Do you break that supermarket protocol?

[Camille]

You BET MC!
I buy organic mainly, def tend to pull boxes from underneath and pick what I need ie green bananas. Employee just smiles; he knows better, I don't buy 1 item I buy for my whole family and it's expensive, we often chat about items not avail at the farmer's market, sometimes he waves to show me new items and I often bite lol
Meat guy starts at 7am, at 7:15 he's grounding/slicing meat for me ...yeah, I need to see what's going home, I'm willing to pay for the trimmed waste, but never bring it home

I'm easier on dairy products [don't buy much] I don't need to be treated different, ju$t fair.

 

[asscherisme]

Absolutely. I always check dates and dig to find the furthest away date. I don''t make a mess but I definatley want the freshest!

 

[kenny]

Date: 10/5/2009 5:38:07 PM
Author: Mara

I LOVE Trader Joe's.
Perhaps this is because their stuff may have less preservatives.

I hear Twinkies have no expiration date and ants won't even eat them.

 

[Tacori E-ring]

I thought that everyone did this. I never hide the fact I am looking for the freshest food. Just seems like smart shopping to me.

 

[kittybean]

I had no idea there was such a protocol. Doesn''t everyone want the best product for their money? I always buy the freshest food I can.

 

[pinkstars]

I try to, especially with milk. It''s difficult though, I''m short and some stuff is just out of my reach, so if nothing is close, then I can''t get it.
I try to do this at Costco too, but it''s the worse there! Everything is so big, and I have to stand on things just to reach into the refrigerated areas.

 

[princessplease]

I always go for the latest date. I can''t help it. I''m VERY paranoid about sell by/use by dates, and will throw milk/eggs/yogurt/bread and other perishibles out even if they''re one day past expiration.

 

[HollyS]

Date: 10/5/2009 4:03:29 PM
Author:kenny
I must confess; I do.
I reach to the back of the shelf to get the freshest milk, bread, yogurt, eggs, meat etc.
I even check the dates.

I try to do it when nobody, especially an employee, is looking.

I realize this is selfish as it leaves the more stale product for others.

Do you do this, or do you just grab the one that is closest?

Why would I care if an employee is looking? I want the item on the shelf with the best freshness date. It is, after all, my money I''m spending.

 

[LadyBlue]

of course

, I want to have the fresh food in my refri

 

[KimberlyH]

Yes, but I''ve never thought it was wrong to do.

 

[luv2sparkle]

I also love Trader Joe''s! I have to admit I ALWAYS look for the date that is the farthest out. I also do it on bread, looking at the little tag thingy. I makes me so mad when I come
home with something that has an expiration date one or two days away. I feel cheated! I have gone to a store and bought things that were expired so now I always check.

I don''t think it is against anything either. I thought everyone did it!

 

[movie zombie]

Date: 10/5/2009 4:16:48 PM
Author: D&T
yep! all the time, and I''m not shy about it either.

+1.

mz

 

[LtlFirecracker]

I remember being in social psychology and the professor was telling us that at the grocery store people buy the first box they can reach. Than I interrupted and said what about something like milk, I always reach for the back. and he said, "oh well, that is different. If it has a sell by date, than people do the work to find the one with with the latest date."

So I guess studies show that is what most people do (although I have never taken the time to look them up). I have noticed some stores have wised up and don''t restock until most of the milk with the most recent sell by date is gone. That is annoying, but I get why the do that.

But yeah, with perishables, I do that all the time.

 

[MissChi]

I do it and am not ashamed to admit it. I had no idea I was breaking supermarket protocol!

I agree with what others have said, if I''m paying for it... why not search for the freshest items?

 

[cindygenit]

I do this!!! I didn''t realise that you are supposed to grab the closest one/the one at the front.

FI and I take a long time to finish our milk and bread so we need the freshest batch possible.

I ALWAYS check the dates.

 

[dragonfly411]

I only read the first post and wanted to say... I don''t even try to hide it lol. I don''t care if a clerk is looking. I''m there spending money for what I want. For all they know, my recipe calls for EXTRA FRESH.

 

[brooklyngirl]

I''ll just say that I''m not above propping myself up on a freezer shelf to reach the fresher milk in the back. When buying meat and produce I spend a decent amount of time finding the product the store has. Why would I get something older, when I can have fresher for the same price?

 

[Lovinggems]

I do, it''s just common sense.

 

[gemgirl]

Date: 10/5/2009 6:01:16 PM
Author: Tacori E-ring
I thought that everyone did this. I never hide the fact I am looking for the freshest food. Just seems like smart shopping to me.

I do the same thing, although I''m pretty sure we don''t have a shopping protocol on Long Island. Everyone does it here. I''ve never thought twice about it. I''m spending good money, I want the freshest products. I''ve started to check dates on EVERYTHING because food has become so expensive.

Check the dates on your canned goods too ladies. Sometimes you get an unplanned for surprise

. I also rotate my personal stock in my pantry to make sure I use the right things first (put the newest things in the back). My husband grills me to make sure I do this!

 

[soocool]

I always go for the freshest with the longest expiration dates. I shop once every 1 to 2 weeks and buy extra, like 3 gallons of milk and 4 loaves of sandwich bread (I freeze them) for lunches for DD and DH(sometimes).

 

[dragonfly411]

ok ok ok I confess.... I buy nearly expired bread.... b/c my piggy likes it

 

[Kaleigh]

Update as promised to Kenny''s question. Is there a nickname for all of us that grab from the back, etc?? Buying the freshest milk etc??

My son is coming home this weekend from college and had to stock up on food. I went to my local supermarket where I have been going for 23 years plus. I went to grab some Silk Light soy milk, and there was the dairy manager. He said HI to me, and asked me if I ever found the White Castle frozen cheeseburgers that had been moved to a new section. I said yes, I did, thanks so much.....

Then I said, Look, this may sound a tad crazy. But I participate on a web site. There was a question about breaking supermarket protocol. I said since you manage this area, do you have a nick name for us that are grabbing the stuff from the back with the freshest dates??? He laughed soooooo hard!! He said no, that''s what you are supposed to do. I have never heard of this in the 40 years I have worked here... I said come on, it''s ok you can tell me isn''t there some kind of an inside joke for us?? He said NO, I have never ever heard of this. I said, what about people ducking the clerks while doing this?? He again said , it''s not in his realm of understanding. People need to buy what they need, no shame in reaching to the back what so ever....


There ya go Kenny. I did my good deed for the day. It was a hot topic while I was there, word spread. everyone was like why wouldn''t you do that?? And these were all employees...

THen they said what website is this?? I told them, they said well we always talk about your rings.. I said oh god, I gotta go now....

But it was a fun chat....

 

[kenny]

Thanks Kal.
You Rock!

I like that he laughed so hard.
I love these kinds of every-day yet unnoticed things.

Some day I'm going to write a book chock full of these kinds of things and call it something like, "Things That Don't Matter".
It will be perfect Toilet Literature.

So at the store you are the famous "Diamond Girl"?
Do they have good bling light?

 

[Kaleigh]

Date: 10/6/2009 11:32:15 PM
Author: kenny
Thanks Kal.
You Rock!

I like that he laughed so hard.
I love these kinds of every-day yet unnoticed things.

Some day I''m going to write a book chock full of these kinds of things and titled, ''Things That Don''t Matter''.
It will be perfect Poop Reading.

So at the store you are the famous ''Diamond Girl''?
So they have good bling light?

HA!! No they see a lot bigger than what I wear.

I have always been very friendly with them, and stop to chat. I think to some, they are suprised by that. You''d have to live here, to know many people don''t give other''s the time of day... Not nice, not friendly. I never understood that. As a matter of fact I have told some of the women they should write a book. I have seen horrible manners in this store. It floors me!!!
Guessing that could be another thread, but am thinking we had one a month ago??

 

[Dancing Fire]

Date: 10/5/2009 4:18:30 PM
Author: Steel
Kenny, did you find DF''s stash of random questions?

very funny ladies.

 

[kenny]

DF I am told I am like you.

How should I take this news?

 

[Dancing Fire]

Date: 10/7/2009 1:46:50 AM
Author: kenny
DF I am told I am like you.

How should I take this news?

Kenny
the ladies are insulting you.

 

[bee*]

I definitely do that most of the time. I never knew there was a protocol about it either!

 

[somethingshiny]

Date: 10/6/2009 9:41:15 AM
Author: dragonfly411
ok ok ok I confess.... I buy nearly expired bread.... b/c my piggy likes it

I buy from the day old bread store to make homemade croutons and crumbs.

 

[musey]

Date: 10/5/2009 6:01:16 PM
Author: Tacori E-ring
I thought that everyone did this. I never hide the fact I am looking for the freshest food. Just seems like smart shopping to me.

Same here.

Kenny, are you sure you''re not making this ''protocol'' up? Seems you''re being a bit more paranoid about it than is warranted