Fred Meyer: Is your store well stocked?

[Merczilla]

I am becoming very frustrated with my Fred's and was wondering how your stores down there are at stocking. I really didn't expect to find any of the Pillsbury cakes mixes that are on coupon this week and of course, there weren't any. They seem to constantly be out of organic 2% milk, and it almost doesn't matter what brand...there isn't any, gallons or halves. No one to ask either. They didn't have any last Friday when I was there nor today. Lots of empty slots on shelves throughout the store. Meat dept isn't much better...there were three buffalo top round steaks left and they looked rather brownish.

I know I can get rainchecks for ad stuff, but to be out of things I need like milk, is getting really old. I guess I'll have to shop Safeway more...they had some things cheaper than Fred's today, plus I was smart and got some milk there. Fred's is always my last stop as that's usually where I get milk. Safeway doesn't carry gallons of org. milk.

So are your store shelves full or at least have some of the items? I can't figure out where the problem lies, if it's ordering, shipping (warehouse just not sending us stuff), stocking issues or what.

[iwik]

I think they restock pretty well here. I did notice the other day there was an empty spot on the shelf, and it was Dole pineapple for $1 a can, so I figure an empty spot means a good deal.
I have noticed the grocery chains and drug store chains here seem to be having more clearance than usual and finding creative ways to reduce their inventory (reducing shelving and so on) so I figure the Great Recession isn't quite over yet. Won't happen until people can get decent jobs again IMO.
If you don't have anyone to ask, you could try a customer feedback form thing, or use their web site to complain. It could be they lost an employee and couldn't replace them or something, or someone is just plain incompetent.

[Scrapping Mommy]

My store is usually pretty well stocked, but I've noticed that they run out of some of the promotional items. The Precious String Cheese from a few weeks back was out until Saturday. But this week, the cake mix has been fully stocked on an end cap all week. It's pretty hit or miss.

I would be very frustrated if I were you. Like Iwik said, I'd try to talk to someone at the CS desk or fill out a feedback form. You could also try e-mailing Fred Meyer from their website, but I'd stick to the more local options first.

[Gardencook]

Our Fred Meyer is one of the best stores at keeping things in stock here. They get deliveries about three times a week. Once in awhile I have to get a raincheck (usually things like 3/$1 tuna), but the fact that everything is usually in stock is why Freddie's get's most of our grocery dollars.
Albertson's is our HUGE problem here. They are constantly out of stock on the first day of the sale, don't restock and won't give rainchecks because the good deals are usually on Cat deals. They always blame it on the warehouse, but that excuse gets old after many, many years.
I sometimes skip their sales entirely, because it defeats the purpose of a sale to drive clear across town repeatedly when you are told to "check back tomorrow." It sounds like you're having the same problem with your Freddie's.

[krmore]

my FM usually is stocked pretty well on everyday items. They often run out of the ad items but I count on that and check back everyday to get multiple rainchecks knowing that they only have a truck coming in on monday. They also don't have a problem with special ordering items for me to be put on their next truck if they are usually not well stocked on a particular item that I want

[Merczilla]

Went this morning to get the Harry Potter movie before they ran out...they were cheaper than Target for it here. That was about 10:30am. Got the last 4 Horizon half gallons on the shelf, they did have some Tasters Choice (for the $4 catalina), but still no Pillsbury (got a raincheck) and still no Purina One Beyond cat food boxes. Didn't have time to look at anything else...hubby wanted to go look for motorcycle tires this am. lol

The last two-three times I've emailed, I've gotten no response whatsoever, other than "we're forwarding this to the correct dept." or whatever. THe last time I even offered to help train on coupon usuage, as I had some malfunctions with cashiers/CSM's mis-informed. A cashier told me the other day that there isn't a natural foods manager anymore, it's all under grocery now. Also that there was only one person working natural foods. The ships come in on Sundays and Tuesdays (hubby works longshore...I know when they come in), so I just don't get why there's no stock.

There's a new Three Bears opening down the street from me in June and that's where I've been getting most of my meat anyway. They're a local boy originally based in Tok. And they have a store in Butte, Montana....I find that funny. Guess I'll just be taking most of money elsewhere. The store manager at Fred's didn't seem to thrilled to talk to me the last time I talked with him about something (forget what) and that was a year or more ago. At least the managers at Safeway say hi and call me by name. lol