History

Well, I know you probably don't want to hear any more from me, but I thought it might be useful for both of us if I quantified how Giant's share of our grocery dollar has shrunk in recent years.

For almost 40 years, Giant received over 99 cents out of every dollar we spent on groceries. Just a few years ago, that was an average of over $100 a week.

This past week, Giant's share was just under 60 cents out of a dollar--$64.19 out of $107.57.

The other $43.38 went to Shoppers Food Warehouse. The vast majority of items we bought at Shoppers are things we could not buy at Giant. Items once sold at your Marlow Heights store, but discontinued there within the past few years.

When I wrote and complained the last few times, I had not added up the numbers and did not realize just how bad the situation has become--how much Giant has cut back.

It now appears that Shoppers is likely to stock a significantly higher percentage of what we buy than Giant. Even though Giant's Marlow Heights store is more convenient than the nearest Shoppers, it would seem to make more sense to start at Shoppers and only go to Giant for items Shoppers may not have, if any.

Reply from Giant Food - Dissatisfaction

Thank you for your email.

I am sorry to hear that you continue to be dissatisfied with Giant because we are discontinuing products that you regularly buy. I know that our customer care representative and store manager have provided you with the explanation of what we are doing and I understand that you do not find this approach works for your shopping needs.

I want to assure you that your comments have been shared with our merchandisers and management so they will know that you would prefer having a wider variety of products to having lower every day prices.

Thank you again for sending us your feedback.

Sincerely,

Eileen Katz
Manager, Consumer Affairs

Reduced selection

Marlow Heights, 15 Nov 2007, 10:15 am

Since Giant advertised Marie Callender's dinners as being on sale, I had planned to stock up today on one of my favorites; the 16.5 oz. Creamy Parmesan Chicken Pot Pie.

Your Marlow Heights store didn't have any. In fact, there was no place for them in the freezer section even though they were there just a couple of weeks ago.

Also, my wife very much likes Bob Evans Bacon and Potatoes Brunch Bowls. Since she had a coupon, she was going to buy a couple today. But we couldn't find any, or any space for them, either where where they were last week, or where similar products seem to be this week.

Last week the frozen food department was being reorganized.

Did you take away these items we buy as part of that reorganization?

What's next? Will you keep on discontinuing items until there is nothing left in the store we want to buy?

You will not keep our business by lowering prices on items we don't buy, and getting rid of items we do want.

As I've mentioned before, and told one of your representatives recently, we have shopped at this store for 42 years.

Until the last few years, Giant got over 99% of our grocery dollar. That is no longer the case.

A few years ago we were spending over $100 per week on average at this store. Recently that has dropped to roughly $50-$60 a week.

Giant seems to be determined to drive their share of our grocery dollar down, down, down. I don't know whose business Giant or Ahold wants, but they certainly don't seem to want all, or even a majority, of our business anymore. From our viewpoint, Giant's declining market share seems to be self-inflicted and well-deserved. And that is a shame.

Giant and your Marlow Heights store keep going downhill!

Marlow Heights, 24 Oct 2007

Giant and your Marlow Heights store keep going downhill!

Marlow Heights circular falsely claims you have bagged frozen Green Giant vegetables, 10 for $10. Sign on door says not the advertised vegetables are not available at Marlow Heights.

Marlow Heights circular says Pepsodent toothpast, 2 for $1. Store doesn't have any.

Asked about Formula 409 cleaner. "Not carried in this store."

I could list several other items I would have purchased if you actually still offered them for sale.

I talked to the manager. He said call the central office and gave me a phone number. I dialed that number at 9:35 am--and gave up after a dozen rings without an answer.

I've been shopping at this Giant for over 42 years--exclusively at this Giant until a few years ago when you started trying to run it into the ground by cutting hours and the merchandise I buy (or did buy).

Now, and despite the misleading commercial Giant is now running, the store is nothing like what it once was. Musical managers, advertised items not sold here, discontinued items, merchandise moved around from aisle to aisle almost weekly.

What's going on? Are you trying to kill the store? Or is this part of an Ahold plan to drive customers away from the Giant chain?

I suppose I could run all over the county looking for a Giant that actually sells the merchandise you advertise, or actually carries the items I used to buy at your Marlow Heights store, but I'm finding much of what the Marlow Heights Giant no longer carried at nearby Safeway and Shoppers stores that are much more convenient than the next nearest Giant.

Do you really want me to shop more at Safeway or Shoppers than at Giant? It certainly seems that way.

Having seen well-stocked Super Targets in the midwest, I'm beginning to hope that they will expand into the area near Marlow Heights. Their selection and well-stocked shelves certainly would be an improvement over what your once great Marlow Heights store has become.

More false advertising

Marlow Heights; 26 Sep 2007, 10:00 am

More false advertising!

Your circular has:

"Birds Eye Steamfresf Vegetables
(Excludes Steam-N-Serve.) Or Select, All Varieties
(Excludes Whole Onions.)
12 Oz-16 Oz Pkg. Frozen. 662240
10 for $10"

There were a couple of inconsistent price labels on the shelf.

I picked up 12 oz. packages of Broccoli and Cauliflower and Broccoli, Cauliflower and Carrots.

For each, the scanner said the regular price was $2.49; with card 1/$2.59.

That's right, not a 10 for $10 sale price, but a "with card" price that is HIGHER than the regular price!

I asked the staff about the price. They told me that the 10 for $10 sale price only applies to items regularly priced at $1.99.

THAT IS NOT WHAT YOU ADVERTISED!

And they told me that the correct price is $2.59 (MORE than your scanner says is the regular price).

Although I might have bought the items at the regular price if your ad and shelf marking had been honest about them, since Giant lied I didn't buy them and you lost out.

I went to the customer service desk to fill out a form about this, but they DID NOT have any out.

What has happened to Giant? Your selection, service, and honesty seem to decline by the week!

Also, the last time I complained about false advertising, someone called me and said my complaint had been referred to the store manager and regional manager. I never heard from either one, but I don't think they are the people responsible for Giant's false and misleading ads or apparent decline in corporate integrity.