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Page: Profile: Wren's Nest News Local
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Article: 12081
[Health]
Date Posted:
1/23/2005
10:57:56 am EST
Wvox Stats
Views: 13,687
RSS: 4,083
Comments: 23
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Pitfalls Are Built Into Grocery Stores
Author: Jan Norris, Cox News Service Source: Times Argus (VT)
Title: PITFALLS ARE BUILT INTO GROCERY STORES
  You've entered the grocery maze. The bakery's fresh-from-the-oven smells get you as you enter the store. You pick up doughnuts, even though they're not on your shopping list or your diet. Two points for the store.
You only want to buy bread and milk, but they're in the back of the store. On the way, you see a new brand of olives that looks great. Into your basket they go. Two more points for the store.
Standing in the checkout line, you browse a home design magazine and get hooked on a story. Gotta have it. Two more points for the store.
You've been had by Grocery Store Design. Don't feel too bad; you're not alone.
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Community Thoughts: There are 23 comments posted | Reverse Sort |
| Human Lemmings | Jan 24th. at 11:13:13 am EST |
by Carol (Columbus - Ohio) - wc_xemail
We are *soooo* easily manipulated! We're even manipulated by environmental factors without our even knowing it.
One that comes to mind is weather. Hubby has been a restaurant manager for over 25 years. He is also a big weather weenie and would watch Weather Channel 24/7 if I let him!
Anyway, it is his observation that during the 24 hours or so before a bad weather system moves in (e.g., a snowstorm) , people will buy on average one item more than their regular food order. If they usually buy a burger, fries, and soda, the will buy a burger, fries, and shake (or add a second burger or onion rings or something) before a storm. They do this completely oblivious to why or even that they're doing it!
We have a running joke in our household about pre-storm shopping habits, too. Before storms, every convenience and grocery store in town has a run on bread and milk! It's so ridiculous. An oncoming storm (even a big nasty one like just before Christmas) will not cause all cows to dry up, nor will it cause all bakeries to shut down and all grain to go bad, yet that is exactly how most people out there act! "Thelma, I gotta go out and buy some bread and milk, but I don't know why!" It doesn't matter how much bread and milk is already in the house (or any other food) , people run out to buy more!
So, if you want to be a wise consumer, know what you are doing and *why*. Overcome your mammalian instincts (even though it's good for my hubby's business, LOL!) ! Ask yourself why you're buying something if it seems strange to you that you feel compelled to do so!
It ain't just capitalism/marketing that drives purchases!
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| Shopping With Kids | Jan 24th. at 11:00:02 am EST |
by Alpha (Buchanan - Georgia) - wc_xemail
The "Beat the Store" game is more fun with kids! Of course, they need to be older kids, or precocious if they are significantly pre-teen. Who can be the first to figure out the nature of the manipulation? What string is being pulled? If the poor-quality, overpriced chips (or whatever) are HERE, then where are they hiding the good stuff?
Warning: this game may entertain the other shoppers, but it annoys managers.
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| Hmm... | Jan 24th. at 9:25:47 am EST |
by Archer Jadephoenix (Trenton - New Jersey) - wc_xemail
I actually buy more of what I need and less of what I don't when I shop with others.
Then again, I'm forgetful, and the friends I bring to the store (when I do shop with them) are the mommy-type - if I pick up something I shouldn't be buying, they give me that "look".... you know. The one that makes you feel guilty for even thinking of wasting your money on such bad-for-you junk --- yet they'll remind me that I went in for milk, eggs, rolls, and cereal.
The shopping when you're hungry thing - agreed. Shopping when you're hungry is difficult - you see everything you'd *like* to eat right then and there and end up buying a lot more than you normally would have.
I'd like to point out that shopping for personal products, like shampoo, soaps, etc... when you're feeling grubby tends to have the same effect - at least on me. Not trying to take that theory too far, but ... it actually does happen to me. Not sure if it does to anyone else though! It's also in a lesser degree than with the food - food is very much a body necessity, where as keeping clean - while beneficial - is not.
I've fallen into the Grocery Store Trap before, yes. But it's happening fewer times now than it used to. ^_^ I think the longer we shop, the more we "catch on" to their tricks. Then they just get new tricks!
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| One Of The Three Basic Human Needs... | Jan 23rd. at 8:39:37 pm EST |
by Lori Dake (Chicago, IL) - wc_xemail - Web
...is food. The other two are clothing and shelter. I think that sometimes we forget just how important acquiring groceries. Anyone who can balk about "what does this [article] have to do with Paganism?" has fallen way off the mark. Many of our Gods and Goddesses are directly related to this basic need. Why else would we still pray to Them if it wasn't STILL a priority?
GOOD food is an even greater priority. With all the processed crap available and especially all the ready-to-eat stuff being bombarded on us everyday at the store, shouldn't we have a wake-up call once in a while telling us how to handle this situation?
All the positive previous posts are dead on the money. Buy in bulk when you can, buy as many whole foods as possible, clip coupons and/or use your saver card and NEVER take anyone with you. Not only will it save you money in the long run, which will help curb the trend of the Penniless Pagan, but it will act as a duel bonus against the Overweight Pagan. A bag of chips, a Snickers bar and a bottle of soda has the same calories as a whole buffet of fresh fruits and vegetables! And, pound for pound, the buffet costs a fraction of the price of the junk food platter, with lots of nutrients and much more filling.
Almost every Pagan social I go to, 80% of the stuff I can't eat, because they're all desserts. I usually bring a veggie tray or a fruit platter, or at least a dessert that at least resembles healthy. My platters usually end up being the last to be cleared out, because everyone went after the boxes of Krispy Kremes and cake. We*say* to treat our bodies as temples, but when we're feeding our friends and families tv dinners, soda and desserts, are we really practicing what we preach?
Just being my brutally honest self.
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| Playing "Beat The Store" | Jan 23rd. at 8:13:03 pm EST |
by Cyana (Ontario, Canada) - wc_xemail
Simplest trick of all: I eat before I shop. Shopping on a full stomach means not giving in to the temptations in the aisles.
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| I Prefer To Explore. | Jan 23rd. at 8:02:39 pm EST |
by Betty Wilkins (Peoria, Illinois) - wc_xemail
I know. It's hard to walk in and ignore the aromas of all that wonderful bread, so I don't. I have tried to make a habit of trying to find the things I need first then stop off to grab a bag or two of fresh warm rolls or crusty bread instead of that sliced plastic bagged stuff. Since it's already in my cart, I can concentrate on my list. Besides, that bagged stuff is mostly air anyway as anyone who has squeezed a loaf finds out and it doesn't have nearly the taste. I also try to pay attention to the advertising. When one soap or cleaner promises to get rid of 99.9% of germs, they all do. So I just pick the flavor and price instead of the brand. As for the tabloids, yuck!
I only read those when somebody else has bought them. As to the meat, I wait for the sales and get that prepared only when I don't feel like working on it myself-- I realize that one does pay more for convenience, but, once in awhile its nice to be able to just toss it in rather than wasting a half hour stripping it off the bone. As for shopping, I like to explore but only to get a fix on where everything is so that the next time I walk in, I'm not bothered by all the fancy detours.
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| Nice Break | Jan 23rd. at 7:59:28 pm EST |
by Sunfell (Arkansas) - wc_xemail
I like seeing an occasional 'lifestyle' article like this- and since I am an avid couponner, it's good to see others who are also thrifty. Nothing wrong with that!
My favorite part of my grocery shopping is watching that total go down as the coupons are scanned, and looking at the end of the receipt where they tell me how much I've saved with the coupons and store brands.
I may not be rich, but I am happy to say that I'm not broke, either. I wish that more Pagans would pay attention to things like this and other basic common sense financial things- maybe poverty among Pagans would start to go down.
Sunfell
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| Good Reminder | Jan 23rd. at 5:38:47 pm EST |
by Silver Faery (USA) - wc_xemail
Even though I have known all of this, it is still a good reminder...thanks Wern.
I know in the stores I shop at, the organic stuff is hidden well, normally in the very front of the store or the very back of the store. If I can't get organic vegtables, I at least get fresh ones, they are normally fairly cheap and really good!
Yes another thing DO NOT TAKE ANYONE WITH YOU SHOPPING, when I don't I spend less then when I do.
Thanks again.
Silver Faery
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| Change Of Pace | Jan 23rd. at 4:51:56 pm EST |
by Wild Witch (California) - wc_xemail
Thanks Wren for something a little different. Way too often are we fighting amongst ourselves or against others "out to get us". It is nice to see a story in here that almost everyone has to deal with.
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| A Nice Change | Jan 23rd. at 3:54:41 pm EST |
by LunaWolf (Columbia, SC) - wc_xemail
Thank you Wren, I appreciate an article like this to break up the barrage of "Christians vs. Everyone Else" articles we mostly see here anymore, seems like. I am a pagan mom of 3, 4 if you count hubby. It is definitely best to go shopping without the rest of the family, I refuse to be dazzled by the bright lights and shiney packages, I probably save about $50.00 leaving those guys at home!!
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| What Does This Have To Do With Us? | Jan 23rd. at 2:45:48 pm EST |
by Sister Moon (Minnesota) - wc_xemail
Um... even as a pagan, I go grocery shopping. So I guess it has something to do with us. And the concept of ethics in business seems a worthy subject for us to consider and discuss. Not every story posted here needs to be one which gives us all a chance to cry about how horrible Christians are. ;)
My mom works at a big grocery chain, and I've known for years how this stuff works. I *try* to just buy what I came for, but man, when I bring my husband shopping with me, invariably, the sale display of Little Debbies ends up in our cart. Last time we came home from shopping, he built a little "altar" to Little Debbie on the coffee table, by stacking all the boxes of treats.
Yes, I need to get back into shopping primarily at the co-op, or I will weigh 400 lbs in no time.
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| Hugs Not Hassles For Wren | Jan 23rd. at 2:34:40 pm EST |
by witchpoet (new orleans) - wc_xemail
First off, I appreciate the logic and motive in including a sprinkling of "dealing with the real world" stories. Most peapole see only bits and pieces, the things they notice. Sometimes a lot of obvious (and a few not so) things put together in a dynamic piture can make the obvious an Ah, Cool thing. I printed this out for my wife. She is from Russian and still does not really "get" the whole western captalist thing from a standpoint of being aware of how you are manipulated and how to defend against it.
That said, I wanted to make a comment about the large store thing. You can tell a lot about the mentality of the top management of a company by examining it's stores and how it treats its employees.
Lets take Wal-Mart and Best Buy.
When you walk into a random WM you are confused. THe layout is different from whatever branhc you frequent. You must wander about to find things. WM balances customer satisfaction with the shopping experience against the chance of maybe selling you one more item. The small chane of profit wins. WM is huge and ubiquitous, the top personalities look at this and lick their chops, and the psychological environment for the public goes down a fraction. WM also gives it's employees a barely usefull discount on purchases. They also have a reputation for laying off people just brefore they get eligible for promotion.
Now let's look at Best Buy. They too are nationwide and almost as common as WM.
You walk into any CC and you are home. You know where just about everything is. CC Prefers comfortable shoppers. They still have the end caps and discount sections in strategic places. But The shopper feels more at home and in control. In many ways this is a more mature strategy, more forward looking than this quarter's balance sheet. CC also gives its employees a very generous discount and wants happy, long term employees.
Obviously there is a differene in heart between the two sets of top managers. Next time you go into your favorite store for X look around with a fresh eye, what is in the head and heart of the person who sets policy?
What spin does their strategy have? Also think about it when you are looking to work for a company. The philosophy and attitude it shows towards customers will be similar to what it shows its employees.
Back to gorceries though. Once I caught a Von's in Ca cheating on it's price per pound labels. The manager gave me some tapdance about how the computers blah blah.
Tha fact is that if price is right and weight is right EVERY label would be either wrong or right as they all are calculated by the same simple formula.
It all cmes down to, keeps your eyes open.
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| This Is Obvious, But.. | Jan 23rd. at 1:49:16 pm EST |
by Pleiadian Floater (Minneapolis, MN) - wc_xemail
...what's not so obvious, and is considerably more offensive to me, is that the co-ops in my area do exactly the same things. They began as groups of people wanting to obtain decent, healthy food at fair prices, without the commercialism and profiteering that the grocery industry is involved in. Originally they rented small spaces wherever they could find cheap rent, and the checkout counter was likely to be a table holding burlap bags of brown rice that there wasn't any other room for. Stocking and checking out were done by volunteers who got a monthly discount for working a few hours each month.
Then at some point they decided they had to have professionals making decisions (instead of the informal consensus that worked in the beginning) , so they hired business majors, and these people recommended bigger stores with proper aisles, and before we knew what was happening, the modern checkout lanes were flanked with glossy magazines and gourmet refined-flour noodles, paper bags for produce were replaced with the same rolls of plastic bags that supermarkets have, and some of the variety of macrobiotic and local food disappeared because national brands like Celestial Seasonings (partially owned by Heinz) and Seeds of Change (owned by M&M Mars Candy) insist on a certain number of "shelf-inches" or they won't allow the co-ops to stock their products. (Are we still so naive that we think little ethical businesses can be bought by multinationals and it will be the multinationals who end up being influenced into changing their practices?)
Like all the other small, progressive, alternative businesses that have sold out, the co-ops have been touting how they're educating the public, spreading the word about healthy foods, etc. and they insist that to expand beyond the core members they need to look non-threatening to the general, middle-class public. But I wonder - for every person who decides the store doesn't look like a hippie hangout and risks coming in to see if organic lettuce really does taste better, how many come in and decide, "Oh look! Even these environmentally-aware people use plastic bags - things can't be that bad after all. And they eat sugary confections and white flour - so I can stop wondering if I ought to be switching to whole grains after all."
One expects the sort of tactics in this article from mainstream grocery chains, and that's why I haven't been in one of them for years. One doesn't expect it from co-ops who proudly display the Rochdale Coopeative Principles (one of which is "Honest Business Practices") - but then I guess that idea of people cooperating to obtain food without having to drag capitalism into it is just so 20th century...
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| In Defense Of Grocers | Jan 23rd. at 1:35:32 pm EST |
by Susan (Northern Arizona) - wc_xemail
My former husband is a manager at a grocery store. He has been for the last 28 years.
I can tell you that stores make only a few pennies on the items we purchase every day--meats, bread, etc. What stores make their money on is soda, diapers, housewares, and things like those olives (although less on the olives than the others) . So if they arrange the store to entice you to spend a few more dollars and they thereby make a few more pennies, who can blame them? They depend on volume, not price.
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| Ok... | Jan 23rd. at 1:34:23 pm EST |
by Cristin (Seattle, WA) - wc_xemail
So this has what to do with Paganism? Grocery stores have been laid out like this for quite some time now, it's nothing new.
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