Something's Fishy-By Eli

Bristol Farms, a division of Albertson's, is LA's high end gourmet market. Pricey is an understatement but they do offer some of the best quality produce, meats, poultry and fish you can buy in LA.

I am a big fan of Halibut. Their catch is incredibly fresh, wild caught and just outstanding. At $21.00 per pound it ought to be.

Today I asked for 1 pound of fish. I was shown a piece weighed on the scale in front of me that was 1.09 pounds or a bit over the $21.00 price per pound. I said yes and it was wrapped. At the check out the fish rang up at over $28.00...and I was very surprised. Upon checking the fish price label I saw it actually weighed nearly 1.3 pounds. No big deal you say? Ha! It was a $7.00 difference in price. I paid for my groceries and proceeded back to the fish counter. (I didn't want to hold up the other six people in line, it wasn't their fault the store tried to cheat me).

I discussed this discrepancy with the fish guy who immediately said he would "fix the problem". I asked how could the scale  show 1.09 punds but print out at 1.3..unless he was trying to overcharge me. He told me the scale that he weighed the fish on was "broken" and he used a nearby scale to accurately weigh the fish. I asked why he hadn't told me this BEFORE he wrapped the fish for sale. He didn't have an answer.

I pursued the store manager, explained the issue and expressed my concern about unethical business practices. He immediately refunded my money, gave me the fish "on the house" for my troubles and apologized and apologized agreeing that the experience was unacceptable. He then walked back to the fish counter with me to discuss the matter with the fish guy. My fish salesman was NO WHERE to be found--not surprisingly. The manager assured me it would be resolved. (Guy probably got himself fired today or if it was a smoke screen to appease me...got reprimanded for getting caught..who knows?)

Even in the best of retail establishments you must be vigilant and assume folks may try to cheat you. People tell me I am too pessimistic about people, but my experiences show more and more cases of deception (for a host of reasons) and less honestly in the retail marketplace...or the world for that matter.

Never let a problem like this go unresolved. "We" have to keep people honest these days by making sure they know we won't just walk out having overpaid for something and let it be.

The manager "Gary" told me to seek him out anytime in the future I have a problem. I asked him "does your offer imply more problems to be expected?"...he said he misspoke and we left it at that.

Watching out for you everyday.

Eli