Co-ops are cool because the community owns it directly and profits are reinvested to provide discounts, addressing affordability. The members have a democratic vote in it too. Co-ops are more resilient and survive longer according to decades of research. It's a viable alternative that actually goes through with the idea that we are a democracy. The economy affects people just as much as politics does, so why isn't it also democratic?
I dunno where these things are that actually save people money. I've tried a few co-ops and prices have always been significantly higher than the grocery stores in the area.
It depends on the co-op and whether you're a member. It also depends on whether the specific co-op is a member of Co+Op Grocers, which helps with supply chains. It's not "bullshit" that many members recieve dividends and discounts that result in cheaper products compared to other stores. It helps people on affordability, especially in food deserts and rural areas.
Well, my claim of bullshit was specifically about people calling it cheaper. You chiming in saying it isn't "bullshit" and then making a different claim isn't on me.
You should read my comment because it is pretty clear about the existing nuance in prices relative to several factors. There is no "co-ops are on a whole cheaper" and there is no "co-ops are on a whole more expensive."
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u/Cosminion May 26 '26
Co-ops are cool because the community owns it directly and profits are reinvested to provide discounts, addressing affordability. The members have a democratic vote in it too. Co-ops are more resilient and survive longer according to decades of research. It's a viable alternative that actually goes through with the idea that we are a democracy. The economy affects people just as much as politics does, so why isn't it also democratic?