Why are there always so many blue collar men at 7-11?

[Anonymous]

I think I can shed some light on this.

I go to 7-11 four or five times a week. I have job that requires me to be in transit or outdoors all day. I have no office fridge or coffee machine. I have no office. I do sometimes pack a lunch, but I have to keep it in a cooler with ice packs all day and that's a pain in the butt because I have to remember to re-freeze the icepacks each night. In cooler weather, I can just leave a lunch in the car, but I leave the house at 5 am and, honestly, sometimes I'm too busy or lazy to pack a lunch...just like you are sometimes.

So I'm often grabbing breakfast or lunch on the go and a grocery store is rarely the best option. By the time you park in the lot, go through the large store and the line, it's takes time. 7-11s, which are usually just off major intersections, with smaller lots and stores, are much easier to get in and out of quickly. These men you are seeing there, like me, are paid per job, so getting to the next one quickly is important.

I don't smoke, but I'd imagine having the cashier turn around and grab you a pack of cigarettes is much cheaper than having to go to a separate counter to have someone unlock the supply, as I see in drug and grocery stores.

And food at 7-11 isn't always more expensive. Coffee is certainly cheaper than Starbucks, and the pre-packed foods are reasonable. I don't eat their fried foods or pizza or hotdogs, but I do grab a sandwich, cheese stick and piece of fruit. (I will say that fruit can be expensive, so I try to keep a bag of apples in my car.) Also, before you say it, in a busy convenience store, the sandwiches aren't sitting around any longer than they do in the pre-made food section of Safeway.

btw...I am female. if you met me outside of 7-11 you'd in no way think I was "blue-collar." I have zero tattoos and dress fabulously when I'm not working.

Which brings me to another appeal of 7-11, it's a community. When I go into my "regular" stores, I usually know the cashiers and the other patrons. They are all really nice, hold the door for me, ask how business is and what my kids are up to.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I haven’t been in a 7-11 since I quit smoking 8 years ago. What would I buy at 7-11 that I can’t get at the grocery store? What would I need there that would justify parking and another errand? I can’t remember the last time I went into a gas station convenient store either.

Wow. These responses are truly surprising I guess I was wrong on my assessment that everyone goes to 7-11. To answer your question as to what would you need there, well bread, milk, toilet paper. Things people tend to run out of in between shopping trips. If all you need is a loaf of bread, it's a million times easier to stop off at a 7-11 instead of go inside a grocery store. I do find it fascinating that so many people say they never go. Maybe I should start a thread asking "why don't middle class people ever need to stop off at convenience stores?"

I don’t run out of things. I buy toilet paper and paper products at Costco. When we are low-ish, I add it to the list. We stock up every 2-3 months. Things we use on a regular schedule like coffee and vitamins are on subscription. I meal plan for the week ahead on Wednesday when the grocery sale ads come out. I order my groceries from my phone and pick them up later that afternoon. My dry cleaning is picked up and delivered. I almost never set foot in a physical store except to go to Target and Costco 5-6 times each per year. I work full time and have 2 small children.

OP said most people go to 7-11 or similar convenient stores. I am making a case that most middle class people do not go to convenient stores because they have the financial stability and life skills to plan ahead, make coffee at home, are less likely to smoke or eat junk food packaged in individual servings, and live in neighborhoods with multiple large chain supermarkets with convenient parking.

Nobody cares how great you are at planning. Nobody wants to read your advice either.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I haven’t been in a 7-11 since I quit smoking 8 years ago. What would I buy at 7-11 that I can’t get at the grocery store? What would I need there that would justify parking and another errand? I can’t remember the last time I went into a gas station convenient store either.

Wow. These responses are truly surprising I guess I was wrong on my assessment that everyone goes to 7-11. To answer your question as to what would you need there, well bread, milk, toilet paper. Things people tend to run out of in between shopping trips. If all you need is a loaf of bread, it's a million times easier to stop off at a 7-11 instead of go inside a grocery store. I do find it fascinating that so many people say they never go. Maybe I should start a thread asking "why don't middle class people ever need to stop off at convenience stores?"

I don’t run out of things. I buy toilet paper and paper products at Costco. When we are low-ish, I add it to the list. We stock up every 2-3 months. Things we use on a regular schedule like coffee and vitamins are on subscription. I meal plan for the week ahead on Wednesday when the grocery sale ads come out. I order my groceries from my phone and pick them up later that afternoon. My dry cleaning is picked up and delivered. I almost never set foot in a physical store except to go to Target and Costco 5-6 times each per year. I work full time and have 2 small children.

But this has been argued and proven time and time again. Not running out of things / stocking up at Costco/ having a list and buying in bulk = privileges of wealth and comfort. If you only have whatever money you make that day, then you buy milk when your baby is out, ,and you spend $4 at 7-11 because that's the only thing you can buy that day. Not because you're lazy, or doing something wrong. We can't prepare or stock up, we have a couple dollars and have to buy the $1 pack of 4 grossly thing toilet paper rolls when we run out. We dont have $40 in an account to buy 812 rolls of toilet paper at Costco to last us 3 months.

Once again - there is a Trader Joe's across the street, and a Harris Teeter and Safeway a few blocks down. In our neighborhood, people are demonstrably not going to 7-11 because it's their only option for last-minute shopping when they have cash.

It should be obvious why running into a 7-11 for a gallon of milk is faster than going inside a Trader Joe's or Harris Teeter. Is this something that really needs explaining?

[Anonymous]

I have three 7/11 near me and a Giant in the same vicinity, it never occurred to me to go to 7/11 for milk. Giant is so much better and cheaper.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I have three 7/11 near me and a Giant in the same vicinity, it never occurred to me to go to 7/11 for milk. Giant is so much better and cheaper.

Aren’t you ever in a hurry to pick up your kid from soccer. I’m amazed at how few people feel the need to stop off at 7-11. Does this apply to wawa and Sheetz too?

[Anonymous]

Wawa...who doesn't love wawa.