Posted on 09/24/2008 10:22:28 AM PDT by rivercat
Yesterday I stopped by my local Safeway Grocery Store in the Washington Square shopping center in Petaluma, California. Right next to each entrance were Obama booths selling t-shirts, button, bumperstickers, etc. When I got home, we called Safeway and asked the "Store Manager of the Day" (his words) why they are allowing these partisan booths in front of the store. His response was (paraphrased) that they didn't do it, and that their landlord has the right to rent spots on their sidewalk. So, we called the Fulcrum Group, out of the Sacramento Area, and asked them if they rented this space to Obama. Their response was that they had no knowledge of any of this. So, that means that somebody is lying.
It turns out that the official Store Manager is on vacation this week, so we will follow up with him on Monday.
I think it's stupid for a company to potentially alienate up to 50% of their customer base by permitting partisan booths out front. I don't have any problem with petition signing, voter registration drives, or charitable non-profit stuff like Girl Scout Cookies.
So... If it turns out that Safeway is lying to me, then I'm never going to set foot in a Safeway again, and I'll urge everyone that I know to boycott Safeway as well.
Also a FoodMaxx and a grocery outlet...low price supermarket with rejects, dented cans, discontinued items and such at a much reduced price.
There used to be an Albertson’s also, and I would check the prices and specials at all markets and discovered that Safeway had the most expensive prices overall.
They had a “card” and Albersons soon followed with one of their own. You know to track your purchases and get your name and address to sell and use to send you “specials” alerts etc.
I do most of my shopping at Raleys, and the rest at grocery outlet and foodmaxx for the better values.
Back in the last century, Safeway went into the Gold Country rural area of California and opened quite a few stores.
Wow, their prices were great!
Then when all the small stores went broke, their prices went up higher than people were paying before at the small stores.
I don't shop at safeway except on rare occasions when they have a real good loss leader then I use my card.
They always say, Thank you Mr. Jones and I smile and leave.
I gave them a fake name and address, but the personal touch of them calling me by “name” is heartwarming.
keep us udated.
Agree! I’m here in Los Angeles, and while I may be one of the last few remaining Republicans in So. Cal., I am not putting up with left wing cr*p when visiting my local merchants. No way, never. I will call them out on it and make a big deal out of it everywhere I see it.
Keep us posted. I shop Safeway occasionally and would love to hear the outcome.
Actually, it used to be a solid Blue state, until the dimrats had the MSM swap the colors they use for designating the winning party. They felt that red reflected too much on their communistic leanings.
If you were brave you could have shouted out "Our Mama can BEAT Obama"!
The Randall family-unfortunately-did sell out to Safeway. Horrible now. Did talk with local manager about magazines that had smear ads about Governor Sarah and although he was sympathetic said there was nothing he could do locally because the Corporate office decides what they will/won’t sell! Haven’t been back since. But do know that in the Houston area they permit only charitable groups to use sidewalk area outside or in their main lobby opening. Includes Girl Scouts, etc. Don’t think Texans would take too well to seeing BO stuff for sale in any lobby!
Keep it up! I expect to get a memo about this tomorrow :)
Is your safeway an early-voting location?
“Wouldn’t this also mean if that space is donated it is a contribution a campaign”
Yes, I think an immediate filing of a claim/challenge/suit with the FEC could be made, and ought to be granted on the basis that use or rental of the private property of the grocery store IS an “in kind” contribution to the Obama campaign, requiring the “donation” to be filed with the FEC and the Obama campaign.
Forget Safeway...
We shop Aldi’s
I think we may need some phone numbers and email addresses. The day manager needs to be freeped, as does corporate headquarters.
So does Obama, for having his people conduct unpermitted promotions.
I can guarantee you they had no permit, but if they did, the issuing manager is TOAST.
Safeway doesn’t go to the extreme customer service level they do just to piss off half their customers over nutjobs selling buttons on premise.
Since the folks that can help aren’t available today, let’s give them the chance to respond to my enquiries. If I don’t get a satisfactory response, then I’ll encourage everyone to boycott and freep those that are offending.
Thanks for your reply Grams A. I live in Katy and do go at times, to the Randalls on Mason Rd. they are in the process of remodeling and luckily I have never seen anything political going on. If I ever did believe me, I would let them know my feelings and go elsewhere but like you said that wouldn’t happen in Texas.
I do hate the greeting cards in all the stores that make fun of Pres. Bush. I always turn them over.
Hey Katy - I shop in Houston and Pearland-San Antonio during the Hurricane. You turn over the cards, I go around to every store I go in now and turn all the magazines around including the trash and O. Have gotten into some real interesting conversations with people. Amazes me when somebody swears they have never heard of Governor Sarah.Even got into a long coversation at a couple of grocery stores with managers about why they are stocking Tyson chicken and why they don’t label their fruit and veges with the country of origin. Couple of my friends won’t go to the store with me any more they think Granny is getting senile in her old age. Pretty fun!
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