Old guy goes shopping.

I’m really not much for shopping, I will generally run in grab what I want and get out. I try to shop local as I HATE, absolutely HATE big box stores. Please don’t take this as a rant because it’s not it’s just a couple observations from today.

Stop one was Fleet Farm. Didn’t really need much maybe bird food and another feeder if something caught me eye. 3 times I turned my cart into a side aisle and there was another person coming the other way. No choice but to turn around as there wasn’t room to meet in the aisle. Weird. When did they squeeze the aisles together so tight? This was in the Cambridge store. Checkout was a breeze as there weren’t many shoppers there even though it was around noon on a Saturday.

On to Cub Foods just down the street. I debated when leaving Fleet Farm if I wanted to shop at Cub because as I said I hate crowds. Anyway when I got close it seemed they weren’t real busy so in I go. Not very busy at all for a Saturday afternoon….I wonder when people grocery shop these days? I really wanted a steak for the grill but at todays prices i’m settling for thick cut pork chops. Wow meat is getting nuts. I noticed the Cub pricing on most items there about equal to what I pay at my small local grocery store. The biggest difference is my store still bags the groceries and will carry them out if you want them to. Again check out was a breeze because of the lack of customers.

The big debate in my mind now is do I want to hit the Muskie Expo at the fairgrounds tomorrow or just skip it and stay home.

Ahh, the life of a old guy.

seen that at Fleet Farm last week too… but I made it all the way without turn arounds..

as for Cubs I stopped going there almost 2 years ago. all app crap there..

Menards shrunk their aisles and bought these humongous carts. If there’s a cart in the way, a person can’t squeeze past much less another cart.

I miss the old Bartle’s hardware store here in town.

SR

Our Fleet Farm isn’t bad aisle-wise. But then all I do is fishing and hunting aisles.

Both of our Cubs are unionized so me stopping there is not likely unless they advertise something dirt cheap. I have the card and the appr on the phone just in case they sneak pork shoulders in on sale and I need the app to get the discounted price.

As for steak, I pretty much buy what’s on sale in the meat counter so I can see what I’m getting. I’ll even have the counter guy flip a steak over so I can see both sides.

Ma and I have actually started to run to the small-town groceries every now and then because we see such good deals in them. Rochester has the highest gas prices in the state and the major grocery stores are right on the heel of the gas pricing.

And I’m right with you on the crowds Dutch.

Cub is so spendy-for those prices they should bag and the bag should be better too!

Our nearest FF absolutely sucks. I don’t go there for anything but fishing stuff but it seems like they get stuff once per season and once they are out they are out. Pegs are almost always empty of the good stuff. Once in a blue moon they have super sales flicker Shad’s though, I think that’s what keeps me going back.

The aisles need to be small so they still have room for those dusty aisles of tractor parts and horse stuff, or whatever, that nobody has ever bought there

Reef W wrote:

The aisles need to be small so they still have room for those dusty aisles of tractor parts and horse stuff, or whatever, that nobody has ever bought there

I used to buy stuff from those isles. Until they put someone in charge of that department who doesn’t know a section guard on a haybine from an electric coffee maker. If I’m replacing parts on a piece of machinery, I want to replace ALL of them not just ONE. And then hear—we can order them and have them next week. Guess what….so can I. It used to be a great store before it was sold. Now they have so much stuff that nobody wants.

According to some friends that are firemen, the width of the aisles in stores are controlled by local ordinances and if the fire marshal makes the effort to enforce them.

Another question for the group… while getting ready to leave the Cub parking lot a guy and girl come out with a cartfull of groceries and begin putting them in the car. Both look to be in their mid to late 20’s, certainly not pre-teens. The guy is wearing Red pajama bottoms with some sort of design on them. Now I’m not advocating for a 3 piece suit to be worn but isn’t pajama bottoms a bit far for an adult?

I’m with you dutch. The way people dress and go out in public. Most of the time looks like they just rolled out of bed slippers and put a hat on and good to go.

Steve Root wrote:

Menards shrunk their aisles and bought these humongous carts. If there’s a cart in the way, a person can’t squeeze past much less another cart.

I miss the old Bartle’s hardware store here in town.

SR

I haven’t stepped foot in a Menards in a while. My wife buys enough Chinese crap on Amazon, I don’t need to do it too.

If you want lumber, fasteners, tools, etc. do yourself a favor and shop at your local lumberyard. They may not be able to beat prices of box store junk, but they can beat customer service and quality almost all of the time.

Can any of you guys tell me what aisle the “Get off my lawn” signs are in at Fleet Farm?

Spring is coming so I want to get some before they’re sold out. Which, judging by this thread, won’t be long.

They are in the aisle next to “Midwest Walleye boats are junk” aisle.

Dutchboy wrote:

The guy is wearing Red pajama bottoms with some sort of design on them.

I don’t think that is appropriate until one reaches my age of 73. On the other hand, I sometimes wear sweat pants to bed. How you going to know if I’m wearing my night time sweats or my daytime sweats? Just by the pattern on them? Is Snoopy daytime, nighttime or Cathemeral?

I’d say crepuscular.

Last time I went to Fleet Farm for jigging raps. Walked down the fishing isle and all recently stocked tackle was on the pegs backwards. If you wanted to know size or color you had to turn each one around. Hundreds were that way. I said hell no and left.

JEREMY wrote:

Last time I went to Fleet Farm for jigging raps. Walked down the fishing isle and all recently stocked tackle was on the pegs backwards. If you wanted to know size or color you had to turn each one around. Hundreds were that way. I said hell no and left.

Quality help, eh?

Fleet farm has some solid deals. The one by me has a difter XXL for like $145.

Sounds like a pretty decent trip to Fleet. You actually got something in stock. The tackle is backwards because they are “setting” the tackle. They need to see the UPC numbers to get it all in the planogrammed space. Calm down and stay out of their way and they will have it done in less time (maybe). If we are going by dress code I would say that 90% of men shopping at Fleet are dressed improperly. If you had came up to the gun counter wearing basketball shorts while I was working I would pull the Glocks out from behind the counter and those were your only choices. With a stern warning about dropping your firearm on the floor of the bathroom while you were abusing the facilities. If you were wearing cargo shorts and flip flops it was Sigs, and If it was New balances and cargo shorts you got your choice for being dressed appropriately.

Well I can tell you there was nobody around whos way to get in. Nobody was working on it. To see the upc numbers all 5-10 packs on each peg need to be backwards? Seemed like a great business practice cause im pretty sure the other 4 or 5 guys walking around telling the shelves to F-OFF didnt buy anything either.

Jimmy Jones wrote:

Both of our Cubs are unionized so me stopping there is not likely unless they advertise something dirt cheap.

dang Jimmy you hurt my feelings…….

Dutchboy wrote:

Another question for the group… while getting ready to leave the Cub parking lot a guy and girl come out with a cartfull of groceries and begin putting them in the car. Both look to be in their mid to late 20’s, certainly not pre-teens. The guy is wearing Red pajama bottoms with some sort of design on them. Now I’m not advocating for a 3 piece suit to be worn but isn’t pajama bottoms a bit far for an adult?

It’s almost as if they are trying to gross people out with their pajamas and crocs.

Hmmm, let me see what I have that is inappropriate and hopefully has stains on it.