Shopping at Harris Teeter?

[Anonymous]

I need a Harris Teeter 101 summary - how is it compared to Giant / Whole Foods? Do they have the same products? What about prices? Most people I've talked to rave about HT, but I've never been to one. Thank you.

[Anonymous]

I love Harris Teeter. Less expensive than WH and better all around than Giant (who I actually feel like hates it's customers sometimes). HT's customer service is also phenomenal. And the kids love going there for the cool carts and free balloons and cookies

[Anonymous]

Their seafood is excellent and the price is fantastic.

[Anonymous]

I find it's the best mix of a regular grocery store like Giant, Safeway plus a Whole Foods type of store around here. It tends to have more organic choices than Giant and Safeway but lower prices and more conventional foods than WF. That said, it has way more in common with Giant/Safeway than WF. Try it!

[Anonymous]

I am a huge HT fan. I agree with a PP that the prices are less than Whole Foods and perhaps slightly more than Giant and Safeway. However, I feel that their location and customer service makes up for it. Their stores are arranged in a very user friendly way. If you can't find an item, they are trained to not just tell you where it is, but take you to it and help you find it.

Overall, I think that they have many of the same items. Depending on which store you are at, they may also be willing to order an item that you can't find and keep it in stock for you.

For kids, I know that the balloon and cookie are an added bonus.

[Anonymous]

Love their bakery bread!

[Anonymous]

They are more expensive than Giant, but their store brands are WAY better than Giant. Their customer service is also much better. They have a decent supply of local and organic produce and fruit. Their deli is better, and the one in North Bethesda has a Starbucks - which is a nice pickmeup. They don't have as much in the way of some non-grocery items - i.e household cleaning products, ziploc products - but their pharamcy/drug/personal products seems well-stocked.

[Anonymous]

Yes, they are more expensive than Safeway or Giant, but they have great weekly deals. I do find that the produce at HT is really expensive. I will not go to my local Safeway as it is dirty and the staff is rude, but will go a bit further to an HT and pay a bit more for good service.

[Anonymous]

I like Harris Teeter, but for some reason, their check-out people are horrible. I mean, they are nice enough. But if I'm spending top dollar on expensive produce, I don't want it thrown into my bag and then the bag being banged around. I usually just offer to bag my own groceries to avoid it. I don't know if this holds true for all of them, but its been my experience.

Also, I hate the way their produce department is set up. Its always diagnonal, so it's hard to manuever. OK, I think Whole Foods is the same way, so maybe there is some reason. But I hate it. Even when its only slightly crowded, it's hard to move through. Maybe its designed for browsing? But the combination of the diagonal lay-out and the super large carts annoys me.

I will say if you want a bigger selection of produced and meats, it is the place to go. Just thought I should point those two things out (because I just realized I never go there anymore because the two negatives keep me away).

[Anonymous]

Love their customer service. Food seems the same to me as any conventional grocery store. Don't love the produce but do LOVE the bakery. Never had the issues with chekout staff as mentioned above, actually just the opposite.

[Anonymous]

Love the bakery especially bread and desert platters. I also like their sushi!

[Anonymous]

Wow, they must really vary in quality because I think Harris Teeter is just a step above Shoppers. There prepared foods are really nasty as is their salad bar. Their produce and fruit leaves a lot to be desired. For what it's worth , this is the one in Alexandria.

[Anonymous]

Their house-made sausages are the best of any grocery store (and many specialty shops) in the city. I was amazed - I'm a pretty tough sausage critic! Well, maybe Wegmans compares, but I don't have one anywhere close.

I like the one in Park Potomac a lot. I'll pay more any day for better quality. I don't eat prepared foods so I don't know about those - but their meats, bakery, and produce are much better than WF.

[Anonymous]

The Teeter is awesome! I shop at one in Fairfax and it's always good. The deli and prepared foods are great, the produce selection is good, and they have lots of good house brand organics. I've always found the price to be similar to safeway, if not a little lower. Definitely a better store than giant or shoppers and more selection than our local safeway. plus less congested than wegmans.

[Anonymous]

C'mon - it's a grocery store. Do you really need a lesson? You go, you scope it out, you decide you either like it or you don't like it, and you move on