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Albertsons customers sound off in the Idaho Statesman The Idaho Statesman, July 31, 2002
Another plastic card
Today I checked the ad for Albertsons in The Idaho Statesman as I do each Wednesday. Although I had, of course, been bombarded with commercials about the Preferred Card and how my purse would grow, I hadn´t fully realized the opposite effect the card would have on prices without it.
Now that I have, let me get this straight. If I don´t knuckle under and carry another plastic card with me, that also happens to keep track of my spending habits, it seems I will never find anything on sale at their stores. Each sale ad showed only the preferred card price and the regular high price. It´s no wonder that Wal-Mart has become the giant it is today. What has happened to our neighborhood hometown store? Why don´t they just lower their prices and do away with all the gimmicks? They advertise themselves, saying; Albertsons is “your store.” It´s no longer mine.
Grocer ’preference’
It´s easy to see only black and white while shopping at your neighborhood market. But there is more involved that the customer never notices.
I am not an employee of Albertsons, but I am a loyal customer. I “prefer” to shop at a store that originates in Boise and still calls our little town its home. I “prefer” to shop at a store that continues to hire local school kids and special needs people to bag my groceries for me, giving me a convenience or perk once thought commonplace and giving a school kid or special needs individual a job. I “prefer” to shop at a store that decorates its interior so it doesn´t feel as though I´m shopping at a warehouse. I “prefer” to shop at a store where you can speak with friendly checkers who remember your name as well as your kids´ names, vs. shopping at a store where the only time a checker talks is to say, “You have to use our ATM; we don´t take debit or credit cards.”
No, I don´t have money to throw away anymore than anyone else does, but I still “prefer” to be treated like I do.
The IDaho Statesman, August 2, 2002
Shopper’s dilemma
Albertsons Preferred Customer card is a “Catch 22” for me. I have one of those special blue cards. I live by an Albertsons and pass it three or four times a day.
One of my issues is convenience. I know where things are and can shop quickly. They´ve placed special orders for me, I get a 3 cent per gallon discount on gas and a $1 car wash on Wednesdays.
On the other hand, I have done the math/comparison shopping and know I do pay less for groceries at WinCo. Unfortunately WinCo is not on my normal driving route. I need to plan ahead to shop there. They don´t take debit/credit cards (I´m sure that´s another reason they charge lower prices).
On the other hand, Albertsons makes contributions to education and non-profit groups in our community. A percentage of what I spend goes to my children´s schools, our church or the Idaho Botanical Gardens.
So I´m back to my “Catch 22.” Albertsons will need to be competitive to stay in business. I will need to be more organized in my grocery shopping to save money. But for the moment, I´m not ready to cut up my blue card.
The Idaho Statesman, August 5th, 2002
Unhappy customer
I had purchased groceries almost exclusively at Albertsons until WinCo and WalMart moved into the area. The prices were noticeably lower at those locations, so I shopped there.
When the weekly Albertsons ads were published, I would make a point to stop in for the true sale items. I also filled prescriptions in their pharmacy and would pick up items on the same trip.
With the introduction of the “Preferred Customer” card however, I have completely stopped shopping at Albertsons.
When I am a customer of a store, they need to make it convenient for me to be there. They need to give me the best price possible to earn my business, and I do not want to jump through any hoops to get them.
Until the executives at Albertsons clue in and realize that it is a privilege for them for customers to be in their store, I will continue to take my business elsewhere.
The Idaho Statesman, August 7th, 2002
Rude behavior
Recently while shopping at a local Albertsons, I witnessed an incident that never should have happened. All because of a little piece of blue plastic.
This person was agitated that the stores have chosen to implement the use of preferred cards and was taking out their frustrations on the cashier. I was embarrassed by the language this customer was using. The customer ended the verbal attack by throwing groceries at the cashier.
People, please remember, the employees had no voice in the decision of the use of the card. Any issues you have about these cards should be directed to the corporate offices, as the people at store level did not make the decisions involved in bringing in the cards nor the pricing of the items in the stores.
Try smiling after 50 to 100 people have yelled, been rude and abusive, sworn, threatened and thrown things at you. How would you feel at the end of the day?
Vent your anger at the ones responsible — not the ones trying to support a family.
Spokesman wrong
So, Albertsons has decided to ax the apostrophe in its name? The article by Ken Dey in The Idaho Statesman, July 25, is off-base. Ertharin Cousin of Albertsons said, “we haven´t used the apostrophe for a number of years in our signs.”
Albertsons never used an apostrophe. I hope this doesn´t spur the greatest controversy since Ann Landers and the toilet paper over the top or down the back. These types of goofs are bound to happen when spokespeople don´t know the background and culture of Albertsons.
And, an apostrophe indicates possessiveness, and Albertsons is certainly not its own company anymore, so everything is cool, right? This is so prophetic, it´s pathetic.
And, speaking of goofs, a passing note on the preferred card, which has received a lot of negatives as of late — it´s a bad idea.
How bad? Well, even Dilbert was prophetic in his strip in The Idaho Statesman, July 28. Cut it out and put it on your refrigerator door. It´s a hoot.
The Idaho Statesman, August 8,2002
Shopping strategy
Over the past few weeks, I´ve read several letters from dissatisfied Albertsons customers. Dick Hansen writes “Do these people think all their customers are idiots?” No, Mr. Hansen, they don´t, but they´re banking that a vast majority are.
I am a preferred card holder who thinks of himself as a smart shopper. Recently Albertsons had two meat items (tri-tip and top sirloin) at a very good price. I purchased about 20 pounds of each and picked out a few other items that I knew were good buys. I finished my shopping at WinCo. I don´t mind the so-called hassle of showing my card, if it will really give me savings.
Obviously, Albertsons won´t like my way of shopping, but believe me, if more shoppers would pick their leader items, stock up and save, this cheap, irritating gimmick won´t last long.
The Idaho Statesman, August 11, 2002
The silent majority
How many times have you had a wonderful experience with a clerk while shopping — one who went out of the way to do something special?
Did you write the manager to tell them? Probably not.
How many times have you had a terrible experience with a clerk?
Did you write the manager to tell them and vow never to shop at that store again? Probably. Most people only respond to negative experiences.
I have been reading the negative letters concerning Albertsons´ new Preferred Customer card.
As an Albertsons employee I have received wonderful feedback as I´ve given customers their new card.
The positive comments far outweigh the negative.
Albertsons is not selling the information requested — name, address, telephone number.
This information is available in the telephone book. They are not asking your date of birth, national origin or Social Security number. One of the reasons for this information is to send you special coupons as incentives to try items you don´t normally buy.
If you enjoy bagging your own groceries or taking them to the car yourself, so be it. But remember, the satisfied customers usually don´t write letters. They continue to shop at their favorite store— Albertsons.
Checker’s request
As a checker for Albertsons I would like to get a few things out there about the new preferred card and the way the checkers have been treated because of this new program.
When you come through our checkstands and we ask if you have your card, please don´t yell obscenities at us, tell us where we can stick the card, flip us off, (this has all happened in my store to all our checkers) or ask why we don´t just lower prices for everyone. We don´t know why, we don´t make the rules.
If you want to know, call corporate yourself. Fill out a comment card, don´t make us feel bad the rest of the day because we´re just trying to do our job.
How hard is it to answer “No thank you” when we ask if you have a card? What you´re doing now is above all rude and disrespectful. It makes our job more unpleasant than it should be, considering you chose to come in there in the first place. No one forced you to.
So, if you do come in, be nice, that´s all we´re asking.
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