How to Shop at Henry's...

...or What I Learned Tonight

I love Wednesdays because they are double-ad days at Henry's Marketplace. Both the ad ending that day from the previous week and the new ad beginning that day for the coming week are valid. Which means big produce savings! I rarely buy anything but produce at Henry's (and stuff from the bins, vitamins, and occasionally specialty items). It's best for cheap produce. I've also found you've gotta use that produce pretty quickly, and refrigerate EVERYTHING, even the stuff that doesn't need it. Gives it a longer life.

I usually go right after work or sometime in the evening. Tonight I decided to do a late yoga class and, since the closest Henry's is near my gym, swung by on my way home, just before closing at 10 p.m. I was shocked!

They were out of almost everything on my list and there was slim pickins' with what was left. The two employees in the produce section were NO help at all (actually just complicating the process by packing up what was still out as I was going through it...hmm, not the most productive way to assist your customers; they were also stocking the wrong item under a sale sign for a different item, it was all very confusing). So I was kinda pissy when I went to check out.

Then I remembered --- rain checks! Henry's used to have an appalling system for rain checks. They happily distributed them for various sale items that had run out, including produce, but limited you to use that rain check within two weeks and with an item limit (say only 1 package of blackberries and so on).

Now the policy has changed! I was so happy to learn that I could take advantage of the THREE items that I couldn't find with the new rain check policy. Unlimited items purchased and NO expiration date! Color me happy!

Yes, I'm a bit of a nerd about stuff like this. But it totally made me feel better. So, since I'm not having zucchini, asparagus, or cucumber for dinner tomorrow now it's time to get creative with the sole, lonely grapefruit; two somewhat squishy avocados; and the small bunch of radishes I was able to find.

Moral of the story: Kinda worth it to hit Henry's late on Wednesdays for the double ads and to reap in the rain checks (think of saving them until that item isn't so cheap and you really need it; though I doubt I'll last that long!)...but you also run the risk of making a trip almost for no reason and dealing with super cranky employees who have no desire to help you. Take it and run with it!