Thursday, December 4, 2008

Holiday Giveaway!!

Looking for a couple of extra dollars for the holidays? Post a comment below before December 15th and be entered into our Holiday Giveaway for a chance to win a co-op gift card for $100!

The Winner will be announced on this blog on December 16th so be sure to check back to see if you won!

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13 Comments:

Blogger Jenny Lens said...

Glad to see all the great new online features! I was just at the Co-Op yesterday and my cashier was really rude and didn't credit me for my canvas bags. I can live without 10 cents because I've been bringing my own bags to the Co-Op, whether I drove or walked, for years. Many times I asked the cashier if they credited Heal the Bay, because I didn't see them clicking the little gadget which kept track.

This cashier was too busy talking to people behind her instead of paying any attention to her customer. I very clearly told the bagger just to please put everything back into my cart. I told him I would do my own bagging. When I try to bag and pay at the same time, I hold up the line. So I was being considerate of others.

After I finished paying and was bagging, I realized I didn't see a bag credit on my receipt. I spoke with customer service and told them it's ESSENTIAL cashiers ASK customers if they brought their own bags.

When cashiers ask if customers brought bags, it helps TRAIN EVERYONE to bring bags!

Plus there's something wonderful when cashiers actually relate to the customers, members or not.

I shared all this with customer service and they know her name. I threw out the receipt, but since you have a public blog, in the future I'll just out cashiers who can't bother to pay attention to customers. You know this is not the first time I've talked about the issue of cashiers who don't treat the customers as if we pay their salaries (we do).

As I've said many times, many people would love to work at the Co-Op. I don't see ANY reason to employ anyone who doesn't take PRIDE in their work.

Also, cashiers are the FACE of the Co-Op. If they don't care about us, why should we care about the Co-Op?

Of course you know how much I love the Co-Op. But can we really afford to give anyone a reason not to come back?

Thank you.

December 4, 2008 at 7:12 PM  
Blogger Jenny Lens said...

I was at the Co-Op yesterday, sad that so many of the fresh greens were too soggy. One of the produce employees said I was not the only customer who felt the produce was over-watered.

HE told ME that customers tell him vitamins and minerals are washed away with water.

That's what I've said to your employees for years. Some literally water it like a yard in summer, talking to customers and not paying attention.

He told me to say something. I said I've talked to employees, emailed, left notes til I realized NO ONE WILL DO ANYTHING ABOUT IT.

Water should never be dripping off greens. I've set them in my cart and they are still wet when I check out, nearly an hour later.

I wonder if the produce personnel actually ever eat a salad or use fresh veggies in any capacity?

I told him I buy most of my produce at the farmer's markets where the produce is out in the fresh air for HOURS and NEVER SPRAYED with WATER.

Farmer's market produce lasts for many days longer than the Co-Op's. I am single, money always tight, and I see no reason why the Co-Op, like other stores, insist on drenching greens!

Have you looked at green onions, spinach, beet greens? I won't buy green onions at the Co-Op cos they should last a week, but usually many of the green part are already wilting.

I had to put ALL my greens in various colanders for over an hour at home. I had to wipe my beets with paper towels and set out to dry too.

I can't get as much organic produce at my local farmer's market. So once a week I venture to the Co-Op. I make juices and rather use organic.

I just don't know what to do. I want to support the Co-Op, but what about helping those of us who really want fresh organic veggies to last longer, but can't because your employees insist on over-watering.

So sad, but think how many other customers buy at the outdoor farmer's markets instead of the Co-Op? You are losing money.

Do you care? I do . . .

December 4, 2008 at 7:23 PM  
Blogger Kevination said...

I have never blogged before, but for a chance at $100 bucks at the best store on Planet Earth, I will gladly give it a whirl... I must start with my favorite item at the Coop, which is the El Rancho Black Bean Chips. I am fearful that by hyping them, I will decrease my chances of finding them, but I am in a giving mood. Giving advice is what I do for a living, so you can rest assured that this will be $2.50 well spent. I cannot find anything that is even half as wonderful.

My other advise for this Holiday Season is that we all learn to simplify things a bit. Take a moment to assess your place in this time, and your time in this place. In all of the chaos around you, find and cherish the ones that love you most. Feed on it and use it to feed others. We need each other now more than ever. This World can be a scary place, so be sure to embrace!

Happy Holidays and Happy Shopping and Happy Co-opping to all!

Kevination

December 4, 2008 at 9:19 PM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

The holiday giveaway prompted me to ask something I had been wondering for a while: Why does the Co-Op sell Orange Roughy? I don't think Whole Foods will even sell it due to the environmental concerns (but may be wrong):
Orange Roughy

This deep sea fish, once known as the “slimehead,” grows very slowly and doesn’t reproduce until it’s 20 years old.

Consumer Note
Orange roughy live 100 years or more—so the fillet in your freezer might be from a fish older than your grandmother!

Health Alert
Environmental Defense Fund has issued a health advisory for orange roughy due to high levels of mercury.

Summary
Unfortunately, years of heavy fishing have decimated orange roughy populations. Although fishery management plans are now in place, it’ll take decades for this slow-growing fish to recover.

Another concern with orange roughy is the way it’s caught—by bottom trawling. This fishing method can damage the seafloor habitat, and we don’t know what impacts that damage might have on fragile deep sea ecosystems.
http://www.montereybayaquarium.org/cr/SeafoodWatch/

December 5, 2008 at 12:17 AM  
Blogger MSPubRadSM said...

First, bravo on putting up a blog. It can be a rally valuable way for members to be involved. Secondly, happy holidays, and thanks: I have been out in public and on radio preaching the Coop gospel. Lastly: I think I didn't know about the bag refund -- I always bring my own, now I'll make sure to ask at the register. Thank you!
Sarah Spitz

December 5, 2008 at 6:23 AM  
Blogger Spooky said...

Hi, I didn't even know you had a blog. Consider me in for the holiday giveaway and I'm glad to know you are posting information about actions we can take on important issues.

December 5, 2008 at 7:54 AM  
Blogger Unknown said...

Hey - I love the Co-op - I can get things there I can't find anywhere else and your staff is so knowledgeable and friendly - I have been able to fix a lot of physical problems before they became chronic - we all have to learn to maintain our health ourselves and the co-op really helps us do that.

However can you re-stripe your parking lot? If you angled the spaces instead of having cars back into each other, it would help so much getting in and out. You could have entry on each side in the direction of the parking space.
Please help me take care of my car as well as my body when I shop at the co-op. Happy Holidays

December 5, 2008 at 9:25 AM  
Blogger ChristieCakes said...

The Santa Monica Co-op is my happy place! :)

Christie Steighner
christies@weearth.com

December 5, 2008 at 10:23 AM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

Love you guys, glad you exist.

A few things to improve upon:
Greens are too cold and usually have ice on them...
Angling parking spaces would help...
Keep raw milk cold at all times, it's usually sour by the time it's sold...
Update the recipes in the deli.

My favorite deli food is the BBQ CHICKEN! YUM!!!

December 5, 2008 at 1:08 PM  
Blogger Co-opportunity said...

Hi Jenny Lens,
Thanks for your comments, We endeavor to give satisfaction to all our customers, so we appreciate you speaking up.

Hi Kevination,
Those El Rancho Black Bean Chips sound really good, thanks for the tip I haven't had the chance to try those yet.

Hi Rebecca,
Thank you so much for your comment, we're going to discontinue carrying the Orange Roughy within a week. In fact, we're going to review all the fish we carry. We always try to stay on top of our products to ensure they are all the best and most ethical choices so we appreciate you taking the time to point out where we could be doing better.

Hi Sarah, Spooky & Christie,
Thanks for your comments, and happy holidays to you!!

Hi Donna,
Thanks for your comment. We actually just got our parking lot re-striped. We'd love to make the parking lot spaces roomier and angled but unfortunately we are required by the city to have a certain number of parking spots and we can't reach that number any other way.

Hi A. Greenberg,
Thanks for you comments, I'll be sure to let the produce, dairy and deli managers know!

December 5, 2008 at 2:05 PM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

The blog looks great! And thanks for the heads up on in-store specials like the organic apples at $1.19 a pound.

December 5, 2008 at 3:09 PM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

Blog looks great! And thanks for the heads up on the in-store special or organic apples at $1.19/lb.

December 5, 2008 at 3:11 PM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

Glad you have this contest. I've been meaning to send this suggestion but haven't gotten around to it until this incentive came along. You are doing a good job at the Coop of sourcing many items locally, or as locally as possible. I would like to see the coop source even more items from local growers and producers, and less items from out of state or out of the country. Obviously there are many items that can only come from far away. But I'm sure there are still more items that could be obtained closer to LA. Thanks, and keep up the good work.
Don White (Co-Op member)

December 5, 2008 at 8:40 PM  

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