Anonymous wrote:Since it seems like we have settled safeway v giant, can I ask if I am the only one who doesn't understand harris teeter? I'm in moco if that matters for booze reasons. Basically it is an upscale giant for 125% of the price. It doesn't tough wegmans for prepared foods, and doesn't have whole foods or trader joes selections of organic or cool stuff. I really am trying to understand why people shop there unless strictly convenience.

Agreed, I don't get Harris Teeter it at all. The prepared foods are not WF or Wegmans quality. I suppose they are a tad nicer than Giant in this regard. However, I don't get any other reason to go there unless you are totally into olive bars, mediocre "fancy cheeses", sandwiches.

The Safeway is always a depressing experience. They built that big new one in Bethesda. You can dress it up fancy, but it's still Lucerne.
The one at Little Falls shopping center is a total disaster, I don't know how it stays open. This might be what PP was referencing when she mentioned 40 minute waits at the check stand. Yes, Ms. Crystal is nice, but that is about all that place has going for it!

You couldn't pay me to buy a piece of "fresh fish" at any of these places. Defrosted orange roughy from China...no thanks!

Since it seems like we have settled safeway v giant, can I ask if I am the only one who doesn't understand harris teeter? I'm in moco if that matters for booze reasons. Basically it is an upscale giant for 125% of the price. It doesn't tough wegmans for prepared foods, and doesn't have whole foods or trader joes selections of organic or cool stuff. I really am trying to understand why people shop there unless strictly convenience.

It really seems to depend on location. I do most of my shopping at Whole Foods and Trader Joes. But there's some stuff that you just need to go to a regular grocery store for. So for me, I will go to in order of preference -- the nice big Giant, the pretty good Safeway, the meh Giant on my way home, and the two far-away-but-large Safeways. You also have to throw th Harris Teeters in there; I think their quality is more consistent than Safeway or Giant, but none of them are on my regular routes, so I don't stop there as often as I would if all three stores were right next to each other.

The Safeway that was near us always has expired stuff. I'm scarred for life after nearly biting into a babybel cheese that had this moldy goo in the middle, it was so old. I agree with the poster who posted about the quality of Giant's produce and I also like the Boar's Head meats.

It really depends on the location. In my area, the employees at Giant are far friendlier and much nicer. They hire special needs adults who seem to never make a mistake, are fast and friendly. The Safeway hires regular employees who are not helpful. I've learned to pay closer attention at Safeway because they ring up the items wrong. When you point it out to the cashier, you get a blank look and then they say they can't fix but you can go to the customer service at the end of the transaction. They really hope you will not bother. Its a PITA to wait at the customer service desk for a few dollars but its also stupid to pay 400% for a piece of produce because they rang up the wrong type. This is happened a few times.

Anonymous wrote:I stopped going to the neighborhood Giant because the meat purchased on the same day are spoiled by the time I arrive home, same with my brother at a separate location. Safeway is alright but its out of my way.

Now I prefer Wegmans.

Well, who doesn't prefer Wegmans? Still waiting on one close to me.

*also, I agree about spoiled meat at Giant. Happened to me 3x, so now I only buy meat at Whole Foods, Wegmans, or Harris Teeter.

I think Giants are more consistent across the board-- the Giant near my old house in Columbia Heights was very similar to the one near where I work in Bethesda and the one where my son goes to school in Potomac. Safeway, on the other hand, can range from super clean and fresh and tidy to a total hole in the wall.

I witnessed a group brawl at Safeway. Haven't seen that at Giant yet. I can it Unsafeway now.

I stopped going to the neighborhood Giant because the meat purchased on the same day are spoiled by the time I arrive home, same with my brother at a separate location. Safeway is alright but its out of my way.

Now I prefer Wegmans.

Safeway has less and lower quality of the normal produce, but lots of variety of special produce - jicama, ramps, sun chokes, Chinese eggplant, etc. The chicken at Safeway never looks right to me and I do not like their Lucerne store brand dairy as much as Giant's store brand.

We're in Cleve park and alternate shopping in Bethesda, Gtown and Columbia Heights depending on what other errands we have. Giant seems to tailor the products to the neighborhood more - giant in Bethesda had a million kinds of yogurt, giant in CH has many types of Mexican and Salvadoran cheeses.

The Safeway closest to us only sells purple grape juice whereas the Giant has white grape juice. If you have kids, the spill factor comes into play. Also, the Giant sells brands that my kids like such as Kashi Strawberry bars and Food Should Taste Good chips. Safeway doesn't.

In McLean, Giant is much better than Safeway. Better produce, meat, bakery, everything really. And they actually have more than 2 cashiers. I drive by Safeway to go to Giant.

Giant has better milk and Safeway offers a little more brand variety.

The prepared foods at Giant are terrible. Ugh.