Chase Freedom 5% categories July-September Amazon.com and Whole Foods

[K-in-Boston]

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@simplynoir wrote:

Think that's more because you live in the city for the prices regardless of where you shop. If I lived in Houston or Austin I would cry at the monthly bill

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I think groceries in New England are just costlier in general.  A local news channel did a comparison last year:

https://www.boston25news.com/news/is-whole-foods-actually-pricier-than-the-competition-/944438371/

Note that the Whole Foods is in a suburb immediately adjacent to the city of Boston, the Star Market is in a neighborhood of Boston, and the other two are in suburbs that can be quite a drive depending on where in the city you live.

[BmoreBull]

My ex used to work for an overnight inventory company. One night they did a Whole Foods. When she told me they had organic pancake syrup for $40 a bottle, I knew it was a place I'd never shop. That and the fact that they sell edible insects. 

[icednightpaper]

Kind of weird having a quarter that's just Amazon, but early holiday shopping won't be bad. Although I still wish I just had the Amazon card at this point.

[K-in-Boston]

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@BmoreBull wrote:

My ex used to work for an overnight inventory company. One night they did a Whole Foods. When she told me they had organic pancake syrup for $40 a bottle, I knew it was a place I'd never shop. That and the fact that they sell edible insects. 

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They discontinued cricket bars and similar products in 2016.  They were originally added to compete with other retailers like Publix that added them to their inventory.  Depending on the size of the bottle, $40 isn't unreasonable for maple syrup.  I don't see any major price difference on maple syrup between Whole Foods, Trader Joe's, Wegman's, Stop & Shop, etc. but usually buy the smaller bottles in the $15-20 range.

[Anonymous]

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@K-in-Boston wrote:

Even though I have an Amazon store card with 5% back, this is actually useful to me for a change since I redeem URs for travel instead of cash!  I'm not sure how Whole Foods fits into "Coming Soon - Summer Fun," but would have been able to easily max it out on either Amazon or Whole Foods.

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Maybe get some wine, charcuterie, and cheese from WF and go on a picnic? Then you've got some summer fun. 

I was kinda hoping for Paypal on this upcoming quarter as I had a lot of crap I could funnel through. 

[Anonymous]

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@Remedios wrote:

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@K-in-Boston wrote:

LOL We've had the Whole Paycheck discussion before, and it seems to be a regional thing.  Here, they're easily comparable in price to all of the other grocery chains, with the added bonus that the produce usually lasts more than 3 hours after you get home.

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"The quality" defense... 

I can snob with  the best of them, but not when it comes to wallet. 

Last time I went, everything was double compared to Safeway. I cannot rationalize paying double for peanut butter, other than "But these are hand picked peanuts, harvested  exactly at 3:00 am by people whose astrological sign closely aligns with yours. Free horoscope and healing crystal when you buy 3". 

Also, I have two teenagers. Nothing lasts three hours if they like it. 

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I only goto tomthumb if they have free J4U deals. ALDI all the way if price is the concern, which it always is.

[Anonymous]

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@K-in-Boston wrote:

LOL We've had the Whole Paycheck discussion before, and it seems to be a regional thing.  Here, they're easily comparable in price to all of the other grocery chains, with the added bonus that the produce usually lasts more than 3 hours after you get home.

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Agreed on the produce. Much more worth it than a lot of places near me. However, we are moving into CSA season where I get even better produce on a weekly basis through our farmer's market. I will still find a ton of use for Amazon though. It seems to be the place I keep throwing money at lately, and I'll take the 7.5 UR redemtion for travel/statement credits (trying out the statement credit thing soon as I have way too many URs right now...so what the heck) with the CSR. 

[Anonymous]

Yes (sorry @Remedios ) we get most of our stuff from WholeFoods.  As @K-in-Boston  says, here at least it seems pretty competitive, especially since it was bought by Amazon.   I also support the quality defense, both for the food, and because the prior cost/elite-crap reputation does a good job of keeping the riff-raff out (which is priceless!)

[Remedios]

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@Anonymous wrote:

Yes (sorry @Remedios ) we get most of our stuff from WholeFoods.  As @K-in-Boston  says, here at least it seems pretty competitive, especially since it was bought by Amazon.   I also support the quality defense, both for the food, and because the prior cost/elite-crap reputation does a good job of keeping the riff-raff out (which is priceless!)

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It's fine, I'll allow one disagreement per day, with one slight correction 

I dont think there is *elite* shopping at Whole foods (their people might be, though), it's the tacky new money.

I'm from...older school. 

[ChargedUp]

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@Anonymous wrote:

Yes (sorry @Remedios ) we get most of our stuff from WholeFoods.  As @K-in-Boston  says, here at least it seems pretty competitive, especially since it was bought by Amazon.   I also support the quality defense, both for the food, and because the prior cost/elite-crap reputation does a good job of keeping the riff-raff out (which is priceless!)

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Keeping riif-raff out? You haven't been to a Whole Foods in the SF Bay area!

The produce does tend to be a little higher quality than Raley's/Safeway, but the WF's and Trader Joes over here are a zoo. One thing we do have over here is a number of small local chain *specialty markets* which easily meet and exceed WF's quality. They're generally less busy as well which makes shopping more pleasant and it helps keep smaller business alive. They also code as grocery just like Safeway, Ralphs, etc. do with all major card networks.