Thread: Do the Supermarket Shuffle! :-(

"Andy" <[email protected]> wrote in message news:[email protected]..
> Do the Supermarket Shuffle! :-(
>
> After years of knowing my supermarket aisles by heart, this
> morning they were rearranging all the aisles.
>
> I don't know if they're just getting started. I saw them
> rearranging the cheese/butter/yogurt/cottage cheese cooler
> shelves.
>
> They didn't rearrange the milk/cream coolers as it is a noted
> back row "fixture"
>
> They also didn't separate the opposing chips and soda aisle.
>
> The moved the deli to the "sideline" aisle.
>
> With the addition of flowers and fruit baskets, etc., the
> produce area aisles were severely altered. I was lost for
> moment. More cramped twists and turns than ever.
>
> I cut my shopping a handful of items short.
>
> I asked one of the staff, "the old aisle pattern was so
> logical, why change it?" He shrugged and said "that's what the
> bosses want."
>
> I felt bad for the staff AND shoppers.
>
> [Sigh]
>
> Andy

I hate it when they do that! I try to make my grocery list out in the order
in which the aisles go. And that just doesn't work when they do stuff like
that.

On Sep 27, 11:50*am, "Julie Bove" <julieb...@frontier.com> wrote:
> "Andy" <a...@b.c> wrote in messagenews:[email protected]..
> > Do the Supermarket Shuffle! :-(
>
> > After years of knowing my supermarket aisles by heart, this
> > morning they were rearranging all the aisles.
>
> > I don't know if they're just getting started. I saw them
> > rearranging the cheese/butter/yogurt/cottage cheese cooler
> > shelves.
>
> > They didn't rearrange the milk/cream coolers as it is a noted
> > back row "fixture"
>
> > They also didn't separate the opposing chips and soda aisle.
>
> > The moved the deli to the "sideline" aisle.
>
> > With the addition of flowers and fruit baskets, etc., the
> > produce area aisles were severely altered. I was lost for
> > moment. More cramped twists and turns than ever.
>
> > I cut my shopping a handful of items short.
>
> > I asked one of the staff, "the old aisle pattern was so
> > logical, why change it?" He shrugged and said "that's what the
> > bosses want."
>
> > I felt bad for the staff AND shoppers.
>
> > [Sigh]
>
> > Andy
>
> I hate it when they do that! *I try to make my grocery list out in the order
> in which the aisles go. *And that just doesn't work when they do stuff like
> that.

The store where I shop most (Shop'n Save) has a bunch of different
layouts that are very dissimilar. There are a few different locations
where I shop often enough that I have to think, "OK, at this store the
breakfast cereal is..." When they make even minor changes, that adds
a whole nother layer of hassle,

--Bryan

On 27/09/2012 1:04 PM, Bryan wrote:

> The store where I shop most (Shop'n Save) has a bunch of different
> layouts that are very dissimilar. There are a few different locations
> where I shop often enough that I have to think, "OK, at this store the
> breakfast cereal is..." When they make even minor changes, that adds
> a whole nother layer of hassle,


My late brother in law was very anal. Being an engineer, everything had
to be in order and mapped out. He not only had maps of the shortest
routes to various grocery stores, but he had (almost) scale maps of the
stores and where various items were found. It threw him right off when
the stores moved things.

"Andy" <[email protected]> wrote in message news:[email protected]..
>
> I asked one of the staff, "the old aisle pattern was so
> logical, why change it?" He shrugged and said "that's what the
> bosses want."
>
> I felt bad for the staff AND shoppers.
>
> [Sigh]
>
> Andy


I really, really hate it when they do that, sometimes for no rhyme or reason
except maybe some pencil pusher decided that a change would be
nice...definitely not!

Cheri

"Julie Bove" <[email protected]> wrote:

>
> "Andy" <[email protected]> wrote in message
> news:[email protected]..
>> Do the Supermarket Shuffle! :-(
>>
>> After years of knowing my supermarket aisles by heart,
>> this morning they were rearranging all the aisles.
>>
>> I don't know if they're just getting started. I saw them
>> rearranging the cheese/butter/yogurt/cottage cheese cooler
>> shelves.
>>
>> They didn't rearrange the milk/cream coolers as it is a
>> noted back row "fixture"
>>
>> They also didn't separate the opposing chips and soda
>> aisle.
>>
>> The moved the deli to the "sideline" aisle.
>>
>> With the addition of flowers and fruit baskets, etc., the
>> produce area aisles were severely altered. I was lost for
>> moment. More cramped twists and turns than ever.
>>
>> I cut my shopping a handful of items short.
>>
>> I asked one of the staff, "the old aisle pattern was so
>> logical, why change it?" He shrugged and said "that's what
>> the bosses want."
>>
>> I felt bad for the staff AND shoppers.
>>
>> [Sigh]
>>
>> Andy
>
> I hate it when they do that! I try to make my grocery list
> out in the order in which the aisles go. And that just
> doesn't work when they do stuff like that.



Julie,

Wegmans is a popular NE regional (I think) supermarket.

At the suggestion of others here, I finally drove 30 miles to
it.

When I walked in, it was so vast with a maze like look and feel,
I walked straight to customer service and asked if they had
map. They handed me an 8"x11" sheet with a list of products, for
example "Mustard -- A2" Bread --B3" with the map showing the A
aisle and shelf number locations clearly labeled. Shopping
instantly became a breeze.

I was SO impressed, I took the sheet home and planned to write a
software to click items on the product list side, press OK and
have it draw the shortest shopping route on the map side to
print out and follow.

It was an easy software (I almost said "hard software to write
but they were too far out of my way to bother. Not to mention
them also doing the supermarket shuffle in the future. ;-)

Best,

Andy

"Andy" <[email protected]> wrote in message news:[email protected]..
> "Julie Bove" <[email protected]> wrote:
>
>>
>> "Andy" <[email protected]> wrote in message
>> news:[email protected]..
>>> Do the Supermarket Shuffle! :-(
>>>
>>> After years of knowing my supermarket aisles by heart,
>>> this morning they were rearranging all the aisles.
>>>
>>> I don't know if they're just getting started. I saw them
>>> rearranging the cheese/butter/yogurt/cottage cheese cooler
>>> shelves.
>>>
>>> They didn't rearrange the milk/cream coolers as it is a
>>> noted back row "fixture"
>>>
>>> They also didn't separate the opposing chips and soda
>>> aisle.
>>>
>>> The moved the deli to the "sideline" aisle.
>>>
>>> With the addition of flowers and fruit baskets, etc., the
>>> produce area aisles were severely altered. I was lost for
>>> moment. More cramped twists and turns than ever.
>>>
>>> I cut my shopping a handful of items short.
>>>
>>> I asked one of the staff, "the old aisle pattern was so
>>> logical, why change it?" He shrugged and said "that's what
>>> the bosses want."
>>>
>>> I felt bad for the staff AND shoppers.
>>>
>>> [Sigh]
>>>
>>> Andy
>>
>> I hate it when they do that! I try to make my grocery list
>> out in the order in which the aisles go. And that just
>> doesn't work when they do stuff like that.
>
>
>
> Julie,
>
> Wegmans is a popular NE regional (I think) supermarket.
>
> At the suggestion of others here, I finally drove 30 miles to
> it.
>
> When I walked in, it was so vast with a maze like look and feel,
> I walked straight to customer service and asked if they had
> map. They handed me an 8"x11" sheet with a list of products, for
> example "Mustard -- A2" Bread --B3" with the map showing the A
> aisle and shelf number locations clearly labeled. Shopping
> instantly became a breeze.
>
> I was SO impressed, I took the sheet home and planned to write a
> software to click items on the product list side, press OK and
> have it draw the shortest shopping route on the map side to
> print out and follow.
>
> It was an easy software (I almost said "hard software to write
> but they were too far out of my way to bother. Not to mention
> them also doing the supermarket shuffle in the future. ;-)
>
> Best,
>
> Andy


A lot of stores in our area have the maps on the carts, of course when they
change things around it sort of defeats the maps. :-)

Cheri

"Julie *HATEFUL* Bove" wrote:
>"Andy" wrote:
>>
>> After years of knowing my supermarket aisles by heart this
>> morning they were rearranging all the aisles.
>
>I HATE it when they do that!

Dave Smith wrote:

> It threw him right off when the stores moved things.

A store near me is always rearranging the dairy aisle. Seems pointless
bu what do I know.

"Cheri" <[email protected]> wrote:

> "Andy" <[email protected]> wrote in message
> news:[email protected]..
>>
>> I asked one of the staff, "the old aisle pattern was so
>> logical, why change it?" He shrugged and said "that's what
>> the bosses want."
>>
>> I felt bad for the staff AND shoppers.
>>
>> [Sigh]
>>
>> Andy
>
>
> I really, really hate it when they do that, sometimes for
> no rhyme or reason except maybe some pencil pusher decided
> that a change would be nice...definitely not!
>
> Cheri



Cheri,

They want you to spend more time, getting re-adjusted, hoping
you'll buy other products whether you care to or not.

That's the way I figure the changes. Shrewd pencil pushers!

Best,

Andy

On 27/09/2012 2:58 PM, George M. Middius wrote:
> Dave Smith wrote:
>
>> It threw him right off when the stores moved things.
>
> A store near me is always rearranging the dairy aisle. Seems pointless
> bu what do I know.
>



There are people paid to run things, and sometimes they have to make
changes for the sake of change. In theory, they are looking for ways to
get people to look at all the other stuff they have for sale. Some
things tend to sell better if they are located next to or near something
else. Someone may actually be monitoring sales volume as a function of
location. Then there are those who like to look busy. They and their
staff may not normally be very busy, but if they have to move stock
around, they look busy, so the guys up the ladder are happy to see them
hard at work, as opposed to standing around doing nothing. While their
work may be pointless, they make it look like they are busy and,
therefore, needed. I am sure that we have all worked with people who
were good at looking busy, but who weren't really doing anything. I am
also sure that most of us have had immediate supervisors who, when
higher up come by, tell us to "look busy".

George M. Middius <[email protected]> wrote:

> Dave Smith wrote:
>
>> It threw him right off when the stores moved things.
>
> A store near me is always rearranging the dairy aisle.
> Seems pointless bu what do I know.



Smith,

Of course it throws everyone off.

Shopping, like driving is rewarded by having a trusted sense of
direction. You're obviously a hapless wanderer!

Andy

"Dave Smith" <[email protected]> wrote in message
news:sC19s.2$[email protected]..

> therefore, needed. I am sure that we have all worked with people who were
> good at looking busy, but who weren't really doing anything. I am also
> sure that most of us have had immediate supervisors who, when higher up
> come by, tell us to "look busy".


Yes, always look for the person with the clipboard. They're the ones that
are usually doing nothing while trying to look busy.

Cheri

On Sep 27, 12:10*pm, Andy <a...@b.c> wrote:
>
> They want you to spend more time, getting re-adjusted, hoping
> you'll buy other products whether you care to or not.
>
> That's the way I figure the changes. Shrewd pencil pushers!
>
> Best,
>
> Andy-


Andy is exactly correct. They move items and sections to keep
shoppers off balance so that you will have to walk more aisles and
look for things. That way you see more items and buy more on
impulse.

Stores love impulse buyers. They hate shoppers with lists who sick
to their list.

ImStillMags <[email protected]> wrote:

> On Sep 27, 12:10*pm, Andy <a...@b.c> wrote:
>>
>> They want you to spend more time, getting re-adjusted,
>> hoping you'll buy other products whether you care to or
>> not.
>>
>> That's the way I figure the changes. Shrewd pencil
>> pushers!
>>
>> Best,
>>
>> Andy-
>
>
> Andy is exactly correct. They move items and sections to
> keep shoppers off balance so that you will have to walk
> more aisles and look for things. That way you see more
> items and buy more on impulse.
>
> Stores love impulse buyers. They hate shoppers with
> lists who sick to their list.



ImStillMags,

[Waving!]

Andy

On 9/27/2012 10:53 AM, Andy wrote:

> I felt bad for the staff AND shoppers.
>
> [Sigh]
>
> Andy


As a shopper, I hate it when they do that; I wast time walking around,
trying to find what I am looking for. I understand the store wants to
maximize sales, but why didn't they do that the first time around?

They say, people spend more money when a store is reorganized, but it
makes me want to walk out the door. Of course I end up going back,
because I shop at that store for a reason.

Becca

Ema Nymton <[email protected]> wrote:

> On 9/27/2012 10:53 AM, Andy wrote:
>
>> I felt bad for the staff AND shoppers.
>>
>> [Sigh]
>>
>> Andy
>
>
> As a shopper, I hate it when they do that; I wast time
> walking around, trying to find what I am looking for. I
> understand the store wants to maximize sales, but why
> didn't they do that the first time around?
>
> They say, people spend more money when a store is
> reorganized, but it makes me want to walk out the door. Of
> course I end up going back, because I shop at that store
> for a reason.
>
> Becca



Becca,

The best advice I ever read, heard(?) was to never supermarket
shop on an empty stomach. The #1 cause of impulse buying,
iirc.

Best,

Andy

On Sep 27, 1:14*pm, Andy <a...@b.c> wrote:
> Ema Nymton <EmaNym...@comcast.net> wrote:
> > On 9/27/2012 10:53 AM, Andy wrote:
>
> >> I felt bad for the staff AND shoppers.
>
> >> [Sigh]
>
> >> Andy
>
> > As a shopper, I hate it when they do that; I wast time
> > walking around, trying to find what I am looking for. I
> > understand the store wants to maximize sales, but why
> > didn't they do that the first time around?
>
> > They say, people spend more money when a store is
> > reorganized, but it makes me want to walk out the door. Of
> > course I end up going back, because I shop at that store
> > for a reason.
>
> > Becca
>
> Becca,
>
> The best advice I ever read, heard(?) was to never supermarket
> shop on an empty stomach. The #1 cause of impulse buying,
> iirc.
>
> Best,- Hide quoted text -
>
> - Show quoted text -

Yup and have a list and stick to it.

Of course except when you find a bargain on used meat or a special
unadvertised sale on something you normally use and have a place to
store.

ImStillMags <[email protected]> wrote:

> On Sep 27, 1:14*pm, Andy <a...@b.c> wrote:
>> Ema Nymton <EmaNym...@comcast.net> wrote:
>> > On 9/27/2012 10:53 AM, Andy wrote:
>>
>> >> I felt bad for the staff AND shoppers.
>>
>> >> [Sigh]
>>
>> >> Andy
>>
>> > As a shopper, I hate it when they do that; I wast time
>> > walking around, trying to find what I am looking for. I
>> > understand the store wants to maximize sales, but why
>> > didn't they do that the first time around?
>>
>> > They say, people spend more money when a store is
>> > reorganized, but it makes me want to walk out the door.
>> > Of course I end up going back, because I shop at that
>> > store for a reason.
>>
>> > Becca
>>
>> Becca,
>>
>> The best advice I ever read, heard(?) was to never
>> supermarket shop on an empty stomach. The #1 cause of
>> impulse buying, iirc.
>>
>> Best,- Hide quoted text -
>>
>> - Show quoted text -
>
> Yup and have a list and stick to it.
>
> Of course except when you find a bargain on used meat or a
> special unadvertised sale on something you normally use
> and have a place to store.



ImStillMages,

I'm a ListMonster!

With my iPhone camera I thought to take open door HD video of my
pantry and fridge to save time list making. If I wondered if I
was out of a product I could look at the kitchen videos to
double check.

I never did that in actuality but it was an interesting idea for
a moment or so! :-)

Best,

Andy