dml (anonymous) says...

My mom has really gotten irritated with Price Chopper since they got bought out because she cannot find the food in town that she used to buy regularly. Too bad the new owners did not keep getting that stuff in. I think she is shopping there less all the time. Hopefully they will see this.

December 5, 2008 at 8:01 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )

supernanny (anonymous) says...

We also stopped shopping at Price Chopper. The quality has went downhill, along with their customer service. We shop at Dillons now for everything we need. They are very friendly there and have great sales.

December 5, 2008 at 8:06 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )

create (anonymous) says...

I don't understand the comment that these stores are "no longer true hometown grocers." What exactly is a "true hometown grocer"? If it's one that provides constant good service and attention to detail, offers commonly-used items on sale all the time and not just the holidays, then Reebles is a "true hometown grocer."

Who makes the rules as to what shall be traditional brands? Do I have to use Libby's pumpkin or Ocean Spray cranberry sauce or Jello's Cool Whip? Why can't store brands suffice? Hey, a good cook can do wonders with store brands. Besides, many times it's the same thing because manufacturers are contracted to produce for other labels.

I continue to enjoy shopping at Reebles. Price Chopper is also part of that family. I always find favorite brands, am willing to try new ones, and sale items always seem to be connected to the holiday in question. Best Choice pumpkin as well as other items were on sale. Nothing wrong with Best Choice brand.

What I find to be a happy discovery is that any of the newer brands they carry are either better or just as good as the traditional ones. Besides, why not try something new? Why does it have to be same old, same old?

One thing I found as a well-traveled military family is that brands are different in different parts of the country. Of course in military commisaries where I used to shop when I was a young bride, canned vegetables had no label at all. You made your decision based on nothing more than what was stamped on the side of a can. Green Beans. Cooking Oil. Evaporated Milk. Mushroom Soup.

How can this "true hometown grocer" offer year-round savings if people insist that top brands be used as loss leaders? How can a store survive by giving stuff away? The best I can offer is to ask the manager about the brand you're interested in. I have asked from time to time and they're always willing to look brands up to see if it is possible to obtain. True, not all are, but they sure have been willing to help me.

Speaking of new stuff, they're having a tasting thingamajig today at Reebles so I think I'll go graze and see what's new. Ahhh, key word -- NEW. Don't get stuck in a brand name rut!

December 6, 2008 at 7:49 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )

Weltha (anonymous) says...

I agree with create. Most generally I buy the "cheep" stuff. I figure when I get to cooking it I add ALL kinds of stuff to it anyway. So why spend the extra money. Needless to say nothing I make tastes the same twice. LOL I will say though that are a few items I have to go with name brand but very few matter. The store brand frozen, sweet corn at Wal-Mart far out shines the expensive counter part. JMO of course.

December 6, 2008 at 11:31 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )

hottopics (anonymous) says...

I agree with the first half. When you are used to certain items and then they evaporate you almost feel like someone who cant find their car in the parking lot. lol!

We cant find a box of Pilsbury Cranberry Bread thats a huge holiday item in our circle. For us that have certain must haves we expect our town to keep providing.

(but Walmart has removed many of my favs as well)

I am tired of hearing that we are suppose to go with the times of change. Not everything has to change or new and improve. Many things are better left alone.
JMO Too!!

December 6, 2008 at 10:24 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )

justthefacts (anonymous) says...

It's called the law of supply and demand. In today's highly competitive market, only the things that sell and sell well remain.

December 6, 2008 at 10:34 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )

cheryl (anonymous) says...

When Reeble's was sold, I was happy to see that the new owners kept the staff - because that staff has always been friendly and helpful. I'm in Reeble's North several times a week.

I suppose some products have changed, but I haven't noticed any major changes in the stuff I buy.

December 7, 2008 at 8:27 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )

momus (anonymous) says...

I think some people forget that businesses are in business to make money. They aren't entertainment, or there to give people items for free (or at a loss). I've shopped Reebles North for years and Gary and his staff have generally treated me at a level that meets my expectations, but then again I don't consider my expectations unreasonable. I understand that their products must change depending on ownership, supply chain and margins. I understand that not all of the staff will have the answer to any question I might have all the time, but they try hard. I understand that a business that gives far more back to the community per dollar sold than Wal-Mart has to make a profit off of me (the consumer) to survive and thrive.

I guess I don't understand the purpose of bashing a business like Reebles in the paper or on a blog... Is it equitable behavior to associate not having name brand pie filling on sale prior to Thanksgiving to taking exceptional mass media stances in an obvious attempt to hurt a member of our business community? Businesses like Reebles can only offer more "deals" and carry more products with more profitability and volume sales. Letters like this (and resulting blogs) can only serve to produce the opposite sales situation, and damage one of the community’s best businesses IMO. If you aren't happy, or want something different from Reebles or Price Chopper, simply talk to a manager (and keep an open mind). There may be a reason they don't carry the same products that they used to and changed their pricing strategy. You'll get farther that slamming a business on the web.

December 7, 2008 at 10:40 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )

create (anonymous) says...

Just a quick note to hottopics: If you get regular Pillsbury Nut Bread mix and add your own dried cranberries you'll find what you're looking for. Just a suggestion. I use that nut bread mix as a base for all kinds of holiday breads that just require the addition of whatever complementary ingredient you find in your kitchen. Chopped apples and shredded carrots? Oh yeah, baby.

Momus, great comment! I so agree.

December 7, 2008 at 12:41 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )

whatajoke (anonymous) says...

I'm a little confused. In her letter to the editor, Karen never once mentioned that the items she was hoping to be on sale in the flyer were "name brand." She mentions canned pumpkin (but no brand), canned yams (but no brand), cream cheese (but no brand)--I think you get my point. She does mention "Cool Whip" by name, but hey, I call the "off brand" "Cool Whip" too. I think her point was not that Reebles and Price Chopper should carry name brands, but that they should put the basic Thanksgiving staples on sale the week before Thanksgiving so that we have plenty of time to purchase them. Just because she writes that certain brands are missing from the stores does not necessarily means that it is the name brands that are gone. It could be an off brand of something that they are no longer stocking, too, that she misses.

December 8, 2008 at 2:18 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )

neighbor (anonymous) says...

Spot on Momus, bravo.

December 8, 2008 at 2:25 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )

Happiness08 (anonymous) says...

For those of you who are so ungrateful for our limited choices......I suggest you move to Ethopia and do your shopping there.

December 8, 2008 at 4:18 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )

BusterBrown (anonymous) says...

THE POINT is when Reeble's ran the store, they ALWAYS ran the common holiday items on sale the week before Thanksgiving. There were NO common items on sale for Thanksgiving regardless of the brand. It just seems the store should use some common sense during the holiday season and run some items that people actually use during the sale flyer period. The cherry pie filling was the only thing even remotely resembling a holiday item that you would use to "cook" with.
As far as the employees, yes the ones who were fortunate enough to get to keep their jobs are as helpful and friendly as ever. Gary and Nancy do the best they can with what they have to work with. However, I have seen some regret on their part as well, when asked about an item that they used to carry, and they shrug their shoulders and say "yeah, sorry we don't carry that anymore".

December 9, 2008 at 3:45 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )

create (anonymous) says...

I shop at Reebles north all the time. It was well over a week before Thanksgiving when typical holiday grocery items began to appear on their shelves. For example, Best Choice pumpkin, the kind used for making pumpkin pies, was on sale for 89 cents. It was located in the canned fruit section. In addition, cans of Best Choice pumpkin were also located on a big shelf in front of the ice cream freezers. Many other types of holiday grocery items are on that shelf as well. Bread stuffing mixes were in the back of the store on their own display. I'm not going to go on, this is getting ridiculous.

It wasn't just cherry pie filling!!!

December 9, 2008 at 4:41 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )

josiesbar (anonymous) says...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3XK9W1...

December 9, 2008 at 7:07 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )

glarson (anonymous) says...

I stopped at Country Mart North last night for ingredients for a chocolate mousse cake Aaron needed for school. Given that my cakes are made by Duncan Hines and frosted by Betty Crocker, this would be an adventure.

Anyway, I needed 2 squares of baking chocolate. While I debated my choices, I watched a staffer putting all kinds of sale tags up in the baking aisle. Then discovered Nestle has a new product... PRE-MELTED baking chocolate.

It comes in sealed bags (similar to the Hershey's chocolate packets in the brownie mixes) and needs to be kneaded before using. Worked great!

December 10, 2008 at 7:10 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )

BusterBrown (anonymous) says...

The items might have been on sale on the shelf, but they weren't in the SALE FLYER. Nuff said.

December 10, 2008 at 3:57 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )