It's disappointing that you got lukewarm service, Erina. I've had pretty consistently good vibes (har har--get it?--hippie reference) there from the staff, who've been enthusiastic about helping me find what I need. Hands down, this place beats Whole Foods for price and general atmosphere, and their salad and hot bar is my go-to when I don't feel like cooking. Absolutely GREAT bulk section with a wide variety of grains, legumes, and pastas. Killer cookies and baked goods.
On the other hand--if I lived on my own, I could do all my shopping here. But, since I don't--I can't. It's tough to stock a household kitchen solely from the EEFC--I mean, I can't really afford to regularly buy $15 laundry detergent.
Realistically, the Co-op can't serve most of us for one-stop shopping. But it's worth it to put down a few extra pennies for potatoes or juice to support a genuinely community-oriented business.