Being "nice" is not limited to the individual

[SadieKate]

People carried cash.

This isn't all one-sided decisions by the store.

[snapdragen]

I detest Whole Foods, but I think this was a very cool thing to do.

snap "doesn't carry cash" dragen

[SadieKate]

Where do dragons put their credit cards?

[snapdragen]

We have special pockets.

[Biciclista]

what's cash? A singer?

[bmccasland]

Once upon a time, items had prices actually marked on them, not silly bar codes. So when the lights go out, one could still add up the cost, and either pay cash or write a check.

I miss those days.... sigh...............

[yellow]

Once upon a time, items had prices actually marked on them, not silly bar codes. I miss those days.... sigh...............

On December 24, the neighborhood market (a real market, not a quickie mart) that we go to--that does NOT take credit cards, that does not use bar codes, and that has cash registers that the checkers punch the numbers in to--will close its doors for ever. We are heartbroken, as we love this market, which has been in business for 86 years. It smells like a market. It has a real butcher/meat counter and steaks are hand cut to order. The proprietor, Bill (whom we all knew) recently passed away and while his family worked in the market with him and could keep it going, they are ready to move on.

I suspect there are several others out there still, but they will disappear as their proprietors move on.

[OakLeaf]

People carried cash.

And tax returns were filed by people with pencils who had to do all their calculations either by hand, or on a machine that was separate from the ledger that kept the books.

Sales tax was calculated on the spot by cashiers who had to hand-separate taxable from non-taxable items.

Recordkeeping, as much as the sales transactions, is impossible when computers are down (or would take way too much time for people to stand in line). And the IRS doesn't much care for approximations and guesses.

[smilingcat]

Back when...

When cashiers told you that the total was $2.16 and you gave $2.25, they could tell you how much change to give you. Today's kids are sooo confused. or worse if its $9.35 and you give them $10.50 Oh wooowwww hooollld onnnn. why are you giving me $10.50 instead of just the $10.00 bill

sheesh.

I'm just wayyy too jaded to believe in pay what you thinkyou owe us. Engineers I work with are so &^%%$ cheap, they'll pay maybe 25% of actual worth if that.

Or maybe my outlook is somewhat jaded for living in NYC during the '78 brownout. local KFC's metal grate in front was torn off and place ransacked. So did the stereo store. Several of grocery stores also had their metal grate torn off and place ransacked. And furniture store too. Most desired items being hauled/carted away was mattresses, box springs. People were too poor to have a nice bed or were sleeping on the floor. only place untouched was the local pizzaria. I've seen local police taking a thick envelope under the counter from the proprietor.

Then my partner also had the pleasantries during Rodney King incident. She had a warehouse where she did manufacturing of gift items. One of the people patrolled the roof with a high-powered rifle to keep looters away.

Oh then there is her cousin who had just come back from 'nam and was working the beat as LA cop during WATT riot. yesserrie. He was in the midst of it. Ex-marine trying to return to civilian life as a rookie police dealing with the WATTS riot.

We also hate whole food. My partner had a jar of change so she tried to pay for it in change only like $5.00 worth of bill and the cashier gal made a scene and refused to accept her change. Mostly quarters. Store manager refused it too. So she walked out without the item but all the change in her pocket. so WE REFUSE TO SHOP THERE!! They can go to ^%$$&.

smilingcat

[snapdragen]

smilingcat and snapdragen, together we shall bring WF to their knees.

[DebTX]

I really liked that story.

Not just a good story about "Whole Foods" - but also about leadership.
This manager stepped up and made a decision about how to handle something unexpected and difficult.

She didn't have time to consult, and make lists of pros and cons - her customers had ice cream melting in their carts.

I applaud her for making a decision in the best interests of the customers. Reminds me of the kind of decision making I see at Nordstrom - where the right answer is always "What is easiest for the customer?"

[pardes]

I really liked that story.

Not just a good story about "Whole Foods" - but also about leadership.
This manager stepped up and made a decision about how to handle something unexpected and difficult.

She didn't have time to consult, and make lists of pros and cons - her customers had ice cream melting in their carts.

I applaud her for making a decision in the best interests of the customers. Reminds me of the kind of decision making I see at Nordstrom - where the right answer is always "What is easiest for the customer?"

Phew! Thanks Deb! I was regretting posting it and wondering if anyone would just take it at face value. I'm pretty shocked by the level of "yes, buts...."

Anyway, Happy Holidays!

[spindizzy]

I think this was a great story about leadership and customer service - a commodity that is lacking in many of the stores that I make purchases within. Though people may have had bad experiences at this store- this story is about a company that empowers and supports some of it's employees to make on-the-spot decisions that may impact future sales. Who knows, maybe some of the people have gone back to pay, perhaps some have made a donation to a charity in lieu of paying the store and their is undoubtedly, some people that have enjoyed their "free" groceries.

My thoughts....

[tulip]

And tax returns were filed by people with pencils who had to do all their calculations either by hand, or on a machine that was separate from the ledger that kept the books.

Sales tax was calculated on the spot by cashiers who had to hand-separate taxable from non-taxable items.

Recordkeeping, as much as the sales transactions, is impossible when computers are down (or would take way too much time for people to stand in line). And the IRS doesn't much care for approximations and guesses.

I carry cash and I do my taxes with a pencil and calculator. I have two houses and a home business. It's not rocket science.

I don't shop at WF (when there was one near me it took nearly all of my cash, and now there's nary a WF to be found in these parts.) I think what they did was really the best thing though. They more than make up that difference in a very short time.

[OakLeaf]

It's not rocket science, but it's way more than the cashiers are trained or equipped for, and it's potentially a big liability for the corporation. Keeping the books at a national chain may not be any more intellectually complex than doing the books at a small business with one location and a handful of employees, but it's several orders of magnitude more complicated on a practical level.

I'm not a big fan of Whole Foods either, but that's really only because they're a big national chain that behaves the same way as any other big national chain. I admit I shop at supermarkets. I patronize locally-owned natural food stores, farmers' markets and farm stands, but sometimes I just need, oh, say, baking soda; and other times my commitment to buying local and organic produce falters in the face of seasonal monotony or plain absence. Now if I had both a Kroger's (union) and a Whole Foods (non-union, but better selection) locally, that would be a tough choice.