A: Both members and non-members are allowed to shop at the coop.
However, non-members will pay higher prices for goods.
Q: Do you have to live in the South Bronx to join?
A: No. We welcome members from all neighborhoods, boroughs, cities
and states.
Q: How much does it cost to join?
A: All members pay a ONE-TIME, non-refundable investment/joining
fee. The fee varies according to the individual:
* Senior citizens (55 and older) and those who receive certain kinds of public assistance = $40
* Students - $60
* Families of 2 or more = $80 each
Family = adults over the age of 18 who live at the same
address
Children under the age of 18 are free with their parents.
Parents will have to include their child's name and birth date
upon membership registration. Their young adults will have to
become a member once reaching their 18th birthday for
continued member discounts.
regular folk = $120
(* = with valid photo id/proof for all you slicksters)
FEES ARE PAYABLE IN $10 MONTHLY INSTALLMENTS
Extended payment plans are available upon request for each
Q: What are the 3 different volunteer levels?
A:Non working member pays initial joining fee once and an additional $40 every year and receive a 3.5%discount. Regular working members pay initial joining fee once and work at or for the store 3 hours per month and receive a 10% discount. Superworkers pay the initial fee, work 8 hours a month and get a 16% discount
Q: Does the coop accept Food Stamps, WIC and manufacture's coupons?
A: The SBxFC does accept Food stamps. Thus far the coop does not accept WIC. However, we are working with program directors to accept WIC members in the future. We will accept manufacturer coupons to products sold at our store.
Q: What does the coop carry?
A: The SBxFC carries a wide variety of products to serve a diverse
population with a variety of needs. We sell an excellent selection of
organic and conventionally grown fruits and vegetables, groceries,
health foods, household items, pet products and house wares.
Q: Do all members have to work at the coop?
A: Every member of the coop must work at the coop. The work
requirement is 3 hours once every four weeks. At this rate, every
member works 13 times per calendar year. If you are not a member of
the coop you do don't have to work but you pay higher prices for goods.
Q: What if I am disabled?
A: The coop has many different types of work available to accommodate
people of differing preferences and abilities. If a member has specific
need, we will work with that person to find a suitable assignment.
Members are exempt from working if they are dealing with a permanent
or temporary condition that makes them unable to work.
Q: Do all members have to work, if so why?
A: Yes all members do have to contribute 3 hours of their time per
month. One of the coop's goals is to provide food to the member-owners
that are both low priced and high quality. Low prices come primarily from
saving money in the area of payroll expense. Payroll is the biggest
expense of any store, including this one. The fact that our members do
about 75% of the work, thereby keeping our payroll low, is the main
reason that the members of this coop pay low prices. Another goal
accomplished when members are doing 75% of the work of the coop is
a feeling of being a member-owner that one cannot get from merely
investing one's money.
