[farmerswife]

In order to keep the lines short, Meijer regularly pulls employees from other parts of the store to help at the registers. These people are trained on the register in one short shift. After that, they're thrown on the lane whether they know what they're doing or not. They're going to be slower than a regular cashier. They aren't familiar with WIC, produce PLU's, coupon policies, etc. If you're not happy during checkout, fill out the customer service surveys. Meijer relies heavily on customer feedback. Maybe they will rethink their policy on using employees who aren't properly trained, or at the very least, give them the proper training they need.

Meijer thinks they're providing the customers what they want when they keep the lines short. But what would you rather have? Short lines with a cashier who is overwhelmed and doesn't know the policies, or a slightly longer wait with a more experienced cashier? And I know that not all the experienced cashiers provide good customer service. There's just no excuse for them. Some people just shouldn't work in retail.

Originally Posted by Vhampyre

While I've had my fair share of issues at Meijer, what I see isn't a crackdown on deals, but simple lack of training.

We've all likely had that one crank of a cashier who just seemed bitter that you were getting a good deal - we know these cashiers exist, but they are not the core of my problem. I don't see too much of this at my Meijer, what I see is more along the lines of stupidity. I am not just calling childish names here, but stupidity as in, lacks logical reasoning capabilities; lacks comprehension; lacks decisiveness. Any time I've ever had a coupon or catalina issue, or even things ringing up wrong, I get multiple answers from multiple people who are just making it up on the fly. They do this because training is severely lacking. Make these employees go through training refreshers and make them pass tests to demonstrate that they understand! If they don't pass, don't let them deal with your customers, period!

Sometimes I wonder if people in college towns have an easier go with cashiers. I'll take a sharp student who has actually read and comprehended store policy any day over someone who pulls it out of their hat any day, even if I am in the wrong!

[Vhampyre]

Farmerswife: I can understand how this could happen, but I see the SAME people at the service desk and as cashiers. These are not new people!

This morning I went in at the SCO and a steamers coupon beeped and required assistance. The attendant came over and told me it beeped because the coupon said, "DO NOT DOUBLE OR TRIPLE" on the top of it. She went through my stack of coupons and manually entered them all in to ENSURE THEY WOULD NOT DOUBLE.

She told me if they doubled that it would be fraud. I asked if this was something new, and she said she'd worked at Meijer for 24 YEARS and it's ALWAYS been policy. This is the kind of crap I am putting up with on many visits.

I abandoned my order on the spot, went to the service desk and spoke with the store manager. She told me that she did not know the store policy or the rule about the doubling, but she called two other stores to ask. Both told her the same - if the register doubles them, then they do, but some vendors do not allow it, so the registers don't. I explained to the store manager that I can totally live with this, but how am I supposed to know if the register accepts them if the cashier refuses to scan them and enter them manually?

I felt bad for the store manager because the service line person had called in and she normally does not handle coupon issues like this. She seemed very sympathetic and I told her that shopping at her store would be a lot easier if the rules were the same in every checkout. She seemed to take it very seriously that employees regularly threw around the fraud word. She gave me a $2.50 happy customer coupon, which was fine, but I told her I'd much rather have well trained cashiers!

I am sorry for all the yelling in my post.

Sigh.

It just so happens that this is a very tight week for my family, financially. I've taken in a child and go to court tomorrow for guardianship over her. I've been clothing, feeding, and providing for this extra person for three months with no financial help from either parent, and this week all of our bills seemed to catch up at once. I am stressed out, and I guess I just need to vent. I am relying on great deals this week to get by. I do try to be a good customer. I don't even stockpile that much, and when I do, I make multiple trips. I don't stand in the SCO with 4 transactions. I don't clear shelves. I put my empty cart in the corral and clear out the trash and ads and everything.

I am considering driving to other Meijer locations to do my shopping.

[schmidt00]

Originally Posted by Vhampyre

While I've had my fair share of issues at Meijer, what I see isn't a crackdown on deals, but simple lack of training.

Sometimes I wonder if people in college towns have an easier go with cashiers. I'll take a sharp student who has actually read and comprehended store policy any day over someone who pulls it out of their hat any day, even if I am in the wrong!

That is only assuming that the college kids WORK. I live in a city with TWO major universities, the largest community college in the state and two smaller trade school type colleges. Out of the FIVE colleges here... less than 1/3 of the students WORK in our city. Most of them come here, clog up our roadways and contribute little more than their tuition and trash.

The people who work at Kroger, Meijer and Walmart around here are here all year long... the only place I really find college people working is the mall and restaurants.

So don't feel bad... Meijer is still just as uneducated even in a college town! LOL

[kathroot]

I purchased the steamers today and they beeped too but my cashier was smart enough to figure out that because they are priced is .99 and the .50 doubled it was a penny over so she adjusted it to .99 cents hope this helps! Last time these were "free" they were 1.00 which made this a lot easier.

[javaaddict]

Are you KIDDING me?! That's terrible. (about the cashiers being timed, etc) I hope they are reading this thread, especially the managers. That's awful. Next time I'm there I'm going to ask one I see a lot. We are in Meijer every other day because it's so close to our house.

[jas80]

Originally Posted by javaaddict

Are you KIDDING me?! That's terrible. (about the cashiers being timed, etc) I hope they are reading this thread, especially the managers. That's awful. Next time I'm there I'm going to ask one I see a lot. We are in Meijer every other day because it's so close to our house.

I worked at Target for some time, and they timed there too. And if you were within your first 90 days, they could can you if your times weren't fast enough. It was a lot of pressure. I haven't worked there in 4 years, so I don't know if it's the norm now.

[CANADAMOM]

I was told my a meijer cashier I could not use Meal Box because I printed it out on the computer.... DUH how else do you get them? She refused ALL of them ...

[jas80]

Originally Posted by CANADAMOM

I was told my a meijer cashier I could not use Meal Box because I printed it out on the computer.... DUH how else do you get them? She refused ALL of them ...

LOL That takes the cake right there. Holy cow!

[grmom25kids]

Originally Posted by lamscot

In case you have not noticed all new Meal Box coupons state ONE PER TRANSACTION.

I noticed that but found that this is ONLY for the Mealbox coupons that are for FREEZER items that are included in the Freezer Food Month coupon flier. All other Mealbox coupons are still saying "One Meijer Discount Coupon per item".

Hope this helps!

[grmom25kids]

Originally Posted by CANADAMOM

I was told my a meijer cashier I could not use Meal Box because I printed it out on the computer.... DUH how else do you get them? She refused ALL of them ...

That is ridiculous!! I would have said okay and then marched myself up to the guest services desk and asked if they would take them up there. IF not, next step the store manager!

Also it could be too that your Meijer store has had trouble with counterfeit printable coupons so it is that store's policy not to accept them. Which isn't right IMHO!

[shnn18]

Thankfully, my Meijer's store is awesome. I often e-mail Meijer's and thank them for their coupon policy and the great deals that I can get. I thank them for being so coupon friendly and that this helps those in need during these hard economic times. When I have a good experience and an awesome cashier that does not complain about my 30+ coupons in one transaction or how I am slowing down their line, I get their name and e-mail Meijer's and give them credit for being such a fantastic cashier. I think Meijer's appreciates this, I had someone call about my coupon e-mail and thank me for the e-mail, she said sometimes they need to hear this from their customers and asked me if they could do anything to improve their coupons.

Maybe we need to start e-mailing them and thanking them for the good experiences and not just complaining about the bad. They probably start to feel taken advantage of and feel like people are not grateful. I have close friend at a store and she says there is a lot of coupon fraud and money they have to pay out, so I can see how they get frustrated. Maybe they need positive reassurance that they are making a difference and are appreciated.

[jas80]

Originally Posted by shnn18

Thankfully, my Meijer's store is awesome. I often e-mail Meijer's and thank them for their coupon policy and the great deals that I can get. I thank them for being so coupon friendly and that this helps those in need during these hard economic times. When I have a good experience and an awesome cashier that does not complain about my 30+ coupons in one transaction or how I am slowing down their line, I get their name and e-mail Meijer's and give them credit for being such a fantastic cashier. I think Meijer's appreciates this, I had someone call about my coupon e-mail and thank me for the e-mail, she said sometimes they need to hear this from their customers and asked me if they could do anything to improve their coupons.

Maybe we need to start e-mailing them and thanking them for the good experiences and not just complaining about the bad. They probably start to feel taken advantage of and feel like people are not grateful. I have close friend at a store and she says there is a lot of coupon fraud and money they have to pay out, so I can see how they get frustrated. Maybe they need positive reassurance that they are making a difference and are appreciated.

I agree! I've had nothing but great service at my Meijer, and I love to let them know it. Who doesn't like to know of a job well done?

[Vhampyre]

If/When I ever get good service, I'll absolutely make it known to management!

I write to Kroger all the time commending on my two favorite cashiers.

[lamscot]

Originally Posted by grmom25kids

I noticed that but found that this is ONLY for the Mealbox coupons that are for FREEZER items that are included in the Freezer Food Month coupon flier. All other Mealbox coupons are still saying "One Meijer Discount Coupon per item".

Hope this helps!

The statement is on more than just frozen food and seems to be the deals where there are good MQs.