A Few Bad Apples

I recently read an article entitled 12-Money Saving Ways to Outsmart Your Grocery Store.

Suggestions included looking at the shelves from top to bottom, planning a shopping route, buying frozen seafood instead of fresh and comparing unit prices.

While reading this article, I became torn. The consumer in me thought some of the ideas were quite logical and good ways to “stick it to the man,” in addition to helping me save a couple dollars. Then the editor of Grocery Headquarters in me kicked in and I thought, “Supermarkets don’t really want consumers knowing these, or any other tricks that will prevent shoppers from spending money.”

One of the tips was to scan for damaged items. Its description was:

“Grocery stores can be sneaky. Instead of throwing away bruised or otherwise damaged foods (these can be veggies, fruits, meat, and even dairy), they’ll toss them right in with the packages to be sold.

Next time you’re buying something pre-packaged, carefully inspect the products to avoid taking home rotten food.”

This tip got me to thinking about ethics and the responsibility supermarkets have to its customers. 

It is true, first and foremost supermarkets are businesses and any business’ priority is to make money. However, unquestionably, supermarkets are quite different from, say the Gap or Best Buy. If one of those stores sells a damaged product, the consumer simply returns it—no harm, no foul. 

If a supermarket sells damaged—i.e. spoiled or rotten—food, health issues are at risk. While it is unlikely anyone will get terribly sick from rotten apples or oranges, it is also unlikely that a consumer will return a piece of damaged fruit or two. More likely, they will simply throw it away and chock it up to bad luck.

However, if that “bad luck” seems to happen over and over again, it is invariably going to leave a bad taste in consumers’ mouths—pun intended.

I guess what it comes down to for supermarkets—and on a grander scale, any business really—is how important is it to be honest and trustworthy to your cliental? 

At the end of the day, the supermarkets that have their customer’s best interests at heart, without trying to make a quick buck, are going to be around for the long haul.