[Grovenet] Safeway probably isn't . . . .

[Steven]

I just walked into a walmart, then a nearby target today.
Walmart was crowded and it was difficult to get through the isles.
Even had to back out of one since two carts couldn't pass.
I much prefer Target

-----Original Message-----
From: grovenet-bounces at rdrop.com [mailto:grovenet-bounces at rdrop.com]On
Behalf Of Katie Allnutt
Sent: Saturday, June 13, 2009 4:09 PM
To: Forest Grove local interests list
Subject: Re: [Grovenet] Safeway probably isn't . . . .

Sorry to hear that Bob. Even though I rarely shop at Safeway (I am a
Winco fan myself) I recently had an amazingly positive experience at
Safeway.  I had heard about a product that I wanted to try and
according to the products website, the FG Safeway carried it.  So I
went there. After I couldn't find it I asked someone in the produce
section where it might be and  they helped me look for it.  We
couldn't find it but they found someone for me in the refrigerated
section. While we were there a manager tried to help and someone from
the deli too. After we were all about to give up, someone came off
break and they looked as well and we finally found it near the
yogurt. As I was leaving the manager who had helped earlier gave me a
card to write to the company store to ask if they would carry it and
when I told him we eventually found it he was pleasantly surprised.
So, I guess that they are willing to spend lots of time helping you
find something but not willing to spend 18 cents to help you return
something.
It is sad when local shoppers have difficulties at local stores and
my positive experience won't likely increase my shopping at Safeway -
I hate those stupid cards that track what you buy and yes I recognize
that Winco can probably do the same thing just because I use a check-
but they do have some nice folks at Safeway who try to do what they
can. The best thing would be to focus all the blame at the corporate
level because they are the ones who set the policy for such nit picky
rules.

My two cents,
Katie



On Jun 13, 2009, at 12:41 PM, Bob Browning wrote:

> Every time I go into Safeway here in Forest Grove I am reminded why
> my wife Pat and I now do virtually all of our grocery, pharmacy,
> and household goods shopping at Fred Meyer and Costco. Yesterday
> Pat got the craving for some macaroni salad and, rather than have
> to go out of town, she popped into Safeway for a couple of things.
> As usual, she paid with her airmiles American Express card.
>
> When we got ready for dinner last night, she realized that there
> was no shrink-wrap sealer around the lip of the lid.  But, not
> thinking much of it, it got worse when she opened the snap top to
> find that the plastic cover over the salad was not sealed on the
> front and two sides. While it did not appear that anyone had taken
> any salad out of the container, in an abundance of caution we opted
> to fore go any of her hoped for macaroni salad .
>
> This morning a few minutes after 9:00 am I popped into Safeway to
> return the salad. Finding the customer service counter not only
> unattended, but the lights above the counter still turned off, I
> found an employee to whom I explained our situation and made
> inquiry as to where to go to return the salad. I was directed to
> the other end of the checker row where, after once again explaining
> my situation, and the second person to whom I spoke making inquiry
> with several of her co-workers, I was sent back to the customer
> service counter (the overhead lights of which were still off) to
> see a manager. For the third time I explained my need, showed this
> person the product, explained why we choose not to eat it, and, not
> desiring to tell her about a foot problem and to have to walk the
> entire length of the store to the deli area , noted that I wanted
> to get a refund. Upon her request, I then showed her my wife's
> receipt from the previous day's purchase.
>
> That's when things got sticky. She immediately asked for the credit
> card with which it had been purchased; I assume she was intending
> to put the refund back onto the card so that Safeway would save the
> $0.18 in servicer fee (on the $3.99 purchase price) they paid
> American Express. Noting that I did not have the card with me since
> it was my wife who made the purchase, she abruptly explained to me
> that she could not do the refund. However, after some fairly
> insistent prompting on my part, she did note on the receipt that
> the product had been returned and that a refund was yet due to my
> wife.
>
> Now, I realize that 18 cents is not a huge sum of money. However,
> that cuts two ways. As someone who used to spend over $600 per
> month at Safeway, one would think that they might desire to have me
> back as a customer. But, no, I was treated as just another cipher,
> someone else to be inconvenienced so they could return to what ever
> they may have been doing before I came in. Which, unlike Fred
> Meyer, often consists of long lines, several checkers with surly
> attitudes (though I really do miss seeing some others), crowded
> aisles, and dirty floors. Oh, yes, despite a number of requests,
> they still play their outside speaker so loud we can hear it in my
> office across the parking lot!!
>
> So, I guess I will continue to  drive to Cornelius or to Hillsboro
> for my grocery shopping needs -  just one more person going out of
> town rather than supporting our local stores. But, it must not
> matter since, if Safeway really needed my business, I guess they
> would work a little harder to keep me as a customer. Maybe at least
> 18 cents harder!!
>
> bob browning
> forest grove
>
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