No, this photo is not upside down, Dear Readers. I wanted you to notice the sticker on the Diet Coke Bottle. I guess, under the current circumstances, it is meant to be sarcastic.
Somebody explain something to me. Every time I go into my Mariano’s lately, they are out of the six packs of 16 ounce Diet Cokes in the plastic bottles.
EVERY time.
How ever is this possible, Dear Readers?
For the last couple of months, whenever I go to the store, the shelf is empty.
Empty.
Oh sure, they have Coke and Diet Coke in cans, big bottles, tiny glass bottles.
They have caffeine-free Diet Coke galore.
But they never have the Diet Coke that I want.
Oh yeah. And they are ALWAYS out of unsalted Land O’Lakes butter in full sticks, too.
They carry half sticks but I need the full sticks.
Diet Coke and butter.
WTF?
I put up with these shortfalls for months.
But finally, I got angry.
So I looked around for a store manager to whom I could vent.
No dice.
It’s a fairly large, two-story joint and employees wearing “Mariano’s” name tags are hard to spot.
After roaming the second floor for awhile, I gave up.
I went downstairs, thought about trudging over to the Customer Service Desk and then thought “What’s the point?”
I had a better idea.
The pen is mightier than the sword.
I sent Kroger’s, Mariano’s parent company, an email.
This is what I got back.
Four days later.
Dear Ellen,
Thank you for contacting Kroger Customer Connect.
I was sorry to read there was an issue with 24 ounce bottles of Diet Coke and Land O’ Lakes Unsalted Butter not being in stock at your local Marianos store. I understand how frustrating it is when you cannot get the product or savings you expected. We sincerely apologize for the inconvenience this has caused. Our company prides itself on offering a wide variety of products for you to choose from and we expect our store shelves to be fully stocked. There are many factors that may have impacted availability such as product demand, suppliers, and vendor contracts.
Your feedback regarding this situation has been shared with the Store Leadership Team. I’m confident that the appropriate conversations will take place to correct the stock issue to the best of our abilities. We appreciate your patronage and your patience.
I was also so sorry to read that there was not a Manager available on your recent shopping visit. I understand how frustrating it is when you do not get the service you expected. I have forwarded your comments to the Store Director so that they are aware and can have the appropriate conversations with their Staff. Thank you so much for the time you have taken to bring this matter to our attention.
Please feel free to reply to this email or call us at 1-800-576-4377 and reference case number 29924328 should you have further questions or concerns. We appreciate hearing from our valued customers and will assist in any way possible.
Thank you for shopping with us and have a great day.
“Thank you for shopping with us and have a great day?”
Again, WTF?
So I wrote back.
My Marianos was out again on Friday. As usual. This response does not help me. You gave me no real assurance that this problem will be fixed- and you didn’t even offer me a coupon to make up for the inconvenience of never being able to find two items I consistently need. Why should I “keep shopping” with you?
Here’s their response.
Dear Ellen,
Thank you for contacting Roundys Customer Service. I appreciate your response with the update on the Diet Coke that your store is frequently out of stock. I have updated your comments to be forwarded to the Store Leadership Team. I apologize for the inconvenience and frustration you have experienced and have added a $5.00 credit to your account. Thank you so much for your time and patience regarding this matter.
Please feel free to reply to this email or call us at 866-742-6728 and reference case number 29924328 should you have further questions or concerns. We appreciate hearing from our valued customers and will assist in any way possible.
Thank you for shopping with us and have a great day.
$5? That’s it?
No real explanation about these continual shortages, and I didn’t get the feeling that my problem would be addressed any time in the near future.
Well, the good news is that these staples of my diet were free.
The bad news?
I think I have to find a new grocery store.
That is the answer… shop someplace that serves you the items that you need and want… it may take some time to find, but your blood pressure will thank you.
Thanks, Bill. You are so right. Sadly, Met Market is a little far for me. The greatest!
1. There’s always Trigg’s.
2. Why do you drink that diet crap, anyway? Pepsi is making regular pop with REAL sugar!
I LOVE Trigg’s! What a great idea. I’m sure that Kenny wouldn’t object to a 7 hour drive to Eagle River every week. 😊And I won’t dignify that last question with a response. 😝
Fresh Market and Sunset Foods are unsurpassed. Ask a manager at Sunset and they will special order just for you anything that you’d like. A sidebar…..go for a change and try Kerrygold Pure Unsalted Irish Butter which is similar to French butter in flavor.
Happy 2019 to you, Ellen!
Thanks, Annie. Both great suggestions. I love the Acapulco Chicken Salad at Sunset, btw. And you must be clairvoyant. Bought that butter today. Going to bake gingerbread with it. Yum.
I have to agree with Bernie… why do you drink that? and why in plastic bottles? do you recycle? Use your Brita and drink good old Lake Michigan water… no hassle, no plastic pollution and cheaper!
I agree, Trigg’s is awesome!
I have to agree with Bernie… why do you drink that? and why in plastic bottles? do you recycle? Use your Brita and drink good old Lake Michigan water… no hassle, no plastic pollution and cheaper!
I agree, Trigg’s is awesome!
I have no excuse. I like it. It’s my only vice. As for water…I feel exactly the same way that W.C. Fields did. This is a pretty PG-rated blog so you’ll have to look it up if you don’t know the quote. 😝
Ellen, I agree – it’s so frustrating when my grocery store is constantly out of one of my favorite items. One way I vent my frustration with my local grocery store (Dillon’s, a branch of Kroger) when it’s often out of one of my standard food choices is I write a handwritten note to the shelf stockers and leave it in the empty space where the item should be stacked. I include the suggestion that they stock a great quantity on the shelf if it’s such a popular item.
I have no idea if this is effective even though after I write the note, I do run into the empty shelf situation less often. But best of all I feel so much better after writing and leaving the note. Next time, I’m going to put little hearts on my note. 😊
Great idea, Susan. And little hearts? Talk about “reverse psychology!” Very effective. I bet your Dillon’s is the best-stocked store in the chain. 👍😊