76 replies to this topic

[ngilbert]

I'll take Raley's and its higher prices/quality over filthy Winco and its bedraggled meth-addicted shoppers buying gray meat and grade C milk.

Hey! Don't knock the gray meat:

[eVader]

Iron point dead ends at the end of the county line right now, so I assume it's up to EDH to complete the rest. I think its in the plans, but probably not for a while until there's money.

El Do Co said there is no funding to complete the .5 mile of the frontage road. Apparently they spent the developers money on other things and forgot the road was on the list.

[tsukiji]

Word for word I agree with this sentiment.
Oh how I miss my Andronico's in Berkeley!!!!

I used to love going to Andronico's at Stanford and getting their Brie, Fig and Proscuitto sandwich. What a great sandwich to have with a nice, iced latte on a cool, summer day. Just sitting at the mall and watching the people and the world go by.

[Bill Z]

I'll take Raley's and its higher prices/quality over filthy Winco and its bedraggled meth-addicted shoppers buying gray meat and grade C milk.

I don't see Winco as being filthy. I defintiely know that I'm not addicted to meth and as I go there at least once a week typically, I know I don't see a bunch of meth addicts.

I've never seen grey meat there, but as I've seen grey meat at other higher-end grocery stores, I know it can happen anywhere if a grocer isn't careful, but with the volume of business Winco does, they may just have a good enough turn-over rate to prevent it from happening.

So Crystal qualifies as grade C milk. Interesting. I've never yet experienced milk at Winco at home on the sell by date as smelling or tasting funny, and usually it is consumed before we get near that date. I have had milk from other grocery stores that was going funny already near the sell by date.

So I adamantly disagree with your assessment of Winco and respectfully request others to ignore your comments as I'm sure they come from someone that never goes there, has their own biased misconceptions, and is therefore full of hot air.

[stacycam]

Honestly, in general, the class of shoppers at Winco is different. Not bad, just different. Similar to Walmart, Ross, Marshall's, etc. My big issue with Winco is not the people, but the products. There are only certain items I will buy there. I'm a big label-reader, and most items don't make my cut.

[Bill Z]

Honestly, in general, the class of shoppers at Winco is different. Not bad, just different. Similar to Walmart, Ross, Marshall's, etc. My big issue with Winco is not the people, but the products. There are only certain items I will buy there. I'm a big label-reader, and most items don't make my cut.

I read labels, when they have 'em. (not much to read on fresh fruit & veggies or raw meat)

Like buying the low sodium tuna. or the varieties of rice in the rice bins, the flavors of the coffee beans.

And you are right, the class of shoppers is different, very few uppity snobs shop there.

I find nice people shop there, you know, the kind of people that have a cartfull, notice the person behind them as one or two items in their arms, and says, "you go ahead".

[cw68]

The bulk of my grocery shopping, by far, is done at Winco. I don't find it particular dirty and don't really care who is shopping around me. I can by the same things at Winco that I can at Safeway and it's cheaper. Their produce is hit or miss, so unless you're going for something basic like apples, I do what I do at farmer's markets: I buy what's fresh and plan my meals around that. I haven't seen gray meat, though I'm not a huge meat-eater, so many times I walk out meat-less. Their Foster Farms chicken is exactly the same as elsewhere. I also work next-door to Winco and live in NS, so the location can't be beat.

What I don't get at Winco I get at TJ's and The Nugget. If The Nugget was closer, I'd shop there a lot more often. I love that store.

[Chad Vander Veen]

Mostly (honestly) I don't shop at Winco because they don't take Amex. I like to earn points.

[Bill Z]

Mostly (honestly) I don't shop at Winco because they don't take Amex. I like to earn points.

Now that I can believe, and I agree, if I had a gripe with Winco, it is their no credit card policy. It's the only store in town where I take my checkbook (I don't do debit cards). But the price differential does exceed the points I lose, so Hi Oh, Hi Oh, it's off to Winco I go, ...


Note, The above emoticon is the closest thing I could find to someone marching.

[EAH]

So I adamantly disagree with your assessment of Winco and respectfully request others to ignore your comments as I'm sure they come from someone that never goes there, has their own biased misconceptions, and is therefore full of hot air.

Well as a shopper who has plenty of shopping experience both at Winco and Raley's I guess MY OPINION does hold water (Bill, you come off sounding like a know it all who thinks only HIS opinion is valid, there's a whole lotta people on this forum who have their own experiences and their opinion is JUST as valid as yours!). Winco is a great alternative for those who are not particular about meat and produce and price is their main objective. I will buy canned items, chips, cookies etc. there but I will NOT buy my meats, fruits and vegetables there.

[Bill Z]

Well as a shopper who has plenty of shopping experience both at Winco and Raley's I guess MY OPINION does hold water (Bill, you come off sounding like a know it all who thinks only HIS opinion is valid, there's a whole lotta people on this forum who have their own experiences and their opinion is JUST as valid as yours!). Winco is a great alternative for those who are not particular about meat and produce and price is their main objective. I will buy canned items, chips, cookies etc. there but I will NOT buy my meats, fruits and vegetables there.

I was disagreeing with his assessment that it is a bunch of methheads that go there and that the food is sub-standard, which it is not. If you read his next post, he admits it's his love of using his AMEX card that really keeps him from shopping there. I have not once disagreed with the posts that Raley's carries better produce. And for those that said Raley's is too expensive, I pointed out their 2 gallon price of milk is very good and they have good sales on meats. If you want me to post something else, if you want esoteric cheeses, you won't find them at Winco either, but you will find them at Raley's. I also haven't disagreed with anyone that says there are more "organic" items at Raley's than at Winco. But I won't stand for Winco being slandered as C_V had done.

[Andrea V]

Well as a shopper who has plenty of shopping experience both at Winco and Raley's I guess MY OPINION does hold water (Bill, you come off sounding like a know it all who thinks only HIS opinion is valid, there's a whole lotta people on this forum who have their own experiences and their opinion is JUST as valid as yours!). Winco is a great alternative for those who are not particular about meat and produce and price is their main objective. I will buy canned items, chips, cookies etc. there but I will NOT buy my meats, fruits and vegetables there.

same here!!

except bananas... I don't hate their bananas!

[legofamily]

I read labels, when they have 'em. (not much to read on fresh fruit & veggies or raw meat)

Like buying the low sodium tuna. or the varieties of rice in the rice bins, the flavors of the coffee beans.

And you are right, the class of shoppers is different, very few uppity snobs shop there.

I find nice people shop there, you know, the kind of people that have a cartfull, notice the person behind them as one or two items in their arms, and says, "you go ahead".

+100

I too shop at Winco for most of my food. The only things I don't buy there are meat and some produce. I usually go to Raley's for the meat.

[pet lover]

Winco is the primary grocery store that I use, but I use the Bel Air near my home for emergencies or if they have things listed in the ad that I want for the week. I'll agree with the rest that the produce is usually better than Winco, but I can't complain about the apples, bananas, plums, strawberries, and grapes I've purchased at Winco. They're often cheaper than Bel Air too.

My parents always have a "Winco list" when they come up to visit. I don't think there is much trade off in terms of product quality for most products sold at Winco, but the Raley's/Bel Air stores are decorated much nicer and the patrons are much more middle to upper class.

[carnivore]

Interesting to read the previous posts, hhhmmm I noticed that no one mentioned the Safeway stores? Very interestingly, I met the Manager of Pacific Fresh Seafoods company today, what a great guy.. What I found most interesting was that Raley's, Bel-Air, Safeway as well as Winco all get their fish and shell fish from his company in west Sacramento !! I don't know about you, but have you ever been into the seafood dept at Safeway or Raley's in town? HHMMM and you won't buy meat at Winco? I might have to reserve some sort of disbelief in what might be a reaction to common sense.. The many ! times I have visited both the Safeway and Raley's locations, I can tell you one thing for sure... If it smells like fish... DON"T BUY IT !!! I for one , have never experienced this with Winco,,, you know why? they turn it over too fast... supply and demand... How can you explain to me or any other astute person, how can Raley's charge during a SALE! $6.98 a pound for Talapia, when Winco charges $3.98 a pound for the VERY same product bought from the SAME supplier? Well I was told why, but if you want to spend more money for the same product... feel free to go ahead..