In a county where--as of 2016--the poverty level was at a staggering 40% with an average household income of just over $10,000 annually, it baffles me how IGA and its current price points expect people to be able to properly afford necessities. Prices were already high when the establishment was under the operation of Daryl Walker but you didn't feel like you were being robbed just to try and put food on the table.
With the prices as high as they are and with people literally living hand-to-mouth, it's no wonder so many families choose the alternative of fast-food restaurants (usually McDonald's with its unhealthy, fatty foods) just to ensure their families are fed these days. It's a shame that what you could get for $50 dollars two years ago will put you well into triple-digit purchases now.
Aside from the absolute necessities my family and I need, I avoid shopping at Inez IGA for the majority of my grocery shopping. As preposterous as it sounds, it's actually more economically sound to drive to a more-populated, neighboring county to do the majority of one's shopping. At least in these areas, you aren't forced to put up with the monopoly between two competing supermarket chains who clearly have either failed to do their due diligence in income levels for Martin County, or worse, simply do not care.
That's not even mentioning the pitiful carryout service which has become virtually nonexistent and the fact that even on the busiest of most days, they fail to open more than one or two check-out aisles--the latter of which results in long lines, delayed transactions, and a general feeling of discomfort whilst waiting.
In short, spare for absolute essentials, I avoid Inez IGA as much as possible and will continue to do so until their asking prices are matched to the census-verified, poverty-stricken standards the people of our county have to endure.
I urge all of you to do the same. read more