Adventures at Wegmans

[fbhjr]

On my way home from my adventures today, I stopped at Wegmans.

I don’t normally go there. For a market 1/8 of a mile long they really don’t have much I like. And, everything is a hike in there to get the 3 or 4 things I want.
But, Friday night when we were at yebo & zosh’s place they had some very good seaweed snacks at that was where they came from.
So, I stopped.

My wife had specifically requested lobster. And, given how she drove out for the car stuff today I thought she deserved one.
They have a big tank of them there, but no one was around it.
So, I went over to the main fish counter and stood there.
They had a whole bass laid out in the ice.
“That’s a stripped bass,” a young man in the store uniform told me.
“I know,” I said.
“I told you because you were looking at it,” he told me.
“Actually I’m looking for lobster.”
“They’re in the tank behind you.”
“Can I just fish out the ones I want?”
“No, you need someone to help you,” he said.
“Which brings me to why I’m talking to you over a stripped bass,” I said.
“You want help with the lobsters?”
“Yes. Can you do that?”
“I can!”
So, he got us out two lobsters.

One was very feisty.

As it came out of the tank, the rubber band on its right claw came off.
“I’ll have to replace that!” he said.
“I do not fear the lobster,” I said. “Put it in the bag and all will be well.”
“There must be a rubber band on it or it could get your finger!”
I reached over and pushed the claw together.
“It is now safe for you to put a rubber band on,” I told him.
He gave me a bit of a dirty look, but put on a new rubber band.

Then, I set off to find the seaweed.
“With the other Japanese things,” is what I had been told.
But, I had no idea where in the store that would be.
As I walked down the aisle looking at the overhead signs, two very old men were pushing a cart along.
“Do you know where the coffee is?” one of them was asking everyone who passed. Most folks just kept walking. Two folks in Wegmans shirts said “no” and kept going.
“You in the red coat!” he said to me. “Where’s the coffee.”
“I’m afraid I don’t know,” I told him. “The store is quite large and this is only my third time in here.”
“You don’t work here, then?”
“No, I don’t.”
“Well, thank you for at least stopping to answer me.”

As I continued looking for the Japanese things, I did come across the coffee.
I walked back the three aisles.
“Sir, the coffee appears to be in aisle 12b,” I told him.
“You found it!” he shouted. “Thank God for you son!”
The other old man, who looked like pushing the shopping cart was about the limit of his physical ability looked over.
“What is it?” he asked. “What’s wrong?!?”
“This young man has found the coffee!” the first one shouted. “We’ll be able to buy coffee and go home!”
“Where?!? Where is the coffee?!?”
“Aisle 12b,” I said.
“12b! Where is that?”
“It’s this way,” I said.
I walked the three aisles over and pointed.
“Coffee!” the first man shouted as they shuffled over. “It’s true! This young man has really found the coffee!”
“Thank you son! Thank you!” the second shouted as they turned down the coffee aisle.

The folks in front of me in the register line were buying beer with American Express Traveler’s Checks. I don’t even remember the last time I saw traveler’s checks. At least a dozen years. Maybe more.
So, it took a person who was over 21 to ring in the beer and then a manager to deal with the check.

I’m not planning on making that place our normal supermarket.

Comments

[brickhousewench.livejournal.com]

The bit about the coffee. LOLz, I swear, you can't make that stuff up. *giggles*

[malterre.livejournal.com]

you can't make that stuff up. *giggles*
I know, right? I told him
"You MUST blog this"

[cissa.livejournal.com]

I LOVE!!!! the coffee anecdote. I've had similar things happen, but not as funny!

[evrgreen.livejournal.com]

It sounded like you had an encounter with a real-life Waldorf and Statler over the coffee thing!
Too gosh darn funny!!!

[cosmicirony.livejournal.com]

Too funny! I totally get what you're saying, but I have to say that I think Wegman's rocks. It sure takes some getting used to, and the logic of the layout is confusing, but I've always had wonderful customer service.

[fbhjr.livejournal.com]

Yes, but you are an evil mastermind. They always get good service...

I watched two employees fail to help those old men. And, I had to talk to the fish before anyone would help me with the sea bugs.
And, my first trip there it took three different tries to find an employee who could tell me where the soda was.
So, the service there hasn't impressed me that much.

[chris-warrior.livejournal.com]

were you armed on either of these visits? ;)

i find their customer service generally good. though when they get busy, it slips.

[fbhjr.livejournal.com]

And they were very busy yesterday.

[cissa.livejournal.com]

J actually likes crowds. He'll go out shopping- FOR FUN!- on Xmas eve. Insanity.

I still haven't been to Wegman's- J doesn't mind going, and I find huge stores and crowds intimidating.

Price Chopper has pretty good customer service, though I think it was better before they moved...

[morgan-lafaye.livejournal.com]

It was nice of you to help the old ones. That IS what the clerks are for.Linda keeps saying I need to go to Wegman's.The more you speak of it the less inclined I am to check it out.

[fbhjr.livejournal.com]

If you do go, don't go on at a peak time.

[chris-warrior.livejournal.com]

i drank the Wegman's kool-aid early, but then again, they started around here.

if the satellite stores are anything like the originals, i second "don't go at peak times" and also "know what you're looking for and how much you're willing to pay for it/what a good price is", cause they can get expensive. their produce is generally really good, and they tend to carry a ton of natural/organic stuff.

i tend to do most of my shopping at Price Chopper and Aldis (who also own Trader Joes) and only go to Wegmans for sales and when i need something i can't find anywhere else.

[cissa.livejournal.com]

My husband- who does most of our grocery shopping- adores Wegman's. But- it IS the closest grocery store to us now.

[ravena-kade.livejournal.com]

I wish I were closer as it sounds like wegmans could use my customer service skills...and it the store is that big they should hire people to act as runners ;-)

[fbhjr.livejournal.com]

They are supposed to be opening other branches here in MA. But, I don't know where.

[cissa.livejournal.com]

Burlington, for one, but it'll be a smaller store than the N'boro one, or so I've read.

[chris-warrior.livejournal.com]

they're consistently voted one of the best places to work around here. their CS is generally a lot better than what Frank ran into. hrm.

[palusbuteo.livejournal.com]

You've had a busy week, first you were Gray Meat Man, then Lobster Wrangler Man, now you are Coffee God

:D

Traveler's checks - wow, I didn't even know they still made those things. Everything had seemingly gone to and been overly dependent on plastic.

I know what you mean about the place being too big and too much, and where service seems to be lousy, but I think that'd be any place it just seems
amplified in a larger place.

[pallid-regina.livejournal.com]

You are the king of coffee!

Hm, yeah, that sounds less than stellar.