Harris Teeter - anyone have one close?

[punkin]

One just opened near us and I went to check it out. Boy is it pricey! It is convenient however and has a pretty good selection. Any tips from regular shoppers on how and when they have sales?

 

[mom2travel]

One just opened near us and I went to check it out. Boy is it pricey! It is convenient however and has a pretty good selection. Any tips from regular shoppers on how and when they have sales?

They have sales every week - like weekly specials. Sign up for a VIC card too, as some sale prices only good w/ your VIC card

 

[Muushka]

HT has a great website. They put their specials in every Wed. I usually just call up the managers specials, which are the really good deals for the week. You can create you shopping list from it too.
As was mentioned, they do have very good sales every week. If it is buy one get one free, you can just buy 1 at half price.
They are quite expensive if it is not on sale, so I usually just buy sale items at HT!

 

[punkin]

Thanks, I'll start watching the sales and see if I can make it work.

 

[casndan]

We have several HT here and it is my primary grocery store, "regular" prices are high but they have good specials, just watch the circular.

 

[tar heel]

I love HT -- great quality meat and produce and wonderful private label items. I pay less at HT than a do at Food Lion. You just plan, plan, plan and buy things only when they are on sale. HT has double coupons all the time and triple coupons every couple months. There are lots of BOGOF and a few Buy Two, Get Three Free offers.

1-Get a VIC card.
2-Register for E-VIC. You will get an email every Wednesday that tells you what is on sale that week and usually even includes speicals just for E-VIC members. Sometimes the latter are free items. Frequently, you will get another email on Friday with another set of E-VIC deals. These come automatically on your receipt.
3-If an item is BOGOF, you can usually use two coupons.

 

[Kitikat]

Also be on the look out for triple coupon. They had it last month for a week. We went 4 times that week..lol

 

[MSSANDRA]

Everyday prices are too high but the sales can be really good. Also they double coupons every day and triple on occasion so that is great if you are a good couponer.

They also on occasion have products that I am unable to find other places!

 

[MineMail]

I like shopping at Harris-Teeter, but the aisles are a little narrow. That saves money on square footage though, so it's okay. You just have to be careful about blocking the aisle.

The produce section is excellent, and they carry many different vegetables. I requested broccoli raab (via a website feedback form) and they've had it in stock several times - I buy it everytime I see they have it in stock.

Their bakery department is good - my kids love their cupcakes. They have free samples of fruits, breads, and deli items, which my kids also like for grazing, lol. We've actually bought a few things that they tried.

HT offers fresh Artisan breads, which they'll slice for you in the store. The deli's pretty good, but I didn't like the Sushi. (Lot of yuppies in my area who *love* sushi, apparently. I tried it and didn't think HT's was anything special, but I'm not a sushi afficionado.) I can't say enough good things about the meat department - they'll gladly cut up a lamb roast for chops, or go get a meat special that's run out. If you look confused, they'll offer to help.

Their store-brand products are really good quality and the price is good. You're right that their regular prices are a little higher than Pathmark, or Kroger. The difference is in the service: the employees are always friendly, willing to help, and they do more than the average supermarket. At our checkouts, they unload/bag/reload the cart. Then, they offer to have someone walk you to the car to help you move the bags from the cart.

I once dropped an entire jar of pickles outside the store - it was my fault because I had balanced the bag improperly. I picked up as much as I could, then went back inside to tell them so that they could have someone sweep up any remaining glass. The Customer Service rep called maintenance, then had someone retrieve a new jar for me, which she insisted I take without additional payment.

Sign up for, and use, the VIC card at the store. The cashier can look up your ID by telephone number if you forget the card.

Go on the website and sign up for their E-VIC emailed newsletters and coupon mailers. They keep you up to date on upcoming sales, special deals, and couponing events. The newsletter also lists the name of the weekly VIC card customer who needs to contact them to win the gift card. A new feature is that they send you a message that includes sales items that you usually buy, which is convenient. You can make a shopping list online as well.

They also offer online-only coupons, which you "add" to your VIC card before you go to the store. When you buy those items, the register automatically applies the discount to those items, without your having to do anything with paper coupons.

At the bottom of your receipt, they'll print the current "VIC Deals" that are usually really good buys. (They're also in the newsletter.) There's usually a limit of one item per special price, but that's okay because the discount's pretty good.

They also have HT coupons that will print out on the separate Catalina printer, so make sure the cashier gives them to you with your receipt. Usually, they're only good at Harris Teeter, but sometimes they're "$ off next shopping order" or even manufacturer's offers good anywhere.

They frequently offer double- or even triple-coupon shopping events, so keep on top of your coupons. You can combine the HT coupons and the manufacturer's coupons for extra savings, but they only double or triple the mfg. coupons.

Watch the local paper for the weekly sales circular, but also look for an advertisement in the lifestyle or news section - they often offer a "$ off if you buy $y."

Around the holidays, HT offers "Buy $X of goods/week for 10 weeks and receive (some bonus item)." We earned two $25 gift cards to Home Depot from one of those promotions, buying only VIC, store-brand and sale items.

Every Aug/Sept, they have a special enrollment - you sign up to support local schools when you use your VIC card. It doesn't cost you anything, but when you use your VIC card, they earmark a donation from the proceeds to be sent to the school(s) of your choosing.

 

[mom of princessx2]

I don't have them by me in IN but when we lived in NC we had one right down the street. Good for the sale prices and a gallon of milk now and then but not my big grocery shopping. Though I loved living in NC I sure missed shopping at Meijer.

 

[punkin]

MineMail, thank you. That was great info. They do have things there that I can't find elsewhere. I am addicted to Breyer's Butter Almond ice cream and no stores around here carry it consistently. Well, HT had it last night. Unfortunately, when Breyer's is on sale at Giant, it is $2.50-$3.00. I paid $4.5- at HT last night and it was on sale for that price.

I did not see any signs for doubling coupons and I am not a big couponer but if it makes sense for HT I am willing to try it.

 

[tar heel]

HT has Breyers ice cream Buy Two, Get Three Free every few weeks and BOGOF constantly. Right now, it has Hunter with that deal,a nd Hunter may be better than Breyer's. I can't do it, though, b/c my freezer still has too much ice cream from the last Breyer's deal.

This is the key to shopping at HT. You don't buy at regular price.

 

[gracie1]

I have a HT where i live. I love their store! Their actually cheaper than most of the other grocery stores where I live. Definately great meats and veggies!

 

[MamaOdie]

We have HT nearby and yes if you shop without coupons, VIC card, or sales, they are expensive. HT in my area (NC) frequently does Triple coupons (they'll triple the face value of coupon up to $0.99) and Super Doubles (they double coupons up to $1.98 face value).

So I shop HT during those times and stick to my regular store for everyday trips.

 

[couponclary]

Jenny @ www.southernsavers.com does HT coupon match-ups with the sales every week! HT is a lot like Publix shopping...higher every day prices, but very cheap on sale combined with coupons, which makes for great stock up prices!

 

[ClarabelleCowFan]

Ooh, is that the one near Camden Yards? We saw the signs for it a few weeks ago but didn't know if it was open yet. We had HT in SC and TN. I love the place but it is pricey. Like everyone else said - get a VIC card, shop the sales and use coupons. You'll soon be a HT convert! Now if only they had opened one a little further North in Harford county before we move...

 

[punkin]

Ooh, is that the one near Camden Yards? We saw the signs for it a few weeks ago but didn't know if it was open yet. We had HT in SC and TN. I love the place but it is pricey. Like everyone else said - get a VIC card, shop the sales and use coupons. You'll soon be a HT convert! Now if only they had opened one a little further North in Harford county before we move...

No, not Camden Yards. They opened two of them in Rockville.

 

[andrews_dad]

What do they sell, Teetter Totters?? HAHAH. Never heard of anything like that! Harris Teeter. What an odd name.

 

[punkin]

What do they sell, Teetter Totters?? HAHAH. Never heard of anything like that! Harris Teeter. What an odd name.

Is it any worse than Piggly Wiggly?

 

[ClarabelleCowFan]

Is it any worse than Piggly Wiggly?

In Charleston, SC we had both.