We have a self-serve bread slicer in our bakery department over by the artisan bread wall. You just put the bread in, close the lid and the bread comes out underneath. Somebody tried slicing a loaf of bread in the bag. There were shreds of plastic all tangled up in the blades. Did they really think it would slice the bread inside the bag?
Ha, that is hilarious. But I wouldn't put anything past customers most times. We constantly get people asking if the slicer will slice their bagels too. Or can we do it. And the answer is yes, it will slice it just like any other LOAF of bread. Not the neat little cut in half option they are imagining. And for the latter part, no way in the hell do we have time to personally slice each and everyone's bagel(dude that is one of the main reasons I hate that we have the individual bagels now. People want them sliced all the time. So they can have them in the cafeteria area. But sorely Charlie, gotta do something on your own. Geesh.)!!!
I also love how tonight, a customer was trying to show her friend how to slice the bread. And did that just fine with no probs. But when it came time to bag it, she insisted on using the Artisan bag and just twisting it up. Even though I was trying to tell her that you need to put the sliced bread in the plastic baggie, add the twist tie, and THEN put it into the Artisan bag. But she was not hearing. Just all "well what are you going to do with that plastic bag and twist tie?" Um, I don't know, try and prevent spilled bread all over the store before you reach the checkout lane, perhaps?
Oh and have another one. When folks have ordered or even pick out a 1/2 sheet cake and either come to get it with no cart or one of those really small ones only meant for like 10 items or less. Had a lady do that tonight. She picked out a 1/2 sheet chocolate cake for her reunion tomorrow. And given that the cakes come in frozen, they also sit in a freezer til we put them out. And also go in the cooling case. So no doubt, with all of that going on there, is going to be some faded icing do to the ice in the lid and around the cake is working it's magic of making the icing run. Long story short, I write the chick's message on her cake(which normally be no prob, but I was vastly behind as I had to do a massive trash run as soon as I came in and still bake stuff later than usual, plus do the closing stuff as well). Even help her load all her other groceries into a larger cart(to which she should have had in the first place) and thought she was good to go. WRONG, not 20 mins later, I'm getting paged from someone at the front end saying that the customer wants another cake decorated for her(thank the lord she just meant the writing on it. As I'm no decorator, and all decorators were likely at home or doing other **** well off the clock by that time of night). And seeing as how I was behind and they sent someone back with the cake. I just told him to ask her what time she could pick it up tomorrow. Cause although I found another cake(same one and was still very frozen and not fading(yet or at that point anyway) and I had re-written her message on it) there was just no way in the world, I would have had extra time in my already behind night, to run that cake all the way up to the front for her. When, I don't know she could have just said soon as she saw that particular one fading like it was. If there was another one available instead of the one I wrote on. While she was freaking right there AT my dept.!
I just don't get that at all. Unless, I think they want to put on a bit of a show or see if there is someone they can get a second opinion from( *cough* lure to their side, in regards to thinking they should get a whole other cake done *cough*), or maybe cause they see more front end managers they can gripe to. I don't really know. But I think it is so lame and VERY stupid to do something like that. Should just have the balls to say it looks like **** and can it be re-done, then and there. Or better yet, I don't know. Why not come in earlier in the day if you can and talk with the decorator yourself about having something written on there. Heck she has had far more decorating training than I have in the first place.
And speaking of cakes and picking them up. I wish we could have a sign on the counter that says in very bold print. Something to the effect of, you can order cakes if there is a 24 hour notice before placing your order. But in fine, but yet even BOLDER print at the bottom. "BUT DO NOT ACTUALLY WAIT UNTIL THE DAY BEFORE TO ORDER SAID CAKE FOR TOMORROW". I swear, I don't know how many people I've either had to reject over the phone or turn away if they came into the store directly asking if they could get a cake for tomorrow. It's like are you serious?! You knew you had X event going on for weeks now and at the last minute, you just NOW want to order a cake for it?! I mean we've nearly wrapped up the majority of our graduation orders, and some baby shower ones. Now we are heading into reunion season of a sort. And everyone just expects us to be able to whip stuff up no time flat. I mean hell, even with having a decorator, back up decorator, AND a pastry chef. And three other senior co-workers that can decorate cakes pretty good. We are still uber swamped to capacity with orders. So there is no way in the world, we can add your order to the 18 or so that is already well ahead of you. And the kicker is they always not only want it for the next day. But they want it freaking bright and early in the morning too. Heck at times when our decorator isn't even scheduled to be on yet. And it's like are you kidding me? You want to order something late, and then you want first order completed for the next day too? Seriously?! Get out of dodge.
How about customers who leave coupons on the shelves? Every time I do a floor sweep, I take them off the shelves and throw them out
even worse is when they put items back on the shelves in backass locations. oh, thank you so much for putting this can of instant coffee in front of the pancake mix, i'll have a lot of fun wasting my time putting this back. it really grinds my gears when they leave perishables like dairy or meat on the dry grocery shelves. would you leave a ground chuck out of the refrigerator at home? then don't leave it out at the store. common sense need not apply to these customers who think they sit on a pedestal above us workers.
How about customers who leave coupons on the shelves? Every time I do a floor sweep, I take them off the shelves and throw them out
even worse is when they put items back on the shelves in backass locations. oh, thank you so much for putting this can of instant coffee in front of the pancake mix, i'll have a lot of fun wasting my time putting this back. it really grinds my gears when they leave perishables like dairy or meat on the dry grocery shelves. would you leave a ground chuck out of the refrigerator at home? then don't leave it out at the store. common sense need not apply to these customers who think they sit on a pedestal above us workers.
THIS^ ALL DAY AND NIGHT LONG!!!! It's why I can't stand that we have a display for the flat breads, biscuits and King's Hawaiian stuff half the time. Cause every time I'm out assessing the floor. I run into all kinds of nasty ass sample cups, clothes people can't remember to take back to the Apparel dept., all kinds of snack cakes, teas, etc. from the regular grocery aisles. I mean it is seriously a catch all for flippin' everything back there. And I won't even get into when people pick up cakes and drop them off other places in the store too. And then we have to scan it out when there is barely enough time to do regular work. Now have to carve out time to scan out those items they could have just told us they DID NOT WANT, when they were already in the dept.!
Try shopping and having a customer toss some meat into your shopping cart saying "I don't want this." It happened to me. What I did was toss it back into their cart and say "neither do i."
The reshops happen every single day in my store, the ice cream aisle is right beside the bakery, yet i'll see liquidfied containers of ice cream on one of my bakery tables. I'm like are you really that entitled that you can't walk 5 steps to at least put it in the freezer, if not where it goes??
The reshops happen every single day in my store, the ice cream aisle is right beside the bakery, yet i'll see liquidfied containers of ice cream on one of my bakery tables. I'm like are you really that entitled that you can't walk 5 steps to at least put it in the freezer, if not where it goes??
I'll actually blame some of my co-workers for something like that. As I know when we first moved into our new store, we used to get quite a few pints of the Halo Top ice cream mixed in with our truck sometimes. And for whatever reason the ding bats would just sit it on a table some place and be like "well it says cookie dough on it....is it ours'?" Dude, our cookie dough comes in BROWN, RECTANGULAR BOXES that says specifically on the side of them, what flavor of the cookie dough it is. Sure, we get new products in at times. But I don't think we have reached the level of dishing up protein ice cream sandwiches or something to that effect around here. Take it to the freezer section already geesh. And this was going on with me barely being out of my probationary period. And even, I knew that wasn't ours'.
Try shopping and having a customer toss some meat into your shopping cart saying "I don't want this." It happened to me. What I did was toss it back into their cart and say "neither do i."
Yeah... They weren't too happy.
I actually kind of laughed out loud on that one. I'd have likely done the same thing though. I guess they must always recognize you as an employee at your store. So even on your day off, they are like, he can totally handle this regardless if he's actually working or not.
Oooo, can I add another two? What about the customers that totally walk right on by what they are looking for and come up and ask you where to find it. Like for instance we have 2 huge wicker baskets of Lady Finger cookies and those Shortcake Dessert cups right up in front of our Kaiser case. To the right as soon as you are about to head over to our Deli and Bakery area of the store when you come in. Can't miss it, cause the whole section is under an arch of red, white, and blue star shaped balloons and there is a hell of a lot of pies on the tables beside the case and to which the baskets sit in front of as well. But without fail, EVERYday, I've been asked "where are the dessert shells located?" Like really? You have shopped all over the store and still you couldn't spare a second to look down? But you can almost run me over with your cart as you text and push it along while I take out the trash. Niiiice.
The second one actually happened tonight. I'm back behind the counter cleaning off the tables and what not for the night. And a customer comes up with a box of the Private Selection cookies and ask me how much do they cost. Well seeing as how often, I have to make, package, date, and put them out there. I told her what the price was automatically. And would you believe the woman must have gone blind or her brain wasn't registering the fact that she came up to the service counter, to which *I* was behind, IN my work uniform and apron that clearly said Kroger on it. And even sporting the requisite Bakery dept. hair net. And she still had the audacity to ask me how I knew what the price was. Like seriously? Can't you tell I work here? Or do you think I'm just imitating someone that enjoys working all night long at Kroger? I know Ellen sends out her people at times to prank folks. But yea, thus far nobody has infiltrated Kroger that way. And if they did, that sense of humor is too sick for words. Especially on a vastly under staffed closing shift.
Oooo, can I add another two? What about the customers that totally walk right on by what they are looking for and come up and ask you where to find it. Like for instance we have 2 huge wicker baskets of Lady Finger cookies and those Shortcake Dessert cups right up in front of our Kaiser case. To the right as soon as you are about to head over to our Deli and Bakery area of the store when you come in. Can't miss it, cause the whole section is under an arch of red, white, and blue star shaped balloons and there is a hell of a lot of pies on the tables beside the case and to which the baskets sit in front of as well. But without fail, EVERYday, I've been asked "where are the dessert shells located?" Like really? You have shopped all over the store and still you couldn't spare a second to look down? But you can almost run me over with your cart as you text and push it along while I take out the trash. Niiiice.
The second one actually happened tonight. I'm back behind the counter cleaning off the tables and what not for the night. And a customer comes up with a box of the Private Selection cookies and ask me how much do they cost. Well seeing as how often, I have to make, package, date, and put them out there. I told her what the price was automatically. And would you believe the woman must have gone blind or her brain wasn't registering the fact that she came up to the service counter, to which *I* was behind, IN my work uniform and apron that clearly said Kroger on it. And even sporting the requisite Bakery dept. hair net. And she still had the audacity to ask me how I knew what the price was. Like seriously? Can't you tell I work here? Or do you think I'm just imitating someone that enjoys working all night long at Kroger? I know Ellen sends out her people at times to prank folks. But yea, thus far nobody has infiltrated Kroger that way. And if they did, that sense of humor is too sick for words. Especially on a vastly under staffed closing shift.
i don't think it registers in customer's brains to take a second to look for things. i've had to point out items to customers that were directly in front of their faces. not even half a nanosecond of effort were put into searching by these people. we make and stock the food, so you have to sorta kinda meet us half way by seeking it out yourselves. also that lady is an imbecile. if anything i would assume you were some sort of human database of an employee if you told me the price off hand of an item.
i'd like to add that i sympathize with your cake problem, as i find a ton of giant fully decorated cakes on the grocery shelves all the time, and those little sampler cups are the bane of my existence.
These are great ...getting a lot of laughs. Here's mine. Deli dept. Chef/salad case...RIGHT next to meat case. I HAVE LOST COUNT of the folKS that think that food is HOT. Why would you think we would have hot food mixed in with cold???????
These are great ...getting a lot of laughs. Here's mine. Deli dept. Chef/salad case...RIGHT next to meat case. I HAVE LOST COUNT of the folKS that think that food is HOT. Why would you think we would have hot food mixed in with cold???????
I can believe it. The kicker for me though, when I used to be down in Deli. Was when people would ask you if something new was good in the case. And when I told them I wasn't sure as it was just opened up that morning. But would offer them a sample, they wouldn't even take it. And yet still give it the eye ball for another 20 mins or so. It's like dude, either sample it and move on or make another selection. The counter is already hella busy as is.
Oooo, can I add another two? What about the customers that totally walk right on by what they are looking for and come up and ask you where to find it. Like for instance we have 2 huge wicker baskets of Lady Finger cookies and those Shortcake Dessert cups right up in front of our Kaiser case. To the right as soon as you are about to head over to our Deli and Bakery area of the store when you come in. Can't miss it, cause the whole section is under an arch of red, white, and blue star shaped balloons and there is a hell of a lot of pies on the tables beside the case and to which the baskets sit in front of as well. But without fail, EVERYday, I've been asked "where are the dessert shells located?" Like really? You have shopped all over the store and still you couldn't spare a second to look down? But you can almost run me over with your cart as you text and push it along while I take out the trash. Niiiice.
The second one actually happened tonight. I'm back behind the counter cleaning off the tables and what not for the night. And a customer comes up with a box of the Private Selection cookies and ask me how much do they cost. Well seeing as how often, I have to make, package, date, and put them out there. I told her what the price was automatically. And would you believe the woman must have gone blind or her brain wasn't registering the fact that she came up to the service counter, to which *I* was behind, IN my work uniform and apron that clearly said Kroger on it. And even sporting the requisite Bakery dept. hair net. And she still had the audacity to ask me how I knew what the price was. Like seriously? Can't you tell I work here? Or do you think I'm just imitating someone that enjoys working all night long at Kroger? I know Ellen sends out her people at times to prank folks. But yea, thus far nobody has infiltrated Kroger that way. And if they did, that sense of humor is too sick for words. Especially on a vastly under staffed closing shift.
i don't think it registers in customer's brains to take a second to look for things. i've had to point out items to customers that were directly in front of their faces. not even half a nanosecond of effort were put into searching by these people. we make and stock the food, so you have to sorta kinda meet us half way by seeking it out yourselves. also that lady is an imbecile. if anything i would assume you were some sort of human database of an employee if you told me the price off hand of an item.
i'd like to add that i sympathize with your cake problem, as i find a ton of giant fully decorated cakes on the grocery shelves all the time, and those little sampler cups are the bane of my existence.
It really doesn't. As I've had issues with people over the Angel Food cakes as well. They are for the most part always in the same section in our store. On the other side of the pie table where the pudding cakes are. But there are forever folks inquiring about those too. And it's like are you serious? It would be a much different story if we were clean out of them. But when you have just walked right on by them like 3 times and still missing them. There is something wrong with this picture. And actually, for those cookies the lady was talking about. I for sure keep that price in mind as it still baffles me that for 6 of the darn things they are so damn expensive and get such a short shelf life too. So I MORE than remember them.
SMH. I actually feel sorry about the cake situation as well to be honest with ya. I've had a few store managers hand over a cake or two when I was stocking our pies or whatever somewhere else in the front. And yea, those sample cups are the worst. As well as all the lovely fruit I get to find or the banana peels as our store gives out free fruit o the kids. As I guess part of their making sure kids eat healthy spiel. But dude, I'm tired of finding peels and apple cores in the doughnut case trash can. Or again, tucked away somewhere on the display where the biscuits are. Those are for sure the bane of my existence amongst other things.
Last time the fire alarm went off, I had no less than 5 people stop me as I was trying to exit the building asking if they really were required to leave and "what about my shopping cart??" I answered them but didn't stop walking towards the door.
