Island Naturals - Rant

[Punatic007]

No we are simply trying to adjust to shopping there for essentials and so far no luck....

[terracore]

I know a woman who had been a checker at both Walmart and Target so she had an idea who paid with EBT and who paid with cash or credit cards. She said that people on EBT shop at Target at the beginning of the month (because Target has better things) and then they shop at Walmart when their EBT benefits are used up and they have to pay some other way. She said a lot of people who shop at Walmart aren't on EBT for whatever reasons and shop there because they can't afford Target or anywhere else.

[Peter Easterling]

Island Naturals, the good, the bad and the ugly. GOOD: Intriguing bulletin boards (want training to be an inter-galactic diplomat?); unusual and unexpected food items both fresh and packaged; 20% off beer and wine on Friday's! BAD: parking lot is crazy, matching the mental state many of the drivers and most pedestrians; the premises is shabby and dirty. No excuse for this Russell unless you have given up; too many customers smell bad (I never meet smelly hippies in KTA, Long's or Foodland. Why do they love Island Naturals?) UGLY: I saw an elderly human being of indeterminate sex, clad in gold and red robes, turban and scarves checking the serve yourself bar. Then a sample was eaten from the serving spoon which was placed back in the tray and off the sampler drifted. I was taken aback and did not react quickly enough (like "DID YOU JUST EAT OFF THE SPOON AND PUT IT BACK?"). I told the cashier and the tray was removed. A few days later a rat sidled up to me in side the store trying to sell weed. I declined but the vibe was not real positive. More like furtive and slightly sinister I still like Island Naturals but less than before. Way inferior to the Hilo store. Wassup, Mr. Ruderman?

[Kapohocat]

People cant make lists and shop once a week or twice a month in Hilo?? and hit the farmer's markets on Wed, Friday, Saturday, Sunday?

What is the problem?? Oh yah you actually have to start planning ahead now. OMG. No instant gratification.

I am finding that with the elimination of Malama, and the lack of Long's with spur of the moment spending, we am saving $$$'s. In fact more than enough on once a week or less trips to Hilo, to go to Hilo Bay Cafe while in Hilo on what we save not shopping in Pahoa.

A silver lining.

[kalakoa]

No instant gratification.

As if we needed more proof this isn't really America....

[pander75]

I was in The Natch a couple of days ago and was happy to see one of the former Malama Market cashiers now working there. He seemed happy for the new job and it was good to see a familiar face.

[Kapohocat]

Here is the online flyer for abundant life if you go to Hilo:

http://www.abundantlifenaturalfoods.com/...CFlyer.pdf

They dont seem to have the rewards program etc but their prices in general seem to be lower than others.

[Opihikaobob]

Abundant Life is "da kine", place to shop - almost everything is cheaper except local produce - go figure.

[Mendo]

Peter says "too many customers smell bad...I never meet smelly hippies in KTA, Long's or Foodland." KTA, Long's and Foodland are perfect for you. Corporate processed mainland food suits your mentality. We hippies don't like the way you smell, so it's mutual. I look forward to not seeing you there.

[Punatic007]

Abundant life is on the other side of Hilo town if you are coming from lower Puna, and a bit of a drive. Sure would be nice to have some co-op's around like in the old days. A local businessman says that Russell has an agreement with health food distributors to purchases X amount of product a month if they do not sell to co-op's in the area. I wonder if that is true?