Buying in bulk: shopping for groceries and household goods

Over the weekend, I often found myself hunched over a newsprint book, feeling like I was cramming for a test. Muttering to myself. Jotting down notes. Adding things up in my head. The book is the Azure Standard catalog. Why the intense study of it? I feel like I've got to make it work. I've been ordering off and on from this Oregon-based wholesaler for over a year, and so far, much to my chagrin, it hasn't really been a love connection.

In case you're unfamiliar with it, Azure Standard carries a wide variety of natural and organic foods and household items. They supply many eco-friendly grocery stores -- selling bulk quantities for bins, cases of stuff and really big restaurant supply quantities of some items. What's cool is they let us end users buy in this bulk capacity as well. Some people swear by this grocery delivery service, and do most of their shopping here. I'd kind of hoped I could achieve that. At least it could become my new Costco after I stopped shopping there. At the very least, I could get my recycled content toilet paper by the case. In reality, that's about the most I've ever ordered so far. Oh, I've split a 25-pound box of granola with Heather a few times. And I got a few of those jugs of organic maple syrup. But that's a far cry from doing the majority of my grocery shopping there as some of my friends manage to do every month! (Here you'll find me bowing to your superiority! You know who you are.)

I've got loads of excuses. Shopping is a rather tactile thing, no? I like to look at the produce and meat before I decide to throw it into my cart or not. Then there's brand loyalty, which I cringe to admit is more important to my family than I wish it were. While I love Nancy's tart, made-in-Oregon yogurt, not so my kids. Then there's the way you order and get your goods from Azure. For our SW Portland route, we need to place our orders online or via phone by 4pm on the first Tuesday of the month (or is it the second Tuesday...? Do you see why I'm not very good at this?). Then a semi truck (yes, a HUGE semi -- so you must have a big street) delivers it either the following Thursday afternoon or evening, or possibly Friday morning depending on how the route goes. So you are 'on call' to help unload the truck at the designated drop spot. Each customer must place a minimum order amount (currently $50, or pay a $5 handling fee), and each drop site must hit a minimum order amount. I find that I rarely order perishables because it doesn't seem fair to ask the drop site person to hold my stuff in their fridge or freezer, and almost inevitably, I can never make the unload time.

But, I'm working to change all that! I'm trying. I really am studying the goods and placing a thoughtful order this time. More than just toilet paper. (Just how much yogurt do we eat each month? Hmmm...). Do you shop at Azure Standard, or use cooperative buying clubs to cut down on your trips to the grocery store? What are your power user tips for making it work for your family?