Invisible Store Merchandise

debodun

debodun

SF VIP
Location
way upstate in New York, USA
More and more, it seems, when I go shopping, whether it be for groceries or other sundries, whatever I am looking for suddenly becomes invisible. I just can't find it! It takes me twice as long to shop because I can't find things. I often have to ask a store clerk or shelf stocker where things are. Even when they point to it, I can't see. It's as if there an invisibility shield between me and what I need to get. Last week I wanted to get a can of crushed tomatoes. I saw whole peeled, tomato sauce, tomato paste, diced and stewed, but no crushed. I had to go and get a store clerk who came over and put them in my hand. Makes be feel like an idiot. Does anyone else have this problem? What's going on with me?
 

Our grocery store recently did a complete "upset the fruit basket". Moved aisle around throughout the complete store. Nothing is where it used to be. They did it on purpose so customers would walk by other aisles looking for specific items in hopes other items would catch their eye. When it's difficult enough to remember what I did this morning, how the heck can I find my way through a grocery store where nothing is where it's supposed to be.
And, now I've got to put things I'm going after on my Smartphone or I forget. I'll go to the store to get something for the wife and have to call her from the store to remind me what to get... unless I've got it on my notes in the phone.

Getting old has it's speed bumps.......
 
I do so little grocery shopping (the Spousal Equivalent does 95% of it), so when I do go into the grocery store I end up wanting to scream. Too many choices and not always a lot of reason for the item being where it is. I wander up and down the aisles like the Flying Dutchman, moaning softly to myself. One day, they'll find my skeleton in the spice aisle, trying to find cinnamon.
 

I know I have more problem than I once did, even shopping at the same stores. I think stores like a little confusion, at least that used to be a marketing technique. The longer they can keep you in a store, chances are you will buy more. What makes it harder is the way things are stocked. I have to sometimes sort through things to find what I am looking for. When you have to find something maybe a little less common--I was looking for a salad dressing (dry mix) for a recipe. It took me the longest time to find it but I was determined. This is the reason I often leave the store forgetting stuff! You are not alone!

We also have so many products to chose from. I grew up before supermarkets as we know them today. There were corner stores and larger grocery stores, not big, wide aisled supermarkets. The variety was slim--they carried so much less-just look at all the cereals and soap products--even coffee takes up 3/4 side of an aisle. Tide, Duz, or Oxydol? Buy the Duz and get a free dish towel. They knew how to market!
 
My problem is comparing various products and reading labels. I stand in the aisle doing my research, then in my confusion toss the wrong item in the trolley and don't realize it until I get home. This has happened many times with shampoo and conditioner, I end up with three bottles of conditioner and no shampoo.
 
I have the same problem, debodun. On top of that, I can't walk very far and the local supermarket seems to sprout more square footage every week! I suppose in the near future I will need a mororized seat cart, but until then I will pay a bit more for my regular items at a smaller grocery store near me (Bel-Air). On the plus side, they offer many organic, natural, and eco-friendly alternatives in all departments, and about a third of their produce is grown locally. Also their customer service is great!
 
Really it's okay...if you ask a youngster " Do you have XX Brand Coconut Milk?" They will say no. Look on your own and there it is...jus' sayin'
 
The stores where I live are always moving stuff around, you just get used to the layout and it's changed, I won't spend my time walking round searching and just ask an assistant, they're very good and always take me to the required item when they could spend that time working but, I didn't move the stock !
 
An when they changed brands is also confusing. The local store used to get buttermilk in a white and green waxed carton. One day I couldn't find it and asked the shelf stocker. He came over and put it in my hand. It is a different brand in a multi-colored, plastic, coke-shaped bottle.
 
We (well, mostly he and occasionally I) do all our grocery shopping at either Publix or Walmart.

Walmart is, of course, cheaper but offers little or no help in finding anything (as Fur says, any question asked usually results in a "no" or "it should be on aisle 5" and that's assuming you can even find anyone to ask.

At Publix, prices are higher but they all but follow you around on bended knee begging you to let them find something for you.

The question is, are you willing to pay for better service? I'm not quite there yet.
 
They are always changing the location of things in the stores by me. On top of that, the companies are always changing the looks of the labels. It is frustrating when you're looking for something and all of a sudden it's on the other side of the store. They do that on purpose so that if the customer wanders up and down every aisle and buys other things they didn't plan on in the process.

There are lots of different brands too, which add to the confusion. I agree with Fur, many times I've asked a store clerk where something is, only to follow them throughout the store to look at exactly the same shelf I already checked, only for them to say no they don't see it so they don't have it.

Then, sometimes I'll walk down the main aisle and find the item on the end cap. So the store clerk was of no use at all. There's been times if I see them again I'll give them a heads up on where it was, but it happens so often I don't even bother anymore. I don't think most of them care. When I get good service, I do compliment the employee, seems rare these days.
 
Grumpy Ol' Man said:
Our grocery store recently did a complete "upset the fruit basket". Moved aisle around throughout the complete store. Nothing is where it used to be. They did it on purpose so customers would walk by other aisles looking for specific items in hopes other items would catch their eye. When it's difficult enough to remember what I did this morning, how the heck can I find my way through a grocery store where nothing is where it's supposed to be.
And, now I've got to put things I'm going after on my Smartphone or I forget. I'll go to the store to get something for the wife and have to call her from the store to remind me what to get... unless I've got it on my notes in the phone.

Getting old has it's speed bumps.......
Click to expand...

I'm impressed!!! Sadly, even with my phone (which I have trouble doing anything more than answering or making a call), I still take my scrap of paper out of my shirt pocket and read off what I'm supposed to buy or if I'm to pick up a prescription, etc.. :confused: Pretty sad.
 
I do better to find things in smaller grocery stores (and have one like that nearby). In a Walmart or other large warehouse-type stores with high ceilings and what feels like LED ceiling lighting, I've experienced a slight feeling of disorientation and can't wait to leave. Now I just avoid the big stores.
 
I worked for a retail store that did merchandise and groceries (no, not WM). They systematically (in corporate minds) changed the store every few months. I was told it's so shoppers would see previously unnoticed items by them going into different aisles than they're typically in. (Did that make sense? I feel like I used way to many prepositions in those two sentences.)
 

You must log in or register to reply here.

Back
Top