Westside Food Co-Op is super awesome!

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Westside Food Co-Op is super awesome!

Submitted by eregular on Wed, 11/07/2007 - 1:24pm.

I love that place so much. Gives me hope to see how well it does and pride to spend my money there.

Recently I recieved training there, its such a deal to volunteer there and make a few bucks an hour in grocerys. After watching "The Future of Food" I realize how important establishments like that are so awesome.

I think the westside Co-Op needs to be larger. Its really a shame the Safeway prospect fell through. Would have changed downtown restaurants a lot. Places like the Blue Lotus Cafe might get more business once peoples minds are being exposed to more organic foods. Or maybe more competition?

Is there a petition to turn Olympia into a GMO free zone? Several countries in the EU are creating these GMO free zones due to peoples demand!

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I have a lifetime

Submitted by Merwyn Haskett on Wed, 11/07/2007 - 1:37pm.

I have a lifetime membership. I won it in a raffle. When I first went to the Co-op I was given dirty looks for winning membership instead of paying for it myself. I assume that either it was already payed for, or that the Co-op itself had donated it, so what was the big deal?

But I liked being a member, and liked going there when I was in the neighborhood.

So after about two years into my lifetime membership I had misplaced my card. When I was at the counter I explained that and asked if I was in the system. I assumed I was, since on my first day they took my information and entered it in a computer, plus had me fill out paperwork. The girl at the counter checked in the computer and didn't find me. I went ahead and payed full price for my items.

Fortunately I found my card that very night, but if it had been truly lost the Co-op would've screwed me out of membership. Nice way to treat the Lifetime Members.

I understand that with volunteer service you win some and lose some. My experience at the Co-op would have to be on a worse level for me to write them off. As I already said I enjoy going there. I hope that doesn't change. (The volunteers should understand that short-haired men in business clothes can be good people too.)

As for the Eastside...someone there needs to get over themselves whenever a KAOS programmer plays Christmas songs in December, but that's for another thread.

I've gotten the best tomatos at the Westside Co-op...

Damn the United States! I wish I may never hear of the United States again!
Philip Nolan, the man without a country

I Went There Once...

Submitted by JstPlnOnry on Wed, 11/07/2007 - 1:46pm.

My very first visit there. I was unaware you could only pay in cash because they didn't take debit cards or checks back then. When I tried to pay with a credit card I was told, "we don't take rich people's credit cards". A little offended, I asked if I could pay by check because rich people rarely write bad checks. The guy responded with, "where do you live lady" and after I told him where he replied, "yeah, I knew it. You people think you're so much better than anybody else and won't carry cash because you think people like us might rob you. Come back when you have cash." and he proceeded to gather up my few items and put them under his counter.

I was mortified. That was 7 years ago & I never set foot in that store again. At least at Safeway I'm treated with respect, no matter what form of payment I use and I can get organic items there too!

"Do not mistake for conspiracy and intrigue what can best be explained by stupidity and incompetence." - Unknown

Give it one more try please...

Submitted by eregular on Wed, 11/07/2007 - 1:57pm.

I find your experience terrible...I am rather young so I can't speak on how the Co-op was 7 years ago, but if you went there once more, I'm sure you'd find the experience much more enjoyable. They have a surcharge free ATM. And I promise you the staff won't be rude to you(and they will take your check). If I was helping you, I wouldn't treat you differently, no matter what you looked like.

You haven't met me yet

Submitted by Norm on Wed, 11/07/2007 - 2:07pm.

but I very much feel out of place in both co-ops. I'm not a member (haven't taken the plunge yet) but every time I've been there I've been treated very well. I certainly look out of place, and I walk up to the counter with a smile and try to make small talk, so I think they assume I'm trying to reach out. I have yet to get a bad experience. I would give it another shot, and bring some cash :p

I Definitely Will!

Submitted by JstPlnOnry on Wed, 11/07/2007 - 2:31pm.

I know times and most attitudes around here have changed! I just never gave going there another thought! My friends go, and mention things they've bought there but it's never been exciting enough to get an urge to jump in the car & go!

I don't hold the biased, baseless opinion of one against all!

"Do not mistake for conspiracy and intrigue what can best be explained by stupidity and incompetence." - Unknown

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