Karma?
With all the supermarkets carrying equivalent to Karma's food products, farmers' markets, other organic food stores, 24 hour food stores, what are your reasons you shop at Karma?Posted Sun 1-Mar-2009 9:03 AM by chives
Responses
Yeah, It's been a while since i've shopped in supermarkets but I believe you will have some difficulty getting bulk spices/teas or maple syrup at a lot of places at our low prices. I also don't know where else it would be as easy to take your bulk food home without using plastic bags.
The fact that we try to clearly mark the origin of our products is certainly a huge plus. Is anyone else selling Ontario grown peanuts? I was pretty happy to see that come into the store.
Not to mention that we have a committe dedicated to sorting out which products are really suited to the coop.
While I do visit a farmers market on a weekly basis, it's nice to be able to pick up something needed when it's not market day. I've found some things to be a bit cheaper at karma too.
I think you have to be a little more specific about what you mean by 'equivalent' and back up the statement. But even if it were the case that all other factors were equall I'd still think It's nice to not have the overwhelming stench of greed pervading through my shopping exerience that I feel when I'm in a big box grocery store. We each own a bit of karma and are free to work towards bringing it closer to our ideal. That's worth a lot.
From ebodyknows on Thu 19-Mar-2009 5:03 PM
I shop at Karma for many reasons - fair and transparent pricing, community, fair wages for worker, and lots of bulk choice. But the main reason is because Karma is a co-op. We own it together. Real, participatory democracy is good for everyone - a win-win. Not easy but ultimately unbeatable by the private, for-profit, capitalist business model.
I just wish Karma were easier to join for new members. We should also be working to build new Karmas and spread the gospel of cooperation. The owners Wal Mart did not sit on their behinds after building the first store and neither should we....
From cooperator on Mon 18-May-2009 7:05 PM
The post is closed to comments. Have a look at more recent posts.
Actually, there are many products that aren't readily available elsewhere. many bulk items (such as oat kernels, hard white flour, maple syrup, tamari and laundry detergent) aren't at other stores. Plus the produce section is unique. It's basically a farmer's market in the warmer months - but with lower prices.
It's amazing how much my habits have changed since being a Karma member. I was at a huge NoFrills a few months ago, and there wasn't anything I wanted to buy. Everything was overprocessed, overpackaged and overpriced.
From the worms! on Tue 3-Mar-2009 12:03 PM