is sneaky about it? *Should they announce that our free coffee is
>> now smaller?
>>
>> Sneaky is when you charge the same price and reduce the volume, like
>> the 57 ounce OJ, the smaller jars of mayo, etc.
>>
>> A store that cares about is customer watches costs so they can
>> continue to offer good service. *Nothing is "free", but wrapped into
>> the costs that all customers pay. *That little old lady in line behind
>> you paid a portion of your free coffee.
>
>On the other hand, if a store featuring so many house brand products,
>which moreover it keeps rotating in and out, did not offer samples to
>customers, many products would just languish on the shelves. (Sure
>they offer a money-back guarantee, but who brings over, say, a half-
>eaten can of tomato sauce for a refund? Uneaten food goes in the
>garbage, never to be bought again. )
>
>The cost of samples is really a marketing expense. But you're not
>meant to nourish yourself on them. Maybe at Costco you can get away
>with it.

Stores offer samples primarilly because they are a tax deduction.

Shelley the Bridge Troll: insane or chronically stoned?

> Stores offer samples primarilly because they are a tax deduction.

That's why they throw out salable merchandise too. Gosh, you're smart!

On 5/26/2012 11:20 AM, George M. Middius wrote:
> Shelley the Bridge Troll: insane or chronically stoned?
>
>> Stores offer samples primarilly because they are a tax deduction.
>
> That's why they throw out salable merchandise too. Gosh, you're smart!
>
>
Well Shelden only knows what aol search tells him so don't be so hard on
the congenitally clueless...

Stores offer samples because they know it is a proven method to increase
sales which as a secondary result would very likely generate more profit
and higher taxes.

On May 25, 5:58*pm, Mark Thorson > wrote:
> The new ones are only about 20% smaller
> than the old ones. *I wouldn't have noticed
> if I didn't have a few of the cups in my car.
> Usually, I finish my coffee in the store, but
> occasionally I get out to my car before finishing,
> so I accumulate a few empty cups. *Today,
> I stacked the cups together to throw them away,
> and one cup wouldn't fully nest within the others.
> I examined the cup below it to see if some foreign
> object was getting in the way, but that cup was
> empty. *Comparing the two cups, I saw the older
> cup is larger than the new ones. *The difference
> is just small enough that I didn't notice until
> trying to stack the old and new cups together.
>
> Granted the cups and coffee are free, but it does
> seem like a sneaky way to reduce costs -- the sort
> of thing I expect from Safeway but not a good store
> like Trader Joe's. *A store that cares about its
> customers and doesn't try to shave a little cost
> at every opportunity. *I hope this is not a harbinger
> of things to come. *That would ruin Trader Joe's.

So sue them.

On 25/05/2012 8:58 PM, Mark Thorson wrote:
>
> Granted the cups and coffee are free, but it does
> seem like a sneaky way to reduce costs --


Feel free to cut your costs by not accepting the free coffee.

On 26/05/2012 11:16 AM, Brooklyn1 wrote:

> Stores offer samples primarilly because they are a tax deduction.

Poppycock. I trust that you realize that being a tax deduction only
means that they don't pay tax on the money spent on the promotion. It
still costs them money to provide those free samples. Most people
recognize that those free samples are a form of promotion. The consumers
pay for those free coffees when they buy coffee or other products in the
store.

George wrote:

> Stores offer samples because they know it is a proven method to
> increase sales

It's what you do when you believe what you're selling is good, and you
look at a lack of sales as, "If only I could more people just to try it,
they'd buy it after that." Not for nuthin' (as we say in my part of the
world), I do this in my profession, which is giving music lessons - the
first lesson here is always free.

FWIW, I generally buy at least one of the things TJ's has out for free
samples each and every time I'm in there. It's all good, it all gets
eaten here and it's frankly a fine way for us to try new things. Even
if we don't end up buying some of them again, they never go to waste.
Note also that, at least at my local TJ's, you're more than welcomed to
take as many of the free samples, including the coffee, as you like.

Although I usually only have one cup of their coffee because I've
already had my own at home, I've been known to have three or four of a
sample food I like. E.g., yesterday they had a bacon ranch dip they
were serviing on hot dogs on whole wheat rolls. The flavor was nice, we
didn't need either hot dogs or rolls at home since had, but the dip was
tasty stuff and I bought a container. I had three or four of the hot
dog samples - can't remember which now.

-S-

On 5/26/2012 12:25 PM, Chemo the Clown wrote:
> On May 25, 5:58 pm, Mark > wrote:
>> The new ones are only about 20% smaller
>> than the old ones. I wouldn't have noticed
>> if I didn't have a few of the cups in my car.
>> Usually, I finish my coffee in the store, but
>> occasionally I get out to my car before finishing,
>> so I accumulate a few empty cups. Today,
>> I stacked the cups together to throw them away,
>> and one cup wouldn't fully nest within the others.
>> I examined the cup below it to see if some foreign
>> object was getting in the way, but that cup was
>> empty. Comparing the two cups, I saw the older
>> cup is larger than the new ones. The difference
>> is just small enough that I didn't notice until
>> trying to stack the old and new cups together.
>>
>> Granted the cups and coffee are free, but it does
>> seem like a sneaky way to reduce costs -- the sort
>> of thing I expect from Safeway but not a good store
>> like Trader Joe's. A store that cares about its
>> customers and doesn't try to shave a little cost
>> at every opportunity. I hope this is not a harbinger
>> of things to come. That would ruin Trader Joe's.
>
> So sue them.

Don't get too extreme. Demanding your money back would be the first step...

On Fri, 25 May 2012 18:56:01 -0700 (PDT), spamtrap1888
> wrote:

> On May 25, 5:53*pm, sf > wrote:
> > On Fri, 25 May 2012 16:58:08 -0800, Mark Thorson >
> > wrote:
> >
> >
> >
> > > The new ones are only about 20% smaller
> > > than the old ones.
> > <snip>
> > > Granted the cups and coffee are free, but it does
> > > seem like a sneaky way to reduce costs -- the sort
> > > of thing I expect from Safeway but not a good store
> > > like Trader Joe's. *A store that cares about its
> > > customers and doesn't try to shave a little cost
> > > at every opportunity. *I hope this is not a harbinger
> > > of things to come. *That would ruin Trader Joe's.
> >
> > This matters why? *I have never even thought about getting a "free
> > coffee". *Not a freeloader and don't eat/drink while I shop anyway.
> >
>
> I always thought that the cup is for tasting, not for drinking.

I see people walking though the store pushing their carts, "tasting
it" as if they are drinking a big cup of coffee. Why bother in the
first place if their time is that precious?

--
Food is an important part of a balanced diet.

On Sat, 26 May 2012 06:09:48 +0000, MotoFox
<confucius-say@enlightenment!to!him!lead!it!for!bangpath!foll ow!man!wise.UUCP>
wrote:

> And it came to pass that sf delivered the following message unto the
> people, saying~
>
> > This matters why? I have never even thought about getting a "free
> > coffee". Not a freeloader and don't eat/drink while I shop anyway.
>
> That's no way to live.

Why eat/drink when shopping is the task at hand? No wonder people
never get anything done.

--
Food is an important part of a balanced diet.

"sf" > wrote in message
...
> On Sat, 26 May 2012 06:09:48 +0000, MotoFox
> <confucius-say@enlightenment!to!him!lead!it!for!bangpath!foll ow!man!wise.UUCP>
> wrote:
>
>> And it came to pass that sf delivered the following message unto the
>> people, saying~
>>
>> > This matters why? I have never even thought about getting a "free
>> > coffee". Not a freeloader and don't eat/drink while I shop anyway.
>>
>> That's no way to live.
>
> Why eat/drink when shopping is the task at hand? No wonder people
> never get anything done.

True, I don't do free samples of any food or drink offered in stores, just
don't care to.

Cheri

On 26/05/2012 5:18 PM, Cheri wrote:

>> Why eat/drink when shopping is the task at hand? No wonder people
>> never get anything done.
>
> True, I don't do free samples of any food or drink offered in stores,
> just don't care to.


I usually decline the offers of samples because it is almost always the
sort of stuff that I don't eat and would never buy. One exception in our
local Sobey's store where the deli department usually has samples of
cheese and or cold cuts.

KevinS wrote:
>
> On May 25, 5:58 pm, Mark Thorson > wrote:
>
> > The new ones are only about 20% smaller
> > than the old ones.
>
> I had a taste of coffee about an hour ago at a TJ I think
> is near you (in Santa Clara Co., CA). The bottom of the
> cup was imprinted with "4 oz." Are they just using up
> the old cups?

Those are the new ones. The old ones didn't
say how big they were. If I had a measuring cup,
I'd measure it and tell you.

MotoFox wrote:
>
> And it came to pass that sf delivered the following message unto the
> people, saying~
>
> > This matters why? I have never even thought about getting a "free
> > coffee". Not a freeloader and don't eat/drink while I shop anyway.
>
> That's no way to live.

Agreed. Probably hasn't got a nearby Trader Joe's
or Costco, hence the jealousy against the rest of us.

"Dave Smith" > wrote in message
m...
> On 26/05/2012 5:18 PM, Cheri wrote:
>
>>> Why eat/drink when shopping is the task at hand? No wonder people
>>> never get anything done.
>>
>> True, I don't do free samples of any food or drink offered in stores,
>> just don't care to.
>
>
> I usually decline the offers of samples because it is almost always the
> sort of stuff that I don't eat and would never buy. One exception in our
> local Sobey's store where the deli department usually has samples of
> cheese and or cold cuts.

I might sample a cheese I haven't had before just to check it out, but I
don't believe I've ever seen cheese offered in the markets I shop at as free
samples.

Cheri

On 2012-05-26, Mark Thorson > wrote:

> Granted the cups and coffee are free, but it does
> seem like a sneaky way to reduce costs

Jay-sus! What a sniveling whiney ass you are. Someone's giving you
free coffee and you complain about how they are shortchanging you? I
hope you get hit by a truck.

nb

--
vi --the heart of evil!
Support labeling GMOs
<http://www.labelgmos.org/>

On Sat, 26 May 2012 18:13:45 -0400, Dave Smith
> wrote:



>
>I usually decline the offers of samples because it is almost always the
>sort of stuff that I don't eat and would never buy.

Same here. Most of what is offered is a frozen food or some other
processed food that we don't eat. Bagel bites, canned ravioli and the
like are nasty stuff.

Cook up a good steak and I'll take a slice, maybe even buy one.

Ed Pawlowski wrote:

> >I usually decline the offers of samples because it is almost always the
> >sort of stuff that I don't eat and would never buy.
>
> Same here. Most of what is offered is a frozen food or some other
> processed food that we don't eat. Bagel bites, canned ravioli and the
> like are nasty stuff.
>
> Cook up a good steak and I'll take a slice, maybe even buy one.

They did that once at a Safeway. Supposedly their "best" steak, but
pretty tasteless as it turned out. Also drowned in pepper. I think it
was their "Ranch Reserve" strip steak. It might be better than stuff
in the freezer case, but that's about it.

On Sat, 26 May 2012 14:32:28 -0800, Mark Thorson >
wrote:

> MotoFox wrote:
> >
> > And it came to pass that sf delivered the following message unto the
> > people, saying~
> >
> > > This matters why? I have never even thought about getting a "free
> > > coffee". Not a freeloader and don't eat/drink while I shop anyway.
> >
> > That's no way to live.
>
> Agreed. Probably hasn't got a nearby Trader Joe's
> or Costco, hence the jealousy against the rest of us.

If you're referring to me, dream on. There are quite a few Trader
Joe's in town and one is 4 or 5 blocks from me. I also have 3
Costco's within 10 minutes and many more within 30.

--
Food is an important part of a balanced diet.

On Sat, 26 May 2012 14:22:05 -0800, Mark Thorson >
wrote:

> KevinS wrote:
> >
> > On May 25, 5:58 pm, Mark Thorson > wrote:
> >
> > > The new ones are only about 20% smaller
> > > than the old ones.
> >
> > I had a taste of coffee about an hour ago at a TJ I think
> > is near you (in Santa Clara Co., CA). The bottom of the
> > cup was imprinted with "4 oz." Are they just using up
> > the old cups?
>
> Those are the new ones. The old ones didn't
> say how big they were. If I had a measuring cup,
> I'd measure it and tell you.

Do you have measuring spoons? Do the math.

--
Food is an important part of a balanced diet.

On Sun, 27 May 2012 00:45:08 -0700, sf > wrote:


>
> There are quite a few Trader
>Joe's in town and one is 4 or 5 blocks from me. I also have 3
>Costco's within 10 minutes and many more within 30.

I feel deprived. Nearest TJ is 30 miles, next one is another 10
miles.

Nearest Costco is 45 miles. BJ's is 25 miles.

Nearest Whole Foods about 35 miles.

We do have two large supermarkets though, and Wal Mart is expanding to
a super store this year. All within 2 miles.

On 5/26/2012 6:32 PM, Mark Thorson wrote:
> MotoFox wrote:
>>
>> And it came to pass that sf delivered the following message unto the
>> people, saying~
>>
>>> This matters why? I have never even thought about getting a "free
>>> coffee". Not a freeloader and don't eat/drink while I shop anyway.
>>
>> That's no way to live.
>
> Agreed. Probably hasn't got a nearby Trader Joe's
> or Costco, hence the jealousy against the rest of us.

What jealousy? You complained about the idea that an item that you were
getting for "free" was now furnished in a smaller size. The proper thing
to do would be to make a scene and demand to see the manager and then
demand to have the money you paid for the coffee refunded.

On 5/27/2012 7:39 AM, Ed Pawlowski wrote:
> On Sun, 27 May 2012 00:45:08 -0700, > wrote:
>
>
>>
>> There are quite a few Trader
>> Joe's in town and one is 4 or 5 blocks from me. I also have 3
>> Costco's within 10 minutes and many more within 30.
>
> I feel deprived. Nearest TJ is 30 miles, next one is another 10
> miles.

We have a BJs about 5 miles away. Nearest TJs and Costco ~ 100 miles.
Nearest whole foods is ~ 120 miles.

>
> Nearest Costco is 45 miles. BJ's is 25 miles.
>
> Nearest Whole Foods about 35 miles.
>
> We do have two large supermarkets though, and Wal Mart is expanding to
> a super store this year. All within 2 miles.

We have a bunch of different supermarkets. Best is the family owned
place with one single megastore that has a good quality meat department
that does butchering and makes there own good quality sausage products.

Isn't wallys stated mission to basically build enough wallys so that
none are more than a few miles apart from each other? I don't think
there is enough tax money left in PA to do it for them though.

George wrote:
>
> On 5/26/2012 6:32 PM, Mark Thorson wrote:
> > MotoFox wrote:
> >>
> >> And it came to pass that sf delivered the following message unto the
> >> people, saying~
> >>
> >>> This matters why? I have never even thought about getting a "free
> >>> coffee". Not a freeloader and don't eat/drink while I shop anyway.
> >>
> >> That's no way to live.
> >
> > Agreed. Probably hasn't got a nearby Trader Joe's
> > or Costco, hence the jealousy against the rest of us.
>
> What jealousy? You complained about the idea that an item that you were
> getting for "free" was now furnished in a smaller size. The proper thing
> to do would be to make a scene and demand to see the manager and then
> demand to have the money you paid for the coffee refunded.

To promote customer satisfaction and good will, I have no doubt that the
manager would agree to refund the money paid for the free coffee.

On 5/27/2012 3:45 AM, sf wrote:
> On Sat, 26 May 2012 14:32:28 -0800, Mark >
> wrote:
>
>> MotoFox wrote:
>>>
>>> And it came to pass that sf delivered the following message unto the
>>> people, saying~
>>>
>>>> This matters why? I have never even thought about getting a "free
>>>> coffee". Not a freeloader and don't eat/drink while I shop anyway.
>>>
>>> That's no way to live.
>>
>> Agreed. Probably hasn't got a nearby Trader Joe's
>> or Costco, hence the jealousy against the rest of us.
>
> If you're referring to me, dream on. There are quite a few Trader
> Joe's in town and one is 4 or 5 blocks from me. I also have 3
> Costco's within 10 minutes and many more within 30.

I'm with you, I'm shopping, I don't need to be juggling a piece
of food while I'm pushing my cart. It's not usually something I
want, anyway. I sure as hell don't want a cup of coffee.

nancy, not the least bit jealous

On 5/27/2012 7:39 AM, Ed Pawlowski wrote:
> On Sun, 27 May 2012 00:45:08 -0700, > wrote:

>> There are quite a few Trader
>> Joe's in town and one is 4 or 5 blocks from me. I also have 3
>> Costco's within 10 minutes and many more within 30.
>
> I feel deprived. Nearest TJ is 30 miles, next one is another 10
> miles.
>
> Nearest Costco is 45 miles. BJ's is 25 miles.
>
> Nearest Whole Foods about 35 miles.

You really do have a drive. There are three Costcos pretty much
equidistant to me at about 12 miles away, TJs is maybe 4 miles and
Whole Foods is in my town, about 7 miles away.

All of them close enough, yet not so close I have to deal with their
traffic.

nancy

On Fri, 25 May 2012 16:58:08 -0800 in rec.food.cooking, Mark Thorson
> wrote,
>The new ones are only about 20% smaller

Bring your own cup?

On Sun, 27 May 2012 07:59:39 -0400, George >
wrote:

> Nearest whole foods is ~ 120 miles.

That's further than the distance between San Francisco and Sacramento.
I'd never even consider shopping at WF if the nearest was that far
away. It might as well be in the next state. I'll have a WF within
easy walking distance next year. In the mean time, others are
scattered all over town. I don't shop there on a regular basis
though, mainly because they believe in the skinniest parting slots on
the planet and I don't take a chance on coming out to a door ding.
There are too many other decent places to shop for me care about
driving to one of them unless I'm after a specific item I can only buy
at WF. However, it will be nice to have a full service grocery within
easy walking distance again. I'll be able to get back into the habit
of grocery shopping several times a week and get a little exercise
doing it.

--
Food is an important part of a balanced diet.

On Sun, 27 May 2012 07:53:12 -0400, George >
wrote:

> What jealousy? You complained about the idea that an item that you were
> getting for "free" was now furnished in a smaller size. The proper thing
> to do would be to make a scene and demand to see the manager and then
> demand to have the money you paid for the coffee refunded.

You need to wake up and smell the coffee. I didn't start this thread
and I don't care what size their free cup of coffee is.

--
Food is an important part of a balanced diet.

On Sun, 27 May 2012 07:59:39 -0400, George >
wrote:

> Isn't wallys stated mission to basically build enough wallys so that
> none are more than a few miles apart from each other? I don't think
> there is enough tax money left in PA to do it for them though.

I know nothing about their stated mission, but that doesn't make any
sense to me because they would be in competition with each other.

--
Food is an important part of a balanced diet.