Comments on: More Adventures as a Shopping Skeptic

By: cjbr549

cjbr549 — Mon, 14 Sep 2009 19:59:50 +0000

I think the Wal Mart TLE (That’s insider logo for the Tire & Lube Express) experience can vary widely from store to store. I worked at one for 2 years between my degrees, and the one I was at was top notch. Oil changes were as fast on our one lane as I believe any competitor could match (although most dedicated oil places have 2 or 3) and our tire business was the highest volume in the region. I have had varying experience with other TLE’s.

By: Andrea

Andrea — Thu, 10 Sep 2009 03:30:18 +0000

I did notice that, Jet, and I agree. I was actually planning on trying out the coconut oil tomorrow with some popcorn. Alas, my Whirly Pop died last week so I have to just use a pot and shake it, but I’m still going to try it.

By: Mr. Not the Jet Set

Mr. Not the Jet Set — Thu, 10 Sep 2009 03:22:35 +0000

Andrea – You’re right, there is a constant effort by manufacturers to reduce the amount of product that your money buys. And they totally control the size and shape of the container. But for us, it was what was in the container that first turned us away.

Note my choice of words – manufacturer, not producer. As our society becomes more and more detached from the food journey, the more and more latitude manufacturers have to meddle with the food product itself. It’s amazing the garbage they try to pass off as food. Chocolate that contains no cocoa. Eggs, milk and meat so pumped full of hormones and low quality feed to the animals that the product has little to no nutritional value. Bottled water no better than, or worse than tap water.

So maybe it’s better that they give us less of it….. we are very skeptical shoppers.

By: Andrea

Andrea — Thu, 10 Sep 2009 02:23:50 +0000

I bought microwave popcorn for the first time in ages last week – I prefer the old fashioned popped taste, but my nephew was going off to college and I had some double coupons to pair up with loss leader sales so I figured I’d throw some in a care package.

Maybe because I haven’t actually bought any in a while, the difference in size actually jumped out at me quite a bit. I also noticed more “snack size” options. So nice of the manufacturers to look out for our waistlines.

I think the lesson here is that it’s really in your best interest to go back to basics as much as possible. The easiest stuff to scam you on in the grocery store is going to be packaged, processed stuff where the manufacturer controls the size and shape of the container. If you stick to the outside of the store, I think you’ll find it easier to keep tabs on your grocery dollar. You’ll notice when apple prices go up, but at least you won’t have to worry about the apple being empty under all that peel. Although, now that I think about it, I did also notice the other day that a clam shell of baby spinach at the usual price was MUCH shallower than it used to be in one of my local stores.

Buyer beware.

By: doctor S

doctor S — Wed, 09 Sep 2009 19:16:18 +0000

Popcorn is one thing I have not bought from the store in ages, although every time I go to my microwave, I do notice the 3.5 oz popcorn button. I have to agree with Mr Not the Jet Set, I have noticed over the last few years that less and less of the preproccessed packaged food item are being purchased in my household, the ones that are purchased I notice the shrinkage (cue George Costanza).

I have noticed the size of items in vending machines DRASTICALLY decreasing and the prices of the items DRASTICALLY increasing. Especially, when it comes to chips. A tiny bag that used to be considered a trial size is now in the vending machine for $1.00 while at the local convenience store, a size 3 times bigger is going for $0.99.

Its a sign of the times and we will continue move in this direction.

By: Mr. Not the Jet Set

Mr. Not the Jet Set — Wed, 09 Sep 2009 02:41:53 +0000

interesting about the popcorn. Of course you see products shrinking everywhere, but rarely is there one like popcorn that millions of products are pre-programmed to cook.

On the other hand, the further you move away from overly processed and overpackaged foods, the less this stuff will affect you. We’ve been making our popcorn from raw kernels and coconut oil in our Whirley Pop for a couple years now, and we’ll never go back.