Buying in "bulk"

[cstadt]

I'm making a Sam's run, a store kind of like Costco
and I was wondering what everybody buys there?

So far I need tortillas and laundry detergent :)

[DMZdogs]

I like to get olive oil and basmati rice there. If I feel like splurging, I'll get boca burgers (if they have them...they don't always). Sometimes they have good deals on fresh fruit. Oh, and frozen fruit! Love the frozen fruit for making smoothies!

[codemonkey]

I went to costco over the weekend and I bought rolled oats, yeast, dog food and some shoes for my son. I had planned on buying a big bag of brown rice but they didn't have any.

[JazzCaptain]

I don't know about this forums ethics but Sams is owned by Walmart. Just thought I'd let you all in on that. Hence why I won't shop there and also encourage every one else to do the same.

I dont know about costco, but they have some fine vegan products.

[vigilant20]

Well my fam gave me a gift sams membership, so I go there occasionally. Agree that the olive oil and rice are good ones. Also noodles. I do lots of juicing so I'll pick up big bags of apples, carrots, and celery. Their hummus is AMAZING. It was the first hummus I tried and now I can't eat regular hummus cuz it tastes so icky in comparison. I'm sure it's that much worse for you too...but still :)

[cstadt]

I don't know about this forums ethics but Sams is owned by Walmart. Just thought I'd let you all in on that. Hence why I won't shop there and also encourage every one else to do the same.

I dont know about costco, but they have some fine vegan products.

Costco is larger than Walmart as a 'wholesale' store, even. My boyfriend has a membership to Sam's.

[LetoTheTyrant]

I wouldn't shop there, because I would assume that they treat their employees like walmart since they are one in the same. I have heard that costco's parent company is one of the better large companies out there but I haven't researched this myself, so I won't be held to it :)

[codemonkey]

I've heard that costco treats their employees really, really well. I've talked to people who worked there and they were really happy with their jobs.

[jenni-anti-fur]

never been to sams but I heart Costco...buying all that i can in bulk...its an awesome store:)

[Earthly Delight]

staples that wont go bad too soon, which you might get at a better price at a bulk place (or not? I donno)

-beans, dried or canned
-rice, quinoa, barley, etc.
-salt
-oil (as mentioned, cool dark storage)
-flax seeds (if you freeze them)
-nuts (well, don't overdo it or they will go bad..)
-cocoa powder
-oats
-spices
-pasta
-vegetable stock

uhhhhhh I guess thats it? I actually don't shop at any bulk place only for lack of membership and/or storage space, but it sounds like a nifty thing to do if you can!

[codemonkey]

The costco near me doesn't have brown rice, quinoa, barley, millet or any dried beans other than pinto. They do have flax seeds, nuts, spices, salt and lots of canned foods (like beans, tomatoes, etc.)

[Dana in IN]

I get my rice milk and soy milk from Costco.

[pandora9kry]

I don't do Costco, but the Superstore (President's Choice brand, owned by Loblaws) near my parents' house has a "natural foods" aisle, with organic no-frills peanut butter, vegetable stock, soy/rice/potato/almond milk, wheat germ, Ezekiel 4:9 bread products, oatmeal, lentils, organic canned beans, agave nectar, soy ice cream, organic dairy/egg products, vegenaise, and all KINDS of fabulous stuff in one single aisle.

I can't walk down that aisle without spending more money than I intended to. And that's when things are CHEAPER than they are everywhere else!

[LadyFaile]

we go to costco whenever we're in an area that has one. we have a membership but no store where we live lol.
a few essentials we usually stock up on there:
pasta sauce, giant jars of olives (we eat so many olives in this house lol) cleaning supplies, toilet paper, paper towel, feminine products (not that much cheaper but usually comes out to about what i spend on generic brands normally but are name brand), motor oil, baked goods (we got the most incredible apple caramel pie last time that happened to be vegan and was soooo good. and it was HUGE) and my mother in law buys huge packages of meat there that she freezes

some things are cheaper there and some aren't, you have to sorta know the prices of things normally and compare so i only really look for things that i buy on a regular basis, things that seem like a good deal but i don't buy often i usually don't get cause i don't know if it's really that good a deal

[*AHIMSA*]

baked goods (we got the most incredible apple caramel pie last time that happened to be vegan and was soooo good. and it was HUGE)
Whaaaaaaaaa? I must look out for that!

[megbot]

I buy many things from http://www.buythecase.net which doesn't requre a membership AND gives me free shipping for over 100 dollars. I order seventh generation TP and newman's cat food so far. They have jason brand hygene products too.