Heping Market
- [Administrator]
- Joined: Jan 10th, 2005
- Posts: 12,028
Heping Market, which was always one of my faves for foreign groceries because they have a great "sales rack" of slightly expired/damaged goodies, is in fancy new digs at the Sanlitun 3-3 market. Anyone been to check it out? What's the verdict?
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CHEFinthePRC
Re: Heping Market
It’s larger and easier to maneuver then that of other local markets catering to the expat community. It reminds me of a simple roadside quick stop back home that one could stop and fill up on junk food and Kenny Rogers cassettes. But on the other hand its position in 3.3 is some what of an oddity; it still has those unmistakable Hutong characteristics: little spent on the looks and décor of the market and the family members are sticking around to watch out for their investment and the small check out desk they used in the original location is blocking prime real-estate at the front door. The lack of organization in designing the space to maximize their customers experience is evident everywhere.
They did however organize the meats and cheese section nicely, but I don’t think they offer anything different that of the competition.
I think He Ping will be a god sent to those living in the war torn region of Sanlitun, so they will not have to hump it all the way to Jenny Lou’s or April Gourmet.
As always, generic and it supplies the simplest of services but it didn’t really excel with the opportunity it had by moving in to the “prestigious” 3.3 building.
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adam
Re: Heping Market
I'm still trying to figure out which of the grocers catering to foreigners has the least outrageous prices. My unscientific sampling is based on comparing a basket of identical goods (Taylor's Shiraz, DiCecco pasta, Lavazza coffee, etc.) from Jenny Lou's, April Gourmet, the Friendship Supermarket and Heping. The results are inconclusive as each of the stores (except for Friendship Supermarket) seems to have the cheapest price in one of the categories. Of the four, Heping has the cheapest wine (RMB 126 for the Taylor's Shriaz, vs. 135 at April's 140+ at Jenny Lou's, and over 150 at Friendship Supermarket). Another draw is that Heping offers a loyalty card which entitles buyers to a discount.
Still, you shouldn't expect a cheap shopping experience: Heping tried to charge me RMB 8 for a bag of celery (seven stalks), which even by the overinflated prices in laowai-land seemed unfair.
Adam Pillsbury
Managing Editor
Immersion Guides
admin
Re: Heping Market
(hey look ... i'm quoting my own post :shock: )
I'm happy to report that the damaged goods rack has made it to the new 3-3 spot ... get your expired breakfast cereals and broken chocolate bars here!
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tom
Re: Heping Market
yeah, those expired goods, check 'em carefully
i had a look at some pasta sauce on the jenny lou bargain rack and it was four months past it's expiry date
i also got some mayonnaise a while back from jenny lou - from the shelves, not the bargain rack - and was upset to discover when i got home and took a closer look at the jar that the expiry date was the very next day!
i cycled straight back, said my usual "keyi huan yi ge" and they gave me very surly looks, conferred, tugged their chins, and then said "mm...nnn.........ke....yi....."
so i changed it for a jar whose expiry date was a whole two months in the future, noting as i searched it out that about a dozen other jars were also about to expire (!)
went back the next day (it's the only expat store anywhere near me, dammit) - noted that the expired and nearly-expired jars were selling for "special half price"
like, thanks
bcomplex
Re: Heping Market
They've bitten the dust
Any ideas where they're going/gone to?