I wasn’t going to write about this but I’ve been stewing over it for the last week and I guess this is the only way I’m going to finally get past it. So, please bear with me.
Around two weeks ago, I needed to make a grocery store run as the usual – milk and eggs and cereal - were running down and I was bored and wanted to see other people in the air conditioning and bright lights of our large, major grocery store. A little background here; in our town we have two grocery stores, one a small establishment with a few chains throughout the state and one humongous store with a gazillion counterparts scattered through the country.
The small neighborhood store carries the basic items necessary along with a very small deli section where you can select your meat and two sides to go or sit at the two or three table provided and eat there. All the people who work in the store have always been pleasant to me and most courteous. Their meat department is outstanding with a butcher that actually cuts the meat and you can see him through a large glass window doing so. There are not a lot of frills there but you can walk in and get what you need and get out without much hassle.
The “other store” boasts a floral department, a sushi section, deli and bakery, a housewares section, books, magazines, office supplies, etc. and etc. The store is bright and inviting with music and great smells coming from both the flowers and the rotisserie chickens. Rarely do you not encounter someone you know that you can take a moment to say hello to. It’s like a small shopping mall close to home.
About two weeks ago I shopped at this large store and was hustled to a checkout isle hosted by a very efficient young lady and an equally nice bagger. When I received my receipt, I was told that I could take a few moments and answer some questions online about my experience in the store. It was pointed out that I would receive some fuel points and so would the employee who checked me out. Never having done one of their surveys, I went for it. I don’t think they want me to ever go there again.
The first part of the survey asked questions about how I would rate various aspects of their efficiency and my overall customer satisfaction. Out of five different categories, I gave them all one less than perfect. When asked in another part of the survey why I had not rated them higher, I responded that this was a grocery store and the ratings that they had wanted from me would have been for something far more important than finding the eggs in the correct department. Maybe a Broadway musical being preformed with free food and drinks would have helped them get closer to their ideal perfect score.
Then the survey went on to questions about the store’s TASTE OF MEXICO promotion. When you first walk into the produce section you are bombarded with displays of fruits and vegetables with huge colorful signs celebrating their country of origin. This did not enhance my shopping experience or induce me to break into a Flamingo dance while juggling Avocados. What happened to Robert Vaughn promoting the goodness of California’s Avocados?
I found these signs everywhere. I guess the survey wanted me to be impressed with how international my food selection had become. When given the space to do so, I told them that all they had impressed me with was their pointing out to the consumer how dependent we have become or can be on foods grown outside of our own country and that I would try to only purchase those foods that originated in the United States either from their store or from another store that might think it more important to keep our money and our jobs here.
The last part of the survey had to do with my level of excitement as to the amount of money saved with their “New Low Prices.” Through the use of the store card and special savings you are expected to look at your receipt and utter words like “Wow” and “Gee Wiz.” Sure, I’m not saying you can’t get stuff on sale but let’s be realistic. If you buy meat or produce on the last day they’re allowed to sell it and it’s marked down, they shouldn’t be able to make a big deal on your receipt as to the money you saved without the store thanking you for purchasing it before they have to get rid of it. Also, if you buy a bottle of wine and the receipt shows that you just saved over five dollars and you know that every store in the area, including convenience stores, sells that same bottle of wine for just about the same amount as just paid for it, where is your “big store” getting its information? I didn’t go to that specific store to get that bottle of wine, I just happened to be there shopping for other things and picked it up.
Well, I did get my 50 fuel points and I hope the checkout girl got hers. The store is still standing a week after my tirade and nothing has changed. I don’t think I bought any food that didn’t originate in the US and I bought that same bottle of wine and received a fantastic saving of $5.20. My receipt thanked me for shopping with them and, it did not asked me to go online and take a short survey!
Have a great day!
Sharon
Jerry
My sincere condolences to the friends and family of Louis Awerbuck who passed away yesterday. He will be missed throughout the firearms and training community for both his wisdom and his humor.