Remember last week when I showed you all the rows upon rows of bulk bins at the new Main and Vine store in Gig Harbor? Well, shortly after, I got this radical message/video from Mandy on Facebook:
“Mavis, your new store looks like fun! I can’t believe the selection. I’ve seen a small olive bar, and soup at Safeway, but never all the other items. I finally started buying dry bulk goods recently and love the prices. I stayed away from them previously as my Grandma told me it was dirty and rats liked to get in the bins. I figured maybe it used to be that way, but it looks kinda o.k. And I love the whole no packaging idea.
I do have to share a hilarious video with you. I laughed so hard when I saw it because I had finally ventured into those isles.”
Along with the message, she sent me the link to the video above. I mean, after watching that, how could you possibly hate the rat for trying to get a slice of the great zero-packaging, bulk bin dream?
Thanks for the laugh, Mandy!
Marie says
Knowing that the store and bins are new, I would buy in bulk too. However, after a few short months I would refrain. My son used to work at a store with LOTS of bulk bins and his job was to refill them as the newest newbie. He had some stories that would make you vomit. I mean, really really vomit from food poisoning…..
Especially the nuts….
Spices seemed to last forever but we all know that they fade with each and every container opening.
Cindy M. says
Luuuuuv it!!! I love the Winco bin area….all I have seen as far as wildlife is an occasional bird….and thankfully, they can’t open the spring-loaded covers….I think…
Karin says
Super cute video! The mice/rat thing doesn’t bother me so much, but bugs are another story! I bought some arborio rice from a food bin in whole foods. It sat, sealed, in my cupboard for a couple weeks before I finally got around to using it. The bag was on my counter as I started to prep dinner and as I reached over for it to measure some out I noticed some discoloration, then a bit of movement in the bag. I poured it out into a bowl and there were these gross tiny meal worm looking things inside! Blehk!!! We did not have rice that night!! I know a lot of dry foods have the potential for creepy crawlers, a fact I try to forget all the time, but I’ve never looked at bulk foods the same since!
mandy says
You’re awesome Mavis!
I just knew you’d get a kick out of that video 🙂
Teresa says
I LOVE the girl rat! She’s sitting on the sofa with her legs crossed!
I do but in bulk from WINCO but only things that are up high, going to be cooked or individually wrapped. I’ve seen too many kids (and adults) with their hands inside the bins. I think WINCO has a pretty fast turnover, fingers crossed no bad items yet.
Mavis Butterfield says
I think Winco has an incredibly fast turn over. The bulk bin section is always packed with people when I’m there.
PattyB says
I buy in bulk at Sprouts and sometimes I’ll drive over to Whole Foods. At Sprouts, there are barrels of oats, rice, beans and some other things. I’ve seen many kids, with NO mother in sight, walk over to the bins and run their hands through the dry food. Yuck.
I’ll buy if the bins are the tall tubular type with a door at the bottom so you can just pour some into your bag without using a scoop. Otherwise, I skip it.