Speak to the Manager

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This morning I went to the supermarket for a few items. I didn’t need much, since I shop once a month online and have most items delivered. What I always pick up when I’m at the nearby market is California brand jumbo black olives. They’re my favorite and tough to find. This store usually carries them, but I noticed the whole area where these olives could usually be found was filled in with Lindsey olives. Oh, no! I immediately went to find someone in management. I noticed a man in a suit giving instructions to a woman in an apron. I asked if either was in management. “Yes. I am. What can I help you with?” I let him have it in a calm, businesslike manner. “I can shop anywhere. But I come here because you usually have California brand black olives. I buy the jumbo sized ones. Today, the whole area is covered with Linsey olives.” He sent an employee to find out if the brand had been yanked by the corporate offices. While we were waiting, I let him know that if they didn’t carry these olives, there would be no reason for me to shop in his store anymore. As it turned out, the geniuses in the head office decided to carry only one brand of olives. I looked at the manager. “Don’t worry. I’ll make sure we carry the olives you want. They will be here the next time you stop by.” Speaking to the manager worked this time (fingers crossed). This type of thing is happening more and more. Where there used to be several brands of items, now stores are carrying only one. Where we used to have several choices of flavors or varieties of foods, they are being eliminated. I remember when the Berlin Wall fell. People from East Berlin went into West Berlin to shop in their stores. They came back with their arms full and tears running down their faces. “They have 500 kinds of Wurst.” I heard one man say. Of course, in stores in the East, they had only one variety, if any. I feel like our supermarkets are turning into the ones in East Berlin before the wall fell. Have you noticed this worrisome trend as well?