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Donovan Arnold wrote:
<blockquote
cite="mid20070421233351.8113.qmail@web38104.mail.mud.yahoo.com"
type="cite">
<div>Paul,</div>
<div> </div>
<div>It seems to me you are saying that if people cannot afford a $1
loaf of bread at WinCo they can always go buy a cake at Safeway for
$19.95? </div>
</blockquote>
<blockquote
cite="mid20070421233351.8113.qmail@web38104.mail.mud.yahoo.com"
type="cite">
<div>I think you fail to grasp the concept that for thousands of
people on the Palouse WinCo is something they can barely afford now.
Safeway is not an option for many anymore than having fresh bread
vacuum sealed and Fed Ex'd from Paris for many others.</div>
</blockquote>
<br>
Ok, it's been a while since I lived from one hoard of Ramen bought at
the cheapest price I could find to the next. That's true. I have been
there, though. But is Safeway really that much more expensive? Are we
talking your $1 loaf of bread costing $4 at Safeway, or $1.25? How
much cheaper is this magical "discount" store? I understand it's great
for bulk foods, but is it really that much more expensive to get the
basics at Safeway or Rosauers?<br>
<blockquote
cite="mid20070421233351.8113.qmail@web38104.mail.mud.yahoo.com"
type="cite">
<div> </div>
<div> </div>
<div>I am glad you have the option of spending so freely as to do all
your shopping anywhere you want. However, many people only have a $150
budget for food or less and that doesn't buy much at Safeway. Top Ramen
gets a little old after your 4000th helping over 5 years.</div>
</blockquote>
<br>
Well, I am glad you so often feel free to talk down to those of us who
happen not to be in the same financial straights that you are. I have
worked my way up the ranks where I work and have been compensated
accordingly. I made myself useful to those above me, and acquired some
skills that were needed on my own time. I make more than some, but not
nearly as much as others. I refuse to feel guilty about it.<br>
<br>
I did pay my way through college with no loans, though. I did my time
eating Ramen and saving up to rent a couple of videos to treat myself
with once in a while. And I did this by shopping at Safeway, mostly.
Ramen on sale at Safeway for 10 cents each is still a great deal, even
if it's not at a qualified "discount" store.<br>
<br>
Just so we're clear, while I do eat out a lot, I mostly live on PBJs
and such. I am a bachelor, after all. $10 will get me quite a few
sandwiches, even at the "expensive" stores.<br>
<br>
<blockquote
cite="mid20070421233351.8113.qmail@web38104.mail.mud.yahoo.com"
type="cite">
<div> </div>
<div>Safeway is NOT a super discount store. It is not for the poor
and underclasses, it serves primarily the middle and upper middle class
neighborhoods surrounding the area. People go there mostly
for convenience of location or to avoid the large crowds at WinCo.</div>
</blockquote>
<br>
If WinCo went the way of the dodo bird, would those who shop at WinCo
starve? I seem to remember a time before WinCo appeared where we did
not have mass starvations and famine. Maybe my "middle class" status
blinded me to the facts?<br>
<br>
I am curious, like I mentioned before, whether these massive chain
stores (even discount ones) are more at risk from rising gas prices
than Mom-and-Pop stores. Presumably, they do more shipping than
smaller stores need to do. If the gas prices are higher in Tuscaloosa,
do they average it out over all the stores price-wise?<br>
<br>
Paul<br>
<br>
<blockquote
cite="mid20070421233351.8113.qmail@web38104.mail.mud.yahoo.com"
type="cite">
<div> </div>
<div>Best,</div>
<div> </div>
<div>Donovan </div>
<div> </div>
<div><br>
<br>
<b><i>Paul Rumelhart <a class="moz-txt-link-rfc2396E" href="mailto:godshatter@yahoo.com"><godshatter@yahoo.com></a></i></b> wrote:</div>
<blockquote class="replbq"
style="border-left: 2px solid rgb(16, 16, 255); padding-left: 5px; margin-left: 5px;">I
could have sworn I bought food at a massive chain store the other day
in the other mall. Anyway, I don't think the Winco retail chain is
being overly hurt by UI and WSU student population declines. Maybe
this branch, but I'd like to see some figures first. I'm also
wondering if large supermarket chains, such as Winco, aren't just
raising prices all over in an attempt to cover losses in other places.
Anyway, there are alternatives to Winco. There must be, because I
rarely shop there (except to buy the occasional Pocky sticks) and I
need food to survive just like everybody else. I'd be interested to
find out if local stores, such as the Co-op, are having to raise their
prices more than the big-name stores. Presumably, this same rise in
prices due to gas prices will affect everything that is shipped by
truck - not just food. Walmart is basically built on the idea of
massive transportation of goods quickly. I'd imagine that the rise in
gas prices will affect it more than most stores.<br>
<br>
As for the honey bee problem, I'm hoping that it will work itself out
the natural way. The 40% of bees that are left will breed resistance
to whatever it is that is killing them off, and the survivors will
flourish because there is now so little competition for them
individually.<br>
<br>
Also, the Palouse Mall does not have a monopoly. There is nothing that
they are doing that would stop another developer from building their
own mall. If you want to protest the high prices they charge for
rental space, don't shop there. You'll find there are a number of
alternatives out there.<br>
<br>
Paul<br>
<br>
Donovan Arnold wrote:
<blockquote cite="mid56704.61804.qm@web38101.mail.mud.yahoo.com"
type="cite">
<div>Food prices are only going to go up even more for several
reasons;</div>
<div> </div>
<div>1) The massive extinction of honey bees has created a void
in pollination of 1/3 of the US food supply. 60% of honey bees have
died, with no cure or solution in the near future.</div>
<div> </div>
<div>2) Increases in fuel prices increase the shipping costs of
food. </div>
<div> </div>
<div>3) Many crops were wiped out this year due in the freakish
winter storms. For example, oranges had a massive freeze.</div>
<div> </div>
<div>4) The UI and WSU student populations have decreased, the
main income for Winco. With a reduced volume in sales, Winco has to
raise prices to cover losses in volume sales.</div>
<div> </div>
<div>5) No competition. With no other discount grocery stores in
the area, like say a Super Wal-Mart, Winco can raise its prices with no
consequences, everybody has to eat.</div>
<div> </div>
<div>6) The owners of the Palouse Empire Mall are raising their
rents. </div>
<div> </div>
<div>I think it is obvious, Moscow needs competition in the area
to curve rising prices. It also needs to do some sting operations on
gas price fixing which obviously is going on. </div>
<div> </div>
<div>Maybe, many of you guys should call Pat Vaughn and ask him
to reassess the property value of the Palouse Empire Mall, which is
monopoly. Perhaps if the mall can make such huge increases in their
leases, the value of the only active retail mall on the Palouse is much
higher than what the County Assessor has it listed as. </div>
<div> </div>
<div>If I had the time, and a personal interest at stake, like so
many of you do, I would contest the taxable value of the Palouse Empire
Mall. It is clear that it has a really high value since it is able to
charge so much for its lease spaces and has no real competition. Moscow
is probably losing $100,000s in tax revenue that could go to things
like finding a new space for the public bus to park on the west side of
town, and to give property tax breaks to locally owned businesses that
are having a hard time due to the fact no mall will let them conduct
business on their property. Just a thought to those litigious and want
what's best and for our community.</div>
<div> </div>
<div>Best,</div>
<div> </div>
<div>Donovan<br>
<br>
<b><i>Ellen Roskovich <a class="moz-txt-link-rfc2396E"
href="mailto:gussie443@hotmail.com"><gussie443@hotmail.com></a></i></b>
wrote:</div>
<blockquote class="replbq"
style="border-left: 2px solid rgb(16, 16, 255); padding-left: 5px; margin-left: 5px;">
<div>
<div class="RTE"><strong>As the cost of gas continues to climb
at the pumps, the price of food starts to rise at the grocery stores.
Has anyone else noticed this recently?</strong></div>
<div class="RTE"><strong></strong> </div>
<div class="RTE"><strong>Ellen Roskovich</strong></div>
</div>
<br clear="all">
<hr> <a href="http://g.msn.com/8HMAENUS/2734??PS=47575"
target="_top">MSN is giving away a trip to Vegas to see Elton John.
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<br>
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<pre wrap=""><hr size="4" width="90%"> ======================================================= List services made available by First Step Internet, serving the communities of the Palouse since 1994. <a
class="moz-txt-link-freetext" href="http://www.fsr.net/">http://www.fsr.net</a> <a
class="moz-txt-link-freetext" href="mailto:Vision2020@moscow.com">mailto:Vision2020@moscow.com</a> =======================================================</pre>
</blockquote>
<br>
=======================================================<br>
List services made available by First Step Internet, <br>
serving the communities of the Palouse since 1994. <br>
<a class="moz-txt-link-freetext" href="http://www.fsr.net">http://www.fsr.net</a> <br>
<a class="moz-txt-link-freetext" href="mailto:Vision2020@moscow.com">mailto:Vision2020@moscow.com</a><br>
=======================================================</blockquote>
<br>
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</blockquote>
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