Satisfying rant about Giant cashiers

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:They won't know?? They don't have someone making regular rounds of the stores? They don't employ mystery shoppers?? Wow. Giant really does suck.

I have no idea. They won't know YOU, a customer, are upset. My husband works retail and can spot a mystery shopper a mile away.

I don't understand why the suggestion to complain to Giant is controversial and upsets you. That's pretty odd. I also don't understand why, if you are so upset about service you've received, that you wouldn't complain to the company. Ranting on DCUM is going to change anything.

It's not that it upsets me, I just think it's totally naive. I bet we all went through a letter writing phase in our idealistic youth. After 90% of our complaints going unaddressed, and the other 10% getting a form letter that didn't actually address the problem (your business is important to us!), "contacting corporate" starts to feel like more of a waste of time than anything else.

Actually, ranting on DCUM and elsewhere seems much more likely to ameliorate the situation. If I'm pissed (and I'm not the OP) and I get you pissed, and we all stop shopping at Giant, then they'll see their bottom line suffer and will have to make improvements in order to woo their customers back. A complaint to HQ is a sign that you care. If you care enough to complain, then HQ knows they have you right where they want you-- no alternatives but to try to fix your only grocery store. If you CAN shop elsewhere, then you should, because that's the only thing that will get through to the corporate fat cats.

I'm not going to stop shopping at my grocery store just because someone rants about a bad experience there on DCUM. I have never been to this Giant, but if it's as bad as every one says I probably would have stopped shopping there anyway based on my own personal experience.

I have complained to companies on a few occasions where customer service was especially bad, and I have actually gotten personal responses. So my experience with that is different from yours. Likewise, if I think someone went above and beyond for me, I have let corporate or a manager know that too. I would not post an employee's name and place of work on a website, and expect Giant to do anything about it. That's naive.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:They won't know?? They don't have someone making regular rounds of the stores? They don't employ mystery shoppers?? Wow. Giant really does suck.

I have no idea. They won't know YOU, a customer, are upset. My husband works retail and can spot a mystery shopper a mile away.

I don't understand why the suggestion to complain to Giant is controversial and upsets you. That's pretty odd. I also don't understand why, if you are so upset about service you've received, that you wouldn't complain to the company. Ranting on DCUM is going to change anything.

11:33 -- are you the one who called Hasbro for me? Why don't you contact Giant for the OP, not enough time on your hands today?

OP, I totally agree with you but unfortunately the corporate suits who run Giant are a world away and XXXX manning the cash register really doesn't care about our business. I would be happier shopping at Giant if they hired employees from ARC. At least then we would all be contributing to some greater good while Giant cuts corners.

No, actually I have time to check out DCUM right now because I've been on hold with a company, waiting to speak to someone so I can guess what, COMPLAIN about something. A work vendor, though. Not Hasbro and not Giant. And no, I did not call Hasbro for you, but if you tell me what they did I'll get it straightened out if it's still a problem.

[Anonymous]

I was at the Westbard Giant on Saturday behind someone who was having a heck of a time with the scanner and the cashier had no idea what to do. It took 10 minutes and several people to resolve. They weren't rude about it but it was obvious they had not had any training. In the meantime I was stuck waiting. Very annoying.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:
OP, I totally agree with you but unfortunately the corporate suits who run Giant are a world away and XXXX manning the cash register really doesn't care about our business. I would be happier shopping at Giant if they hired employees from ARC. At least then we would all be contributing to some greater good while Giant cuts corners.

No, actually I have time to check out DCUM right now because I've been on hold with a company, waiting to speak to someone so I can guess what, COMPLAIN about something. A work vendor, though. Not Hasbro and not Giant. And no, I did not call Hasbro for you, but if you tell me what they did I'll get it straightened out if it's still a problem.

Please don't get me started.

[Anonymous]

I've submitted a comment on the Giant website and gotten called within three hours. I was impressed that they took the time to followup and make a change based on what I said.

Just my $0.02. If you don't want to, then don't. But why rant about it here when we can't do anything for you?

[Anonymous]

Sorry the OP had such a tough time. But it wasn't cool or necessary to post the check-out person's name. When you have a situation like this, you should go directly to a supervisor if you are that irritated. If they can't satisfy you, then you complain to corporate (and you'll probably wind up with a nice gift certificate or discount for future use).

But let's keep this in perspective: you were inconvenienced. Nothing more, nothing less. In the grand scheme of things, this really isn't such a big deal. There's a comedian who did a skit about having to wait in a line at a store b/c of the clerk's incompetence and someone ahead of him complained about how this was the worst thing ever. Then the comedian went off on a sarcastic rant about how yes, this was the worst thing ever -- I mean, come on now -- we're at war, soldiers are risking their lives and getting blown to pieces -- but we're stuck in this line. Perspective.

One tip: the next time you are frustrated, try being overly kind and patient. If you are dealing with a rational person, their attitude will likely change. If you're dealing with a whacko, then they will become increasingly irate. Keep your cool and enjoy the show as they pitch a fit and make a scene. (My sister did this last year at Giant around Christmas -- she was in a long line and someone whipped out their checkbook and was taking a long time -- my sister was second in line with her infant -- and then the man behind her loudly pitched a fit and freaked out -- everyone was staring -- she couldn't resist: She said out loud: Awww, someone is having a case of the Mondays. Cheer up, sir -- tomorrow is Christmas! Happy Holidays! She did this all with a huge smile on her face in a very sweet tone. Some folks chuckled, and she had a lot of fun doing this. The guy shut up; the old lady with the checkbook was oblivious; and the cashier thanked her.

FWIW, I still can't use the scanner myself -- but my 5 year old has mastered it.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Sorry the OP had such a tough time. But it wasn't cool or necessary to post the check-out person's name.

Finally! Someone who agrees with me about the name being posted. And looks like the name has been changed to a bunch of x's.

[Anonymous]

Let's give OP some credit for her change of heart: http://www.dcurbanmom.com/jforum/posts/list/35820.page

[Anonymous]

I've always been impressed by the cashiers at Whole Foods. Do they pay more, or are they just more careful during the hiring process?

[Anonymous]

I agree with you too. Not cool.

Thankfully, more rational minds have edit power.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I've always been impressed by the cashiers at Whole Foods. Do they pay more, or are they just more careful during the hiring process?

It seems to me that our local WF (Tenleytown) hires far more immigrants than our local Giant (Wisconsin Ave). But I think an even greater difference may be in working conditions. I usually find the Giant cashiers to be friendly, esp. when I"m with my kids, but there are not nearly enough of them, so they have to work harder and customers get cranky, and the store in general is far less pleasant as an environment than WF.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I agree with you too. Not cool.

Thankfully, more rational minds have edit power.

I stand corrected. OP herself saw that it might be an error in judgment and requested the name be removed. Actually, without the name the story's pretty funny.

[Anonymous]

I am aways amazed at the great customer service at Trader Joe's. Plus, they move those lines FAST! What do they do to motivate their employees that Giant & Safeway do not do?