A few years ago we had two grocery stores in town, they were competitors. Then, one of them decided to sell and for a while we thought we were going to get a Safeway, but in the end, the company that owned the store at the other end of town bought it. So, now we have two stores, both owned by the same people - so, NO competition. In fact two weeks ago, Ray's had run out of some stuff, so they sent their guy up to Shop and Save to raid their shelves to refill their own. He didn't even have to take note of what he got, just loaded it up in a basket, threw it in his car and off he went. Okay, so much for competitors.
When this all happened a couple years ago, the locals were pretty upset as we knew that with no competition the prices would be high and the quality low. They promised that they would run them as though they were truly competitors, not to worry. Yeah right.
For the third time this year I bought an item with out checking the expiration date. The first was some Rye Crisps, I don't think I'll ever be able to eat Rye Crisps ever again. I assure you, stale RC are really awful. Then a month ago I ended up with some Turkey Bacon that had an expiration date of 2009. Really??? 2009???
So, today, I'm returning a box of Premium Saltines that was expired. As I'm standing in line, another woman that I know said that she had run into the same thing several times and was making sure that she was hyper vigilant looking at dates.
We both indicated aloud that if items were available at the local BiMart or Corner Store, we bought there as we had always found their stocks to be fresh. Now, the assistant manager is listening to this. So, I get up there, he gives me my money and says "I guess I'll have to have the Nabisco guy check the stock." He wasn't particularly upset, just have the guy check the stock.
He asked if I wanted to exchange them or get my money back. I said that I'd already replaced them at BiMart and I'd take my money thank you very much.
Okay, if I'm the manager or assistant manager of the store and some guy is losing me business, I'm gonna be a bit more upset than that. "Ah, yeah, I'll have a talk with Gary and have him check the stock." Really??? Do you not keep track of the amount of food that comes back as stale?? Do you not care that your customers are doing their best to not enter your store? Geez, you have got to be kidding! How does this guy keep his job??
I know that I buy probably 1/4 what I used to when there were two truly competing stores. There are more people living in the area, so maybe they just don't notice it. Having two pissed customers standing in a busy line complaining about your lousy food and the fact that they buy elsewhere when possible can't help. Ah, well, I did get some fresh Saltines at BiMart.
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