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Monday, August 25, 2008

A Letter To The Editor

Good morning Joe! As always, love the blog and please keep it up! Seems like the only way we know what is really happening in Salisbury.

I was wondering if you could put something up this weekend as I felt I was getting a little scammed and do not want this to happen to anyone else. I’m sure there are so many it’s not even funny. My sister and I went into Superfresh this Friday evening to take advantage of the triple off coupons they were offering. This is the first time I have really done some serious shopping at this store in years. We got done and got to the register and when the kid was done scanning, I handed him my coupons. I then tried to hand him my super fresh bonus card and he told me I had already given it. I told him I hadn’t and he needed to scan it because there was no way my total was what it was. He did it and it came down. I still thought it looked funny but waited till I got the receipt to check it over. He started to scan my sisters stuff next. I looked at the receipt and realized they had only doubled my coupons! I said something to the guy at the register and after about 2 mins he says, well you gave me the coupons first, you’re supposed to give your card first then coupons. I asked him why he didn’t tell me that before I gave him the coupons if that was such an important piece of information and he just said you have to do it that way first or it doesn’t work. I then asked him why there wasn’t signs posted on the registers or even on their weekly circular stating this. He just kept scanning. The girl next to him looked at the receipt and didn’t say anything. I asked her if they could fix it. She said you’ll have to come back tomorrow to customer service to get them too. I asked them how many other people this had happened to that they didn’t care to tell and she just handed me the receipt and turned back to her register. The lady who I guessed was the manager came by (she was the one they kept having fix things on the register) and I told her about what happened and asked her if she could fix it. She said she didn’t even know they were doing triple coupons that week and no she couldn’t help me either (they were closing in 5 min.). Needless to say my sister gave her card first and then her coupons and it worked great. I came in the next morning to get it fixed and the girl (along with the 2 lady’s the night before and the boy on the register) was extremely rude. I told her what had happened and that I would like the amount that didn’t get tripled back. I couldn’t believe it, but she started fussing at me because I didn’t hand them the card first then the coupons! I told her first of all, the kid at the register tried to tell me I had given it to him. Second of all he never mentioned to me that I had to give that to him first, because believe me I would have to have not had to have come back to the store the next morning. Third, if that information is so important they needed to let people know when they got to the register first and have it on their flier. I told her I guess they didn’t want to do that though because it seemed that they made more money with less people knowing. She didn’t say another word to me and handed me my money.

I was rather insulted that they had done this to me and wanted to get on me for not doing it and also for the fact that so many others have probably been some what taken by this also if they didn’t look at the receipts. I am today writing the main office in New Jersey and am going to call the Area Manager. I figured it didn’t hurt to get the word out though for all of the others that still want to take advantage of this great deal! Money is tight for everyone.

Thanks and have a great day!

34 comments:

Anonymous said...

Interesting to know....I ONLY shop at Superfresh during their triple coupons and had no idea you had to give your savings card first in order for the coupons to triple. Glad you were able to catch it & get your (much deserved) money back! You can bet I'll be checking my receipt like a hawk when I shop there from now on.

Anonymous said...

I dont think a coupon story is hardly worth a post.

Anonymous said...

Super Fresh has rude, incompetent employees. I have had many go-rounds with them. I go straight to the manager when I have a problem. A new manager told me once that he gets resistence from the employees, and he's the manager. Also, many of the employees are retirement age, they have worked for Super Fresh for years, some of them are from the up north store when SF was there, and some are from the SF when it was in the Fruitland area. The employees are not well trained. I could write a book about the abuse the employees at SF give the customers. You are not alone, but anyone who goes to SF will eventually get the treatment.

Anonymous said...

Cry baby! Go apply for food stamps if your food budget is so tight.

Anonymous said...

i had my run in with superfresh a couple of years ago when they changed their policy of doubling coupons up to and inclding $1.00 to $.55 or $.50 cents. The sign was posted at the exit, not the entrance. I specifically went to superfresh with certain coupons to buy certain products because money was (still is) extremely tight. I went to the 'courtesy desk,' and experienced absolutely NO courtesy. That has been the last time I shopped there. It wasn't because they didn't double my coupons anymore, but because the cashier and the management were so rude! I'll go to Giant and Walmart!

Anonymous said...

you really want to know the problem with superfresh employees?

the management can hardley fire anyone. why? they are union.

Anonymous said...

12:04
It's not your blog is it?!

12:14
Just because someone uses coupons doesn't mean that they are eligible for food stamps. It's nice to know that there are some out there who are fortunate enough to not have to worry about watching their pennies..why don't you send some of it my way if you have too much?!

Anonymous said...

these people are getting paid like minimum wage give them a break.

Anonymous said...

It's not just Super Fresh , it's
all over in every business. People
don't have a clue what's going on.
They get a job and draw a paycheck
and that's all that matters. Supervisors don't lead and they are
just as ignorant. It is left up to
the consumer to be alert.

Anonymous said...

FOR THE COMMENT ABOUT THE FOOD STAMPS. WE DONT LIVE HOME W/ MOM AND DAD FOR FREE. WE HAVE HOUSE PAYMENTS, CAR PAYMENTS, DAYCARE ETC... MAYBE ONE DAY YOU WILL GET IN THE REAL WORLD OR WONT BE UNDER MOMMY AND DADDY'S WING AND SEE HOW THE REAL WORLD WORKS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Anonymous said...

I understand your situation completely. A penny saved is a penny earned. Things are tough all over. Saw Stevie Prettyman in the produce section. She had a really nice pair of melons.

Anonymous said...

I don't know if its a company wide policy or not, but the SF in West Ocean City doesn't take the coupons you can print online. I had some baby food coupons that I received in one of my online newsletters and they would not accept them.

Anonymous said...

1:18
They are UNION, they are getting paid far more than minimum wage.

I shop at Super Fresh quite often (just for the sale items) and have never had a problem.
I did get spoiled chicken once but they refunded my money without an incident.

Anonymous said...

Cry baby! Go apply for food stamps if your food budget is so tight.

12:14 PM


This is not about the money. It is about what is right. I will question a penny if a company is lying to me and it's other patrons. What's right is right no matter what the dollar amount. This is the problem with this country, we have become passive and no one fights for what is morally right.

Anonymous said...

I have come to the conclusion that the Super Fresh employees are rude and obnoxious. They all definitely need to have some people skill seminars. I recently had a run in a few weeks ago trying to buy a gift card. Try to avoid the store, its dirty and they are rude.

Anonymous said...

I don't know much about triple coupons but the produce section is packed with big, round, juicey melons.I thought I saw council member Prettyman returning two the the biggest, bulbous pieces of fruit I've ever seen. She was holding them close to the vest, if you will.

Anonymous said...

Ha ha, coming into the store at 10:55 to do all your shopping is a mistake when all the cashiers get off from an 8 hour day at 11:00, of course the employees aren't going to care as much if you save your extra $3.50 cents when you come in with a kart full of food. Also there is a sign that states at every register that you should give your card to the cashier at the beginning of every transaction. It also states IN THE SALES FLYER that you need your card for the triple coupons. So stop assuming that the card takes it off at the end. If you are that serious of a shopper you would give it to them at the beginning. Also, that boy and 2 ladies were not there the next day when you came in, stop making up lies.

Anonymous said...

haha also, its really funny that the Maryland foodstamp card has the words "Independence Card" written across the front.

Anonymous said...

It's awful nice to see the Superfresh employees are still just as nice on your blog Joe as they are in their store. :) Also nice to see they remember who it was who was in there and how nasty they were. By the way, we came in at 8:45 for clarification and the outside of your store advertises open 24 hours. Maybe you should get that changed. I think I’ll go back in and see how big that sign is you’re talking about, because I’m not the only person who has never seen it. Second, if you can't handle your job no matter the time, you shouldn't be there anyways or get your shift changed. You’re not there to treat people like crap. Third, I did use the card, it's your flier that doesn't state you need it at a certain point, read your flier again. And if that is so important, you'll stop ripping people off and say something to your boss and get it fixed instead of standing up for being a rip off. And last read the email again, I didn't say the boy and two ladies were there the next day, just that they were just as rude as the lady at the customer service desk. Gee that may be you? Sounds to me like there are a lot of people thinking you were standing by what you’ve advertised and come to find out, you are just as much as fault as the store. Just get over it, you've been BLOGGED! Thanks joe!

Daddio said...

I discovered years ago that shopping at StupidStale was a big mistake: Their so-called "sale" items did not scan with the correct price, and it took nearly an act of Congress to get them to make things right.

My biggest peeve was allowing the cashier to complete the transaction before asking them to fix the sale prices. Once the transaction was completed, I had to go wait in another line at the service desk for them to make the adjustment. Had I known that ahead of time, I would not have completed the original transaction, and made the cashier fix it.

But, since this type of thing continued to occur, we simply decided to take our business elsewhere.

It would seem that things have not changed in the several years since those incidents with us, and I am not surprised at all.

MelissaW said...

2:50
Yes, it is Super Fresh corporate policy to NOT accept any internet printed coupons. Sorry!

Anonymous said...

That's what you get for not shopping at Giant Food! Go to Giant and ask for Patty..she will give you the coupon money that Super Fresh cheated you even if you don't purchase anything to provide you a service and gain you as a customer.

Anonymous said...

This store is great for running out of of their advertised specials by 6:59am on Fridays when they begin at 7:00am. It's not worth the hassle. I stopped shopping there after they had their last lobster special which wasn't available Friday afternoon, most of Saturday and I gave up on Sunday. Also the seafood counter doesn't open whenb the store opens either

Anonymous said...

anon 1206 if superfresh employees are rude and incompetent then what does that make you for continuing to shop there after many go-rounds with them? Maybe you just enjoy being treated like shit.

Anonymous said...

You get what you get by doing what you do......just don't shop there anymore. Bad service, like high prices, takes care of itself if you let it.

Chimera said...

I think this story is totally worth posting!The Daily Times is NOT going to print a letter like this because it is afraid to lose advertisers.That said,why shop at THAT store?They really are more expensive in my opinion!Giant is good when I get to Salisbury just wish we had more stores to pick from like Harris Teeter or Whole Foods or even Krogers!

Anonymous said...

blutojthetotmom- You talk about Superfresh being expensive, but them wish you could shop at Whole Foods or Harris Teeter? Those are the MOST EXPENSIVE grocery stores on the the planet! they are both great, I agree, but wow, those prices...

Jim said...

MelissaW said...
2:50
Yes, it is Super Fresh corporate policy to NOT accept any internet printed coupons. Sorry!

7:52 PM

-------------------------

Then why do they offer the coupons online if they wont accept them? Makes no sense to me if that is policy. Do they have a disclamer saying you need an original coupon to use at the store? I am sure there are flyers in the store that have the real coupons, but they should not put them online if they wont accept them.
BTW for big shops I will go to Walmart because they are usually cheaper even without coupons. For smaller items I go to Food Lion. I do hate Wal-Mart but like Food Lion... never had a problem there.

JIM

Go Caps!!
(Is it Hockey season yet!??)

Anonymous said...

capsfan9--SuperFresh doesn't put the coupons online...marketing companies do this for the manufacturer of the products does. It is then the right of any corporate office to create guidelines (rules if you will) for the individual stores to follow regarding their coupon acceptance policy.

And FWIW, SuperFresh is not the only store that will not accept internet printed coupons. I know for a fact that Rite Aid will not accept printed coupons unless they bear the Rite Aid logo on them.

Anonymous said...

Unfortunately counterfiet coupons from the internet have created the policy. I do not work at Superfresh so this comes from experience. Understand they are in business for a profit and when people choose to steal through counterfiet coupons it removes the profit. As for the rude employees, I have never experienced that. I have seen many nasty rude customers treat the cashiers like they are dogs so if you experienced problems maybe a look in the mirror may help. Sh&t in Sh&t out as they say. People working retail deserve respect as you expect to be treated with respect. I realize there are exceptions everywhere but a smile and some courtesy goes a long way.

Anonymous said...

I went to Super Fresh a week or so ago when they were having a sale on some meats- totally unimpressed. The store doesn't flow well, they didn't have much in the way of organics, and it was not a nice environment. I purchased the same things/types of things I purchase at Giant, and spent $50 more!! I really couldn't believe it. I guess this is what I get from straying from Giant- I will continue to shop at Giant from now on- I definitely won't stray again. It is a very clean and well-organized store, and I have always been greeted with a smile and a courteous attitude. And, even buying a fair amount of organic food, I still manage to spend less there. And, the newly renovated store has an awesome selection of things (and they'll special order things for you if they don't regularly stock it- a really nice feature for sure).

Anonymous said...

It's all personal preferance, and you make your experiences what they are! No store is perfect but if you feel comfortable shopping there and it works for you then by all means shop there. It's no reason to bash one place or another. For example I don't like that Food Lion doesn't have a cutomer service counter to go to if you have a problem, or that WalMarts aren't all set up in a similar format you have to take a second and remember which one you are in to remember where things are in that particular one, but I don't publicly bash these stores or their associates!! The fact that there are rude employees at SuperFresh can be said about any store, there are good and bad people everywhere and SuperFresh employees should not all be lumped into one catagory. There are nice and rude customers everywhere and after a day of serving rude people all day that act as if you are below them starts to wear on a person. For the comments that business' scam customers, now think about that logically. Why would any company knowingly charge a customer of theirs 50 cents more to in turn lose that customer forever, it just doesn't make sense. It's called human error, although a computer rings up your items ultimately a person is responsible for feeding the info. into that computer! As for the original blog about how rudely that customer was treated, I totally agree. That cashier knows his job and knows that the card is to be scanned before any coupons, that was his fault and if he made that mistake and the customer courteousy desk was closed than he should have figured up the refund amount and just gave the lady her money out of his till and left a note for the bookkeeper the next day, after all it was HIS fault! Then none of this would have ever been started and the customer would have left happy and ultimately thats what any business wants happy and returning customers!!! And lastly for the response that management can not fire anyone because SuperFresh is Union is ridiculous! There are still guide lines that every employee has to follow and there are steps management can take to get an employee dismissed from there position, but because they are Union an employee can not be fired just because someone in management has a personal beef if you will against an employee. Which is more than I can say for some other stores in the area! And the cashiers @ SuperFresh are not paid well because they are Union, for one thing Unions are no longer what they used to be when they stood up for the little guy, an average raise is 20 to 30 cents a year which hardly competes with growing gas, electric, grocery and all other living expenses. So the next time you encounter a rude employee be it SuperFresh, WalMart , Food Lion or Giant kill them with kindness. It works for me and it gives you a sense of satisfaction for not stupping to thier level and remember one bad employee or customer does not represent the entire company so be careful in how you lump groups of people together!!! Have a great day!!!

Chimera said...

I know Giant is on the high side but the service is awesome and they have a alot of things other markets just do not have to offer.They have the best assortment of kosher food I have ever seen on the Shore and they also have those hard to find gourmet ingredients.And they have great sales specials!

Anonymous said...

You're right companies shouldn't be lumped together. But the fact that all 3 employees knew the supposed right way to do the coupons and never said a word until they complained is unexcusable by any means. This is not bashing it's called letting the cat out of the bag. If it's not true and they haven't been doing it for years, why in the world have so many others had the same problem? Why should anyone have to check a company for being honest to save money? As hard as things get every penny saved is worth it. Obviously there are a lot of people who have had this same problem with the coupons, so yes as of right now, it does look like the company is scamming people. I'm sure these people who have posted have complained to the managers and what has been done? How do you know this person didn't kill them with kindness while they were in there and still got treated rudely. Really got them far didn't it? About the union, I guess you've never been a supervisor over union employees cause yes it is very hard to fire a nasty uncooperative employee. Been there done that.