Roll Call for Market Basket shoppers

[sbp]

Drum roll please................

It is with a smile that I announce the creation of HCW's newest store forum for Demoula's Market Basket.

If you shop at MB, please post below so we can all celebrate the new forum together!!! :Wave2:

I shop at MB every once in a great while. The nearest store is literally in the middle of nowhere, 45 minutes away from me, so I don't go there that often and we also recently switched local newspapers so I no longer see the sales flyers. So I'm hoping that we can get this forum going so I can see what deals are going on and if they are worth the drive.

[werblam]

Drum roll please................

It is with a smile that I announce the creation of HCW's newest store forum for Demoula's Market Basket.

If you shop at MB, please post below so we can all celebrate the new forum together!!! :Wave2:

I shop at MB every once in a great while. The nearest store is literally in the middle of nowhere, 45 minutes away from me, so I don't go there that often and we also recently switched local newspapers so I no longer see the sales flyers. So I'm hoping that we can get this forum going so I can see what deals are going on and if they are worth the drive.

THis is great. I too have a MB near me, but because Shaws and Stop and Shop double coupons, I tend to go there. Hoping to see some good deals that will make my trip worthwhile! :Wave2:

[bugface711]

I also shop there about once every 6 weeks or so... I too have S&S and Shaws that double, so I hit MB with my $1/1's for meats!

lesley are you running this forum?

[sbp]

no, but I'm on the search for a mod!! I don't get the flyers and I can't find a website for them to link to the weekly deals, so we need some help here!!!

if anyone is interested, send me a pm and I'll let you know what all is involved. For a quiet New England store like MB, it's not going to be difficult at all to mod!

[msack3889]

I *wish* I got their flyers...I've asked numerous times to be put on their mailing list to no avail. I have at least 3 MB's w/in a 15-20 min radius :)

[Jesscap5]

I *think* I get there flyers on Wed or Thurs.... have to wait and see this week! :smile:

Even though MB doesn't double coupons- That's where some of those higher coupons come in handy and in my area we tend to get a lot of those higher value ones. :biggrin:

[BostonRed]

I have one near me and never go because I don't see the deals for what I need (and it's wicked crowded). I've gone a couple of times and they were absolutely out of shopping carts and had all 15 registers open and backed up.

I do get their flyers on Thursday, but don't look very hard anymore. Here's to someone finding some deals there.

[momof4innh]

I have one right up the street but only go for emergency items or really good sales.

This week they do have 5 paks of Kraft mac and cheese 2/6 and peelies on them for free capri suns so for 3 bucks you get a 5 pack of mac and cheese and a box of juice pouches. Also they have Perdue breaded chx 1.99 and theres a 1.00 off coupon out there making them .99.

[Jesscap5]

Last week or the week before they had Swiss Miss 6 pack pudding for 2/$3..using $1/1 coupons from All You magazine made it only .50¢ each!

[jtolpin1]

I like MB for the prices, but I HATE them for the lines.

We hit the Bellingham MA store (well <I> do. DW HATES MB)

Its ALWAYS crowded on weekends - all lanes open... deli is PACKED.

But you cannot beat the prices.

No IP's.. no doubling... but good prices. Period.

jason

[Clipper]

This is nice. I grew up in Billerica and remember when it was DeMoulas and not Market Basket. My parents and sister shop at Market Basket and I do occassionally when I vist.

By the way, the forum header needs to be corrected. Market Basket is owned by the Demoulas family. It is a Greek name. The S at the end is part of the name. The apostrophe belongs after, as in Demoulas' Market Basket to indicate the family's ownership. Or perhaps just use DeMoulas/Market Basket to show the two store names. They capitalize the M to differentiate the store from the family.


.

[sbp]

thanks Clipper for the clarification. I'll go change it now!!!

[Lillermom99]

I shop there every week for my staple items like milk, bread, eggs and cheese. You can't beat 2.99 for a gallon of milk when its 4.19 everywhere else! Like others I tend to stop and Stop and Shop and Shaw's for the items that I can get coupons doubled on.

But like I said for those staple items you really cant beat their prices!

[mavis]

I go there occasionally.

[daltregirl]

I shop at the Plaistow, NH Market Basket. I use them for quick, weekday runs - no lines, no waiting usually. Also, even tho they say they open at 7 am - you can usually get in there prior to that. Works out well for treat day at school. I never, never go in there after 8 am on a weekend either.

Produce section is mediocore, meat section also, but prices are better usually. Dairy items are usually priced better as a pp stated. Deli dept, again as a pp stated is a mess.

Last week the Perdue Perfect Portions were 4.99 - 1.00 MFC so a great deal as this is pretty much all I buy for chicken.

I must say I am pretty happy that there is a forum devoted to MB shoppers now - no need to search through other.

[sglidden]

Hello
I am SO GLAD that I have finally found a MB forum. They have no website and you can only get their flyers either in store, or with a local Sat. newspaper!

Is someone keeping up on the deals or do you need someone too?

[sammy_827]

I shop at the Rochester or Somersworth NH Market Basket every so often - not a huge fan of their produce but their dairy & frozen things seem to be less expensive than Hannaford. Oh, I've also asked to be on their maillist and they've never sent me anything :( Glad to see this store forum!

[cheapone]

I shop at MB in Ashland and Bellingham. The produce is much cheaper than Shaws and S&S, milk is cheaper, and deli is cheaper. Anything I don't have a q for, I get a MB, and some prices are so much cheaper at MB that it's better to use the q there than to double at Shaws or S&S. But, the store is almost always crowded, and the wait at the deli is ridiculous. I pick up my number and then do all my shopping. The aisles are jammed, and the lines at the cashier are unbelievable, but it's a real money saver.

[cottagecouple]

MB, it is our primary place to shop for most staple items. We find soda, juice and crackers to be the least expensive at Walmart as well as most brand-name snacky items when on sale. As far as MB, I like that much of the fresh produce is prewrapped...I know the vegetables and such at Hannafords is suppose to be better, however I just can't get over the exposed, wet condition of the fresh veggies (I cringe to think of the many aaaachooos and coughs). MB always has the best prices on the basics and I like the traditional layout of the store because it is easy to find items.

[Clipper]

The aisles are jammed, and the lines at the cashier are unbelievable, but it's a real money saver.


It's that volume of people that helps keep the prices down. So just chant that to yourself when your frustrated with the crowds/wait.


.

[dizneydeb]

I LUV Market Basket. You can get the weekly ad by going to the customer service desk in the store and ask to be added to the mailing list. They do take regular manufacturers coupons, but there's no doubling, and the Woburn, and Chelsea stores will not accept internet computer printed coupons. It's probably a company policy, but it doesn't hurt to ask at the service desk.

I get the ad delivered on wednesday or thursday of the week before the sales start . The sales go from Sunday to Saturday. I buy most of my groceries at MB because the prices are unbeatabe.

Deb:BigHand:

[momof4innh]

OK, so what's on sale this week and what's a great bargain?? I've found myself at my MB more and more this winter as it's close by and with homeschooling, Amazon sales and the weather I have no extra time for "creative" shopping. since MB is less than a mile away and no other store store for 15 miles I have been "forced" to shop there.:wink7:

[strwbry]

FYI - I'm not sure if people are aware of this, but if you call your local Market Basket store, they will arrange, free of charge, to mail their flyer to you each week. Since they don't have a website, I find it very convenient to received my flyer in the mail. Even with the other stores doubling coupons, I find you can't beat the prices at Market Basket. I save a lot of money by shopping there. And I travel 1/2 hr. to get there, but it's really worth it to me. I also find when I shop with a lot of coupons at Stop&Shop or Shaws, I'm buying extra things that I really don't need and would have not have bought had I not had a coupon for it. What I find is that many of the items that I buy weekly or by-weekly are sometimes nearly half the price at Market Basket compared to Stop&Shop and Shaws. The other store I shop at besides Market Basket is the Hilltop Steakhouse Butchershop. Can't beat the meat prices and quality there! A new one is now opened in Weymouth, MA.

[Stevebass4]

I like MB for the prices, but I HATE them for the lines.

We hit the Bellingham MA store (well <I> do. DW HATES MB)

Its ALWAYS crowded on weekends - all lanes open... deli is PACKED.

But you cannot beat the prices.

No IP's.. no doubling... but good prices. Period.

jason

That's the one i go too once in a great while BUT compared to stop and shop and shaws it's pretty dingy

plus i can not find a website or online sales flyer anywhere

[Bibit002]

I'm new to the site and I just wanted to say that I shop at Market Basket weekly. The prices just can't be beat. The deli may be crowded 99% of the time, but the price difference between MB and Shaw's or S&S is amazing. Where else are you going to find Roast Beef or Turkey for $3.99 on sale, sometimes even cheaper.

The crowds at MB can be tolerated by the prices. If I spend say $80 at MB, I knw for the same items at Shaw's or S&S are going to cost close to $110 or so, so that alone makes MB worthwhile. The lines at MB may be long too, but at least they have all of their checkouts opened 98% of the time, do you ever see that at Shaw's or S&S? I highly doubt it.

I get the weekly ad for MB in the mail once a week and shop at the Bellingham store usually on Monday mornings. I Love shopping at MB.

Paula

[MacNChz]

I shop at MB weekly to bi-weekly. Their prices are just too good! I do shop at Shaws if they have 10/10 deals and I have qs...but other than that I stay with MB. I'm in NH...anyone near by?

[lilac_blossom]

I have a Hannafords right down the street from me but I've started to drive right by it and go to the closest Market Basket about 15 minutes away in Londonderry, NH. Their prices are so much better for the stuff that I buy! I go during the day on a weekday so it's not usually that crowded. The biggest complaint I have is they stock their shelves during the day so it's hard to get around the store. I can put up with it though for the good deals ;).

MacNChz ~ I'm in NH :)

[daltregirl]

I have a Hannafords right down the street from me but I've started to drive right by it and go to the closest Market Basket about 15 minutes away in Londonderry, NH. Their prices are so much better for the stuff that I buy! I go during the day on a weekday so it's not usually that crowded. The biggest complaint I have is they stock their shelves during the day so it's hard to get around the store. I can put up with it though for the good deals ;).

MacNChz ~ I'm in NH :)

i must say, you took the words right out of my mouth about stocking of shelves during the day. I find this practice to be one of the reasons I dislike shopping at MB. Most of the long term employees here are kids I went to school with - so I have known them for long enough that I asked them why? Their answer - I dunno. The same thing happens on weekends here too.

[MacNChz]

I'm in Hampton. I find that I get annoyed with MB when they "front" the shelves so you never know if they have a product. If they have 5 boxes of cherrios lined upit covers the lucky charms, you know? That's the only thing that really bugs me.

[resalemomma]

I went to MB on Monday. It was crowded as usually and between all the boxes and the people it was a nightmare. I was trying to get around the boxes and people and said to one woman I don't know why they have all these boxes out during the day this store is too busy to have other things in the isle. Well there was a woman stocking the shelves that heard me and said "Some of us would like to be home with our families at night"
She said it in a rude voice. My comment was not personal at all. There was no need for that. :(

i must say, you took the words right out of my mouth about stocking of shelves during the day. I find this practice to be one of the reasons I dislike shopping at MB. Most of the long term employees here are kids I went to school with - so I have known them for long enough that I asked them why? Their answer - I dunno. The same thing happens on weekends here too.

[BostonRed]

I went to MB on Monday. It was crowded as usually and between all the boxes and the people it was a nightmare. I was trying to get around the boxes and people and said to one woman I don't know why they have all these boxes out during the day this store is too busy to have other things in the isle. Well there was a woman stocking the shelves that heard me and said "Some of us would like to be home with our families at night"
She said it in a rude voice. My comment was not personal at all. There was no need for that. :(


One of the things I have noticed about my MB is that their hours are shorter than the other stores in the area. Because they are open fewer hours and are busier during those hours, they don't have the lulls that the bigger boys have to restock their shelves. They have decided to save by not paying overnight folks plus the vendors come during the day, meaning a horribly packed store.

I've actually gone on a mid-day Saturday and found they had absolutely ZERO shopping carts available...not even floating around the parking lot. That's enough to convince me to shop somewhere else (as long as the other players double coupons, that is).

[momof4innh]

my store has night stockers but there is still a fair amount of stocking in the afternoon with the highschool kids. I just deal with it cause they are cheaper for all the regular items.

[purplefdu]

I find that the MB local to me are very unfriendly and impossible to find things in. I may save $20 but it will take me two hours to find what I need. Assuming they have what I need. We got a GC one year from DH's company for Christmas so we decided to buy our holiday meal there. They didn't carry mini marshmallows. Just big ones. The stock boy I asked couldn't believe it himself, but they apparently hadn't in years. How can you not carry mini-marshmallows?

[RedSoxMom]

I love Market Basket! It's always packed and the customers and clerks are rude but it's the only place where I can combine my Qs with sales and walk out with a cart full of groceries for $65 so I'll gladly put up with it!

[board ride'n momma]

Well MB is the closest store for us, and with a 6 month old every minute counts.

[Mom2Nico]

Market Basket is the closest store for me. I love it. I went to Shaws today to get a few things. I didnt buy most of the things on my list becasue it was so much more expensive! For example- The Perdue perfect size chicken was 9.99 at Shaws and only 6.99 at Demoulas. Neither was on sale- Just wanted to use a 2 dollar off coupon I had.

I usually shop during the week - it usually isnt crowded then.

I actually find the employees to be very nice. When I was there yesterday my 2 year old fell asleep. I had to hold him - and more than one employee offered to puch my cart. The cashiers are always nice to me too.

[dmjennette]

I just wish that the store near me was a little cleaner it always seems so dingy and they are not open 24x7 so not sure what the deal is with cleanliness

[cbscanner]

I love my Market Basket.....I shopped for years at the Stop and shop that was closer to me out of sheer laziness.....now I realized I could have saved so much money traveling 10 more minutes to get to the MB!!!

[whizkid27]

Definitely not my favorite place to shop, but better prices that Shaws or Stop and Shop typically. I've never seen the sale flyer, but hopefully HCW will help me know when its too good to pass up.

[dmjennette]

Bellingham has lobster 6.99# how can you beat that:smile:

[briannah1]

hi I am new I shop thier every week

[khaski]

I use MB almost exclusively, sometimes running to the local Hannaford's when steak or pork is on great sale (I find their steaks better than MB's at comparable prices). I often wish I could get double coupons too, but at the end of the day, MB's prices are sooo superior to other grocery chains in the area, I wouldn't be ahead by much, if any, at the other places, even after double coupons, with their inflated prices. I am a SAHM so i have the luxury of going during the week, though with a recent pregnancy I took to goign EARLY Sunday monrings, so hubby can carry in all the bags :).

[cbscanner]

I try to only shop at MB cuz the prices are so great, meat and produce is good as well.

[oudemia]

I spend most of my grocery dollars at MB since they have the best overall prices by a long shot, but since Shaw's and S&S double coupons and have the occasional outrageously good deal, I keep an eye on them. Hannaford I occasionally stop by if they've got a good meat sale, but otherwise they don't really have much going on for me.

[TaraML]

I love Market Basket!! And I agree - their prices are the best around. My store (Reading, MA) isn't too crowded when we go (sundays around 4pm) - but I'd wait in line it's so cheap there!!!

I do use some coupons at S&S and Shaws to get them doubled -- it just depends on the item.

[cbscanner]

I *wish* I got their flyers...I've asked numerous times to be put on their mailing list to no avail. I have at least 3 MB's w/in a 15-20 min radius :)




If you go to their customer service desk, they should be able to help you. I get their flyer mailed to me every week.....then started getting it in a local paper.
carol

[cbscanner]

I have been going to MB for about five years now......I wish I had started sooner. You absolutely can't beat their prices. I notice stuff on "sale" at Stop and Shop is the regular MB price.....then if you shop their sales with coupons, you can do very well.
Carol

[mlkrgr]

Hey,

I find that a lot of times, there is a long wait at MB. Actually, I get everything I can get at Trader Joe's and walk out with a good $100 of stuff there. Some of the stuff is unique to that store, everything else that can be compared is on average the same or even maybe a little lower than MB and has better quality.

So if you shop for price and don't mind picking up store brand, Trader Joe's is a good option. When you compare that you can get a 2 pound bag of tortilla chips at $3 a bag versus a 13 ounce bag elsewhere for $2. In fact, their organic store brand beats most regular store brand chip prices, even Market Basket.

So, once I get done at Trader Joe's, I really don't have much more to do. So it all depends on what I need.

Also, I like how Trader Joe's compensates its employees well. I heard many employees there just as a stocker/cashier can make $12-$17 an hour and the average manager makes more than $100,000.

In comparison, from what I hear, Market Basket pays its workers lower than any other store, though they may be better than S&S.

[oudemia]

Hey,

I find that a lot of times, there is a long wait at MB. Actually, I get everything I can get at Trader Joe's and walk out with a good $100 of stuff there. Some of the stuff is unique to that store, everything else that can be compared is on average the same or even maybe a little lower than MB and has better quality.

So if you shop for price and don't mind picking up store brand, Trader Joe's is a good option. When you compare that you can get a 2 pound bag of tortilla chips at $3 a bag versus a 13 ounce bag elsewhere for $2. In fact, their organic store brand beats most regular store brand chip prices, even Market Basket.

So, once I get done at Trader Joe's, I really don't have much more to do. So it all depends on what I need.

Also, I like how Trader Joe's compensates its employees well. I heard many employees there just as a stocker/cashier can make $12-$17 an hour and the average manager makes more than $100,000.

In comparison, from what I hear, Market Basket pays its workers lower than any other store, though they may be better than S&S.

I, too, love Trader Joe's, but I live 30 miles from the closest one, whereas Market Basket is in my town. So I do the bulk of my shopping there, filling in around the edges at other stores as need be.

Then, of course, there's the fact that most TJ's don't take coupons even on items for which coupons might be available, which makes them less attractive. If I could get organic corn chips for less at MB (or Whole Foods) with a coupon, I'd go there. And the produce, at least at my nearest TJ's, tends toward substandard, even/especially the organic stuff. But their frozen veggies are very good, and when I go to TJ's I stock up.

I try to hit MB when they're least busy, usually on a Thursday or Friday morning around here, and I have few problems getting in and out. The evenings are usually OK too.

Overall, if I were buying primarily organic/natural (processed) foods, TJ's would be a bargain compared to Whole Foods, but for most comparable staples (say, King Arthur flour) I do better at MB. But I do love the wine selection at TJ's, and it's a great place to get good quality frozen veggies, nuts, dried fruit, cheese, and reasonably-priced, good-quality bread, though now that I make my own it's less of a reason for me to go there.

[mlkrgr]

Good point, as I do have a lot of natural foods that I do on my shopping list.

Also, another thing I was thinking for price conscious shoppers to do better than Demoulas/Market Basket and bypass their bad service is that BJs is pretty good. The service in there is always good and I like that they have self checkouts in there in case lines get long. Although I'm not a complete fan, I wouldn't object to going through them to get me out faster. I've been in there a few times with friends, and the prices there are a good 10-20% lower than MB. Instead of most warehouses that require you to buy perishables in big packs, BJs has regular supermarket size packs on meats, they sell deli items in any quantity over the counter, and the quantity that you get in the produce dept is the upper end value packs that you'd get at the supermarket.

[oudemia]

Good point, as I do have a lot of natural foods that I do on my shopping list.

Also, another thing I was thinking for price conscious shoppers to do better than Demoulas/Market Basket and bypass their bad service is that BJs is pretty good. The service in there is always good and I like that they have self checkouts in there in case lines get long. Although I'm not a complete fan, I wouldn't object to going through them to get me out faster. I've been in there a few times with friends, and the prices there are a good 10-20% lower than MB. Instead of most warehouses that require you to buy perishables in big packs, BJs has regular supermarket size packs on meats, they sell deli items in any quantity over the counter, and the quantity that you get in the produce dept is the upper end value packs that you'd get at the supermarket.

We have memberships at Costco and at BJ's, and we've decided to let the BJ's membership lapse and keep Costco-- mostly because we really, really like certain items at Costco, and BJ's is just kind of meh for us, plus the prices are higher on the items they have in common, manufacturers' coupons notwithstanding. (House-brand diapers and formula were the major exception to this, though we're past the need for formula and I've since been able to get diapers for less at Walgreens and CVS.) Also I've found that BJ's, at least in my neck of the woods, usually has the same or higher prices than MB, so no great deals there for me.

All of this is to note that we all have to find what works for us, based on the time and resources we have available.

[Krez]

Hey!
Well I'm from Mass and I'm a HUGE fan of Market basket. I am a coupon newbie. Hopefully I'm as big a fan when I tart couponing!:BigHand:

[kabrowni]

woo hoo... I've had trouble finding a board on MB... Can't beat their prices!

[Laurieellen]

Just checking in to say Hi.:wavehi: I do 99.9% of my shopping at market Basket in NH

[caitlyn12284]

I also love Market Basket in NH. My main grocery store!

[amylynne01]

I shop at Market Basket in NH, although I live in MA. Good prices and no sales tax!