At Last, Results

I finally did call corporate and emphasized the fact that my trust level had dropped since I didnt know if things were organic or where they were from. The woman I spoke with was concerned and after we talked spoke with the store and then called me back to let me know the results of the contact.
I suddenly felt guilty for making problems then I thought, that is what they expect. Most people dont want to make waves, it is easier to just let it go then stand up with integrity for what you believe is the right thing. I like to think I am seeking the highest good for all.
As I entered the produce area today the apples all had signs where they were grown. Yipppeee!!
The store flyer had a little article about helping the Argentinian People prosper. So they are bringing in Organic Apples from Argentina and asking us to purchase them.
Why aren't we helping Americans prosper?  There are the poor here without water. I watched a woman out west on CBS Sunday Morning show last weekend. She was a senior had no AC and had not had running water in her sparsely furnished house her whole life. They interviewed the  woman who drove  a water tanker truck to these people offering fresh clean water. How thankful they were. There are many children in the US who don't attend school.  Why don't we help them and let the Argentinian government help their people.
I am not a politician or a diplomat (obviously) and maybe my thinking is a bit self centered.  But we are like the shoemakers children who have no shoes because the shoemaker is out helping everyone else.
We are a super power but at what cost to our people and citizens and elderly?
BUY USA AS MUCH AS POSSIBLE.
One last thought and it may be off topic but I need to say it. As a senior on SS I sure could use a raise in my benefits. I have worked all my life and paid taxes. If I were to get ill I could get wiped out of any small savings I might have put aside for a car repair, or a leaky roof. Yet people come here illegally and get all kinds of benefits.

Something is very wrong with this picture and our government system.

Thanks FRESH MARKET for hearing me and making the changes in the store so people can feel confident what the sign says is accurate.
Your Vigilante Shopper

STILL DOING IT, TIME TO CALL CORPORATE

Took my weekly trip to Fresh Market in Stuart FL. Notice I am mentioning the name this time! Frustration is evident. 

This is the continuing of the apple saga.  I see signs for the loose apples  Grown in the USA I pick up the first apple and the tag says USA. I see Honey Crisp ones with the same sign  pick one of thos ups, the green tag is covering the location they were grown. I peel back the tag. Argentina!!! I was done being Ms. Nice Gal, I took photos and later will call corporate. 

I was talking to another customer and he said why not talk to the manager? I said I did. I talked to the produce manager twice and once to the store manager. It was suppose to be resolved. Now today same ole, same ole. So after three times and nothing has changed I need to make a call to corporate. 

I mentioned to this customer about whole foods and the stuff they were pulling with their prices and overcharging customers. I had confidence that fresh market would not do something underhanded to thier customers. The gentleman I spoke to had not heard about Whole Foods troubles.  
I think the thing that made me upset was the cover up! They covered where it was from, that is deceitful and now I am not trusting the other produce and what the sign says. 

The first pic is clear the second not so clear I will be more careful in the future. I must admit I felt guilty taking the photos since I like people in this store, but clearly my complaint has gone unaddressed and I suspect it is the produce managers issue. 

The good thing today that happened:

they were out of the brown eggs on sale today for $2.99. I arrived at 9:30 an hour after the store opened. One box was there with some eggs that looked like they had small cracks in them. 

Tony, the manager, who I really like and is always willing to work with his customers was walking past me. I asked if I could get the $3.29 eggs for $2.99 since there would not be more coming in till the next day. I live a distance from FM and next week the sale would be over. He accomodated me. 

My last pet peeve for today, no price tag? If they were on sale I would have purchased some but there was no price. I could have taken them to the register, then someone would have to put them back if they were not in my budget. 

I love shopping at Fresh market,  they consistently offer excellent customer service. We have just hit a few bumps in the road, a small chink in the displaying of products that needs to be addressed!

IS THIS NECESSARY?

This is a bunch of cheese sticks wrapped indiviually and thrown out. They were left over from a demo.
I had 6 - 11oz cartons of chocolate milk that don't need to be refrigerated till opened. In the TRASH!!!
Thats the rule! ANY LEFTOVERS GET TOSSED!!!
WHY????
My boss is a wonderful person and he is a good company man following directions to the T.
I ache inside at this waste. There is a break room in the building, I ask if we can put it in there. They have a refrigerator in the room. NO they tried that but someone decided it wasn't okay.
There was one family that came by my cart today. They would have loved to purchase the chocolate milk but they couldnt afford the $10.99 for the 12 pack because the husband has been ill and they only have money to purchase the essentials. The kids loved the taste and gave the PLEASSSE look, but the mom looked sad and said "we just can't". The kids looked disappointed.
THEN WE THROW IT OUT!!!!
I know there is no way to give to some and not to others but why not donate to a food pantry?
I worked at Publix years ago. The stuff that was tossed was amazing. The bakery sold the left overs to a local pig farmer for the pigs.
Once again I asked WHY? Somebody told me that they use to donate to feed the poor and then someone got sick from the donated food and sued them!  I dont know if it was true, but the reason seemed logical. If it was true I understood their desire not to end up with a lawsuit from an act of kindness.
Can't we change the laws? Can't we say if it is donated food they are not allowed to sue the hand that feeds them? Has our society gotten so sue happy that providing food for the hungry can cost a small fortune?
After the hurricanes we had in FL I was without electric for two weeks. All my food gone. I was so grateful to be able to go to a soup kitchen for a meal.
What is wrong with our society that we have become so litigious?
Society has changed into a me society and seemingly without any social conscience. I believe the good outweighs the negative but it certainly makes me sad to be throwing good food away.
Bottom line, there are people out there that are hungry! It is sad to throw away so much food that could benefit people. For one the employees. Or those who cant afford food.
The problem is, if you have food on the table, you might not give those that don't much thought.
I remember how hungry I was after the storms, I never want to feel that way again. I guess that is why it bothers me so much to throw out good food.

How can we/you/me make a change? 

Publix Bogo

Last Saturday I was shopping at Publix and wanted to get Green Giant Broccoli that was buy one get one free. The only box on the shelf looked liked it was the football from a football game. Torn and tattered. I went to the courtesy desk and asked for a rain check, adding unless there is more in the back? She paged someone, no one called back and she said "might as well give you a Rain Check". She checked the add in the flyer and started writing then said "did you say box?"
"Yes" She stopped writing, "this add says nothing about boxes"
I thought okay maybe I read the sign wrong. She paged someone to come to frozen foods. I walked back and reread the signs. It said package! Was not a box a package. I was correct. No one came.
I walk back to customer service, not without taking a photo for proof!

I go back to get my rain check with these photos. She looks and said "oh I guess pkg mean boxes too!
DO  YOU THINK???
Maybe I am too picky but this knid of stuff annoys me and I feel like the stores are trying to get out of the sale. Obviously the items were popular.  I got my rain check but the process took an extra 15 to 20 minutes out of my day.
Then I thought, hey more fodder for my blog!!! So I guess I am glad it happened? LOL
WORD OF WARNING: TAKE THE PHOTO BEFORE YOU GO TO CUSTOMER SERVICE!!!!
If I had I would have saved myself some time and got home sooner.
Namaste