Walmart Groceries Back to the Virgin Islands?

To Juliekay,
how do you do the Amazon Prime ?

Do you have an address in Miami then?

Thought you could not get that in the USVI?

Thanks!

picaflores, Amazon Prime works just fine in STX - and Amazon has now sorted it out where it's available in like 70 countries now, not just the US. But for the free shipping you have to ship to Miami for VI Cargo, still no free shipping to the VI. For shipping I send goods to the VI Cargo address in Miami and then they ship it here.

Alana33, I have the book you mention, it's primarily medicinal plants and their uses. Unfortunately some of them are harder to find than others! I'm actually a fisheries biologist, and yes there are more possible foods than the three I mentioned. The comment to OldTart was tongue in cheek, but it is truth that the majority of foods eaten in the islands for generations are not indigenous, whether they are now grown here or shipped here. Even cassava isn't actually indigenous, but it's been here a long time.

I don't eat reef fish or conch either more due to diminishing populations - as a biologist it isn't in my conscience to do so. Ciguatera is a consideration for people though to make a personal choice about consumption, as studies are still not conclusive.

I agree that the advent of importing everything has killed a lot of local business and nightlife, which is sad, and is one of the reasons I'm a big proponent of supporting our local businesses as much as possible.

Nice to have the option to order from off island if you so choose but certainly not essential to living here in terms of buying groceries.

My experience here is an example.

I have lived here, STT, since long before the internet was invented and raised a family. Except for meeting a great family sailing and I started getting my coffee beans shipped here from their family business www.littleriverroasting.com I have never found the need to have groceries or much of anything else for that matter ordered online. I use the phone to order from them anyway since I enjoy having a conversation with the owner every few months.
I stop by Pueblo sub base a few times a week for my daily fresh food needs and CostU Less about every 3 weeks for a major shopping, get fresh fish in Frenchtown and stop at roadside stands on occasion. I have cocoanuts, bananas, breadfruit, avocadoes, passionfruit, papaya, soursop,dasheen, pumpkin and some herbs growing in my yard but the supply is sporadic and more of a treat than a staple. I reward myself when things are on sale/special at a grocery store - last week Ben&Jerry's was $3.99 at Pueblo! Cooking is a pleasure for me and making tasty food with what is available hasn't been problematic in my life here.
I am in heaven when I travel to the States and go to big supermarkets, amazing farm stands and bakeries - No question there - but the food supply here improves steadily and is much easier to find a wide variety than the days of just 1 Pueblo,Fruit Bowl,Grand Union and 2 Lucy's.
I eat very little processed , junk or canned foods, don't overstock my freezer in case of a prolonged outage, often make a meal that results in leftovers incorporated into something else or a second serving, store some bulk dry goods in glass jars with a bay leaf or 2 from the tree to discourage insects, eat at home most days but buy restaurant or prepared food once or twice a week.

JulieKay - I use Amazon a lot but for items that ship via Priority Mail - what is Amazon Prime? - is it a one time fee, a special "club" an option at checkout ? - I have never seen that option -sounds interesting
Thanks
Piaa

You pay an annual fee and get free shipping as well as free TV and movies. If you go to amazon.com you'll see information about signing up on their home page. 🙂

We remember the terrible frozen chickens they used to sell in Pueblo on stx back in the 80's...looked liked they sat on the dock somewhere for days before being refrozen and sent to us!

Pueblo was our only option on STT too (Grand Union, which is no more after being destroyed in Marilyn, came later) but I don't particularly remember nasty frozen chickens although I know exactly what you're talking about! It was certainly so very different back then and, Lord knows, I never expected that 30 years later I'd still be here to reminisce!

How far back are you referring too? Grand Union was up and running in the early 70's along with Pueblo as well as Tutu Grocery in a little strip mall in Tutu.

That brought back old memories and fond memories at that. My wife used to work for Kline's electric and would be working on Saturdays. So I would do the grocery shopping. I used to have to go to both Grand Union and Pueblo to get them items that we needed or wanted. Back in the early 70's, I can't remember a time that we had gotten anything that was stale, old or buggy. But then again, one of the reasons I hated shopping on Saturday was that was the day EVERYONE went grocery shopping so there was better than an average chance when you got to the item you wanted, the shelf would be empty. They didn't spend all day like Walmart stocking shelves. If it wasn't on the shelf, they were out. So the turn over was quite quick unlike today where you have quite a few shopping choices. Heck, even Kmart is carrying groceries there. Back in those days, you didn't pay any attention to expiration dates because you either bought it or did without. But I don't think anything stayed on the shelf long enough to expire. This was also back when it would take a barge a month to 6 weeks to ship your car to the islands unlike these days when it only takes about two weeks. I can remember my wife getting really ticked off at me because I went to the produce stand in Tutu and brought home an $8.00 watermelon because I hadn't had a decent watermelon in a few years. Don't get me wrong, it was a huge melon, one of the biggest I had ever seen. But to put this into perspective, in 1974, you could buy a watermelon in central Florida for a dollar.

Paradise Freight is great and somewhat cheaper than VI Cargo. And they arent as disorganized as VI Cargo seems to be now.

I'm definitely using Paradise next time to see. VI Cargo has been disorganized for a few weeks now. It hasn't always been like that. Hopefully they'll get it together.

How far back are you referring too? Grand Union was up and running in the early 70's along with Pueblo as well as Tutu Grocery in a little strip mall in Tutu.

You're absolutely correct. I came in '84 and, now that I think about it, Grand Union was indeed in place then. Classic example of CRS!!!

STX Direct, LLC will also be using Paradise Shipping. VI Cargo is now one in the same with Tropical, btw.

Soon come, orders from Walmart will be accepted via STX Direct. And, even better, prices will be lower than using Walmart...stay tuned!

i am excited poodle

Good job poodle. I hope you make this work.

Just wondering...are there any similar businesses on STT (like Paradise Freight & VI Cargo on STX)? I'm not sure if Tropical does something similar or not.

VI Cargo & Tropical are one in the same.

STX Direct, LLC will also be using Paradise Shipping. VI Cargo is now one in the same with Tropical, btw.

Soon come, orders from Walmart will be accepted via STX Direct. And, even better, prices will be lower than using Walmart...stay tuned!

Poodle, looking forward to your new venture, good luck and let us all know when you are up and running!

Latest VI Cargo charge (ordered 10 days ago, arrived today) - 3 boxes for $11.01, average $3.67 per box.

Latest VI Cargo charge (ordered 10 days ago, arrived today) - 3 boxes for $11.01, average $3.67 per box.

JulieKay
Were they cigarette pack size boxes? I think VI Cargpo charges over $5.00 per cu. ft. If you have a box that is 24 x 24, that alone would come to about $20. Just curious! 🙂

Nope, these are all about 24x18x12, give or take a few inches. ETA: One may be quite a bit smaller since it's just one book. I'll pick them up tomorrow and let you know for sure.

Consolidating orders and their lower summer rates keeps the price down! I haven't paid more than $5/box in a long time now...like I said my order last month was 9 boxes, ranging from the size above to one about 28"square (and one padded envelope), and the price was $41 and change.

The helpful clerk behind the counter told me about 8 months ago, "you know this all is cheaper if it comes in at once, even if it is more than one box. It is when you have multiple orders arriving at different times the price goes up."

Also the last time I picked up (the 9 boxes) the worker in the dock area told me to wait until ALL my boxes arrive before picking them up and it will be cheaper (with a wink and a smile). I have nothing I can give you as far as supporting documentation but I've been using these two methods and the prices are lower.

Regarding VI Cargo prices, I ordered a swimming pool pump on-line on July 19. VI Cargo called me on July 24 and said they needed a copy of the invoice, which I then emailed them, and they called me yesterday, July 30, to tell me the box was ready for pickup. Their total charge was $13.13 ($10 shipping and $3.13 insurance), which was much less than I expected. I did not measure the box but it is around 2.5 feet long and 18 inches in diameter and weighed maybe 30 pounds. There was no charge by the pool company to ship the pump to VI Cargo.
Priority Mail would have been faster but the pump was considerably more on the one site I found that would ship via that method and the shipping charge would have been much more also.

Regarding VI Cargo prices, I ordered a swimming pool pump on-line on July 19. VI Cargo called me on July 24 and said they needed a copy of the invoice, which I then emailed them, and they called me yesterday, July 30, to tell me the box was ready for pickup. Their total charge was $13.13 ($10 shipping and $3.13 insurance), which was much less than I expected. I did not measure the box but it is around 2.5 feet long and 18 inches in diameter and weighed maybe 30 pounds. There was no charge by the pool company to ship the pump to VI Cargo.
Priority Mail would have been faster but the pump was considerably more on the one site I found that would ship via that method and the shipping charge would have been much more also.

Thumbs up!

VI Cargo's shipping costs have always been reasonable, no issue there. Their service has also been absolutely fabulous too! That said, I am still very excited to give Paradise Freight a try, as they are a local business based out of STX.

Just sent a grocery order from WM to Paradise Freight to give it a try. Have always used VI Cargo and no complaints.
I noticed that Paradise Freight is on the same street as VI Cargo in Medley. What's that about? That's some fierce competition.
Not sure how both can survive here.

WM wanted $43 to send the order USPS Priority. If they pack it right, it should be substanially less going through Paradise Freight. '

let us know when you get it