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A question about something that troubles me. - 9/11/2011 8:31:27 AM

DarkSteven

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Recently, I went to get an ice cream cake for a friend's birthday. I went to a small locally owned shop. They had two sizes, a 10" diameter cake for $25 and a 12" diameter cake for $35. I asked about inscriptions and was told that I would need to give 48 hours notice for an inscription. I noticed that the sole 10" cake had marshmallows, and mentioned that I could not eat that because it had gelatin in it, since that violated kosher dietary laws. The employee's response told me that she neither knew anything about dietary laws, or what was contained in ingredients. They would not have any other cakes for four days.

I then went to the local supermarket. The cakes were half price what they were at the local shop, and they needed three minutes' notice to inscribe. The selection was also greater.

This is bothering me. I always assumed that the smaller, local businesses were more customer service-oriented and more flexible and adaptable than the behemoths.

What's been your experience with the smaller local businesses? Better service, better educated employees - or the opposite?

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The small-breasted ones want larger breasts. The large-breasted ones want smaller ones. The straight-haired ones curl their hair, and the curly-haired ones straighten theirs...

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RE: A question about something that troubles me. - 9/11/2011 8:37:22 AM

LaTigresse

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For ME.......it's neither.

Regardless of whether it is a big chain or small locally own, the service is wholly dependent upon the person/s running the place. If they focus on hiring bodies, the service will likely suck. If they focus on hiring quality people that give a damn, the service will not suck.

_____________________________

My twisted, self deprecating, sense of humour, finds alot to laugh about, in your lack of one!

Just because you are well educated, articulate, and can use big, fancy words, properly........does not mean you are right!

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RE: A question about something that troubles me. - 9/11/2011 8:40:50 AM

GreedyTop

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THATS what I was trying to say in my head before I typed anythng... thanks Leeann!

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RE: A question about something that troubles me. - 9/11/2011 8:45:00 AM

LinnaeaBorealis

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I guess that I'm confused about kosher then. Wouldn't the whole cake be non-kosher if bought at a place where non-kosher people made it?

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RE: A question about something that troubles me. - 9/11/2011 8:47:43 AM

DarkSteven

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There are different degrees of nonkosher. Technically, you're right but there are certain things - shellfish, pork, and gelatine, for example - that will never be kosher. I avoid those foods but ignore other kosher requirements, such as the fact that meat should be slaughtered by ritual.

_____________________________

"You women....

The small-breasted ones want larger breasts. The large-breasted ones want smaller ones. The straight-haired ones curl their hair, and the curly-haired ones straighten theirs...

Quit fretting. We men love you."

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RE: A question about something that troubles me. - 9/11/2011 9:00:08 AM

LaTigresse

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A couple of years ago I remember my son taking his S.O. to a locally owned restaurant on Valentines day for a special dinner. This particular restaurant has a history of making that night a special event. It was all by reservation and not cheap. My son loved it and had been going there, that night to celebrate Vday for several years. Then, unbeknownst to him, the management had changed. Not the ownership, not the event or the way it was promoted, just the management. That year, the experience and quality of everything was much worse than the previous years. Because he is his mother's son, he discussed it with the manager on duty at the time and got the entire evening comped as well as a gift certificate. Regardless, he was still not pleased as the evening he had wanted, and expected, was ruined.

_____________________________

My twisted, self deprecating, sense of humour, finds alot to laugh about, in your lack of one!

Just because you are well educated, articulate, and can use big, fancy words, properly........does not mean you are right!

(in reply to GreedyTop)

Post #: 6

RE: A question about something that troubles me. - 9/11/2011 9:02:01 AM

LaTigresse

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Sadly, I must admit Steven, that around here, very few people in the food industry would have any sort of clue about kosher.

_____________________________

My twisted, self deprecating, sense of humour, finds alot to laugh about, in your lack of one!

Just because you are well educated, articulate, and can use big, fancy words, properly........does not mean you are right!

(in reply to LaTigresse)

Post #: 7

RE: A question about something that troubles me. - 9/11/2011 9:02:36 AM

LadyHibiscus

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You must read a lot of labels!

Anyway, agreeing with Greeds and LaT. It's all in the person. It's also true that large stores have bigger selection, and lower prices due to economy of scale.

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RE: A question about something that troubles me. - 9/11/2011 9:10:57 AM

LinnaeaBorealis

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When I lived with the Orthodox family, I learned that I had to read every label. And sometimes the mark that told whether a product was kosher enough for their home was tiny & hidden. There were quite a few times that I brought something in that the lady of the house questioned because she couldn't see the mark. And only certain marks were acceptable. If I had any question, I didn't buy it or I consumed it off-premise. I also wasn't allowed to turn on the stove to prepare anything for the family; but it was ok for me to turn on the toaster oven or the microwave, which I found a little odd.

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Ring the bells that still can ring
Forget your perfect offering
There is a crack in everything
That's how the light gets in
~~L. Cohen

Just one of the yahoo's

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RE: A question about something that troubles me. - 9/11/2011 9:13:12 AM

ProlificNeeds

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Agreeing, it's all in the management. I've spent a fair number of years in customer service and food industries, some places were great, some sucked. The general concept that smaller is more customer oriented is because of the basic formula that a small shop, has fewer staff, and thus can be more easily over seen by the management to ensure quality and presentation to the customers needs. Smaller shops HAVE to focus on these things to compete with a large chain store who can produce greater volume but often lacks the ability to ensure customer satisfaction.
When a small shop loses it's ability to cater to customer needs in customization, they will fail rapidly, when a big franchise can actually be managed to the point of quality customer service and have a business policy that adapts to unique customer needs (custom orders and requests) they excel in leaps and bounds. Unfortunately most large franchise places have strict company policies from their head offices that prohibit them from altering menus or pricing to help meet a customers needs.

One franchise I worked in as part of large chain had to follow a strict code of menu and pricing policies, however the mnager of the store was a very reasonable fellow, and understood the concept of meeting cost and profit needs while still altering menu and pricing for the demands of a customer. We had to 'cheat' the register and the inventories to make it balance out but could offer far more substitutions and custom orders. Sad to say we all would have been fired if head office had ever found out, but we had a huge repeat customer base, who came specifically because we would adapt to their wants as a consumer.

(in reply to LadyHibiscus)

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RE: A question about something that troubles me. - 9/11/2011 9:38:41 AM

LinnaeaBorealis

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I used to not shop at a certain national chain grocery store because their customer service was pretty non-existent. They just didn't seem to care if I shopped there or not, so I chose not. A few years later, I happened to need something & a store in that chain was the closest & most convenient, so I went in & discovered that they were about falling all over each other to be helpful to me. I started shopping there again & have found that for the most part they are still very concerned with making their customers happy & well-served. There is one notable exception in my local store here & I sent an email to Corporate regarding this event. I got a call with an invitation to come back & receive a $25 gift certificate. She also apologized but it was less than believable, so I went in, got my gift card & never have used that department since.

_____________________________

Ring the bells that still can ring
Forget your perfect offering
There is a crack in everything
That's how the light gets in
~~L. Cohen

Just one of the yahoo's

(in reply to ProlificNeeds)

Post #: 11

RE: A question about something that troubles me. - 9/11/2011 9:39:26 AM

pahunkboy

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From: Central Pennsylvania
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Hi Steve,

You might want to look into the laws on natural and artificial flavors. There are something like 1700-- of them- all trade secrets-- so the kosher you think is- - might not be.

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RE: A question about something that troubles me. - 9/11/2011 10:24:19 AM

DomImus

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quote:

ORIGINAL: DarkSteven
This is bothering me. I always assumed that the smaller, local businesses were more customer service-oriented and more flexible and adaptable than the behemoths.

What's been your experience with the smaller local businesses? Better service, better educated employees - or the opposite?

Assumptions like this puzzle me. I have never seen a correlation between the size of the business and the level of service. Like the others who have posted, it comes down the the people you are dealing with. Sometimes it comes down to an individual level. When I shop at a large music store and find someone who is really good I seek them out whenever possible. Likewise, I avoid those in the store who are not as good unless they are the only choice.

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RE: A question about something that troubles me. - 9/11/2011 10:34:58 AM

windchymes

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If it takes you two days to write "Happy Whatever" on a cake with a tube of frosting, there is something wrong with YOU. That's an example of a small business owner who cares more about enforcing his/her own rules than to getting business and keeping it. My crystal ball says they won't be in business next year.

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RE: A question about something that troubles me. - 9/11/2011 10:38:43 AM

TreasureKY

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From: Kentucky
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quote:

ORIGINAL: windchymes

If it takes you two days to write "Happy Whatever" on a cake with a tube of frosting, there is something wrong with YOU. That's an example of a small business owner who cares more about enforcing his/her own rules than to getting business and keeping it. My crystal ball says they won't be in business next year.

I'd say your prediction is right on the money.

Psst... and thank you for the compliment in the other thread. You made me blush.

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RE: A question about something that troubles me. - 9/11/2011 10:40:24 AM

JstAnotherSub

Posts: 6174
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Maybe the person who can write in a legible manner is not there all day? I know I have bought cakes before on a spur of the moment at larger stores and I have laughed at the writing on them. There is a talent to it, some working in the bakery at Kroger do not have that talent.

Attachment (1)

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yep

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RE: A question about something that troubles me. - 9/11/2011 10:42:37 AM

JstAnotherSub

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or this!

Attachment (1)

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yep

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RE: A question about something that troubles me. - 9/11/2011 10:50:29 AM

tj444

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quote:

ORIGINAL: DarkSteven
What's been your experience with the smaller local businesses? Better service, better educated employees - or the opposite?

I think it really depends on the store and also what your definition of what a smaller local businesses is. The big grocery chains, it is extremely hard to find someone there unless of course they are working in a specific area like the deli section, I rarely go to those. I like to go to trader joes & sprouts (amalgamated with henrys) and haggens, they are small grocery stores but chains (no idea how many stores total), its usually fairly easy to find an employee that will help you find something there. And with those, they carry the kinds of products i like to buy like soygurt or sprouted bread, etc whereas the big chains dont carry that kinda stuff. But i dont generally go to stores smaller than that, cuz i like to buy most of my food and stuff at one place, driving all over town for only a few items drives me mad. So chances are pretty slim that i would go to just a bakery or just a deli or something small like that which served a specific niche. I would never go to an ice cream cake store since i dont eat ice cream..

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RE: A question about something that troubles me. - 9/11/2011 2:29:33 PM

gungadin09

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quote:

ORIGINAL: LaTigresse

For ME.......it's neither.

Regardless of whether it is a big chain or small locally own, the service is wholly dependent upon the person/s running the place. If they focus on hiring bodies, the service will likely suck. If they focus on hiring quality people that give a damn, the service will not suck.

Exactly.

pam

(in reply to LaTigresse)

Post #: 19

RE: A question about something that troubles me. - 9/11/2011 2:31:30 PM

gungadin09

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nm

< Message edited by gungadin09 -- 9/11/2011 2:32:36 PM >

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