Bad Milk and Safeway moment.

**krbshappy71** · 06-19-2010, 03:42 PM

I guess I am throwing this out here to see what the general opinion is on how I should have handled this or if I did the o.k thing.

Situation: Gallon of milk was on sale with an extra sticker on several jugs for 50 cents off. I checked the sell by date and it was today. I purchased a jug figuring it just wont last as long but we go through it pretty quick anyhow.

Got home, milk was BAD. I mean super smelly bad immediately upon opening it!

I returned it with my receipt and the manager told me to get another jug which I did, with a newer date on it, no sale sticker. Manager wanted to charge me $1.03 difference. Same brand, same size, etc.

I refused, saying that I would not have bought the on-sale jug if I knew it was bad. She told me that's the risk I take when I buy something on sale. So I loudly said, "So if I buy food on sale I should expect it to be BAD?" Because I do feel that yes it would have a short shelf life but not rotten upon purchase.

So. She quickly, grumpily, said hold on and did an override and handed me the new jug saying she "ate" the $1.03 I said thanks and left.

So did I do the right thing or do you feel that it was the risk I took? I really don't feel stores should sell outright spoiled product and then say it was my own risk, I am not allowed to open the milk and smell it first (like you can peek at eggs at least for cracks) and it was the same day sell date. Its not like I was past the sell date.

I guess I just felt like she should have been less confrontational about it. I miss good customer service. Should I still have had to pay for the difference in price when they discovered it was bad?

Thanks for any input. Its just for my own thoughts for the future.

**dogwalker79** · 06-19-2010, 03:47 PM

Ridiculous! You were very much in the right IMO.

**xtena** · 06-19-2010, 03:49 PM

I think you did the right thing. If she had insisted on charging the difference I would have refused the difference and DEMANDED my money back and maybe threatened to call the Dept of Health. As it is she may very well have lost her store a lot of future $$ if you choose not to return (do you shop there often/are there alternatives?).

If you are really upset write a letter of complaint to her superiors; it might not do any good but if you are lucky you might get some store coupons or something.

**xtena** · 06-19-2010, 03:50 PM

Oh and you could have pointed out that you had to EAT the cost of gas to return the tainted milk.

**jodihernandez** · 06-19-2010, 04:12 PM

That is rediculouse. You were in the right. I dont know were you live but here the sell by date is supost to give you a week+ time to drink. And the idea that you are playing lottery with your milk for a 50cent discount is obsurd. I would have immediately asked to speak with the manager. That would have knocked that smirk off her face fast.

jodi

**Libby** · 06-19-2010, 04:49 PM

I think you did the right thing by making a scene and NOT letting her charge you the extra $1.03 for a 'fresh' milk.

Having said that - I know its 'buyer beware' with food clearance items and the onus should be on the customer but the product was outright spoiled. You're right though, you can't 'check' to see if its already spoiled b/c its a sealed container. PLUS the milk shouldn't be spoiled before the 'sell by date'. It just shows that milk wasn't stored/handled properly and kept refrigerated to public health standards. If this happens more then once, I'd report it ASAP.

She should've said that she normally would have to charge you for the price of a fresh non clearance priced milk however b/c it was already spoiled she could over look it 'this time'.

Now that I think about it - maybe its a Canadian thing or a big box chain grocery store thing but I've never seen clearance priced milk before. Is this common at your grocery store? ANY grocery store you buy milk from (around here) allows you to return it to exchange for a non spoiled one - even if you happened to grab one that was expiring today or the day before. They normally put the closer dates up front of the shelf to be sold quicker

But good on yas for not taking her tude and putting her in her place with it! An incident like that would definitely make me think twice about buying clearance priced milk.

**mauimagic** · 06-19-2010, 04:55 PM

You are totally in the right lane on this one. I would also send an FYI letter to customer service at the home office expressing your concerns.

Know what you mean about missing good basic customer service.

**krbshappy71** · 06-19-2010, 05:01 PM

Thank you all, I really appreciate the comments.

I started to question myself with the "buyer beware" feelings as well but in this case it should have at least been consumable on the day of purchase.

I don't have to frequent the store, its just nearby so I used to try hard to support them and keep them open but if customer service and quality isn't going to be their priority then forget it. They aren't a mom & pop, they're a large company so I feel they need to "get it together." I was choosing them over WalMart which is the same distance away for my quick grab items. (one mile) At this point I'm willing to drive a bit farther for the next grocery store. (four miles?)

The milk didn't bother me, the attitude I received did.

**frugalfranny** · 06-19-2010, 05:12 PM

Originally Posted by jodihernandez

I dont know were you live but here the sell by date is supost to give you a week+ time to drink. And the idea that you are playing lottery with your milk for a 50cent discount is obsurd. I would have immediately asked to speak with the manager. That would have knocked that smirk off her face fast. jodi

I agree with JH. Milk should never be bad on the 'sell by' date........probably got warm.

I would have DEFINITELY asked to speak to the manager.......and not moved from my place in line!

I have a Safeway close to me too and seldom shop there. I won't buy their meat......or dairy products. I have thrown a few of my own 'hissy fits' in that store.........the clerks are something else but the manager usually does 'something' to pacify me.

Their advertising is misleading....they will advertise a certain ounce of something 'on sale' but when you get there it is a lesser ounce that is on sale........oh yeah.....a hissy fit comes over that!

I would get online and write a letter to corporate! They need to know these things.

**krbshappy71** · 06-19-2010, 05:20 PM

Originally Posted by frugalfranny

I would have DEFINITELY asked to speak to the manager.......and not moved from my place in line!
Their advertising is misleading....they will advertise a certain ounce of something 'on sale' but when you get there it is a lesser ounce that is on sale........oh yeah.....a hissy fit comes over that!

I would get online and write a letter to corporate! They need to know these things.

It was the manager that helped me. No joke, I went directly to customer service and I did look at her name plate, it said "store manager". I think that set me off even more.

**frugalfranny** · 06-19-2010, 05:22 PM

Originally Posted by krbshappy71

It was the manager that helped me. No joke, I went directly to customer service and I did look at her name plate, it said "store manager". I think that set me off even more.

Then I would FOR SURE write a letter to corporate.

You can probably do it online........just short and quick --give dates and names.

**Libby** · 06-19-2010, 05:26 PM

Originally Posted by krbshappy71

It was the manager that helped me. No joke, I went directly to customer service and I did look at her name plate, it said "store manager". I think that set me off even more.

All the more reason to write corporate. I'd complain about the food safety hazard re: milk as well as your 'enjoyable customer service' experience.

**KatieInLa2** · 06-19-2010, 05:34 PM

You're in the right. Milk unfit to drink should not be for sale. Maybe the health dept. needs to check the stores cooler temps.

**Paws** · 06-19-2010, 08:29 PM

Originally Posted by frugalfranny

Then I would FOR SURE write a letter to corporate.

You can probably do it online........just short and quick --give dates and names.

This is exactly what I would do...that and I would report the store to the area health dept. Unsafe handling of milk and dairy products can be very dangerous to consumers...especially the young and elderly...you may be saving someone from getting very sick...

**krbshappy71** · 06-19-2010, 08:33 PM

I didn't think about the health risk to others. I was just glad my daughter noticed it right away when she opened the cap. (she didn't even have to pour it) Ok thank you.