I Can't get no Satisfaction, but I try

[neoplacebo]

The other day I bought a pack of what I thought was ground round beef; it was labeled as such. I thought it looked like just regular hamburger meat but gave them the benefit of the doubt. In any case, last night I cooked up two burgers of this meat and it quickly became evident that it was, in fact, regular hamburger due to the amount of grease generated, as well as how it smelled. I am an expert on beef (my photo should be on the Beefeater gin bottles). After experiencing angst and turmoil over this obvious treachery, I went to the Food City site and registered my displeasure at the entire affair and mentioned the name of the president of Food City (Steve Smith) in my missive. This morning he called me; I am to meet him at 11 at the scene of the crime. I plan to ask for a one hundred dollar certificate during my presentation. This may sound extreme but I have had a few other issues with the store in the past but never mentioned them, which I will do today. I figure I spend about 500 bucks a month at that place; my Food City value card has a bar code and ID number on it which I provided in my correspondence. I figure they can tell from that how much money I spend there. Anyway, time is approaching for this momentous summit. I will relate the outcome shortly. Nobody fucks with my meat and gets away with it.

[Vrede too]

Wow, great job. Good luck getting "Satisfaction", replacement ground round, and maybe even more free stuff.

Fwiw, the Food City HQ is in Abingdon, Virginia, 37 miles away. Not a huge trip for Steven C. Smith (President and CEO) and maybe he would have been visiting the store, anyhow, but still . . .

Thanks or letting us know. If you're never heard from again, we'll have a lead to give the LEOs . . . and we'll know not to buy our meat there for a couple of weeks.

[neoplacebo]

Wow, great job. Good luck getting "Satisfaction", replacement ground round, and maybe even more free stuff.

Fwiw, the Food City HQ is in Abingdon, Virginia, 37 miles away. Not a huge trip for Steven C. Smith (President and CEO) and maybe he would have been visiting the store, anyhow, but still . . .

Thanks or letting us know. If you're never heard from again, we'll have a lead to give the LEOs . . . and we'll know not to buy our meat there for a couple of weeks.

Victory is sweet. I came out with a good size pack of ground round, as well as a $100 store certificate after meeting the CEO (he did come from Abingdon for this momentous event) and the store manager, the meat manager, and the district manager. In addition, I was given a tour of the meat department behind the scenes (pretty cold in there) and observed my ground round being ground. I had no intimation of intended treachery while back there; besides, the grinding machine is not large enough to accomodate a body larger than a two year old but I kept a sharp eye out for any sudden movement. All in all, it was a victory of not insignificant proportion. And the other two issues I brought up with them that I had experienced in the past were also addressed in fine manner. Also have the CEO and store managers card in case of future trickery. It was sort of comical in a way; I'm in that store nearly every day and a lot of the workers recognize me. When I told one lady I know by sight that I was there to meet Steve Smith, she went plus I don't think she'd ever seen me in anything other than casual dress. I noticed her again on the way out and gave her the thumbs up sign. Winning.

[Vrede too]

You should have clarified. She probably spent the rest of the shift wondering if you'd gotten her fired for some reason.

Congrats. Let us know if the pack of ground round is any different from the batch you complained about.

FYI, though it sounds like you already now this:

Ground beef: Cuts of beef

Although any cut of beef can be used to produce ground beef, chuck steak is a popular choice because of its rich flavor and balance of meat-to-fat ratio. Round steak is also often used. Ground beef is usually categorized based on the cut and fat percentage:

Chuck: 78–84% lean
Round: 85–89% lean
Sirloin: 90–95% lean

[O Really]

Hey, good work!
Did they actually admit to mis-labeling your burger? Not knowing anything about them, or what you may have told them, it does sound like the Prez jumped pretty hard on what on the surface should have been a "opps, sorry - here's some replacement meat" from the local management. I'm wondering if there was more to the story than we know.

[neoplacebo]

Hey, good work!
Did they actually admit to mis-labeling your burger? Not knowing anything about them, or what you may have told them, it does sound like the Prez jumped pretty hard on what on the surface should have been a "opps, sorry - here's some replacement meat" from the local management. I'm wondering if there was more to the story than we know.

Yes, they admitted to mislabeling and explained how it could conceivably happen. I took the remainder of the uncooked meat with me so they could see for themselves that it had been wrongly tagged. Generally you can tell by the color if it's regular hamburger or a better grade. I was suspicious of it from the start but the other packs that were there with the one I got all looked identical so I let it go. And, no, nothing more to the story other than I sent my message with general info....that I spend a considerable sum at that store since first going there in April 15 so if you consider my estimate of 500 a month since then, it comes to 50 months which is $25K. The only other thing not pertinent to the message I sent was that "I am not typical" and that I can easily stop spending 500 a month at their store. No profanity, no political or religious aspersions. The entire thing was an experience in seizing power; or that's the sensation I got when leaving. Now I need to decide what to treat myself with courtesy of their largesse. When the CEO asked me what he could do to make it right with me, that's when I mentioned the hundred dollar card; he admitted that it was more than he had anticipated but I suppose I made a good impression. Besides, a hundred bucks off 25 grand is dust and on top of that, the money on the card has to be spent at the store. I call victory.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OZ8GZ3PFVGM

[neoplacebo]

You should have clarified. She probably spent the rest of the shift wondering if you'd gotten her fired for some reason.

Congrats. Let us know if the pack of ground round is any different from the batch you complained about.

FYI, though it sounds like you already now this:

Ground beef: Cuts of beef

Although any cut of beef can be used to produce ground beef, chuck steak is a popular choice because of its rich flavor and balance of meat-to-fat ratio. Round steak is also often used. Ground beef is usually categorized based on the cut and fat percentage:

Chuck: 78–84% lean
Round: 85–89% lean
Sirloin: 90–95% lean

No, the lady I talked with had nothing to do with the situation. She seemed to be delighted when we spoke on my way out. I had not told her about the details of the matter, only that I "have a complaint." I got the impression that customer complaints don't generally result in a meeting with the CEO.

[O Really]

I got the impression that customer complaints don't generally result in a meeting with the CEO.

Yeah, probably not employee complaints, either.

[neoplacebo]

I got the impression that customer complaints don't generally result in a meeting with the CEO.

Yeah, probably not employee complaints, either.

I neglected to mention that the CEO had the store manager come in for this on his day off; I apologized to him for it and also sent both of them an email to thank them; they each gave me their cards.

[O Really]

I got the impression that customer complaints don't generally result in a meeting with the CEO.

Yeah, probably not employee complaints, either.

I neglected to mention that the CEO had the store manager come in for this on his day off; I apologized to him for it and also sent both of them an email to thank them; they each gave me their cards.

Food Lion didn't grovel that much when they were featured on TV for selling a bunch of old, dirty, or recycled meat products.

[Vrede too]

Food Lion didn't grovel that much when they were featured on TV for selling a bunch of old, dirty, or recycled meat products.

If neoplacebo sent them an email, they would have.

[neoplacebo]

Food Lion didn't grovel that much when they were featured on TV for selling a bunch of old, dirty, or recycled meat products.

If neoplacebo sent them an email, they would have.

Yeah, I remember that story; I think they were caught using bleach to alter the appearance of some meat or something like that. When I was in NC I always went to Ingle's so Food Lion was never part of my universe. Maybe it was to their advantage that I was not one of their customers. And, hey, I don't go looking for shit like this but if it falls into my lap I deal with it directly and immediately. Too many of these companies figure they have immunity from responsibility and most people won't stand up for themselves. I am not in that number. One thing I thought worked in my favor in this matter yesterday was when I asked Smith, the CEO, if he ever knew Raymond Galyon (he was general manager of Oakwood Markets here in my hometown from the 50's to the late 70's and his son and I were friends). Turns out he knew Raymond quite well so that gave us a common point of reference. He thought highly of him.....and apparently, of me as well. Another thing I mentioned was that in my experience as a service advisor in the past for Ford and GM I quickly realized that "the customer is not always right, but he's always the customer." I think I made points with that one, too.

[Vrede too]

... I plan to ask for a one hundred dollar certificate during my presentation....

... I came out with a good size pack of ground round, as well as a $100 store certificate ...

Did you ask or the $100 or was it volunteered?

[neoplacebo]

... I plan to ask for a one hundred dollar certificate during my presentation....

... I came out with a good size pack of ground round, as well as a $100 store certificate ...

Did you ask or the $100 or was it volunteered?

When he asked me what they could do to make this right, I suggested the $100 certificate; he said that he intended to give me a store certificate but not to that extent. I didn't argue the point but at the end of the meat dept tour he handed me the ground round and a credit card size store certificate with the register receipt folded around it. I didn't even look at it until I got back home; it was $100

[Vrede too]

When he asked me what they could do to make this right, I suggested the $100 certificate; he said that he intended to give me a store certificate but not to that extent. I didn't argue the point but at the end of the meat dept tour he handed me the ground round and a credit card size store certificate with the register receipt folded around it. I didn't even look at it until I got back home; it was $100

Bold and successful move . I've done well by complaints, but have never suggested an amount.