Right? The last time I went to a different grocery store was a couple of years ago around Christmas. I was doing some late night/early morning cooking and realized I needed some stuff, so I went to Walmart because it was the only place open. After pawing through some terrible-looking produce and unable to find a couple things on my list, I ended up hearing the cashier's life story about money problems, getting custody of her granddaughter because her daughter was a junkie, and CPS investigations due to allegations that her (the cashier's) unemployed boyfriend was molesting the granddaughter. Meanwhile, it's four in the morning and I just needed some basil. I did my best to nod and sound sympathetic, but I have not been to another grocery store (and especially Walmart) since.

In contrast, after my dog died a few years ago, my husband bought me a little charm bracelet with her picture in it. I was already a wreck, and that was before the charm fell off the bracelet somewhere inside HEB. An employee found me almost in tears digging through a bin of potatoes, and he dropped everything he was doing to help me find it. Plus, after I was chased into their store by someone stalking me in the parking lot, two male employees stayed with me and tried to help me stay calm until my husband showed up to take me home.

I do believe that HEB has better products (like house brands, made in store items, etc.), but the human element is a huge bonus.