Last Call

[e-cue]

I had a very disappointing experience this morning (Oct 6th) at the Ralph's Supermarket (open 24 hours) store on 10900 Magnolia Blvd in North Hollywood, CA, USA. I showed up at about 1:30 am and started shopping. One of the key purchases I planned on making was some alcohol.

Now, I'd been in their stores before and been denied the purchase of alcohol at 2 am exactly (at which point the clerk explained they couldn't sell 2am and after), which I wasn't happy with, but had to accept. This is the way it is in a lot of parts of the US, specifically in California. So with a keen eye on my watch, I made sure to make it to the check out counter with time to spare. 1:44 to be exact. As I was walking up to the check out, the cashier made a "last call" announcement over the intercom. This was no big deal as I was already in line. As I got to the counter at 1:51am the clerk informed me he couldn't sell me alcohol because there registers were set 5 minutes ahead (and it wasn't even 1:55am). This is ridiculous! A customer walking by commented it wasn't 2am yet, and the clerk agreed. So I asked for a manager to approve the sale, which even though I was being inconvenienced, I would have accepted. A gentleman without a name tag and a receding hairline eventually approached the counter and said he'd refuse to sell the item to me. At this point it was 1:56 am, still before 2 am. He gave me no explanation other than to say their registers were set 5 minutes ahead. In the middle of our conversation he rudely turned his back to me and began to walk away while babbling incoherently. I asked him to hang on a second at which point he turned around exposing that he wasn't wearing a nametag. I had to ask for his name in which he replies "Lyn, I'm 3rd in command". At this point, they lost my complete sale because of their refusal to serve me and perhaps my long term business.

This is completely unacceptable to me, even if they have a legal right to refuse my service. Nowhere is it posted that they stop selling alcohol at 1:55 anywhere in their store. As a matter a fact, it was stated to me that they stopped selling at 2am. It is not fair to put this burden on the customer, especially when they intentionally misset their clocks. As a sidenote, I quickly drove to a 'kwiky-mart' and made a purchase of beer, even after being held up by Ralph Supermaket's incompetence.

Although this in itself isn't that big of a deal (especially considering famine ridden countries that would kill to have the conveniences I do), the principle of this is really pissing me off. Imagine if I had to send a mix out FEDEX and they treated me the same way. I'd be screwed. I've emailed the company and several alcohol manufacturers. Hopefully the issue will be addressed.

If anyone has any other courses of action to suggest, by all means.

[Ruphus]

Not wanting to hijack your post, E-cue, but I wonder whether this ridiculous BS morality where people have to put their bottles in paper bags while everybody knows what is in the bag etc.pp. has prevented anybody in the US from alcoholism.

I bet despite of all these absurd rules the statistics on addiction are same average to western standards.

I wonder how many centuries it would take the bizare merge of law making middle age monks and robber barons to understand the way humans actually function.

Send a couple of behavioural scientists to your law making instances. Tell´em this is the third millenium already ...

Ruphus

[Dave Martin]

I would tend to (A) cause a big scene - third in commands HATEit when you do that - (B), leave everything on the cash register counter, ideally keeping them from completing any other sales, and (C) complain to management and vendors as you did. And I wouldn't shop there again.

[e-cue]

Originally posted by Dave Martin
I would tend to (A) cause a big scene - third in commands HATEit when you do that - (B), leave everything on the cash register counter, ideally keeping them from completing any other sales, and (C) complain to management and vendors as you did. And I wouldn't shop there again.

Yeap. Did all those. I emailed over 20 companies thus far. Maybe I should go back and squeeze some avacado's too hard later today.

I was considering buying everything else, putting it in my car, then going back in and tossing a $20 on the counter and walking out with my intended purchase. We used to do that back in the day as teenagers.

[RichT]

You can buy alcohol as late as 2am???

10:30pm the off licences shut down over here and the only way to get a drink is to pay stupid entrance fee to a late night club.

[bassmac]

Originally posted by RichT
You can buy alcohol as late as 2am???

10:30pm the off licences shut down over here and the only way to get a drink is to pay stupid entrance fee to a late night club.

...and I'll bet your streets are safer to drive on than Los Angeles.

[BevvyB]

Not neccesarily. You haven't seen me when I'm refused alcohol.

[alphajerk]

i had the EXACT same thing happen to me a few weeks back. i cussed the clerk out, the manager out, and the cop standing at the counter watching the whole thing go down.... and i left all my stuff on the counter. it was only 1:50 in my case.

[Remoteness]

I still do not understand how they can get away with NOT selling you the stuff when it's before the 2AM mark???

What the freak, man? Keep on this thingy, e-cue...
Call the TV news bureaus. I bet someone will bite.

Good luck, bottoms up!

[Steve Smith]

the worst thing is that after an episode like that, you really need a drink.. thank God for kwikymart...

[e-cue]

I have emailed over 50 companies thus far (alcohol distributors, alcohol manufacturers, Koger- the parent company, etc...). I'm about to put the phone calls in to the company, but my phone-microphone isn't working, and I was hoping to record the conversation just because this sounds like it could get into a "He said, She said" thing. On top of all this, until today, I'd been practically sans-sleep.

Any advice on how to approach the local media and/or stock holders?


By the way, I went to Von's at 1:57am and purchased a bottle of scotch with no problems AND kept the receipt. It's on like Donkey Kong.

[loudist]

Go back at the same time with a video camera toting friend and record the whole thing... I'll bet they'll sell it to you...

[Logan]

ecue
You might want to consider smoking reefer instead, no last call, you end up a lot more mellow and you can always find at place to sell you the inevitable coke chips and snickers bars that will become a necessity. Good luck with your quest bro. take care Logan

[e-cue]

Originally emailed from parent company


Dear [handle]E-cue[/handle],

Thank you for contacting us about your experiences at our North Hollywood
location. Our customers expect quality products and service, as well as a
pleasant shopping experience. Based on the comments you've provided, your
disappointment with us is certainly understandable. Please accept our
apologies for failing to live up to those expectations.

We've shared your comments with our Store Director for immediate
follow-through. I can assure you that your concerns are very important to
us and are being addressed accordingly.

Thank you for bringing this to our attention. We hope to have the
opportunity to regain your confidence.

Sincerely,

Emily
Customer Relations

Oh yeah Emily? Well, if I'm not sold a case of Old Milwaukee at 1:59am tonight, I'm throwing bricks.

Stay tuned.

[2leod]

Well, I do hope some sense of justice prevails for you, e-cue.

I gotta say though, Mr Slipperman... harmless wacko, nuthin'!

Originally posted by slipperman
Well see.....

At that point, I go into nightmare mode.

Ya know.... things start off badly and get worse and worse, and this sense of helplessness and horror comes over you... If you're the manager.

See.... It's past last call. I'm dry. I've got NOTHING to do now to fill up all the hours that I should have spent drinking....

I guess I'll have to STAY at the store... Incredibly calm and seemingly implacable.

Just TALKING.

Asking questions.

(snip for brevity)

Proceed as follows....

"Well, Jeff Smith, I have to disagree with you there.... The sign clearly indicates, Mr. Schmidt, that your stores policy regarding the cutoff time for alcoholic beverage purchase is 2am. I gotta tell ya Joe... It was only 1:47 when I walked in here.... and honestly Gene.... and Bill over here(point to checkout clerk whos name tag clearly says "Ben") is my witness.... I had returned to the checkout counter long before Bob here announced 'last call' over the PA. As I said to Bruce(gesture again in direction of same checkout clerk) here before, John, I've been coming in this store for many years and I've never had a problem until Biff and you, George Smith, decided to trample senselessly over my civil liberties......"

MOST IMPORTANTLY.

CONVINCE THEM YOU ARE A 'SERIOUS, IF UTTERLY HARMLESS WACKO' that has NOTHING better to do with his time than make their life a living hell.

Hope this has been a help.

Best to all.

SM.

This stuff is genius... I see at least 15 episodes on network TV... kinda like a "Micheal Moore meets home videos" deal. You have your spycam in the horn rimmed glasses, no doubt there will be surveilance videos, and with someone filming from the van you've got three camera angles. Perfect!

[Dave Martin]

Originally posted by e-cue
Oh yeah Emily? Well, if I'm not sold a case of Old Milwaukee at 1:59am tonight, I'm throwing bricks.

Stay tuned.

Well, if you intentionally buy Old Milwaukee, you probably deserve whatever they do to you...

[Steve Smith]

Originally posted by Dave Martin
Well, if you intentionally buy Old Milwaukee, you probably deserve whatever they do to you...

once again, Dave proves that he indeed does rock.

[e-cue]

It's a total cluster**** now. The grocery employees are on strike, and no, I'm not kidding.

I'm not one to issue idol threats, but I'm not sure a brick through a window would send a message when there are so many disgruntled employees.

Oh and Dave, I'll make sure to pick up a case of Zima for you next time I cross the picket lines.

[Dave Martin]

Originally posted by Steve Smith
once again, Dave proves that he indeed does rock.

Thank you folks! Please try the veal!

[Dave Martin]

Originally posted by e-cue

Oh and Dave, I'll make sure to pick up a case of Zima for you next time I cross the picket lines.

In reality, I quit drinking in the late 1970's. But before I quit I was VERY good at it...

[Teacher]

Originally posted by Logan
ecue
You might want to consider smoking reefer instead, no last call, you end up a lot more mellow and you can always find at place to sell you the inevitable coke chips and snickers bars that will become a necessity. Good luck with your quest bro. take care Logan

i gotta agree with logan...the only thing is you risk being arrested....

[Ruphus]

Right, better nothing thrown, however if there was something to be thrown, take the Old Milwaukee or young Johnny Walker for that and drink the Tullamore Dew.

[e-cue]

Originally posted by Dave Martin
In reality, I quit drinking in the late 1970's. But before I quit I was VERY good at it...

Fine. Zima N/A.

Old thread.

Makes me miss New Orleans. You can buy drinks 24hrs and if you find a Daquiri shop with a drive thru, you can drive up for it.

[Jules]

McDonalds sells beer in Germany, so do newspaper stands at 6am..

[Jax]

Extra stock of beer in the fridge is helpful in situations like these. The only problem is keeping it at "extra stock" status.

Btw, I've been sold beer at 2:15 here in Cali. The clerk was being cool, but definitely taking an unneccesary risk. Long ago, in a galaxy far away.

[max cooper]

Originally Posted by Remoteness

I still do not understand how they can get away with NOT selling you the stuff when it's before the 2AM mark???

I used to take Ralph's for granted. Now that I'm in Austin I'd almost kill for one. Supermarkets should all be 24 hours.

Plus you guys have Trader Joe's, Mayfair, Erewhon, etc.

[bcgood]

Originally Posted by max cooper

I used to take Ralph's for granted. Now that I'm in Austin I'd almost kill for one. Supermarkets should all be 24 hours.

Plus you guys have Trader Joe's, Mayfair, Erewhon, etc.

I LOVE Trader Joe's. I literally do 95% of my grocery shopping there. I couldn't live with out them. Healthy food for cheap is a good thing!

bcgood

[flail19]

fuuck Ralph's. There is a How's on Lankershim that rocks!

[robot gigante]

Originally Posted by Ruphus

Not wanting to hijack your post, E-cue, but I wonder whether this ridiculous BS morality where people have to put their bottles in paper bags while everybody knows what is in the bag etc.pp. has prevented anybody in the US from alcoholism.

Yes, thanks to the efforts of the tireless men and women who make our country great and moral, I have been saved from the sordid thralldom of the demon rum by the aforementioned paper bag not once, but several times. I thank the Lord for their efforts.