Going into the grocery store to shop becoming a class signal?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I'm a SAHM, and eff you for thinking I have nothing better to do with my alleged oodles of free time than walk the aisles of the grocery store. It's not about being status conscious, it's about using my time well, and grocery shopping is a boring, time-consuming chore that I can now outsource for free with a pickup order. Occam's Razor, OP.

You sound lazy.

[Anonymous]

NP. Not at all a status thing not to grocery shop. I've certainly never even thought of it as such. Although it's an interesting thought, OP, that there are fewer people doing their own shopping these days. You must be right.

I've been using grocery delivery since I was on maternity bed rest with my second child 15 years ago. It's a godsend. And if occasionally, the substituted product isn't what I wanted or the strawberries are moldy? The cost of doing business and worth the hassle. Giant Delivery and Whole Foods Delivery are both pretty reliable in choosing produce.

I wouldn't have had money to order Door Dash back then, but am really grateful for it now. My son and I were incredibly lazy last night when he was studying and I was working. We spent $40 on having 2 smoothies delivered. And yes, that's wasteful and I'll regret it when I'm old and poor. But it's the kind of luxury that I most enjoy. I don't need cashmere and diamonds. Just give me time in my home!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:At least for older millennial and gen X families*

My last few visits to grocery stores it looks like all retirees shopping, plus a handful of singles using the salad and hot bars. The aisles are filled with solo workers collecting orders. It seems like parents my age, whether they're actually wealthy and super busy ( ) or merely want to give that impression, exclusively do home delivery or drive-up pickup. Even the upper middle income SAHMs I know who have plenty of free time during the day do at-home delivery or drive-up pickup for groceries. Is grocery shopping in-person becoming lower class and/or elderly retirees thing?

It's almost like status-conscious people don't want to be seen grocery shopping because of the perception it gives that they're not wealthy or have too much free time. At least that's kind of what it feels like after Covid.

Yes I am very worried about random people at the supermarket thinking less of me because I shop in person. But then I say to myself, they are clearly losers also so it doesn’t matter what they think. Do you think the professional shoppers and retirees are looking down on me when I shop in person?

Can I just pretend to use professional food shoppers at parties? What names do you suggest would signal superior status?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Drive up pick up is a free service. Why would I ever go into the store? My time is more valuable than that - and I paid $100 a year for years before the pandemic to have Harris Teeter shop for me.

I go into the store because honestly it’s hit or miss if your order is full and correct with online ordering. I’d rather just make my own substitutions or pick the pack of chicken myself or take 3 seconds to look for something before declaring its out of stock.

In 6 years, I have never had a single thing missing. A few times I received extra things I did not order. Harris Teeter lets you put in your preferred backup or specify which items cannot be subbed - and the app saves your preferences and comments for that item and applies them every time you order it. the only issue I have ever had is that my husband eats a lot of cilantro and about 25% of the time we get parsley instead.

[Anonymous]

I know people who live paycheck to paycheck, but enjoy going to Costco and ordering ubereats. I don't enjoy either of those things.
I go to the store because I don't work anymore for money. Going to the store is part of getting my steps in.
While my time is important, I have all the time in the world after checking the market. I go when nobody is there during the day. My household is only two people-no need to stock up.
OP, while I do see what you say, I think preference over class right now. It may change later when going out is dangerous/inconvenient.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:You need to use your brain for something that matters. There isn't some grand movement to avoid the grocery store as some kind of class distinction. Your conclusions are faulty.

This. I avoid the grocery because I hate going there. I send my dh, because we have to eat and will not pay someone else to select our produce.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Drive up pick up is a free service. Why would I ever go into the store? My time is more valuable than that - and I paid $100 a year for years before the pandemic to have Harris Teeter shop for me.

I go into the store because honestly it’s hit or miss if your order is full and correct with online ordering. I’d rather just make my own substitutions or pick the pack of chicken myself or take 3 seconds to look for something before declaring its out of stock.

In 6 years, I have never had a single thing missing. A few times I received extra things I did not order. Harris Teeter lets you put in your preferred backup or specify which items cannot be subbed - and the app saves your preferences and comments for that item and applies them every time you order it. the only issue I have ever had is that my husband eats a lot of cilantro and about 25% of the time we get parsley instead.

The people who select your produce dgaf about the quality of what they are picking out, either. Moldy strawberries, bananas about to turn, soft bell peppers, un ripened fruit, etc are why I pick up my own foods. A guy at the store doesn't know how firm or soft I like my tomatoes and he doesn't gaf if I have to wait 2 weeks until it is edible.

[Anonymous]

I really enjoy grocery shopping.

[Anonymous]

I do mostly delivery because my favorite grocery store is not super close to my house and now that I work from home I don't drive around as much. I use the local grocery store for items as well and it's never occurred to me to not go in. I'm UMC but definitely not flexing my "class" by not going into a store. I do it purely for the convenience and I tip the delivery drivers really well.

[Anonymous]

I’ve never had my groceries delivered, and I prefer selecting produce myself. Went daily with the baby, including during COVID, and now that I work full time, it’s still one of my daughter’s favorite “activity.”

[Anonymous]

I’m not wasting my time grocery shopping. I often shop while waiting for a kid at a practice or training. I would otherwise be sitting in a Starbucks or something. I’m in and out in around 45 minutes and back in time to pick them up. I don’t have a strict grocery list, I go in see what looks good, maybe pick something up that was BOGO that I didn’t know I wanted, and that’s that.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Drive up pick up is a free service. Why would I ever go into the store? My time is more valuable than that - and I paid $100 a year for years before the pandemic to have Harris Teeter shop for me.

I go into the store because honestly it’s hit or miss if your order is full and correct with online ordering. I’d rather just make my own substitutions or pick the pack of chicken myself or take 3 seconds to look for something before declaring its out of stock.

In 6 years, I have never had a single thing missing. A few times I received extra things I did not order. Harris Teeter lets you put in your preferred backup or specify which items cannot be subbed - and the app saves your preferences and comments for that item and applies them every time you order it. the only issue I have ever had is that my husband eats a lot of cilantro and about 25% of the time we get parsley instead.

Well, that is some serious luck, because like PP, I had substitutions that ruined my plans for what I was cooking each time I ordered. So I quit doing it.

[Anonymous]

I've used Fresh Direct for 20 years. Grocery stores in NYC are small, cramped, and crowded, with limited options. It's really unpleasant to shop in person! I do pop into a store once in a while when I realize I've forgotten or run out of an ingredient that I need right now, but I never feel that it lowers my tone I actually enjoy shopping in person when I visit my parents in their small college town. I marvel at the wide aisles and bounteous selection.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I'm a SAHM, and eff you for thinking I have nothing better to do with my alleged oodles of free time than walk the aisles of the grocery store. It's not about being status conscious, it's about using my time well, and grocery shopping is a boring, time-consuming chore that I can now outsource for free with a pickup order. Occam's Razor, OP.

You sound lazy.

You sound stupid as well as lazy.

[Anonymous]

Some people are so afraid of living their own real lives that they'll invent complicated mental gymnastics to create fake lives to play.