park slope food coop in the times

brokechick · October 2009

http://www.nytimes.com/2009/10/25/nyregion/25coop.html?hp

i know, i know, more coop talk, bleh. but i never cease to be amazed by the struggle so many people have keeping up with their work commitment. you get to choose your own work time and day, and you know when you sign up that you are going to have to work at that time on that day every four weeks. forever. sometimes things come up and there's nothing you can do about it, but is it really that hard to keep three or four hours free once a month? i've been a member for over two years and i've only missed one shift, when i went out of town for a holiday. it has never felt like a hardship to me--especially not when i'm paying for my groceries. i don't know, i'm just kind of flummoxed by it. if you choose to take on a responsibility, do you have the right to complain when you are asked to keep up with it?

chuleta · October 2009

Exactly.

I am so tired of hearing people complain about the Food Coop. It's a very minimal commitment. Yes it's inconvenient sometimes. But people need to deal.

allisonpch · October 2009

what was the ny times thinking printing this? it's just self-absorbed whining.

doctorj · October 2009

This is front page news? I wish the flakey whingers would just leave permanently and shut up -- the place is bursting at the seams (and planting new branches around Brooklyn) so it must work well for a lot of people a lot of the time.

raw · October 2009

I don't even like the food co-op, but must take its side. That article was boring, poorly-written, mindless crap of a crybaby. Why was published? If you're going to trash the Food Co-op, at least have an interesting story and an important argument.

The Food Co-op's members are crystal clear about what people must endure as members before they join. I am not a member because I personally cannot do all that they require -- all that the members honestly told me what would be required. I didn't even go to an orientation. All you need to do to obtain information about the Food Co-op is walk inside or go to its website. The Food Co-op members are blatantly honest about the hell that you must endure to belong. It's not like the Food Co-op is trying to trick people.

pitu · October 2009

I guess if you are a drama queen, drama will find you. I've been a member of the PSFC for more than four years and never had any of these problems or emotional issues.

^^^ the best part of that article is the comments section

eggcream · October 2009

Squad leaders, people in neon vests walking you home, all to save 2.00 on olive oil when you can get better tasting and cheaper with Whole Foods 365 Everyday Organic Extra Virgin Olive Oil for example.

Self-righteous snobs. With grocery stores having more choices than ever and more farmers markets around I'll shop at those places at my convenience. They also employ people who need jobs.

pitu · October 2009

^^^ eggcream, meh
you'd be more accurate if you called me "thrifty", cause that's what I am and that's why I've been a coop member since the mid 90s.

It's not for everybody, fo sho.

To address your factual misinformation...

The walkers are walking the cart back to the store. (yeah! some groceries have delivery, also yeah!)

The Coop employs around 60 full-time people, and gives them excellent healthcare and other benis. Whole Foods by contrast has that mean old CEO/founder who is against national healthcare.

The Coop is cumulatively waaaaaaay cheaper than the farmer's market or Whole Foods for as good or better goods. But then, I cook alot, I like the Coop, and it pains me not.

I like other places too. When you talk inconvenience, try Trader Joe's on the weekend or after work on a weekday. Yikes! So what? I do it or I don't do it, and I don't waste anyone's time complaining about it. But then, I also willingly get on line at the fish place on Saturdays at the Greenmarket. They have great fish!

mountebank · October 2009

I read the article.

I am not a person who would ever join the thing, I know myself well enough. I wouldn't be able to countenance the rules and wouldn't make it to work.

It's just lame to join something, they explain the rules to you, and you get all bitchy when they boot you out for noncompliance.

Evidently there are 1000's of people that belong to the Co-op and have no problem following the rules.

So stop whining and shop somewhere where all you have to do is show up with money.

sweet tea · October 2009

the coop is a terrible, terrible place. please do not join.

the lines are already too long.

raw · October 2009

pitu wrote:
I guess if you are a drama queen, drama will find you. I've been a member of the PSFC for more than four years and never had any of these problems or emotional issues.
^^^ the best part of that article is the comments section

Where are the comments? I do not see them on the NYT.

pitu · October 2009

raw wrote: [quote=pitu]
I guess if you are a drama queen, drama will find you. I've been a member of the PSFC for more than four years and never had any of these problems or emotional issues.
^^^ the best part of that article is the comments section

Where are the comments? I do not see them on the NYT.

bottom of the page, Comments
http://community.nytimes.com/comments/www.nytimes.com/2009/10/25/nyregion/25coop.html

bohuma · October 2009

I am inclined to agree with most, if you know you're unable or unwilling to make the time commitment, don't join the coop. I haven't joined because I am unwilling to make the time commitment for me and my spouse. We prefer to pay the annual subscription to Costco and deal with the insane weekend crowds there.

park slope food coop in the times

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