RANT: Admiral Safeway

[socamr]

Recently I was in Admiral Safeway to purchase one of their advertised specials. When I went to pay, I noticed that the register had not applied the special. I asked the cashier about it and she agreed that it should have given me the special price, but when she went to ask the manager about it, he told her that the special price did not apply.

After I finished checking out (at the non-discounted price), I went to ask the manager about it. He answered curtly that if I wanted to come back in 15 minutes he would discuss it with me. Since I had finished my shopping I had no desire to stand in the store for another 15 minutes, so I left. I contacted Safeway’s corporate HQ, and they told me it is entirely manager’s discretion whether to run the specials they advertise. So I guess the manager was within his rights, but I find it unethical to draw people into the store with the promise of a special and then not honor that special.

Thank goodness we have so many other good supermarket choices in West Seattle: Trader Joes, QFC, PCC, Met Market. Don’t think I’ll be shopping at Safeway anymore!

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[DannyQ]

Having worked at Safeway for 5 years as a (PIC) person in charge I can tell you that as a worker, co-worker, customer or even a family member I would have honored the discount.

I never worked at the Admiral Safeway, but I’ve been there and I think it’s beautiful. It is never good practice in any business to sacrifice a few dollars savings to lose or piss off a customer. When ever this sort of thing happens to me, which it does, I always get what I came for because of explaining this very same thing to the manager or cashier.

But for anyone reading, understand that unless it’s a personality conflict, cashiers are simply following the rules. Do not put them in the position to make a personal decision in their professional job. I’ve seen too many cashiers to get into trouble for this.

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[socamr]

I just want to reiterate that I thought the cashier was great – she wanted to give me the discount but the manager wouldn’t allow it. I had great sympathy for her – wanting to help a customer but not wanting to disobey the boss.

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[Mr. X]

I’ve shopped at this Safeway for years without any problems – I’m curious to learn more details on the item in question and exactly what the manager’s rationale for denial might have been. Can you provide more background info socamr?

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[GenHillOne]

and why you say he asked you to come back in 15 minutes…seems odd.

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[socamr]

I was buying spirits, taking advantage of the new law; I don’t know why he refused the discount, as he was too busy (apparently) to provide a reason. (And no, the problem was not related to the sudden appearance of taxes at the register).

I agree, the whole thing seems odd. I think he didn’t want to talk to me at first because he had just answered the cashier’s question and knew exactly what I was going to ask. So he busied himself with other tasks instead – it’s possible they were important (I wouldn’t know), but I always assumed that customer service comes first.

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[transplantella]

Here is some advice to Americans as our country goes slip sliding away…..

In second, second-and-a-half and third word countries, when you buy and pay for something it is yours to keep. No refunds, no exchanges, no excuses. You paid for it, it’s yours now.

I would suggest in the future that if you find something which does not ring up at the register at advertised price, you hand it back to the cashier on the spot and have it removed from the bill before payment. Whatever it is you probably really don’t need it anyway.

This is how things work in most of the world. Once you’ve paid for it–there’s no going back. It is a lesson Americans will learn the hard way, and slowly. But they will learn. Get ripped off a few times and you’ll protect your own personal purchases more carefully. Your money is yours till you hand it to someone else. Then it’s theirs. And they’re keeping it.

Lesson learned.

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[DannyQ]

Transplantella,

I am assuming your not an American as you are speaking in a 3rd person format as if you are ashamed of living here. So here’s what I have to say to you:

One of the many things that makes this country the greatest is the opportunity that we all have as well as the power as buyers/sellers.

In most second, second and a half, and third world countries you would be purchasing something from a private party, such as a mom and pops location or even a flea market setting. If there was anything wrong with the product you purchased there they may not return it, exchange it or even give you the time of day. In fact they may even argue with you, but that’s where we as a country differ. Mom and pops locations or flea markets don’t have to refund or exchange the product that they purchased here either. But we have a little thing called pride and fairness as buyers and sellers. If you sold someone a pair of shoes and the soles came un-stiched/unglued the next morning are you telling me you wouldn’t at least try to get them a discount on a new pair or exchange them? Come on dude…

As far as corporations go, we have the buying power. It ends up leveling out because we will always need food and mom and pops grocery stores will never overthrow Safeway’s, QFC’S, Trader Joes, Costco, etc. But in order to keep the market competitive, they offer discounts/coupons, etc. But your right, they don’t have to, places like Nordstrom’s doesn’t. But the money that these competitive companies put out in order to supply us with a certain level of customer service mixed with the costs of operating the company and taxes they have to deal with force them to give us a break making it essential to accommodate most of our requests.

So if your telling me that we should get used to the fact that we should never return, exchange, or even complain about a defective product or price not being honored, then you really have something else going on in your mind.

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[jissy]

Pass the popcorn, this is about to heat up!

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[DannyQ]

“LIKE”

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[changingtimes]

off subject but the most random return i ever saw at the admiral safeway was standing in line trying to purchase a movie rental…a woman in front of me was returning a cucumber..and the manager accepted the return and gave her a refund. i have been wondering since that day if they had placed it back in the produce section..its not like she had just bought it either it was from the day before. i remember the lady behind me freaking out about how strange that they would accept it back!

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[pam]

Safeway guarantees their produce. I’ve returned watermelon and a few other items over the years with no problem.

Also – except for a few things like alcohol and cigs, if the wrong price is scanned it is best to take receipt and item up to customer service. The checker can fix the price but customer service is required to give you the item for free if scanning over charges you.

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[kootchman]

And yet.. last winter when the tents collapsed down yonder the the briar patch and hot food was needed.. the store manager put a hefty discount forward for 160 rolls from the bakery. Now, as to “getting used to …” there is no greater chip to play then being a customer .. and should things not go as planned.. I distinctly remember my grandfather telling my mother to take the grandkids outside of the store.. he was going “Irish” … Ah.. Dr.Michael Leary,, you were a sight when your dander was up!

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[Homer]

yes, but the problem is, this manager doesn’t HAVE to care. The lack of sale from this one person will not affect his paycheck. Sure, if enough people stop shopping there then maybe but people won’t. It’s about convenience.

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