Before Thanksgiving, I was doing a little grocery shopping. Macey's is my preferred choice for grocery shopping, not only for the prices, but for their general overall kindness and willingness to do things for the community. However, I had decided to hit the cheese factory for several cheese-like items, one of which they did not have. So I resigned myself to quick stop at Alberstons for Ricotta Cheese. Ha ha ha ha ha ha ha. Not that I have anything against Alberstons, except that there is absolutely no logic whatsoever to their store layout. I mean, really, who puts the bread in the middle of the store on the right hand side of some unknown aisle? But I could even get used to that if I could find anything else! Anyway....help me think about this a bit...where would you look for Ricotta Cheese? My first try was by the cottage cheese, cream cheese, sour cream area. No luck. So then I tried the official cheese aisle. Again, no luck. So then I wandered up and down aisle after aisle looking for Ricotta Cheese. Finally I asked a not-very-bright employee.
Her reply, "Cotta Cheese? Hmmm. I don't know."
Not cotta cheese, ricotta cheese.
"Oh, cottage cheese. That should be back by the sour cream."
Once again, not cottage cheese, RICOTTA CHEESE! (Yes, I am starting to get irritated)
"Reecottage cheese? I don't really know."
In my head I am thinking that I was done talking to this person about two minutes ago, but I politely wait for her to ask yet another employee where this strange and exotic cheese could possibly be found. Employee #2's reply, "Oh, that's over on the cheese aisle." You could even almost see the slight roll of her eyes and the look that says, "Everyone knows that you big dummy," as she brushed me off and walked away. So now I am really irritated. It's been way longer than a "quick stop" and all I want is some stupid ricotta cheese! So I find one more employee who, you guessed it, doesn't have any idea where to find it. However, they are able to locate someone who does...the ricotta cheese stocker! It's probably not her official job, but here she was in an obscure corner of the produce section, busily stocking a little freezer with ricotta cheese. I thought, "Ooohhh, why didn't I think of that? Of course the ricotta cheese will be in an obscure freezer in the corner of the produce section, ALL BY ITSELF! AAAARRRGGHHH!" Okay, so I've already been here for a half-hour, might as well grab some cocoa. I thought maybe the aisle label signs would save me here and imagine my delight when I look up and see a little sign that says "Cocoa." Yeah, hallalujah! I tentatively wander down the aisle hoping and praying to spot a little can of baking cocoa. What do I find? HOT CHOCOLATE! Can after can after can after can of hot chocolate. NONE OF WHICH ARE ACTUALLY CALLED COCOA! Hot cocoa. Hot chocolate. Chocolate Milk mix....What the heck? I am near tears, fighting mad going to blindside the next employee I see, tears. And who shows up? The happiest "Holiday Helper" employee I have ever met. She quickly steers me to the real cocoa and even some jello and I make my escape while she joins a four-year-old singing their favorite Cinderalla songs. Fourty-five minutes later I am thankful that I resisted the urge to leave my children in the car while I ran in for some ricotta cheese and I am silently daring the check-out clerk to ask me if I found everything alright. But then, why would she? They only really do that at Maceys.
9 comments:
Albertson's, Safeway, Fred Meyer, Smith's - if you get one of the club cards, you only pay about a 20% premium. If you refuse the mark of the beast, you pay up to 2X the price at discount stores.
There was an Albertsons by our apartment in Mesa, AZ. I ONLY went there for convenience sake. But one night in particular I stopped to get some popcorn and 2 liters of pop for a home date night. The cashier literally threw the pop to the bagger who threw it into the bag. They seemed to be upset at me for interrupting their conversation. Stupid jerks.
Albertsons only saving grace is that they have a Redbox.
I'm a Maceys girl all the way!!!! I wish I had one closer, but I'm starting to like Lee's as well, but only buy the stuff that is on sale.
Okay I shouldn't laugh but I can only imagine someone really saying "Recottage Cheese".
I hate our Albertson's here too. (For some reason I call it Albertwipe). They do have good sales on baking goods and cereals sometimes. The layout is bad! I HATE THEM!!!!!!!
LOL! This is funny. I have this experience about once a month. The last thing I couldn't find - matches. It took about 40 minutes to find the darn matches! So frustrating.
Agree 100%. I only shop at Albertsons when they have great sales, and that stuff is at the front of the store. Years ago, I walked out of Albertsons-after getting all my groceries, produce included, and I asked the cashier twice, very nicely, to be nice to my produce. When she was not, I walked out. Kids were VERY embarrassed. I AVOID Albertsons!
Hmm... I had a similar experience! Who would have thought that Radio Shack doesn't carry camera batteries for my camera, but the local Western Family store sure had them!
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