Effect on Washington of Kroger-Albertson Merger (Seattle: renting, neighborhoods, buying)

[Ruth4Truth]

Originally Posted by rantiquity

Taxes on everything including gas make prices are high because that is how the Canadian government pays for "Free" (hint, hint) health care.

Oh, right. Thanks. I forgot. So they shop in the US to avoid taxes, but they still want their freebies. Unfortunately, though, the "free" health care right now is in a state of crisis. Better hope you don't need a hospital!

[rkcarguy]

Originally Posted by Ruth4Truth

Oh, right. Thanks. I forgot. So they shop in the US to avoid taxes, but they still want their freebies. Unfortunately, though, the "free" health care right now is in a state of crisis. Better hope you don't need a hospital!

Yes, GST and all that really add up. I didn't understand myself as Bellingham is expensive enough, until I made the mistake of hitting the Abbotsford Safeway for food on the way north to go camping several years ago. $280(US) for 4 bags of groceries the two of us were able to carry out by hand! For example, the cheap frozen pizza's that run $4-$6 US here, are $12 CDN there.
Their free healthcare is not working, seeing a lot of Canadians in Bellingham paying cash for labs and hospital services because theirs are backed up forever.

[SusVelo]

Customs will still collect taxes on same day shopping, it’s more about lower prices and more varieties available.

[509]

Originally Posted by SusVelo

Customs will still collect taxes on same day shopping, it’s more about lower prices and more varieties available.

On some items.

They don't check to see how much gas you bought!! However, with the Democrats carbon fee Washington gas is pretty close to price as BC.

I did live in BC years ago. Yeah, day trips are a pit if your honest for some items. Stay a bit longer and it is a great deal.

[MechAndy]

We stock our bar in Washington from BevMo and Costco in California because of Washingtons strict sin tax.
As bad as Washingtons alcohol tax is it’s still much cheaper than what our relatives in Victoria pay so we are always asked to bring up a bottle or two for them.
7-8 years ago the price was $49 CDN for a can of Copenhagen in Victoria.

I just don’t know how a system like what they have in Canada can work.
To many beaks to feed & not enough feeders doesn’t make mathematical sense.
We should watch closely, take notes and maybe learn something.

[kavm]

Originally Posted by MechAndy

We stock our bar in Washington from BevMo and Costco in California because of Washingtons strict sin tax.
As bad as Washingtons alcohol tax is it’s still much cheaper than what our relatives in Victoria pay so we are always asked to bring up a bottle or two for them.
7-8 years ago the price was $49 CDN for a can of Copenhagen in Victoria.

I just don’t know how a system like what they have in Canada can work.
To many beaks to feed & not enough feeders doesn’t make mathematical sense.
We should watch closely, take notes and maybe learn something.

I too wonder about that.
- The US government debt as percent of GDP = 110.15%
- Canada government debt as a percent of GDP = 49.83%

The Canadian system is completely unsustainable This living within the means idea is so outdated.

[DallasYankee]

It's hilarious just how off topic this thread originally centered around the local US proposed grocery merger of Kroger-Safeway stores became as the later relies segued into an indictment of the Canadian economic system.
Interesting but nothing really to do with how this upcoming selloff of Washington brands may affect local Washington state consumers, LOL!

[DallasYankee]

TYPO : later replies

[CalWorth]

Originally Posted by DallasYankee

It's hilarious just how off topic this thread originally centered around the local US proposed grocery merger of Kroger-Safeway stores became as the later relies segued into an indictment of the Canadian economic system.
Interesting but nothing really to do with how this upcoming selloff of Washington brands may affect local Washington state consumers, LOL!

IKR? That’s why I kinda gave up on this forum.

[Hemlock140]

Originally Posted by MechAndy

I know a person that works for QFC.
I hope this sale doesn’t have a negative impact on him or any of his co-workers.

With the way this economy has been going life hasn’t been a “bowl of cherries” for a good portion of us.
I just have that feeling these hardships that we are facing are not going to go away anytime soon.

Shame really that it seems to have to be this way.

Same here, a brother works at a QFC and he is more than a little worried because it's one of the lower-volume stores. We do most of our shopping at Costco, then some at Trader Joe's and even a few things at Whole Foods. Our Safeway is terrible, so when we need fresh meat or produce in a hurry we go to QFC which is always better quality. Fred Meyer still has decent quality but has just gotten too hard to deal with, maybe 1-2 checkstands open and long lines well into the grocery aisles for them and for the self-checks.