HELOISE: Readers react to irate shopper

Dear Readers: We printed a letter from a shopper who became upset when stores didn’t have sale items in stock. She said she just “stops in her tracks and unloads whatever items she’s already picked up on any nearby shelf.”

We asked our readers to comment on this, and boy, did you! Here are some comments:

Kelly S. of Broken Bow, Neb., says: “My family has worked in grocery stores for ages. I agree that a substitute should be available, but sometimes the truck is late getting the stock to the store. At that time, a rain check is the appropriate answer to give the shopper.”

Linda in New Mexico says: “My husband retired from a national grocery chain and often had complaints regarding advertised specials not being available. The fliers that are in the newspapers are prepared at the national level. Not every store carries every item. It has been frustrating to many, including myself. Another problem is that the registers are computerized to recognize the weekly specials, including coupons. If the register has not been programmed correctly, it will not accept the coupon or give the sale price — frustrating!”

A reader in Troutman, N.C., says, “We take pride in the appearance of our store, and merchandise thrown around in an unorganized fashion makes for a poor appearance for other shoppers.”

Marlene of Nebraska says: “The reader who ‘punishes’ the grocery store by unloading her cart is rude and inconsiderate! If she wanted to make a point, she could push her cart to the customer-service desk and register her complaint. Most stores try very hard to make sure they have enough advertised special items on hand.”

A Reader in Washington, D.C., says: “I, too, sometimes get frustrated when an advertised item is not in stock at a grocery. However, ‘major’ urban supermarkets are frequently much smaller than their ‘sister’ stores in the ’burbs and just don’t have sufficient stockroom space for extra sale items. I’ve learned that sale items almost always are in stock when I go to the store as early as possible on the first day of the sale.”

Send a money-saving or timesaving hint to Heloise, P.O. Box 795000, San Antonio, TX 78279-5000, fax it to 210-HELOISE or e-mail it to Heloise@Heloise.com.

King Features Syndicate