Goss Avenue Kroger (stay away ... for now)

Well it looks like the revival of Germantown is complete. The Kroger's being renovated! It's gonna be bigger, better and classier now!

Unfortunately, they are doing some of the "minor" (but not really minor) work during regular business hours. This led to a horrible experience for me there today which, unfortunately, led me to be rather surly with one of the managers. Credit to him for handling the situation and me calmly.

What struck me about our conversation - which ultimately turned out to be civil and informational - was the extent that he had no power to "make things right." That was his primary goal, and, given the time and energy I had wasted, there just wasn't anything available to rectify the situation. Obviously he lacks the power to make the workers go away (nor would corporate want him to make such a decision). He asked me, "What would make this right?" What we agreed on - him helping me find the remaining items I was looking for - didn't really make anything right, but it did get me out of the store ASAP (which was my goal at that point).

Kroger should have been proactive about the situation. They could have had some sort of central informational desk (besides) the main, front desk where people could inquire about moved items. They could have the greeters provide something small (2 dollar off coupon) to compensate people for the inconvenience. They could offer double Kroger points - or hell, 1.25 points. Anything. A White Board showing where new items are located. Anything. at. all.

It just really gets to me when a company doesn't proactively anticipate issues. It shouldn't be on the customer to point out the problems when there are obviously going to be problems. It just seemed to be that Kroger thought everyone would just accept the inconvenience (in the name of BIGGER! and BETTER!) and come back happy to the new store.

The irony of our conversation was just that. The manager was sure to point out how much bigger and better the new store was going to be. I don't see it that way. I hate big stores. That store didn't need to be bigger or better. It was just fine. What, more freaking aisles to search down? Great. Told him I appreciated his help but I'd probably start going to Valu. I forget his name, but he was a nice and helpful manager. Caught between a rock and hard place, it seems.

Guess this is just a rant. Been lots of talk about customers and complaints lately. I wish I had handled the situation differently. Wish Kroger had done something (anything) to anticipate solutions to obvious problems.

Sorry but this is really sweating the small stuff. If you don't like it don't go there, but really !

I bought some grocery items at the Goss Avenue Kroger today and had no problems whatsoever, even though they're obviously in the middle of relocating items. Took less than 10 minutes, probably, to find everything I needed.

In general I shop at ValuMarket more often because they're local and I like the beer cave, but living close to the Kroger means I go there pretty often, too.

I'm dying to hear some examples, here. What was hard to find? What were you shopping for? Was there industrial equipment blocking the shelves everywhere? I'm not picking, I'm just trying to visualize more of the shopping experience versus your vent to the mgr. Paint, please!

Also - I'm with Joel on Valu Mkt. Helps that they're walking distance from my home, but I'd also make the trip if it weren't. Not a big Kroger fan at all.

My Kroger in Hillview is also remodelling but everytime I have been in there they have had folks wandering thru the store in red vests labelled with " can I help..".just to help with finding things. I have reduced my visits to Kroger just because of the consruction but still go at times when I know it isn't too busy.
I feel they are really making an effort to make this as easy as possible for everybody.

The McMahon Kroger is also remodeling, and I'm very upset I wasn't given a Honeybaked Ham for a minor inconvenience.

I was so angry during the recent remodeling of the Hubbard's Lane store that I went so far as to write corporate. I got a few coupons- but since then the managers often ask me if I need any help.

I was so incensed I wrote the CEO of Kroger and now he personally brings groceries to my house for free every week and loads them into the pantry and refrigerator.

I think you guys are being terribly insensitive. Try to put yourself in the OP's shoes and imagine the depths of despair he must have felt at being unable to find his Cheerios or whatever in a timely fashion. He was probably jonesing for a snack in the worst way. It must have been a lot like being one of those starving kids in Ethiopia that Sally Struthers is always going on about or something.

Many people try to excel at sarcasm. Most fail and just end up looking like assholes.

I'm dying to hear some examples, here. What was hard to find? What were you shopping for? Was there industrial equipment blocking the shelves everywhere? I'm not picking, I'm just trying to visualize more of the shopping experience versus your vent to the mgr. Paint, please!

Also - I'm with Joel on Valu Mkt. Helps that they're walking distance from my home, but I'd also make the trip if it weren't. Not a big Kroger fan at all.

I'm not really interested in this thread anymore, but I thought I'd be polite enough to answer genuine questions.

When I arrived at the store there were no available carts. I had to wait for a customer to return one.

The soap/bodywash/shampoo section was being moved as I shopped. So items were in both locations and items were being packaged (for the move) as I perused the options.

In the old aisle of the above items, there was a large lift that was blocking the aisle. The entire new area was filled with carts (shopping carts being used to help with the move and larger stocking carts), and there were boxes on the floor. Can't think the fire marshal would be too happy with that.

I'm not exactly sure what was going on, but there were two men using a large hose - without any regard for whom they were blocking and cutting off. The hose extended across one of the two aisles in the back of the store (the aisles being divided by the frozen food bins) and was too large to just push a cart over. It was a big hose.

The new OJ section was barren, but there was no old OJ section.

There were two managers standing side-by-side acting like they were monitoring the dudes with the hose.

Hope that helps paint a picture...

Before everyone gets all worked up against Kroger & for Valu Market remember this, I ended up with four packs of horrible smelling chicken in 6 months from Valu Market, and their management did not seem to really care. I am back at Kroger now, not really happy about that but at least I am not getting rotten chicken once a month.

Many people try to excel at sarcasm. Most fail and just end up looking like assholes.

Sarcasm: The ability to insult idiots without them knowing.

[Robin Garr]

Many people try to excel at sarcasm. Most fail and just end up looking like assholes.

Sarcasm: The ability to insult idiots without them knowing.

Civility: Something we struggle for, but sometimes don't quite reach, on the forum. Let's keep trying though, guys. It's more fun here when we hit that particular goal.

Hoses, out of place shopping carts and no orange juice? Sounds hellish. Glad to see you made it out alive.

(P.S.-I used a smiley face instead of a rolling eye face, so that makes this post totally civil.)