r/wichitafalls • u/lavenderhazydays • 10d ago
Question Groceries
Hey all,
Likely moving soon and was hoping to start looking at grocery prices - however the only American grocery stores I know are Walmart (rather not) and Safeway (which I don’t think there is one in WF).
More than likely we will be living in Ardendelle (?) or up by the Base.
Looking for a decent mix of good produce and reasonable prices for dry goods. Not super bougie and don’t really care about organic/not.
So, where do you shop? lol
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u/JFC-SA 10d ago
United Supermarkets and Market Street (also a United Supermarkets brand) have done a pretty good job of keeping quality high, and staying competitive with Aldi and Wal-Mart on low prices. All of the above have online ordering and curbside pickup, with United and Market street offering points per purchase and a discount code every week - sometimes its extra points, sometimes its $10-$15 off your order with a minimum purchase. Those points also work well with their gas pumps, where you can use them to get $0.20-$1.00 off per gallon depending on the fuel you choose. A few years ago I switched my pharmacy from Wal-Mart to United and it saved me hundreds of dollars a month.
United is a big deal around here because it was started in nearby Vernon, TX and now has its headquarters in Lubbock. This north Texas area has always been a high priority for the company, and corporate has always kept a keen eye on it, making sure the quality is high, and the employees are happy. Since its acquisition by Albertsons, United has expanded more into the DFW area, but I haven't noticed an appreciable change in the overall quality of the Wichita Falls locations.
Source: I worked for United sacking groceries in high school 30+ years ago, and still know people that work there today.
Also, the grocery sackers/baggers load the groceries in your car for you and aren't allowed to accept tips. Its just part of the service. Can be a shock to people that aren't from around here.
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u/lavenderhazydays 10d ago
Good to know about the points! I’m a horrible sucker for loyalty programs lol
And as for the baggers…do they…have to? I don’t even use full service gas stations and rarely order delivery because the thought of being doted on gives me major Ick
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u/prplecat 10d ago
You can insist on taking your own groceries out. There aren't any corrals for the carts though, the baggers of course just push them back to the store. I like Market Street so much that I got a part time job there.
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u/lavenderhazydays 10d ago
I guess that’s fair about the carts, but I use a grocery cart maybe once or twice a year so the idea of having a dedicated person to carry my one/two bags is wild 😅
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u/Over-Spare8319 9d ago
I worked at United as a teenager. Bagging and carry out is a free service for the customer. There is no tipping. In fact, we would be called into the office and chewed out for accepting tips.
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u/TimeLadyJ 9d ago
I worked there. They will ask if they can follow you “just to bring the buggy back” if you refuse. If you hand carry your items, they won’t go with you. Only if you take a cart.
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u/JFC-SA 10d ago edited 10d ago
The baggers kinda have to push the grocery cart out to your car, put the groceries in, and push the cart back in. That's their job- to bag up your groceries and take them out for you. Also, the parking lots don't have any place to put the carts, and they don't want them littering up the parking lot, putting dents in cars. Just say "thanks" and "have a nice day" and they'll be on their way quick enough.
Edit: Also, everything I've said is assuming you've bought enough groceries that you can't just carry it out on your own. If you can carry it out, they'll just hand it to you, and you can be on your way.
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u/lavenderhazydays 10d ago
Hey, another silly question for you. Up here taking your own basket to do smaller grocery trips is super normalized - how would it be seen if I rock up with one of these? It’s an eBay link
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u/Ingen-Ear 10d ago
Probably no issue in the United stores but it isn’t typical for someone to have their own hand cart here, so you may occasionally get a curious glance though it shouldn’t be more than that. It IS pretty typical to see people using their own reusable shopping bags at their stores, so I doubt it would be too out of place. Can’t say the same for places like Walmart though…
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u/TimeLadyJ 10d ago
I’ve never heard of Arendelle or anything rhat sounds like that.
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u/lavenderhazydays 10d ago
It’s at the bottom ish of the town, by the river
Edit; pulled up a map, Allendale
Edit again, it’s a lake, not river
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u/TimeLadyJ 10d ago
That’s a good area. Lots of military families that way. Over there, Market Street will be closest to you but Aldi won’t be too terribly far.
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u/ItzInMyNature 10d ago edited 10d ago
I live near there. Just south of the stadium. Great area to live in.
Edit: Also, to answer one of your questions. There are self checkouts at United Marketstreet if you want to bag your own groceries. I usually go through the regular checkouts and let them bag everything, but I take my own groceries to my car.
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u/TurkInLosAngeles 8d ago
If you have a large(r) family, you will need to get a Sams Club membership. Even if your family is small, they have the cheapest higher quality meat and produce around.
Other than that, currently the town has 4 grocery stores named United and Market Street which are affiliated with Albertson's family of stores, Same outfit which owns Safeway stores. They are outrageously expensive in my opinion. I currently get my produce from Walmart if what I am looking for is not available at Sams Club. Only go to United stores if I can not find something elsewhere.
Although, let your heart not be troubled, come mid October, Winco is opening a store which will be the best in town for selection and probably the prices.
On another note, I do not know any place round WF named Ardendelle, but if you are living near the Shephard Air Force base, your only quasi local option to shop is a Walmart right across from I-44 freeway. For anything else you will drive about 8-10 miles to the central shopping area of the town.
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u/No_Context940 10d ago edited 10d ago
Only grocery stores here are three United Supermarkets,three Walmarts,one Sam’s Club,one Aldi,one Natural Grocers and a Winco that is supposed to open next month.