Aeon Kagoshima-Central Store — Local services in Kagoshima

I have a love/hate relationship with Daiei. For everyday grocery shopping, it's the best but it's far from spectacular. Problems I have with the Daiei start with coupons that aren't worth the time. Fifty yen off but you have to spend 1000 yen and sometimes the coupons have to be used after 16:00, or on certain days. Family Mart's coupons are often 100 yen off if you spend 200 yen. On the 21st, the Daiei will have a grand reopening and their coupon--50 yen after 1000 yen spent. They also raise and lower the prices strangely. One day an avocado is 99 yen and the next day the exact same avocado is 128... not a new one the same one.

They also scam you with the produce, for example hiding rotten produce under good produce. I can't tell you the number of times I've open a package of strawberries where the top layer looked great, the bottom layer looked great but every strawberry in the middle layer was moldy. Gotta watch it with the onions and lettuce too, oh and the avocados.

Finally, the Daiei sucks at maintaining inventory. They always seem to be out of whatever it happens to be, that I need on any given day. And it's not just weird gaijin- specific stuff but just regular everyday things that are a normal part of Japanese life. I needed aluminium foil--out of stock for a week. Fresh sardines, in stock everyday except the day I want to make a sardine dish. Spaghetti and clams.... no parsley and no clams but usually in stock any other day. Chicken breasts, meatballs, hot dog buns the list goes on and on. It's really hard to plan meals.

On the plus side, if you're a stock holder, which I am, you get a card that gives you a five percent discount which knocks the tax down to 3%, and if you have an OMC credit card, on Sundays you get 5% off too. Don't quote me, but I think you can use the stock-holder card and the OMC card together to get 10%...

This location may be a little overshadowed by the other shopping centers nearby, but don't sleep on this one. Aeon is always known for their quality and reasonable prices. I often visit the grocery store in the basement, the bread shop on the first level, and, of course, Mister Donut! Parking is a little difficult right now, because the parking lot is under construction. I recommend finding a nearby coin parking lot if you can. This location is very accessible, even with the parking issue. The number 2 streetcar line stops very close by, as well as having one of the busiest bus terminals and train stations in Kyushu right out front. Stop in and pick up a souvenir before continuing...

Highly recommended, especially the 5th floor "100 yen shop" and the ground floor bakery "favori". After buying any bakery products for ¥108 or more, you can grab a cup of coffee for free! High value for money. Fantastic. You can find and buy any everyday stuffs you may need from this store. Check it out. One more thing: you can get you tax refund on ground floor for purchases (one could combine receipts of the same day) totalling...