score -1 for Murray Ave Kosher

[cellio]

We're having a bunch of people over on Saturday, so I placed an order from the hot-foods section of the kosher market. I picked it up tonight, and the amount of chicken (in sealed pans) seemed light. So I asked -- this is a dozen breasts? Yes. I was dubious about the weight, so even though it hadn't been in the plans, I picked up a bag of frozen buffalo drummies to supplement.

When I got home, I found there were seven breasts. I called them to ask about it, figuring they forgot to give me a pan. (There was other stuff in the order, not just this one pan, so it could have happened.) No, they said, they gave me all the breasts they had; they didn't have a dozen.

You know, when I picked up the order would have been a fine time to mention that oh, we ran out, so do you want something else to supplement? (Or even, do you want something else instead?) Failing that clue, responding correctly to my direct question would have been a good idea.

In this case I'll be fine because I was suspicious and got something else on my own, but people often place larger orders where they just hand you a box. If you don't dig through that box in the store, you might not even notice enough to be suspicious until it was too late. I will certainly inspect boxes I get from them while still in the store, in the future. And I'll open sealed pans when I'm suspicious, too.

Comments

[magid.livejournal.com]

You're being nice, giving them only a -1 after not only changing your order, but not telling you, even when you asked. (I hope they didn't charge you for what you ordered, just what they delivered.)

Are there options for kosher markets in your area?

[cellio]

Are there options for kosher markets in your area?

This is it for prepared food. One local grocery store (across the street from this place) is now carrying some kosher chicken and beef (Empire, Aaron's), and of course you can find a reasonable amount of frozen or dry hechshered food. But if you want someone else to do the cooking, which I sometimes do, this is it.

(And yes, they only charged me for what they delivered, else I would have raised a ruckus.)

[indigodove.livejournal.com]

Good that they didn't charge you for the 5 missing breasts, but that's incredibly annoying. Glad you acted on your suspicions!

[cellio]

Fortunately, they charge by weight. And I have enough food for everyone who might show up Saturday, so that's fine. It's just a slightly larger variety of food than I had planned. :-) (Will you be joining us, by the way?)

[indigodove.livejournal.com]

I'm going to try :-) I have floor-scrubbing duty at my sister's new house most of the day, but I'm going to do my best to drop by.

[magid.livejournal.com]

the 5 missing breasts

So not the title of a Nancy Drew!
;-)

[chaos-wrangler.livejournal.com]

I'd be tempted to point out to TPTB that changing an order like that, especially if someone's depending on it for a shabbat meal that they may not be able to acquire more food for on shabbat, is a serious chilul hashem.

[cellio]

That's a good point. When you think about it, this sort of behavior encourages people to go elsewhere -- but since there are no other kosher options, that amounts to pushing a person less sure of his commitment away from kashrut.

[moose]

I hate MAK. Everytime I went in there I'm the only female not in a dress or skirt and they look at me like I'm some kind of freak. Hello! 21st century here! I stopped going there years ago.

[cellio]

I'm often the only woman there wearing jeans (and in the summer, a short-sleeved shirt), but no one's ever given me grief over it. Either that, or I'm oblivious. :-)

That said, though, I think I'm going to start picking up more of my meat at Giant Eagle, now that they're carrying kosher meat. I'll still have to go to MAK if I want something other than chicken or beef (like lamb), but I can give less of my business to a place that can't even handle an order appropriately.

[(Anonymous)]

If Greenberg's (on Murray near Nicholson) is still in business, it is a source for the absolutely freshest kosher chicken. I remember when there were many butchers along Murray Ave. and a few places selling prepared food. Unfortunately, Tel Aviv Kosher is long gone and Murray Avenue is the only one left.

[cellio]

Greenberg's closed its doors a couple years ago, I believe. Before that, they never seemed to be open in the "after work" slot, so I never actually visited there. There used to be a lot more options, yes -- I don't personally remember them, but I know they were there.

[anniemal.livejournal.com]

Speaking as an ex-retailer who gave more than she got, (love, money, animals--who am I to play the goddess? Oh why, yes: I am the manager. Are you hassling my carefully trained help? *twinkle*.) Yes, my thumb-to -thumb is really 5'. Please don't be silly. Damn fool made me measure it out on the yardstick. I had been 1.5 inches to his favour. Idiot. Yes, some of us have integrity that includes honesty. Phbblt. But you as the customer have the right of way.

Don't hesitate to inspect your order. Make a stink if it's not right. A good salesperson backs up her manager's go to and calls her on it if she's slipped, and makes it right up front. And a good manager admits that she is not a godess and pats her employee sharp enough to catch her slip-ups on the paycheck (or other benefits) for doing good for the company. Policies are for the bird-brains. Good ones hash out the ninnies.

May you summon down a mamager like me.

From both sides of the counter... it's the hopefullest I can offer.

[aliza250.livejournal.com]

Have you complained in writing? With dates, times, names or descriptions of the staff involved? This sounds like the kind of thing responsible management would want to know about.

[cellio]

That's a good point. I should do that.