OK, here comes another not-mystery book rant! (I don’t even want to know how often these rants are appearing… but I’m pretty sure it’s more and more often!)
Here in San Antonio, we pretty much have a grocery store monopoly. When we first arrived in Texas fifteen years ago, there were several competing grocery stores. H.E.B. managed to strong-arm the other grocery stores by always undercutting their prices by a few pennies. I was guilty of comparison shopping – so my husband now blames me for H.E.B.’s current monopoly status.
It seemed like the day the last grocery store “hold-out” left town (I miss you so much, Albertson’s!!!) H.E.B. hiked all of their prices and started placing name brand items on the very bottom shelves, while they featured all of their store items in the choice shelves. Since they have several different store labels, that’s a lot of H.E.B. prime space devoted to their H.E.B., Hill Country, Central Market, (just to name a few of their labels) ETC hierarchy of “generic” brands at not-so-generic prices!
All of this has annoyed me – but not to the point of grocery shopping at department stores like Target and Walmart. (I enjoy these stores… but don’t think of them as grocery stores, and their selection in groceries is rather limited…)
Recently, however, I am more than just a little annoyed at my H.E.B. monopoly. My H.E.B. has gone green! And, in doing this, they have told their baggers to jam-pack as much as they can into the free bags, while pushing their cloth bags, which of course are NOT free. And they do this with a smile on their faces, touting saving the planet and minimizing our carbon footprint, ETC.
I recycle (almost) all of the cardboard boxes, plastic, cans, glass, and paper that comes into our house. I am, what some might call, obsessive about recycling. So, I appreciate the steps that H.E.B. is taking to try to get people to use the re-usable cloth bags. HOWEVER!!!!! I think that my grocery store taking the high road for environmental purposes would make more sense if they offered these reusable bags FREE of charge. (We even use the reusable Klean Kanteen Stainless Steel Water Bottles rather than the plastic water bottles you buy at the grocery store!)
That’s right… If they are going green, then great! But don’t tell your baggers to jam-pack my free, non reusable bags, while charging me to buy your environmental, save-the-planet bags. Give me the “green” bags, and I’ll use them. And, as for my grocery store deciding what is re-usable and what is not: I recycle the bags that are free. (I told you I’m obsessive about recycling!) I’m very concerned about the environment, and certainly don’t need to be guided by my grocery store… especially when they benefit financially by their “subtle” guidance!
You may wonder what I mean when I say “subtle” guidance >>> It seems that my H.E.B. baggers have now been instructed to follow the “jam-all-you-can-into-the-free-bag” approach >>> This of course has caused the flimsy plastic bags to rip, which means that I have had to clean a jar of jelly off of my garage floor this past month, not to mention having to take things out of the jammed-to-the-top bags, so that they don’t tear before placing them in my car.
Thanks H.E.B. for caring!
Maria BearMountainBooks says
From what we were told by our recycling company, those grocery bags can only be recycled as “used again.” We were told there was no one in Texas who could actually recycle that plastic (our company stopped taking them and said that other companies that still are taking them throw them out.) They said any that they collect by accident will be sorted and thrown out. Apparently there was a time when a company was taking them, but as the recession began, they stopped because it was too expensive to process them.
A Randal’s employee also mentioned this to me once. They have those recycle bins at the front of the store–but they are “reuse” bags, not recycle because no one can currently handle that plastic in a cost-effective manner.
I got my cloth bags at Harbor Freight for about 6 dollars each. They are much sturdier and a bit larger than the HEB bags (I bought them years ago. They are canvas boat bags.) HEB ran a promotion here for a while where they sold their bags and entered people using them into a drawing to give away 100 dollar grocery store gift cards. (If you were using them they gave you an entry card. I never won, darn it!)
I will say that after they did their “push” to sell bags up here, I do see a few people use the bags. I think I used to be the only one. The great thing about the bags is they are easier to use. I can get SODA bottles in my boat bags. Milk is a breeze. The straps don’t cut into my arm or fingers. So I have a lot of reasons to use them.
It is definitely true that HEB is replacing a lot of products with their own brand. Their peanut butter brand is oily. Great for cookies but not much else. Their tissue (kleenex) is not as nice a Puffs. No where near it. Their toilet paper is pretty much like Scotts brand, but a dollar cheaper. I love their brand of paper towels, the tear-your-own-size.
Sadly though, they took away my favorite large, filled raviolis in most stores. Sometimes I can’t get the bread I want because they carry 3 of the name brand and 80 thousand of HEB brand (and their bread/buns are not as good as the kind I like.) It’s hit/miss. I’ve found some bargains, but I’ve found some real stinkers in there too.
Of course I shop a lot a Walmart as well. Their soda brand is good and a LOT cheaper than HEB or brand name soda. Mostly though, their prices and HEB are almost the same. I just checked clams at both places yesterday. 1.32 per can. Cream cheese was 1.60 at HEB and 1.58 at Walmart. Alas, it is just getting harder to find a good deal!!!!
Anne says
Does HEB still have the Texas shaped corn chips? My husband was from Gonzales and we used to impress all our friends with those chips at parties.
Cream cheese here in Georgia was $1.19 this week…come on down.
Maria BearMountainBooks says
Anne,
Y’all also have hawthorn jelly. I don’t think we have that here. I’ve been looking, but haven’t found any yet…
Was that name-brand (philly cheese) or off-brand for 1.19? I will use the off-brand for most things, but not cheese rolls or cheesecake. :>)
I think they do have those chips! I’ve seen them, but haven’t looked recently. Maybe they are seasonal. Then again, I try to avoid the chip aisle. I swear just walking through that aisle, the chips come flying out of the bags and stick directly and permanently to my hips!!!!
Anne says
Oh, I have the same problem driving by Krispy Kreme! Two pounds driving by and if there is a redlight…who knows!
It was the brand cream cheese, btw. I have not had the pleasure of hawthorn jelly…will have to check that one out.
Sue says
How much are the HEB bags? Up here in Grand Rapids Michigan our “dominant” grocery store is Meijer. They sell “unwoven polypropylene” bags for $1.00, and I use them to haul all sorts of things, like library books and my knitting, in addition to groceries. They also have free paper and plastic bags. The plastic are HDPE (2 inside a recycle triangle) so I can either recycle them at the store or toss them in with my other recyclables. State law prohibits reusing bags unless you bring them and reuse them yourself. Lots of other stores (Walgreen’s, Target, Walmart, Family Fare, Plumbs) sell the reusable bags, and some even give a nickel credit if you bring your own bag.
Stephanie says
Yes, HEB always has the Texas shaped chips in stock. I don’t think they’re going anywhere. I do miss the competition, I did see how HEB jacked up their prices as soon as Albertson’s left. We got a bit of sweet relief when Wal-Mart opened a Supercenter nearby. So many great deals as they both battled for the customers dollar, then poof 🙁
Maria BearMountainBooks says
I don’t know how much the HEB bags are…I want to say 3 dollars, but they have two different sizes. They have an expandable one that kind of folds along the bottom and opens up pretty big. They’re nice looking bags, although I don’t think either bag is as big or sturdy as the Harbor ones (which I too use to load all kinds of things in!)
We still have a Walmart nearby the HEB, but prices have gone up in both stores.
Jeff says
Here in Metro Atlanta, we have a variety to choose from: Publix, Kroger, Ingles, Super Walmart, and the occasional Super Target. I think there are even a few like Food Lion in certain areas, not to forget the smaller chain groceries like Wayfield Foods.
I shop at Publix mostly, and their store brands are great. I buy store brands there mostly.
Danna - cozy mystery list says
I just assumed my grocery bags were recyclable since they have those bag-recycling-bins at all of the stores. Here I thought I was doing “a good thing” >>> but apparently NOT! (Thanks for the information on the canvas bags.)
I think that they still have those Texas-shaped chips at H.E.B. What an incredible price difference on the cream cheese in Georgia. You had better stock up!
I doubt there is any “nickel back” deal out here. Our monopoly doesn’t seem to be the keeping-the-customer-happy type of place. I am sure they are only interested in the environment because they can sell the tote bags while not having to buy the give-away bags.
“Poof” is right!
Christina G. says
Maybe you can ask them to double-bag your groceries? Or allow you to bag them yourself? If not, maybe you can bring last week’s bags and tell the bagger to lift up the bag he just filled so you can put in your last week’s bag. Recycled double-bagging. Now that’s green.
Danna - cozy mystery list says
I would love to have all of those stores to pick and choose from… Good thing H.E.B. hasn’t moved to Atlanta! They were very determined to get rid of the competition, so that they could hike up their prices and carry ALL of their brands.
As for bagging my own groceries… I used to be “allowed to”… I MUCH prefer bagging my own items. That way I can actually keep the bananas and tomatoes for the top of the bag. Now, when I try to bag… someone runs right over (as if the baggers have been told that they will be demoted) and tells me that they will bag for me.
I am pretty sure that I will end up buying bags >>> probably the Harbor canvas totes that Maria told us about. (Thanks, Maria!)
Maria BearMountainBooks says
Sure thing. And the plastic *can* be recycled, which is why it has that logo. But our recycling company swears they can’t find a company to take them so won’t pick them up. The ability is there…
I do know people that bring their own bags in to reuse them, but the big ole canvas ones are really great.
Albertson’s used to give me 10 cents per bag when I brought my own in–the weird thing though, it was only the one Albersons over by Dell (which is gone now I think). The one near where I live in Cedar Park–wouldn’t give me the discount. Not that 30 cents is a big deal, but I couldn’t understand why it was different.
HEB gave me a discount on the days they were selling (or pushing as the case may be) their green bags.
I use the self-checkout at my HEB and I bag my own. I’m guessing you don’t have a self-checkout at yours…
Danna - cozy mystery list says
Yes, Maria, we do have a self-check aisle… but I think that it’s for fewer items than I ever seem to have. I will check it out, though. I always use the self-check at our Walmart.
Leeta says
Oh, what I would give to have a wonderful HEB close to me…in the midwest grocery stores are small and not the best. I bring my own bags…surely you have been to enough conferences to have a car trunk full of cloth tote bags!! And, believe me, over stuffing bags is NOT an HEB thing…here they stuff and stuff and stuff!! which means mash, mash, mash.
By the way, I have an old Central Market bag that I got FREE years ago.
Danna - cozy mystery list says
Hi Leeta,
I sent all of my bags with my daughter to her school. I thought that she could use them until they wear out>>> which will probably be pretty soon. Some of the bags are made out of a very flimsy fabric with a very loose weave. She “hauls” her groceries several blocks to her dorm, and the twelve-packs of Diet Coke are pretty heavy.
You know, I haven’t gone to the Central Market for years. I’m glad you reminded me about it. I really should try to get over there some time…
Annemarie says
I am newly retired and checking out the mystery site when I ran across the blog…oh how fun…I may be here all day (when I’m not reading a mystery..I have 2 going at the moment)…in Kansas there are just 2 main groceries..Dillions (Kroger affiliate) and HyVee…prices are about the same but our Dillions helps you out to the car if you want and I only shop every 2-3 months and really stock up except for fresh produce. While working I worked 2 jobs 65-70 hours per week 90 miles from my home (only the last 4 years did I do that)…so I stocked up…found reuseable bags at Walmart, Target (they were 1.49 special) and they are great, and Kohls had a nice one with a snap on it so I could add 2 Walmart bags inside and easy carry. Enjoy your shopping and reading
Danna - cozy mystery list says
WOW, Annemarie! You have a great work ethic! No wonder you shopped for big “stock-ups”… It sounds like you had very full weeks at both of your jobs AND commuting to work!
Oh my goodness, I remember HyVee stores from one of the places I lived years ago. And I order my coffee flavors from Krogers’ main website… They seem to have everything!
Rochelle says
hi there
I live in Canada, there’s more grocery store choices on the East coast then there is here on the West, but we have Safeway, Superstore (the cheapest usually) Save on foods, Pricemart (which is pretty much save on foods) Market Place IGA, Walmart but with no produce(but you guys have way better ones, we have one super Walmart in all of the province of B.C.) Zellers has a halfway decent grocery section but no produce. and also Costco (you need a yearly membership to shop at that one it’s a warehouse store with huge quantities of stuff). We also have a few discount grocery stores as well where stores send their over stock items and dinged up merchandise to be sold at a reduced price. But even some of that stuff is expensive. I remember being able to go a month on $100 when I first moved out and now I’m lucky to make it on $150. I only just moved out 9 years ago too, I’m still too young to be able to say a thing like that yet yeesh!
For the most part our reusable bags cost $1.00 or 99 cents. One time I was in a drugstore and was having trouble keeping a roll of birthday gift wrap in a plastic bag, it kept tipping out. The cashier gave me a reusable one from her store free as it was bigger and held it up better. The bookstores have them too and I got one from there as well as a couple from Safeway. The trouble I have with them though is I can never seem to remember to bring them with me. I think I remembered them twice if that in the year since buying them. Also what am I going to do for garbage can bags if I no longer have the plastic ones, I hate the idea of buying something that will just get thrown away like that anyway.
Chelle – Vancouver area of British Columbia Canada