[Gulf coast jon]

Originally Posted by Florida2014

Just curious - what is everyone's fixation with "customer service" at a grocery store?

I don't get it.

For me, it's just like travel and having a (rare) good experience.

Here's an example. I was about to board a plane with my mom and her boyfriend. I volunteered to grab a sub (split three ways) before the flight. Publix subs are legendary. I ask for a turkey sub with coleslaw rather than slathered with mayonnaise. The Publix employee said we don't have coleslaw back here, paused, and then said, "wait a second", went to grab some prepackaged slaw to make the sub. Mom and her boyfriend loved the taste of that sub (as did I).

I've moved, asked the same question at my "new" publix, got rebuked. So yes, customer service can make a moment.

Look, it's not fixation with customer service, but when you get good customer service you might remember it forever.

[Irene1999]

Originally Posted by Hammocks Bum

Nevermind .. Carolina Knight is lost in space..Cannot read back posts nor respond properly to them. I give up !!!!

I think she works for Publix marketing but pretends she doesn’t. She knows like every single supermarket in the region. she has visited many Publix and Winn Dixies and she is not lying about it because I am familiar with several stores in the region also and she is quite familiar with those stores.

As far as Publix I don’t shop there. The stores are clean, the service tends to be good but it is not convenient for me. Ever since I found out they supported some far right candidate I make sure I don’t buy anything there. They are not missing anything though. I don’t think I used to buy more than $50 a year there.

[Carolina Knight]

Who is "she"?

Seriously, I do not work for any supermarket or any grocery retailer. I do follow grocery stores as an interest. The Florida grocery market has changed in the past thirty years.

[Irene1999]

Originally Posted by Carolina Knight

Who is "she"?

Seriously, I do not work for any supermarket or any grocery retailer. I do follow grocery stores as an interest. The Florida grocery market has changed in the past thirty years.

I don’t believe you. You know way too much about too many stores in FL and other states to be “just a hobby”.

I know a few stores myself and your knowledge is way too accurate to be “just an interest”.

♩ ♪ ♫ ♬ Who are you? Who who? Who who? ♩ ♪ ♫ ♬

[Hammocks Bum]

Irene, you're definetely into something !!! Txs

[bale002]

Publix is not perfect, not every store is equal, but generally speaking it is nearly ubiquitous, clean and friendly. My particular store has a deep and broad range of products and is increasingly competitive in the organic/whole foods/green segment. Moreover, it accepts competitors' (admittedly few) prices and in any case I usually save at least one-third weekly off sticker prices with weekly ad, two-for-one (BOGO), etc. For those reasons, in my case anyway, combined with online shopping for certain dry goods, it is seldom worth it to drive to another food store, especially when I can literally walk to my Publix.

My understanding is that Publix pays its employees relatively well and offers only to them (not to the general public) stock shares in the company which pay a pretty good dividend (around 3% last time I checked).

Moreover, it is more than just a food business; it is also a real estate company that hires experts in the field, including architects. Many people make a career at or around Publix and it feeds millions of people.

One could possibly make the case that it wields too much power in the State of Florida.

Personally, I am not complaining, but I would like to see more emphasis on locally grown fruits in season, some of which unique on US soil, but I only find them on roadside or at specialized farms. Too bad.

Good Luck!

[Arcenal813]

Originally Posted by bale002

Publix is not perfect, not every store is equal, but generally speaking it is nearly ubiquitous, clean and friendly. My particular store has a deep and broad range of products and is increasingly competitive in the organic/whole foods/green segment. Moreover, it accepts competitors' (admittedly few) prices and in any case I usually save at least one-third weekly off sticker prices with weekly ad, two-for-one (BOGO), etc. For those reasons, in my case anyway, combined with online shopping for certain dry goods, it is seldom worth it to drive to another food store, especially when I can literally walk to my Publix.

My understanding is that Publix pays its employees relatively well and offers only to them (not to the general public) stock shares in the company which pay a pretty good dividend (around 3% last time I checked).

Moreover, it is more than just a food business; it is also a real estate company that hires experts in the field, including architects. Many people make a career at or around Publix and it feeds millions of people.

One could possibly make the case that it wields too much power in the State of Florida.

Personally, I am not complaining, but I would like to see more emphasis on locally grown fruits in season, some of which unique on US soil, but I only find them on roadside or at specialized farms. Too bad.

Good Luck!

Well said.

As for the fruits, I couldn't agree more. It's a shame that the only place where I can find a variety of locally-grown citrus is at a fruit stand on the side of the road. This isn't just a Publix issue, but a Florida grocery store issue overall.

[gypsychic]

Originally Posted by Arcenal352

Well said.

As for the fruits, I couldn't agree more. It's a shame that the only place where I can find a variety of locally-grown citrus is at a fruit stand on the side of the road. This isn't just a Publix issue, but a Florida grocery store issue overall.

I think the problem is that mainstream grocery stores like Publix have to order from certain suppliers, since a local business would maybe not have enough to supply all. But my Publix store DOES have a few local items. Here in Sarasota we have a couple of independently owned Amish grocery stores that carry a huge line of local/organic. That is probably your best bet for fresh local produce if you have access to this type of store. I agree that the produce is probably the weakest area of Publix.

[Arcenal813]

Originally Posted by gypsychic

I think the problem is that mainstream grocery stores like Publix have to order from certain suppliers, since a local business would maybe not have enough to supply all. But my Publix store DOES have a few local items. Here in Sarasota we have a couple of independently owned Amish grocery stores that carry a huge line of local/organic. That is probably your best bet for fresh local produce if you have access to this type of store. I agree that the produce is probably the weakest area of Publix.

I've been to Yoder's a few times. I like that place.

[boy3365]

Originally Posted by gypsychic

I think the problem is that mainstream grocery stores like Publix have to order from certain suppliers, since a local business would maybe not have enough to supply all. But my Publix store DOES have a few local items. Here in Sarasota we have a couple of independently owned Amish grocery stores that carry a huge line of local/organic. That is probably your best bet for fresh local produce if you have access to this type of store. I agree that the produce is probably the weakest area of Publix.

I agree. The big chains are not going to be able to offer as many local non-perishables as smaller chains or especially single-site stores. I believe this desire for nearly everything to be local, especially at chain stores, costs more than the general public realizes and is willing to pay.