Be on the look out at your local Giant in the MD-DC-VA area...

I just spoke with the manager at my local Giant ( Colesville ) , and noted there had been some big changes recently. The store looks like it is undergoing a partial remodel.

Manager told me that many of the local Giants are getting a fresh coat of paint, new fixtures - and a better selection of merchandise with lower prices. Apparently SFW and SF have been cutting into their share of the market - you may have noticed recently Giant has cut a lot of prices. Now, they are doing more.

Manager told me that there would be large racks of 50% off in a lot of stores come Sept/October - and not just the bottom 10% of SKU's. New sizes of packaging ( smaller of course...) and making room for increased selections in areas will mean some great stuff should be on sale.

Thanks for the info! Ours in the Columbia area are getting remodeled. They have Deli machines, you just punch in your order and continue shopping and it calls you when it is ready. Really cool. My store in Hickory Ridge, Columbia, is also getting hand scanners; you scan the items as you place them in the cart, and then you upload the scanner at the end, pay and go.

Only way Giant can compete with Superfresh is if they start doubling to .99 and maybe throw in triples once in a while.

I decided to revisit my Giant this weekend. I'm normally a Super Fresh shooper - since Giant raised its prices about a year ago.

My Giant in Colesville took out the Chevy Chase Bank location, and clearly has made the aisles much tighter.
It used to be roomy in there. Now, negotiating the squeezed aisles, along with other shoppers, and displays is a hassle.
I didn't see any indication they would be putting in self serve cash registers, but I would welcome them.

On the bright side, I got a coupon for a free pack of cookies - but I can clearly see myself avoiding going to Giant on the weekends. It will be nuts in there.

I used to live half a mile from there. I moved last summer. I was just in there 3 weeks ago I could not believe how it had change! It was still in the midst of renovations. The CS desk was in the middle of the floor. The only think I am not sure I liked was they had fewer registers...on a Sunday morning or many other days for that matter....the lines are SO long!

Really cool to see someone so close to home in this vast world of AFC!

Giant in Largo, MD is totally rennovated with a new way to shop. When you enter the store they have these hand held scanners that you scan or bonus card into and for every item you purchase you can scan them as you place them in your cart and bag them.

I noticed that they have self-checkout lanes than people operated lanes. When DH and I stoopped in there, we opted to join the line. We did not want to take the time to learn how to use this new system. One day, when I have time, I will go back there to see how it works.

Hi! i just now read your post! Great to see you here!

Check your mailboxes!

I just received four 10% off your entire order coupons in my Saturday mail to use at my local, going through a renovation Giant.
Each coupon is good for the next 4 consecutive weeks.

W00ty-w00t-w00t!

A totally new Giant just opened here in VA. I wonder how the self scanner would work with coupons?

Honestly, it works great. I've used the self scannner at my local Superfresh, and it couldn't be easier.

You completely scan your order, then simply scan the coupon. No tedious "Did you buy this?/Looking through the receipt to prove you bought something."

The scanner is smart enough not to accept a coupon for something you didn't buy, and once or twice I've had to call over the attendant when a coupon didn't ring up as expected, or it was BOGO and the computer had a glitch.

Otherwise, it is the best - I love self scanning. No more listening to the cashier yippety yap , go slow, and squish my bread!