Oh Fred Meyer, how I use to love your company, then you went and and died and your family sold your company to Kroger. And that was the end of a great legacy that I was once proud to say I worked at.
First I want to say that I worked at Fred Meyer for about a year. At this point I believe they had been sold to Kroger, but it had not yet gone down hill. I only left to go to school. My mom on the other hand had been their for 17 years. Until they fired her. I will do a different post on this, as its a very hot subject for me.
I still shop at Fred Meyer, even though I hate what they did to my mom. I shop there because my options for affordable groceries is few. Wal-Mart is another one that I shop at despite hating. But today's experience has made me think that I should consider not going to Fred Meyer, at least for cosmetics, any more.
Today I stopped by to pick up just a few items. I decided to stop by the cosmetic department. I was looking for a new nail color. I had seen the perfect color at the $ store but did not have the money at the time. I did not want to drive to the next town over so I figured I would look to see if Fred Meyer, who carries the Wet 'N' Wild (one of my favorites) brand, had the same shade. First let me say that the cosmetic department has not reordered the brands in years. They have been in the same relative spot since I worked there back in 2003-2004. Even when they remodeled the whole store, cosmetics stayed the same. So I was quite shocked when I turned onto the isle I knew Wet 'N' Wild would be. It was not there! Neither was the N.Y.C display that is right before it. Essence was gone to. Believe me I knew this department layout well. It had been the same the last 12 years. So I look from isle to isle and almost did not see the Wet 'N' Wild display. It was half the size and was no longer mostly comprised of Nail Polish. In fact the nail polish was a 1/4 the size it use to be. Knowing I would probably not find the shade at this point I looked anyway. Nope, not there.
So I began to look for N.Y.C. Maybe they had a similar shade. But where was N.Y.C. I turned around and saw the L.A. Color display right across from WNW. I will say I love L.A. Color, but that being said I have tones of them and even if they had the shade I was looking for, I was not going to spend $1.99-$2.99 when I could go across the street to the small $ store (did not have what I saw at the one in the next town) and get it for $1. At that price I might as well drive over to the next town and get what I originally wanted. Any how, there was an employee stocking this isle. She asked me if I was finding everything ok. I said "no, it appears one of my favorite brands has been downsized and no longer has a decent selection of colors (most were in the same shade range, how disapointing) and you no longer seem to even carry the other brand I was looking for." She asked me what brand, and here is where I get a bit pissed.
I told her I was looking for New York Color (N.Y.C). I told her that both it and WNW use to be one isle back on the other end. She very snobbishly, and just plain rudely said "I have been working her for five years. I have never even heard of New York Color." So I advised her the display would have said NYC with New York Color is small letters beneath it. She still insisted they never carried that brand. And asked if I meant L.A Color. So I said no, and that I would not bye that brand there when I can get it for half the price else where, and with a better selection. She said something about the WNW was just the spring set up and they might get more in next season. I thought this odd as this was not typical for them. She said something again about not have ever carried the NYC line. So i just said "I have been shopping here for 18 years, its my go to brand here." And yes I used her same tone and then walked away. I heard her say something along the line of "What ever" as I walked away.
How dare an employee talk to a customer like that. Just because you work there, and have been there for 5 years does not mean you actually know your department and know it well. I can't remember a time when the brands were in a different isle. It use to be the first full isle went N.Y.C, Essence, Wet 'n' Wild, something else and then L.A. Color. Anytime I went into the cosmetic department that was my first stop. I don't care that they moved things, its about time. I don't even care that they no longer have a brand I like, I can go else where for that. But the fact that the employee talked to me in such a manner is appalling. I worked in Customer Service for 6 years. At my last job, of three years, I was a top Customer Service Rep. Believe me when I say I know what good customer service is. I know what an employer expects from their employee. If I had not been in a hurry I would have stopped and spoken with a manager. I would call or email them about it, but I did not get her name. She never turned fully from what she was doing, so I could not see her name tag. That kind of bugged me to. If your going to assist, or even slightly attempt to assist, a customer you stop what your doing and give them your undivided attention.
I will say, I have had worse service at other places. Wal-Mart stores being the top of the bad list, and yes I worked there to. But this experience took me by surprise. And since their selection of my favorite brand is either gone or sub par I think I will use this as a reason to not shop for my cosmetics there anymore. I may have to try Target, though my local store has had a horrid smell to it for well over six months. I already no longer get my cosmetics at Wal-Mart either, simply do to their set up. Maybe I will do a post about that later. For now, I feel better ranting about it and hope that others do not experience what I did.
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