Loyalty

How do you define loyalty?

Is it too lofty an ideal to use it for a basic concept?

There are many grocery stores here in Monsey.  Over the past few years they have expanded and spread out.  A few years ago, one store became a mega kosher grocery store. A candy isle twice the length of my house. A wall of dips and shmears** that dazzle the eyes.  A huge selection of meats and poultry, sometimes just cut up 6 different ways. Such as cutlets: cut thin, in strips, in chunks, in little stir fry strips, on skewers, spiced, breaded, etc.  Good for them that they can be so clever with their marketing  (or shame on us cooks that we'd pay extra per lb. to have a chicken cutlet cut into little strips.  Really, how much work is that??)

I do believe that the mega grocery store took away some business from other stores.  And even more than groceries, when the  large stores start to sell non-grocery items  (and I don't mean chanuka menorahs or paper goods), like sandwich makers, small electronic appliances, a huge selection of swimming gear, it has to have an effect on the other hardware/appliance stores.

Recently another new, modern grocery store opened.  And there is no question, IMHO, that it has severely affected the other grocery stores.  Places which had been packed on a Wednesday or Thursday are now less so.  Parking spaces abound.  Lines are shorter.

I admit, I have gone into the new store.  It is nice!  Actually, not my taste exactly, too dark, and it smells like sushi.  But it's modern, has an energy to it, and some clever shticky things, like zoom checkout and purple fingerling potatoes. 

Does the concept of Hasogas Hagvul have an application here? I don't know.

But I think loyalty does.  I think I should still shop at the grocery store near my home, Wesley Kosher.  I love them.  Their prices are ok, their meats a very reliable hechsher, and tasty, and they pretty much always have what I am looking for.  Staff that are helpful, and really know me.  Back when I was still using checks to pay for groceries, Luis would look at my check and say, "Hey, your husband was in here before!"

And they are undergoing some major cosmetic changes.  I am sad that they must do so to stay competitive, and that locals really need to have their fruit display look different, or their meat and chicken pre-cut and seasoned.  I wish they would know that there are many of us here in the extended Monsey community who have always liked their store the way it is. Familiar.
 But such is change. And competition.

And here at DIP, I think we shall remain loyal.

Amein

The Greatest Scam, or Wedding Advice Tip #1

Gown Rentals.

What a scam being foisted on the frum community.

I know, I know, if no one participated, rented, bought into it, then "it", whatever "it" is, would stop.

Stores here in Monsey rent wedding gowns- bride, mother of bride, family members.  low end can be $150. But that is a gown that has been rented to people for nigh on three to four years. Shopworn, dated, used looking.  That is a decent price, I suppose.
But $500? Or $850? for Mom of Bride? for RENTAL??? yes! capital letters! I am shrieking!

Bridal stores SELL gowns for that price.  Even with building up, (the term for adding sleeves. or in some cases, an entire top) the cost is often the same as a rental. So why on earth are we all spending this money just to rent something?

Help! The Emperor's New Clothes!  And I have used that term before but I don't remember for which post. But I can tell you that there are some things we all do cuz everyone else does it and it just does not make sense.

So here is my brilliant advice to all you singles, mothers of singles, sisters, and young girls just starting your dating career:
start looking for wedding gowns NOW.  If you can have pots, dishes, quilts, and tupperware containers in your attic because they were on sale, why is a wedding gown any different? Start looking at bridal magazines to get a picture of what you want. Walk into a bridal store, Jewish or otherwise, to see if you like white, off white,  diamond white, ivory, cream, lace, lace with sparkles, lace with crystals, heavy glitz, no glitz, drop waist, tafetta skirt, ball gown skirt, empire waist, princess skirt, ruffles, gathers, pleats, straight, fish tail, round neck, high collar, v-neck, sweetheart neck, added sleeves, added straps, belts, bows, gathers, lace on top, smooth on top, one material, two materials, silk, tafetta, silk-wool, tafetta-wool, tafetta-silk, 3/4 sleeve, long sleeve, bell sleeve, puff sleeve, train, bustle, and on and on and on.

Of course things come and go in style, but if your 18 or 19 and everyone in your family got married by 20-21 and you're hopeful the same will happen to you, save  yourself a lot of running around and buy.it.now!!

disclaimer: This is NOT complaining. This is NOT kvetching. We are THRILLED to be busy with this. We have been waiting for this for a long time. This is just a piece of timely advice.