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SAFEWAY!! Your Customer Service Constitutes Harassment!!!
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As a frequent acquirer of various goods at your so-called “SAFEWAY” establishments and Club Card holder in good standing, I have composed this missive to express my outrage at the atrocious customer service it has been my misfortune to experience at your stores. Said customer service, quite possibly, constitutes harassment as defined in section 527.6. of the California Code of Civil Procedure...... Specifically, I refer to the practice of your employees, who are obviously coerced by your management arm, tracking my movements througout the store, asking, at irregular intervals, and I quote: “Are you finding everything ok?” I may be harassed in this way anywhere between six (6) to ten (X) times during any given shopping venture at your stores......This psychological assault is furthermore escalated by your poor choice of ambient music which is criminally devoid of any and all songs by Dexy’s Midnight Runners and is peppered with subliminal messages, delivered by a deceptively cheery female announcer, luring me to various parts of the establishment with promises of superior, reasonably priced Safeway goods, where, inevitably, another employee awaits to ask if I, Zac Birnbaum, and “finding everything ok, sir” thereby repeating this sick cycle of customer service abuse...These blatant offenses have caused me incalculable pain and suffering for which I demand to be compensated in the form of (1) vouchers which shall be redeemable at your establishments for any and all goods, including alcoholic beverages; (2) your inclusion of songs from the album TOO-TYE-AY in your in store playlists and (3) your assurance that all customer service representatives remain at least 10 (ten) feet away from unless I choose to first engage them.....I hope we can come to a fair settlement in this matter and that escalation will not be necessary....Sincerely, Z. BIRNBAUM
About this poster:
Club Card holder in good standing.
Posted by:
Z_Birnbaum
(male, mid-30s)
(Posted 10/10/05)
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Responses (20)
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dragonflie
(6/20):
Safeway never has that many employees on a one time.
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Crazyonyou
(3/7):
Actuly I work for safeway and let me assure you not one employee gives a Crap about you at all....ITS OUR JOB! to ask you those retarded questions, I dont care if your finding everything ok, i dont care about your day, I dont care about how your doing..Its my job to ask, so next time you go to safeway dont look lost or make eye contact, thats the only reason theyll ask you or "Harass" you. if you dont like it, shop else ware, what a hard consept... Obviously lots of people like the "Hi, Are you finding everything ok?" attention cause we get so many sales even though are grocerys are $$$. So uhh F off A hole, oh and have a nice Day :)
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Crazyonyou
(3/7):
Actuly, I work for safeway and let me assure you not one employee gives a Crap about you at all....ITS OUR JOB! to ask you those retarded questions, I dont care if your finding everything ok, i dont care about your day, I dont care about how your doing..Its my job to ask, so next time you go to safeway dont look lost or make eye contact, thats the only reason theyll ask you or "Harass" you. if you dont like it, shop else ware, what a hard consept... Obviously lots of people like the "Hi, Are you finding everything ok?" attention cause we get so many sales even though are grocerys are $$$. So uhh F off A hole, oh and have a nice Day :)
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Crazyonyou
(3/7):
Oh and one other thing, obviously your just freakin retarded, did you go to safeway all by yourself? Or did you have to take the little yellow bus you freakin idiot!! Let me assure you when stupid idiots such as your self leave our store odds are 80% of the people working there are talking about you dumb @ss. So why do you shop there? Ware high priced and we pretty much have to wipe our customers @ss's all day long even though we hate each and every one of you and let me assure you that smile on our face is Fake just like the cheery voice you here when you come and go. Your truly pathetic if you honestly think anyone gives a crap about you, this isn't just about you, this is about all the dumb customers that think just like you, if you don't like how we "HAVE" to act go some ware else you goofy bastard ok?
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Anonymous
(4/16):
Give me a break! This is just another excuse for a low life like you to scam good corporations like Safeway out of money. Please grow up and get over yourself!
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Anonymous
(5/14):
Vouchers for alcohol? You let the cat out of the bag on that one. Maybe if you spent your time in aa meetings instead of listening to your inner dialog might you get a clue. Probably you fit a profile of shoplifters and these people are really loss prevention experts foiling your alcoholic shoplifting tendancies. As another poster said, Take the short bus back to the rock you came out from under so store employee's can TALK about you for a giggle. P.S. you drive your cart funny.
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TuNnL
(6/1):
<b>Obviously, the person who wrote this is being sarcastic. Quite frankly, the only departments I know of that ask you if you are finding everything okay, are the produce and grocery departments. There’s rarely more than three people on the floor in either department at a time. The lion’s share of Safeway employees are ofcourse, the cashiers and baggers... and obviously those workers are more concerned with keeping the lines moving then whether they can show you what aisle the eggs are on.</b>
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Elfis
(9/20):
I am Also a Safeway employee, and we don't really give a crap if your finding everything alright. In fact, when I ask a customer "Are you finding everything you need today?" I pray inside they say yes so I can get back to my department and do my work for the day and not have to spend hours trying to explain to you we don't carry scuba gear and that a sporting goods store might be a better choice. Sadly If that customer happens ato be a mystery shopper *insert dramatic music here* I get yelled at berated and otherwise punished for not asking you enough times. The fact of the matter is we a REQUIRED to hit "attributes" with each and every customer.
1. Greet (in a friendly manner making eye contact)
2. Anticipate the customers needs (thats the "are you finding everything you need" part)
3. Take to Item (If you say where are the frozen peas I have to say "On aisle 16 sir, would you like me to show you?" )
4. Parting comment (I have to say something other than "Thanks." like "Have a good one.")
In outside departments (i.e Bakery, Deli etc.) You also have to hit "Sample" that is if you ask "Hows that pasta salad? Is it oily?" I have to say "would you like a sample?"
Furthermore, I have to get "product knowledge" on that one by saying "Our pasta salad is make with real olive oil," THEN "would you like to try a sample?"
you thin YOU'RE getting harassed look at US!!! ANNNND we have to look professional, and the department has to be clean, displays fresh and appealing.. blah blah blah!! and we have to spend 6 hours saying "are you finding everything ok sir?" WITH A SMILE I MIGHT ADD!! Your lucky we don't just pummel your ass with a can of corn and hold you hostage with our box knives until you agree to go away, and never come back!
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fightingtofu
(9/24):
youre kind of retarded. being asked if youre finding things is a sign of GOOD customer service, and they follow you around because you probably look like the kind of person that would steal something.
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Anonymous
(10/27):
I think you are just out to get something. Safeway personnel ask you if they can help you with anything as a courtousy to you the customer. They can play whatever music they want and I doubt that they have any hidden messages. If you don't like thier service shop elseware.I enjoy shopping at safeway and the courtesy they have .
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Anonymous
(11/20):
I have had those days, but now I just deal with it because there is no reason to get upset at the little kid doing his/her job! I just hope they don't get punished if they miss someone with these mystery shopper. I have to admit it is a little much! I would rather we ask them. There is always someone around. It's just not real when they are robotic like that..it's not from the heart! Yes, they should say Hi How are you! or something and that's it.. then we make the move!
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Anonymous
(12/8):
The attitude of some of the Safeway employees that have responded is certainly appalling - totally and completely unprofessional. I'm sorry you hate your jobs so much, but hey, you can always quit - just don't let the door hit you on the ass on your way out. What? Can't quit you say? Well, well, shoulda stayed in school or gotten a job that suited you more. Oh, well, I guess you can't expect much from people with such bad attitudes, sub-standard education, no real work ethic, and a lack of any real motivation.
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Anonymous
(1/5):
To the person above this post. Go. To. Hell. The only reason we work at Safeway, or as we employees call it, "Slaveway" (because we act like f-ing slaves to you customers) is so we can pay for our education and get the hell out of there. We have to act all nice so we don't get chewed out by management and lose our job. You people don't understand how much we hate our jobs. The constant string of stupid questions (where is the bread?), the constant harassment of managment, and the overall enviroment. We just want to make our tuition payments and get a real job. And yeah most of us cannot quit because the pay is good, and maybe finding another job is out of the question. So screw you. You probably pay for everything in your childs life so you won't understand when we say we want to be independent. I hope you go into Safeway and you get your ass harassed by every employee imaginable. Also I hope your spoiled children come to you when they are 40 asking for rent because they thought mommy and daddy would give them money for the rest of thier lives because they were taught only losers work.
To the person who posted this rant....I hate it when we have to bug you, but please understand that we get into so much trouble if we don't do it. Just go with it. We just want to make some cash and get through school...unlike some people who are going to have thier parents pay for everything...
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Anonymous
(3/20):
I work for Safeway and let me tell ya we don't like to do some of the things we do but we do them cause we are required. They take polls to determine what customers like in service and that is what they require from us. Do you all think we like to struggle attempting to say peoples last names? Do you think we like to stop in the middle of our work to say "Hello, are you finding everything ok?" NO we don't! One thing I would love to do is go to some of my customers jobs and treat them how they treat us and see how they appreciate it. We are doing our jobs just like alot of our customers do thier jobs. As for parting comment "Have a great day" I would love to say "don't let the door hit ya!" But you are our customers and we have to do our job and treat the customers right so we can get paid.
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Avenger
(4/21):
So... you're complaining about something like the store's ambient music, and you're griping about employees doing their job? Either you have nothing better do do with your pitiful life, or you're complaining because you're trying to shoplift and can't when employees are around all the time. Just go shop/steal somewhere else, genius. Ever heard of the free market?
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Anonymous
(5/26):
So Z. Birnbaum, why shop there? Why would you want free coupons or vouchers to use at Safeway when you find the environment intolerable? I think you are devoid of logic, not Safeway. As the previous person pointed out, the customer service protocal that you find so offensive is a part of the Safeway corporate culture and is required by employees. Why not shop at someplace with your IPOD in your ears and where you bag your own groceries? Further...why not just stay out of grocery stores altogether and start growing your own produce, squeezing your own juice, baking your own bread and butchering your own meat? Then nobody will assault you by asking you if you are finding everything "o.k."
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Anonymous
(7/4):
Apparently this poster was making a joke. Some of you people just need to take a chill pill.
On the other hand, dissing Safeway employees for doing what they do to get a paycheck is uncouth.
I do work at Safeway. Have been for almost three years now, which puts me in the new contract. Yes, it sucks, but hey, what can you do?...vote for a better one, duh!
Anyway, for someone to complain about how we do our service...geez, either fill out a comment card available at every checkstand, or call 1-877-SAFEWAY and complain there. We don't hide it from you...in fact, it has been at the bottom of your receipts since forever and a half ago.
Yes, I do not like having to G.A.T. every customer, but I can't really quit. I am going to college and can't afford to look for a job in today's hurting economy that pays as much as I make now.
And to oldgrandma who posted on 2/23...I know my store like the back of my hand. If I can't find something you need, and there is actually a hole in the shelf, I would be happy to help you order it through our warehouse. Or you could go to safeway.com and shop there. I have never been called snide or submissive, and so far I have six all-yes shops in a row. I am just glad there are still nice people who shop with us so we don't have to deal with insignificant nose-lifters such as yourself.
And btw, the music you hear plays at all main stores, not just safeway...its the same woman too...I have shopped at krogers too and its the same stuff.
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Anonymous
(8/19):
it is our JOB, and some of us actully like doing it and enjoy the customers...so, for thoes who dont...suck off
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Anonymous
(9/26):
I am A Safeway Employee and I think safeway SUXass it is the most retarded store or company ever and has the most annoying customers who are complaining and whinning all the time--geez if you dont like shopping here no one really wants u here-so jus fuck off!!!!!!!!!!1
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Anonymous
(12/2):
I'm a safeway manager. It is true that we beat it into our employee's heads that they need to do their service. With the way the economy is today, if they don't, we would all be out of a job. It's a tough business with WAL*MART, Fry's, Albertsons and all the other retail/grocery store's out there. If we don't bring up the level of service, what's to stop the customers from shopping at our competitors?? We have the best service in the business and it keeps people coming back to us. We don't like arrogant people that would rather suck (()====> than appreciate hard working employees. We are only trying to make your life a little more enjoyable by creating a friendly environment for you to shop in. If you work for Safeway and you don't like to give "superior customer service" then you need to find a new job. We go out of our way to make every customer happy. I had a customer come in and read a tag above a product and think it was for the product below. He wanted it for the price on the tag above. The tag was for $12.99 and the product cost $54.99. This is an example of a customer trying to take advantage of our customer service policies. He, along with others are simply trying to get something for nothing by using our customer service against us.. because most of the time, they win. It is our customer service policy to give a product for free if it is mislabeled. He contacted corporate when he was denied the product for free(obviously it wasn't mislabeled, he was just misunderstood.) They instructed me to give him $100 out of my own pocket to make him "just go away".. This is an example of the lengths we will go through, just for you. Practically jumping through flaming rings of fire to keep people from getting upset. Is this bad customer service? Is it?
Now.. Would you like any help out with that today, Mr. Birnbaum?
Thank you for shopping at Safeway and have a WONDERFUL day =)
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Responses (18)
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Jimbo
(10/11):
But maybe no one from Safeway reads HolyShnikes! What then? I say ESCALATE!!
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Lovltn848
(11/2):
I am a Safeway employee and I would like to say that we HAVE to do that. We have a program called secret shoppers and we get our asses chewed if we get a bad score. The shoppers look for things like that-greet, anticipate, take to item, parting comment-so we really have no choice unless we want to lose our job.
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steenteam
(1/30):
I think if you have a grievance you should be more professional! You sound like a whining little fool!!! Your posting proves that Safeway certainly gives the BEST customer service in the food industry!
I am a checker at Safeway and try my best to make the food shopping a pleasant experience. You are being extremely childish!!!!!!!
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oldgrandma
(2/23):
You are right on...the only problem is...if you really need something the little fools don't know what the hell it is or where the hell it is. I'm now an EX safeway shopper. By the way, if you dare let them know what you think of their lack of stock you WON'T find a SMILE on their faces then...They are more than happy to be snide and dismissive!!!!!
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rescent
(6/26):
Safeway uses personal information from their stupid card to send you junk mail and junk e-mail - their cards quickly demagnetize so you do not get the gasoline savings promised. Just try to file a compliant - there is no 'customer service' link on their website, and the store employees are trained to say "have a nice day" instead of answering your questions.
Another EX Safeway shopper as of today 6/26/07.
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mutantegg911
(7/5):
I am Employee, My manager is a dick. I just got dinged for not making eye contact to a stupid secret shopper. People should just ask if they need help, we are there when ever we need them. Im going into to work today and i will probly get yelled at for failing and i am only 16. Safeway managment is corrupt.
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SafewayRocks
(3/20):
Wow, such anger for safeway! Yeah, I work there too, and I have earned $100 for 10 100% Shops.. And I love being friendly.. Its not everyone elses fault that you arent as nice. Maybe you tried getting hired on and didnt make the cut.. haha
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Anonymous
(4/15):
Your a fucking idiot
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Anonymous
(5/23):
i too work for safeway (or as i like to say, slaveway) and yes they force us to harass you because we like to overprice our stuff and can't compete on that level with anyone else, so some asshole decided to make "service" a priority. SUre it may be good for people with Alzheimer's, but otherwise i think if you are able then please shop somewhere else. we don't like asking you if everything is fine and you don't like hearing it but we can't stop so it's best if you shop somewhere else
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GREENWALRUS
(7/3):
I'm a meat cutter that jobs for safeway. If I say NO to a customer, I get put on a NO HIRE LIST and get lockout of work through the union. IT IS HARASSMENT. SAFEWAY WOULD BREAK THE LAW TO GET SALES. ALL THERE MANAGEMENT THINK OF IS A BIGER BONUS.
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GREENWALRUS
(7/3):
P.S. IT CALLED A SELF SERVICE COUNTER FOR A REASON. THEY DON'T GIVE US THE LABOR TO KISS UP TO YOU CUSTOMER'S. GET IT OUT OF THE COUNTER OR GO SHOP ELSE WERE. WE PUT UP WITH ENOUGH CRAP.
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Anonymous
(7/18):
I tottally agree. Safeway employees are a bunch of overpaid lazy tards who basically do the same job as mcdonalds employees yet get paid a lot more because they have a union contract. Yet every four years they cry that they are sooooooo underpaid ... DON'T BELIEVE THE HYPE CASHIERS MAKE 23 AN HOUR which is like way more then anyplace else for the same job. Also never shop after 8 pm because then customer service just flies out the window because by union contract secret shoppers can't arrive after 8 p.m. Also if you receive bad customer service at a Safeway Don't complain to the manager as they will do nothing Instead go to the website and inform Safeway themselves as the corporation cares more about how the customer is treated then the employees. I could go on and on as I used 2 work at safeway yet quit when I graduated school. The french bread at night is not fresh and the food in the deli is undercooked so it will last longer on the sales floor as are the donuts. The prices go up twice a year because the employees get raises twice a year and that is why safeway is so exspensive and I no longer shop there but I shop at whole foods. Yes its costly but at least at whole foods you get honesty and quality
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GREENWALRUS
(7/23):
YEARS AGO WE WOULD VEST OUR PENSIONS AT 10 YEAR. THEN SOMEONE LET IT SLIP THAT WE CAN VEST AT 5 YEARS. SAFEWAY AND THE UNION (UFCW) BASE THERE FUNDING THAT MOST PEOPLE WOULD NOT STAY 10 YEARS. SO THEY SHORTED AND MISSED MANAGE THE PENSION. NOW THEY CAN'T KEEP THE PROMISE OF RETIREMENT HEALTH PLAN . SO THEY HARASS THE WORKER'S WITH MISTERY SHOPPERS AND BRING BACK THE RETIRED MEAT BUTCHERS SO THEY DON'T HAVE TO WORK THE YOUNGER BUTCHER'S. PUT LOCK OUT LETTERS ON THEM SO THEY CAN'T GET DISPATCH. HUMM ISN'T THAT RACKETEERING. SO TO KEEP PENSION COSTS DOWN THEY PUSH WORKER'S OUT.
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GREENWALRUS
(7/23):
YEARS AGO WE WOULD VEST OUR PENSIONS AT 10 YEAR. THEN SOMEONE LET IT SLIP THAT WE CAN VEST AT 5 YEARS. AND THE UNION BASE THERE FUNDING THAT MOST PEOPLE WOULD NOT STAY 10 YEARS. SO THEY SHORTED AND MISSED MANAGE THE PENSION. NOW THEY CAN'T KEEP THE PROMISE OF RETIREMENT HEALTH PLAN . SO THEY HARASS THE WORKER'S WITH MASTERY SHOPPERS AND BRING BACK THE RETIRED MEAT BUTCHERS SO THEY DON'T HAVE TO WORK THE YOUNGER BUTCHER'S. PUT LOCK OUT LETTERS ON THEM SO THEY CAN'T GET DISPATCH. HUMM ISN'T THAT RACKETEERING. SO TO KEEP PENSION COSTS DOWN THEY PUSH WORKER'S OUT.
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lillylangtree
(8/3):
I agree, the managers are corporate pig puppets. My uncle was a Safeway District Manager and began a lifelong career at Safeway in the 40's through the 80's. Honesty, customer service and employee morale was most important. Now the most important is "the customer", not job performance and the managers are the first to tell the employees this. They have secret shoppers and that is all that matters to the store managers, not hard work. As a customer I feel raped by their condescending attitude toward me. "How are you"? Are you finding everything you need, would you like cheese with your bread, or salami, are you doing something fun today. I am sick of their phony double-speak language. They pay their employees below low wages and their required to pay monthly union fees without any benefits. They are constantly finding new ways to screw their employees and families out of benefits. I quit shopping at Safeway because of their phony attitudes towards their customers as deep in my heart I know they could truly care less about me, period. Stop the bull Safeway, the public is not that stupid! (I hope)
PS: My husband works at Safeway
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Anonymous
(8/19):
I am also a safeway employee..I unerstand that some customers dont like it, but it is important, and I dont understand why all you SAFEWAY employees are telling everybody to shop elsewhere, when it were not for them you would not get a check...I think you all need to find a new job, somewhere the people like being treated like shit and it dont matter!you guys suck! I hope I never go to your store.
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Anonymous
(11/21):
idiots why dont u try working at safeway instead of complainging at the hard work we do for rude people like u
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Anonymous
(12/1):
i'll bet you didn't know that the apples on the tables are 13 months old??? or that meat has the nasty habit of being left sitting out when it should be kept cold... there are many things that grocers do that would make you give up eating forever.
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