What do you primarily buy or do at convenience stores?

28 comments

  1. Well a convenience store is usually just a gas/petrol station. So gas, smokes, lottery tickets, sodas, and snacks if You are on a roadtrip. Usually have to buy something to be able to use the rest room.

  2. If I’m traveling, usually gas for the car and snacks or something so that I don’t get glared at if I use their restroom. Even if I’m not traveling, I’ll buy cokes because it’s cheaper than the grocery store. Used to buy ice back when my freezer sucked ass and smokes when I used to smoke.

    I don’t know what country you’re from, but if you’re from a European one I’d like to take this second to emphasize that convenience stores are cheap shops that sell junk food, sodas, coffee, etc. for people on road trips. They are not grocery stores, but you would not believe the amount of “I went to America and saw no fresh fruit in your grocery stories!” stories where it turns out the person thought 7/11 was where Americans bought groceries.

  5. Snacks, drinks, sometimes a sandwich or salad from my local 7-11 if I just want a quick lunch. Convenience stores are not grocery stores and do not generally sell the kinds of products people use every day. Some may sell basics such as milk, bread, and eggs, especially in areas without a real grocery store, but for the most part their focus is on snacks/junk food and drinks and other small items that people may need. Often you will also find prepackaged refrigerated foods like cold deli meat sandwiches, salads, and fruit cups and prepared hot foods like hot dogs and chicken sandwiches, but they’re not usually selling actual groceries to any significant degree. (There are a couple of convenience stores in my neighbourhood that do have a limited stock of vegetables and various other grocery items, but that’s mostly because the only grocery store in the immediate area closed and they’re offering at least some of the things people need to make actual meals.)

  6. Just snacks and a sandwich or something usually. In my area they’ve got made-to-order fresh sandwiches and other food items (the most common store is called Wawa). So I’d go in and order a small Italian hoagie (like a sub sandwich) and maybe a side snack to go with it and some unsweetened iced tea. They’re also gas stations so sometimes I fill up while I’m there.

    I can’t really think of anything else someone would do or buy at them? I guess a lot have lottery tickets… it’s not somewhere you go to window shop or spend a lot of time in.

  9. Gas for my car, Slurpees, ice cream bars, maybe a 6-pack of beer if I’m too lazy to go to the grocery store or BevMo for a better selection.

  11. Normally you buy candy, chips, and soda from the convenience stores, thats what it is mainly for.

  15. I primarily get gas, because most of the time it is also a gas station. I might get a drink, snacks, or candy on a long drive. Some, like Sheetz, will have something that might pass as lunch.

  17. I almost always try to buy real to-go food, not shelf stable food that’s already in a package like candy or hostess pies or whatever. So if I’m at 7-11 I get something out of the hot section like a hamburger or taquito. If a place doesn’t have that I’ll get a pre-made cold sandwich. I’d say that’s 90% of my purchases at any convenience store. That’s just more satisfying to eat than chips and other dry goods sealed up.

  18. Maybe a soda.

    There are pharmacy/convenience stores like CVS or Walgreen’s, where I might pick up medicine or, like, toothpaste or shampoo, but for a straight up convenience store like a 7-11, just really basic snacks.

    They might be attached to a gas station, in which case obviously you might get gas for your car, but nothing more involved. (It’s not a garage.)

  20. Gas + snacks if I didn’t pack any for a road trip. Sometimes an energy drink if I’m on the way to work and I really need caffeine.

  22. Whatever we need for the long car ride: gas, coffee, soda, snacks. Hit the restroom and we’re on our way again.

  23. I rarely go into a convenience store, but I will say that there are some items I’m not seeing in other posts. Lots of people go to convenience stores for cheap coffee, cigarettes, and lottery tickets. In my city, we have to buy special trash bags from the city, and these are sold at convenience stores as well as grocery stores. If you have a propane tank, you also can get new tanks at convenience stores.

    Also, some convenience stores will stock some basic groceries like cereal, canned goods, milk, paper goods, etc. This is the real “convenience” in convenience store. It isn’t meant to be a full grocery store. Rather, it’s a quick option if you only need a few basic items. This is especially common in bigger cities. In some places, these stores also have sandwich counters or some other quick food made on-site. Sometimes, it’s even really good!

  26. I buy snacks like Cheetos or soda. Depending on the store, maybe beer if I don’t feel like buying somewhere else. In PA we have Sheetz which has made to order fast food. I’ll get that sometimes. Other than that I rarely go into the store of a gas station since I pay at the pump.

  27. Shockingly, convince items. If I need something common quick and there is one right there.

  28. Most convenience stores near me are broken into two flavors, Gas station and Pharmacy.

    Gas station convenience stores sell gas, basic grocery options like milk, eggs, sliced bread, bananas, sometimes fresh meat (hail Kwik Trip). They sell coffee and premade meals, ice cream and frozen goods. Car maintenance items like oil, antifreeze, and wiper fluid. Bags of ice for portable coolers, and bags of salt for water softeners.

    Pharmacy chains like Walgreens and CVS fill prescriptions, sell over the counter medicine, personal hygiene items, and have slightly better selection of food items to buy than gas stations. Also a mishmash of other items like gift wrapping and birthday cards, and seasonal decorations and items. No car stuff.

    They basically act as one stop shops for common goods since you are already there for either gas or a prescription. May as well pick up eggs, milk, and deodorant while you are getting gas for you car instead if driving to another store. Makes it easy to fill basic needs on your way home from work.

Leave a Reply
You May Also Like