Bad Experience - Albertsons Caldwell, Idaho
I have been shopping at Albertsons instead of Walmart for a few reasons.
1. 10/$10 deals
2. Preferred Gasoline discount points
3. Closer to my home.
4. Recent Doubler Coupons.
However there have been some recent events that have made me make a decision to stop spending ANY money there until they get their act together.
In the past 3 months.
1. Found 12+ items on the shelves in both Caldwell stores that were past their sell by date. Most recently it was Craft Mayo dated October 2008!! Then two more dated April 2009... I stopped looking and marched up front to grump at someone. Got some excuse about them being sent from warehouse bla bla bla... I called bull and showed him the layer of dust on the top of the October 2008 item. SOMEONE IS NOT DOING THEIR JOB... AND HASN'T BEEN FOR A WHILE.
2. Since inception of the double coupon thing.
THERE HAVE BEEN 2 changes to the DOUBLE coupon verbage. Went from will double up to $1 on your manufacture coupons.. to will double coupons valued up to $1 on coupons printed $1.01 or less. OKAY! Final Straw... Now it says "3 double coupons PER FAMILY PER SHOPPING TRIP!
3. Buy $10 worth items ie: Buy 3/$10 Items get $3 off. If you buy 4 of the 3$10 items the register does not give you the $3 off. (watch this one ladies) Went to the customer service area where there is a posted "Policy" which says you get the item free and get your money back for item. Ok, I had 1 toilet paper, one mayo and 2 Deli Selects. So I get the mayo, the toilet paper, and one of the Deli Selects free. And I pay the discounted price for the last Deli Select right?... After arguing for 10 minutes... they finally upheld their own policy.
4. Poor training: The Customer Service Counter lady tried to claim that my 3 MFQ coupons were the discount. WRONG!! I pointed out to her that the MF coupons were marked MC and the store coupons were marked SC... now why didn't she know that?... she's worked there for YEARS!
Well yesterday after I was told by Jesse (4TH position, whatever that means, from 415 Cleveland) that I could only use 1 set of doublers per family PER DAY, I shoved my partially filled cart at him and left... telling him over my shoulder that corporate would hear about it.
I'm a woman of my word... I called AND emailed yesterday.
This morning I got a call from a nice lady (Amy) a District Manager from Oregon and I went through all of the above. Idaho is not her area, but she called because the Idaho DM was on Vacation until Thursday.
I prefaced my comments that I was not a meek and mild woman that I do on occasion slip into swearing like a sailor... and for that I would apologize ahead of time... to just know that if it happens that is an indication of just how LIVID I really am.
I then proceed to go over all of the items listed above. I told her that my hubs and I are unemployed as is 10% of our county (skewed data because, i'm not "registered" as unemployed) I explaned that I use coupons to make ends meet and try to buy/stock up during the sales. I said that I was not the only one. I explained that I had seen that women in Idaho had started couponing in droves.
Long story shortened
1. Suggested allowing 9 doublers per day per shopper.
2. Admonished them for alienating their coupon using customers.
3. Explaned that the 3 per family per shopping trip was stupid and only creates longer line... and makes them break their own "3's a crowd rule"
4. Explaned that Albertsons is notoriusly high that an item at WM priced at 1.97 is typically priced at Preferred pricing of $3.98.
5. Reminded her that word of mouth advertising can make a business... or break one.
6. Told her that WM will price match AND take competitor coupons. (she didn't know this)... also told her there are other stores that take competitor coupons (Pauls)
7. Told her about couponmom.com with a membership of 1,700,000 members who read our vents, and form opinions... Again... "You do not want to alienate us... we have long memories... we are out there spending...when others are just hunkered down and not spending anything."
8. Recent events are not creating store loyalty, but rather creating animosity that will be hard to recover from.
Needless to say the call lasted about 2 hours. She listened politely and took down notes. I'm sure I'll also get a call from the local stores... and maybe the Idaho DM.
You'll be glad to know I said not one single swear word. (good for me!)
Sorry for the long post... I just wanted this posted for others.
Sylvia
Originally Posted by vagabond2
I like you too! 
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