@GeezerWench My guess is in part they let them get ripe before picking the. Something grocers don't do - they ripen in the warehouse or your counter. Its just not the same.
Everyonce in a while during prime season can find grocery store melons that are good. Always looks for a little give where the stem was and smell it there to make sure it smells fragrant if not gonna have to chisel that tasteless melon.