Discussions

I was surprised to see only a 2.5% refund for food stores and gasbars on our cheques from Heritage Co-op. Last years was 4.25% and the two previous years were 5.25%. Does this mean they did not have a good year? I know our family still gets gas at Co-op as the price of gas is pretty much the same all over Brandon, but we have stopped shopping for food at the Co-op as their prices are extremely high.

I thought your rebate was based on how much you spent there, so if you're spending less because you're not buying groceries there, your rebate would be a lower percentage. I may be wrong, but that's just the impression I had.

A "high interest" savings account pays 1.85%.  
 
It's the times we live in. No payback on equity.

Everyone gets a 2.5% refund this year for food stores and gasbars. It does not matter if you spent $50 or $50,000 at Co-op. You can check the Heritage Co-op Summer 2016 Newsletter.

It matters how much you spend. You don't even qualify for a check unless you spend over $900 per year. You get a bigger check if you spend more. Everyone gets the same percentage though

Whether Store coupons at Superstore, Air Miles somewhere else, Bucks at another retailer, I enjoy the service at Heritage Co-op. I don't mind spending dollars - mostly gas.  
 
It's a place where everyone is kind and friendly.  
 
My co-op refund was just ok, but the service at the stores and gas station is worth the $ and the cheque I never expect each year.

I'm guessing that CO-OP didn't make enough profit?  
 
I often have wondered what the grocery stores do with all the meat that expires because it was too pricey for people to purchase? I often went shopping for a nice roast etc. and had to leave with nada. I'm sure I'm not the only one.

I got a fair bit lower compared to last year despite spending more. Atleast I got something back so I'm not complaining too much. I do like going to either the store or gas bars, very nice people who work there.

Part of the reason is due to oil prices. The drop hurt Federated (parent Co-op) so the local co-ops get less back from them, less to pass on to us. I guess we saved money for months with cheaper gas and the flip side is lower dividend.

I watch for sales and then end up buying stuff at full price because the staff are great, the product is local, or I am not tired from hiking miles just for milk and bread in the big box stores.  
 
Coop has tomatoes from a local greenhouse, were the first to carry chips made in St Anne, MB, and has local saskatoons in the freezer. The extra dollar or two spent saves me hiking through SuperStore or WalMart. Safeway/Sobeys is the right size but their prices are almost the same and I have not seen local products like Coop has ... maybe because they can only buy from factory farms rather than local.  
 
If you want a good roast, try Obermiers. A little more expensive but worth it.

Agree with Katwalk, Co-op does carry more local produce. At the Minnedosa store this year they have carried fresh radishes, peas and potatoes from a local Hutterite colony. And always have local corn when it is in season.  
I only buy gas from Co-op and have to agree the service at both locations is excellent.

katwalk1909 said "I watch for sales and then end up buying stuff at full price because the staff are great, the product is local, or I am not tired from hiking miles just for milk and bread in the big box stores.     Coop has tomatoes from a local greenhouse, were the first to carry chips made in St Anne, MB, and has local saskatoons in the freezer. The extra dollar or two spent saves me hiking through SuperStore or WalMart. Safeway/Sobeys is the right size but their prices are almost the same and I have not seen local products like Coop has ... maybe because they can only buy from factory farms rather than local.     If you want a good roast, try Obermiers. A little more expensive but worth it. "

veggies etc. but not all can as you say 'watch for sales but buy at full price' Katwalk.  
 
How many times have you come on here bleating about people not having enough cash to buy the necessities in life?  
 
Nice that you have the choice to spend MORE on groceries as opposed to 'shopping for sales' like the rest of us.

We have a co-op membership but for us it's still a situation that we will buy at the places that have the lower prices, if co-op has a sale on when we are in Brandon we will check it out, but if we can buy cheaper elsewhere we do.  
Just my opinion on the lower dividend. I think that as more mom and pop stores disappear we are left with purchasing from those who can take advantage of very large purchases of product, but I do believe that even though groceries are expensive the competition in the retail part of the market is getting tight, to retain customers stores have to be competitive and if you think that people don't worry about the dollar I have a different opinion. I don't really know much about the retail food industry, but imagine it's still margin and market share, if you try and push prices to high you lose market share, and if co-op has been competitive it has had to work with smaller margins.  
 
Johnbisonbear, when it comes to meat prices, and especially beef, we are seeing what happens when there is not enough competition within an industry, for producers the price is now down 30%, but in the stores I don't think you can see any decline at all, right now beef is sort of following the same model as gasoline when it comes to pricing. If packing houses refuse to lower the price to retailers then there will be no reduction in beef prices.  
 
Honestly I don't know what happens to expired meat products, we have on occasion bought whole chickens that were very near expiry at 30% off, same with sausage at times, I always am nervous buying meat at big box stores, have at times seen meats that are supposed to be frozen that are partially defrosted, and am always curious of cooler temperatures.

don brown said "We have a co-op membership but for us it's still a situation that we will buy at the places that have the lower prices, if co-op has a sale on when we are in Brandon we will check it out, but if we can buy cheaper elsewhere we do.   Just my opinion on the lower dividend. I think that as more mom and pop stores disappear we are left with purchasing from those who can take advantage of very large purchases of product, but I do believe that even though groceries are expensive the competition in the retail part of the market is getting tight, to retain customers stores have to be competitive and if you think that people don't worry about the dollar I have a different opinion. I don't really know much about the retail food industry, but imagine it's still margin and market share, if you try and push prices to high you lose market share, and if co-op has been competitive it has had to work with smaller margins.     Johnbisonbear, when it comes to meat prices, and especially beef, we are seeing what happens when there is not enough competition within an industry, for producers the price is now down 30%, but in the stores I don't think you can see any decline at all, right now beef is sort of following the same model as gasoline when it comes to pricing. If packing houses refuse to lower the price to retailers then there will be no reduction in beef prices.     Honestly I don't know what happens to expired meat products, we have on occasion bought whole chickens that were very near expiry at 30% off, same with sausage at times, I always am nervous buying meat at big box stores, have at times seen meats that are supposed to be frozen that are partially defrosted, and am always curious of cooler temperatures. "

Don, I disagree that meat prices in stores haven't dropped. It wasn't that long ago that lean ground beef came on sale for $3.99/lb. Coop's new flyer that just came out starting today has it on for $2.99/lb, so that is what a 25% decrease in selling price?  
Also, read the local paper, wasn't it just last week some idiot stole about $800 worth of meat... that cost gets absorbed somewhere.  
http://www.brandonsun.com/breaking-news/Man-charged-with-three-counts-of-theft-385218891.html?utm_content=buffer5b7bc&utm_medium=social&utm_source=facebook.com&utm_campaign=buffer

Guess I shouldn't say they haven't come down, producer prices down better than 25%, the box beef price is down around 12%, so packers have reduced prices about half of the reduction that farmers have taken, not sure how much retailers have brought prices down. Both packers and retailers do feature different products nearly every week. I don't pay much attention to beef in the stores, to expensive for the guy who raises it.

Sadly, we've stopped buying the majority of our gas at co-op because of the low rebates. We buy most of ours at Superstore now, who gives you 9 cents/litre back (it used to be 10.5 cents, but even they've reduced their rewards/incentives!). Plus, I can turn around and use it right away in the store and not wait a year to get it back as a lump-sum cheque.

biggest reason for the lower cash back is the fact Co-op built a new bulk station on Richmond East and also they bought Westman Aerial Spraying Agro business. So most of the money went into those ventures.  
 
http://heritagecoop.ca/wps/wcm/connect/264f578f-5d78-4081-bca8-e8b1203c8482/News+Release+-Westman+Aerial+Acquisition.pdf?MOD=AJPERES&CACHEID=264f578f-5d78-4081-bca8-e8b1203c8482

Heritage Co-op has also acquired additional property in Minnedosa to buld new administration offics. That could also account for part of it.  
Have to admit was a bit disappointed when I picked up my rather small cheque today.

don brown said "Guess I shouldn't say they haven't come down, producer prices down better than 25%, the box beef price is down around 12%, so packers have reduced prices about half of the reduction that farmers have taken, not sure how much retailers have brought prices down. Both packers and retailers do feature different products nearly every week. I don't pay much attention to beef in the stores, to expensive for the guy who raises it. "

Not sure what this post has to do with the OP?

I tend to go off topic, in the first few comments there was the mention of not being able to buy a roast because of expensive meat, maybe not on topic either, but sometimes topics are sort of like sitting around at the coffee shop discussing things, people get off topic.  
If a comment really bothers you, you can report it.

Just got a whopping $22 cheque after buying most of our gas for 2 vehicles for the year May need to buy elsewhere

CR said "Just got a whopping $22 cheque after buying most of our gas for 2 vehicles for the year May need to buy elsewhere "

How much was diverted into equity? You have received more but part of it was used to build your equity portion.

don brown said "I tend to go off topic, in the first few comments there was the mention of not being able to buy a roast because of expensive meat, maybe not on topic either, but sometimes topics are sort of like sitting around at the coffee shop discussing things, people get off topic.   If a comment really bothers you, you can report it. "

your answers don brown! I believe you were answering me about the costs of beef.

I do get off topic, but I did find our a bit about expired meat, and I'll send you a message at noon.  
Glad to see people bringing out the point that just because the dividend wasn't that great your equity does grow, I do appreciate that we do have an alternative to the large chain stores, competition is always a good thing, ok, off to work.

2.5% from Heritage Co-op is better than that what we have received from our Co-op membership in another town. We purchase a lot of farm supplies from them as spouse does not like going to Brandon and have not received a rebate cheque from them in years.

What does more equity do for me?

oldcowgirl said "2.5% from Heritage Co-op is better than that what we have received from our Co-op membership in another town. We purchase a lot of farm supplies from them as spouse does not like going to Brandon and have not received a rebate cheque from them in years. "

We have membership there and just gas purchases and pretty occasional gives us a pretty decent rebate ...always at least 3 times or more this year than we get from Heritage where we often buy gas and groceries. More members abd better equity payputs.

ultraguy said "What does more equity do for me? "

Nothing at present, but you will receive it when you turn 65 or move out of the area.  
However, it does not earn any interest over the years.

CatMan said "    ultraguy said "What does more equity do for me? " Nothing at present, but you will receive it when you turn 65 or move out of the area.   However, it does not earn any interest over the years. "

What does one have to do when they turn 65 or move? I am guessing just call customer service and handle it that way?  
 
Has anyone done this? Does it amount to much?

"Posted by CR, 7/25/2016 10:51:55 PM  
 
Just got a whopping $22 cheque after buying most of our gas for 2 vehicles for the year May need to buy elsewhere"  
 
If you only got a $22 cheque, then you bought very little from Coop. To get the minimum $10 cheque you had to spend about $900 to $1000. So by your math you spent just over $2000. If an average gas fill is $65, then that is about 30 fills. I don't know your situation, but for most families that would only be about half of a yearly gas bill for a two vehicle family.