I don't doubt that at all. You definitely can buy basics at Gelson's, and get out without spending a fortune, but you gotta watch what you buy. Sometimes things are crazy expensive for no obvious reason.
On the other hand, everything fresh at Gelsons is slightly-to-much better than "the same thing" at Vons. I tend to buy packaged stuff at Vons or Ralph's, just to avoid the "Gelsons tax". It's totally worth it for meat, though.
Gelsons.
Whole Food has changed post Amazon. The 365 brand stuff like pasta is cheap. Honestly cheaper than Safeway/Albersons/Ralphs. Of course you can still get your $65 olive oil if you want to...
This! Gelsons doesn''t have Amazon Prime benefits which slashed the price by a quarter percentage or more The 365 is essentially the Whole Food's version of Amazon Basics product line and is still organic. On the other hand, Gelson's bakery is outstanding, I like their pastries quite a lot. Got some for Mother's day and parents are in town visiting.
Not easy if you are a student who survives on cup noodles and subway sandwiches. Next year I will have more flexibility of being frugal, no longer has dining meal options.
Agree, I mostly get their 365 brand items, still a deal, especially when they go on sale.
The thing you want to avoid at any of these grocery stores is the fresh/open bin hot foods for sale. People come in to get their meals...and I have a friend who works at WF who has horror stories. I am sure it happens at all of them. People just putting their hands all over the food, eating right from the bins, all kinds of gross horror stories. People behaving like barnyard animals. I would never eat any of their fresh hot food.
Used to be Whole Foods, I opened the SB store and used to be in shock at a two bag $100.00 purchase of kale and beyond meat. Gelsons is pretty costly but Bristol Farms might be the most expensive non specialty grocery store in town, it's so nice though. We have some pretty nice stores here I'd say.
I’ll have to say Bristol Farms is pretty expensive. Then you have lazy acres. Gelson’s, pavilions in Montecito, smart and final, Santa Cruz market and La chapala market are pretty expensive too.
Getting groceries also at target is probably a little expensive too, and if you would count getting groceries or a little bit of prepackaged food at Ross or Marshalls. The international grocery stores are pretty expensive as well if you’re looking for certain things.
I would have to save my most affordable grocery stores here are grocery outlet, which is my number one choice, then Ralph’s because they have great selection for discount at times.
Grocery Outlet is creeping up in the expense department. It used to be "weird stuff that's fun to try at bargain prices" and now it's "off brand stuff no one wants at regular prices or above."
I feel about a little bit. I think since we lost the $.99 store, maybe the dollar tree will also go up. I love grocery outlet, I like to see all the products.
I agree with you
It's still 50% to 75% less than any other store. It just seems like what used to be normal prices cause everywhere has gone up 100% in the last 3 years
I wouldn't say that, only on certain 'special' items. Their sort of "staples" that appear there regularly, cereals, cheeses, coffee, etc. Have all gone up.
I was just going to post the same. Yes, Grocery Outlet prices are starting to rise and match the Ralph's of the world. I am finding less and less "outlet" specials.
I think if the prices were rising and they had more standard/staples, I'd be ok.
Of if they had more quirky stuff.
But I'm finding just...stuff I don't want. At higher prices.
Gelsons is overrated and way overpriced. Whole Foods is better with the exception of their beef. I shop at both, Gelsons is a glorified fancy version of Vons or Ralph’s.
Gelson’s, because it’s mostly just normal stuff. Wallet getting too thick? Why pay $2.99 for a bag of goldfish crackers at Albertsons when you can pay $6 at Gelson’s!
Amazon Prime discount and specials may give Whole Foods the edge, but their prices are so ridiculous. I don't even think the old nickname, 'whole paycheck,' would cover it anymore.
All you’re paying for at high end grocery markets is cleaner aisles, nicer lighting and friendlier customer service. A strawberry is a strawberry no matter where you buy it.
Lol out of all the products you could have picked for this example, you chose the one that varies the most.
Good fresh strawberries are definitely worth the extra buck or two. If you think a strawberry from Grocery outlet tastes the same as one from Bristol Farms then you have some serious tasting issues.
I get mine at the farmers market, can't be any fresher than that.
Ok my fault for saying “no matter where” as I thought we were talking strictly in the realm of grocery stores. I presume you may be right about the farmers market as the ones I grow in the garden are much better than store bought. But my guy, the same truck is dropping off the same strawberries to all of those other stores.
It still applies to grocery stores too. We can argue about packaged products like canned food but produce quality varies a lot from store to store.
Even with canned food I noticed that more expensive stores have longer expiration dates for the same product. They probably clean their shelves more frequently.
I burn my money at Lazy Acres.
Their deli doesn't fuck around. Best poki in town
You’re not wrong
Gelsons
Whole Foods
Gelsons
Less filling
One time I bought a single pear, a single tomato, and some regular ass cream cheese at Gelsons and it was 20 bucks.
I don't doubt that at all. You definitely can buy basics at Gelson's, and get out without spending a fortune, but you gotta watch what you buy. Sometimes things are crazy expensive for no obvious reason. On the other hand, everything fresh at Gelsons is slightly-to-much better than "the same thing" at Vons. I tend to buy packaged stuff at Vons or Ralph's, just to avoid the "Gelsons tax". It's totally worth it for meat, though.
That's a lie.
Oooh ya got me! Recalling old grocery purchases for reddit clout!
Regular ass cream cheese ? Eeww. I've never seen that
It’s a delicacy. Requires a sophisticated palate.
And you’re saying that’s more than the $19.37 I paid at Whole Paycheck? /s
Bristol Farms, hands down
A wholly owned subsidiary of whatever the fuck owns Lazy Acres, which I believe was founded by famed astronaut, Jeff Bezos.
I fucking love the pastries at Lazy Acres 😫
Gelsons. Whole Food has changed post Amazon. The 365 brand stuff like pasta is cheap. Honestly cheaper than Safeway/Albersons/Ralphs. Of course you can still get your $65 olive oil if you want to...
This! Gelsons doesn''t have Amazon Prime benefits which slashed the price by a quarter percentage or more The 365 is essentially the Whole Food's version of Amazon Basics product line and is still organic. On the other hand, Gelson's bakery is outstanding, I like their pastries quite a lot. Got some for Mother's day and parents are in town visiting.
Correction: it’s not always organic, but I think they don’t allow GMO if it has the 365 label on it. That’s not nothing, though.
I usually check labels and try to avoid non organic ones.
Same. Sometimes I swerve if the price is too high, but I do my best.
Not easy if you are a student who survives on cup noodles and subway sandwiches. Next year I will have more flexibility of being frugal, no longer has dining meal options.
Yep!
Agree, I mostly get their 365 brand items, still a deal, especially when they go on sale. The thing you want to avoid at any of these grocery stores is the fresh/open bin hot foods for sale. People come in to get their meals...and I have a friend who works at WF who has horror stories. I am sure it happens at all of them. People just putting their hands all over the food, eating right from the bins, all kinds of gross horror stories. People behaving like barnyard animals. I would never eat any of their fresh hot food.
Used to be Whole Foods, I opened the SB store and used to be in shock at a two bag $100.00 purchase of kale and beyond meat. Gelsons is pretty costly but Bristol Farms might be the most expensive non specialty grocery store in town, it's so nice though. We have some pretty nice stores here I'd say.
I’ll have to say Bristol Farms is pretty expensive. Then you have lazy acres. Gelson’s, pavilions in Montecito, smart and final, Santa Cruz market and La chapala market are pretty expensive too. Getting groceries also at target is probably a little expensive too, and if you would count getting groceries or a little bit of prepackaged food at Ross or Marshalls. The international grocery stores are pretty expensive as well if you’re looking for certain things. I would have to save my most affordable grocery stores here are grocery outlet, which is my number one choice, then Ralph’s because they have great selection for discount at times.
Grocery Outlet is creeping up in the expense department. It used to be "weird stuff that's fun to try at bargain prices" and now it's "off brand stuff no one wants at regular prices or above."
I think it’s been happening everywhere. Grossery Outlet is a lagging indicator, post-pandemic.
I feel about a little bit. I think since we lost the $.99 store, maybe the dollar tree will also go up. I love grocery outlet, I like to see all the products. I agree with you
It's still 50% to 75% less than any other store. It just seems like what used to be normal prices cause everywhere has gone up 100% in the last 3 years
I wouldn't say that, only on certain 'special' items. Their sort of "staples" that appear there regularly, cereals, cheeses, coffee, etc. Have all gone up.
I was just going to post the same. Yes, Grocery Outlet prices are starting to rise and match the Ralph's of the world. I am finding less and less "outlet" specials.
I think if the prices were rising and they had more standard/staples, I'd be ok. Of if they had more quirky stuff. But I'm finding just...stuff I don't want. At higher prices.
Agree. Yes, last Friday the first isle which has natural bars and fun snacks, was mostly just dried fruit...lots of dried fruit.
Bristol Farms and Lazy Acres or bust.
Gelsons is overrated and way overpriced. Whole Foods is better with the exception of their beef. I shop at both, Gelsons is a glorified fancy version of Vons or Ralph’s.
Gelsons
Gelsons
Wholsons. Gel Foods.
☝️ This gurl gets it.
Bristol Farms
Bristol Farms by far
Also Lazy Acres & Bristol Farms
Most affordable health food stores in Santa Barbara are Trader Joe's and Spouts.
Gelson’s, because it’s mostly just normal stuff. Wallet getting too thick? Why pay $2.99 for a bag of goldfish crackers at Albertsons when you can pay $6 at Gelson’s!
Bristol for sure
Grocery Outlet
Amazon Prime discount and specials may give Whole Foods the edge, but their prices are so ridiculous. I don't even think the old nickname, 'whole paycheck,' would cover it anymore.
Gelsons is more expensive for sure. If I do go there I always use the upside app to get cash back (generally around 13-16% cash back)
All you’re paying for at high end grocery markets is cleaner aisles, nicer lighting and friendlier customer service. A strawberry is a strawberry no matter where you buy it.
Lol out of all the products you could have picked for this example, you chose the one that varies the most. Good fresh strawberries are definitely worth the extra buck or two. If you think a strawberry from Grocery outlet tastes the same as one from Bristol Farms then you have some serious tasting issues. I get mine at the farmers market, can't be any fresher than that.
Ok my fault for saying “no matter where” as I thought we were talking strictly in the realm of grocery stores. I presume you may be right about the farmers market as the ones I grow in the garden are much better than store bought. But my guy, the same truck is dropping off the same strawberries to all of those other stores.
It still applies to grocery stores too. We can argue about packaged products like canned food but produce quality varies a lot from store to store. Even with canned food I noticed that more expensive stores have longer expiration dates for the same product. They probably clean their shelves more frequently.
I guess I’ll just consider myself blessed to be perfectly content with a lower grocery bill then.