Being "nice" is not limited to the individual

[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?"

[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.

[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....

[salsabike]

And, actually, I quite like Whole Foods.

[Irulan]

We don't have a WF, they visited and deemed our fair city not cool enough.


We have a great locally owned place though.

[PamNY]

Pardes, I thought it was an interesting story and I'm glad you posted it.

I've never understood the wrath provoked by Whole Foods. It's not my favorite, but since no one forces me to shop there, I don't see a problem.

I do plan to complain about their lack of bike parking as soon as I research the issue and know for sure that they could have done better. But I'm only doing that because of their overuse of moralistic signage, which will be fun to quote in my complaint.

Pam

[Dogmama]

[QUOTE=OakLeaf;389633]
Sales tax was calculated on the spot by cashiers who had to hand-separate taxable from non-taxable items.

QUOTE]

Tee-hee. I remember when all items were taxed, food or non-food. And the grocery store gave out Gold Bond stamps that you could redeem for camping gear at your local Gond bond store. That's after licking all the stamps, putting them in books & un-sticking your tongue from the roof of your mouth.

[tulip]

I just think they are too expensive, is all. I think they provide a good work environment though. I have a couple of friends who've worked at WF for a long time. They ought to have bike racks in front!

[snapdragen]

My WF hatred stems from our local store (Campbell, CA). On two different occasions I bought seedless watermelons. Both times when I got the melons home and cut them open, they were rotten. When I complained, the manager told me I should have had someone at the store cut the melon open before I bought it. In other words, it was my fault they sold me rotten produce. Then there are the moldy scones they were selling in the bakery.

[Tuckervill]

We pay taxes on everything in my state. Although, our governor has been trying to lower the sales tax on groceries incrementally. Currently at 3% down from like 6. Municipalities also add sales tax, so I don't know how much it is on groceries from area to area.

Karen

[pardes]

But I'm only doing that because of their overuse of moralistic signage, which will be fun to quote in my complaint.Pam

Please post a photo. I love bizarre signage.

[salsabike]

My WF hatred stems from our local store (Campbell, CA). On two different occasions I bought seedless watermelons. Both times when I got the melons home and cut them open, they were rotten. When I complained, the manager told me I should have had someone at the store cut the melon open before I bought it. In other words, it was my fault they sold me rotten produce. Then there are the moldy scones they were selling in the bakery.

Stupid manager tricks. Hoping that's local, not a Whole Foods corporate policy.

I actually had something similar happen with green peppers at the neighborhood QFC. They took 'em back, offered to cut open three more, the three were fine, and they gave them to me for nothing as a compensation for having to return rotten ones.