weirdest, unpleasant experience today at Wholefoods June 12, 2010

I just had the weirdest, unpleasant experience today at Wholefoods in the bulk section. I was looking for organic dry roasted unsalted peanuts. Couldn’t find them and when I was leaving I noticed the peanuts I wanted were in the peanut butter grinder, completely labeled. I took a scoop from the bin next to in, scooped them in a bag, labeled them and began to leave. A young woman Wholefoods staff comes up from behind and surprises me with “You can’t do that!” She proceeds to tell me it’s because her manager say so, and I’ve just contaminated the “Organic” bin with a conventional scooper (which was not attached to a bin and likely gets used for many bins) and she’ll have to throw all the peanuts away. At that point I asked to talk to a manager. She did seem to make an effort but couldn’t find a manager. I finally decided to leave. I went to the checkout and rang up the peanuts with my other groceries with no problem.

All in all I know there are people who are not good with customers in most stores, but I’m particularly concerned because aside from being obnoxious and wasting my time I’m an investor in Wholefoods, and as an investment Wholefoods has sucked for quite awhile. The problem comes from her manager and/or her manager’s manager who is responsible for hiring and training these people. Yes, I have staff and I’m sure they have pissed off customers from time to time. It’s not a simple matter, I know. I would be less concerned if the Wholefoods stock was doing better. The competition is stiff. I’ve never had any experience like this at Trader Joe’s, or even at Safeway. I did years ago at Berkeley Bowl and haven’t been back since. I’m afraid that’s also what’s happening at Wholefoods.

I don’t really need anything, except for he stock to go up – and I’ll stay out of the peanut butter bin and buy my peanuts elsewhere.

Tomas