[Chat] Waverly Giant vs Safeway (25ht and Charles)

[Brad Schlegel]

Last night, around 7pm,  Susan and I had the worst grocery shopping 
experience of our lives.  We stopped at the Charles Street Safeway with the 
intent of buying some fat-free half and half (Lucerne Brand is cheaper than 
Land of Lakes), plus a few other items (ended up with less than 10).  When 
it came time to check out we discovered there were over 100 people in line 
and only 4 open registers - none express.  I observed at least five cash 
register clerks packing up  and when I asked why they were leaving when the 
store was so packed they said. "We already put in over 8 hours and we must 
leave."  I then looked for the manager, only to find out he had already left 
for the day.  His back-up was just another cash register clerk with little 
interest in acting managerial.

After about 15 minutes of waiting, more lines opened, but the method of 
filling them was helter-skelter and I actually had a man behind me demand to 
move ahead of us in the line, simply because "nobody was going to tell him 
what to do"..  Despite my effort to have him act civilly and wait his turn, 
he pushed ahead.  The one security guard refused to get involved and the 
"acting" manager - Marquesha, was busy checking people out.  After about 45 
minutes, Susan and I got out of the store.  Oh, there was only one deli 
clerk on duty, too.

If Safeway hope to compete with Giant, they better plan to react to 
inclement weather with a bit more clerks and organization.  Did anyone shop 
at the Giant yesterday, who could describe their experience?  As it stands, 
now, Susan and I will NOT return to Safeway - even if their price for half 
and half is better.

Sincerely,

W. Brad Schlegel
1552 Oakridge Road
Baltimore, MD 21218-2228

410-467-1933 - H
410-962-9506 - W and Voice Mail
william.schlegel at us.army.mil

----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Jonathan Wetmiller" <jwetmiller at yahoo.com>
To: "Charles Village Discussion List" <Discussion at charlesvillage.info>
Sent: Wednesday, January 12, 2005 9:51 PM
Subject: Re: [Discussion] Giant


> Even though Giant is a little closer to me, I still
> prefer to shop at Safeway out of loyalty and the fact
> that I know where everything is, plus the lines seem
> to have gotten shorter Giant opened.  However, I've
> heard a lot of positives about Giant and no negatives
> outside of this forum.  I don't live next door,
> though.  I am sorry to hear about the Victorians being
> allowed to deteriorate but I think most of the
> properties that were initially torn down were in
> pretty sad shape.
>
>
> >>
>> -- Brennen Jensen <brennen.jensen at philanthropy.com>
>> wrote:
>> I think the new Giant is pretty nice. Certainly
>> better than the Safeway
>> or  the hopelessly cramped Rotunda.  Then again, I
>> didn't know soy
>> margarine  existed. Also, some of the folks were
>> happy to sell their
>> Victorians to make way for the Giant.
>>
>> -Bj
>>
>>
>>
>> On Jan 10, 2005, at 6:30 PM, tweefie at juno.com wrote:
>>
>> >
>> > I suppose its too soon to really tell (judge ) The
>> service was great
>> > the first two weeks - now it sucks. Its gotten
>> dirtier - I think its a
>> > monumental disappointment.
>> > But first and formost-
>> > What we lost in that development was tragic - (the
>> beautiful Victorian
>> > houses ) and there is more demolition to come. The
>> developer promised
>> > to keep the three remaining victorians, - But then
>> promptly eviceted
>> > everyone, capped the sewar lines and has allowed
>> the places to
>> > deteriorate - to the point that now, well, what
>> else CAN they do but
>> > tear them down ?!?!? How convenient. I have a
>> freind who lives right
>> > there behind it - When you are out in the yard, or
>> have a window open
>> > you can hear them on huge PA systems paging bag
>> boys to the front of
>> > the store, or managers to phone calls. Its awful.
>> Hr street, Gorsuch,
>> > ) and mine, Vineyard, have become shortcuts from
>> opposite areas to and
>> > from the Giant.  Ugh.
>> > I have been going back to the Rotunda - But now I
>> hear that is for
>> > sale - and why, with the lovely new Giant just a
>> 1/4 mile away - I bet
>> > they close the Rotunda Giant...
>> >
>> > -- Stephen J Gewirtz <gewirtz at bellatlantic.net>
>> wrote:
>> > Tweefie,
>> >
>> > You live a bit closer to the new Giant than I do,
>> so what exactly are
>> > the problems?  Were the same problems present
>> before when
>> > A&P/Superfresh
>> > was there?  (Somehow, I have always preferred
>> shopping at Giant to
>> > shopping at A&P or Safeway.)
>> >
>> > Before the new Giant came, I walked to the
>> Rotunda, so it has been nice
>> > to have Giant so much closer.  I still walk to
>> Whole Foods in Little
>> > Italy on occasion but am looking forward to the
>> new natural foods coop
>> > (The Village, on the east side of the 2500 block
>> of St. Paul just south
>> > of Yabba Pot) due to open Feb. 14.  On the other
>> hand, if there are
>> > problems with one of the grocery stores I shop at,
>> I would like to know
>> > the details.
>> >
>> > Steve.
>> >