Farmer's Market Makes It Even Harder
Decatur Metro | December 30, 2008 | 9:46 amSusan recently noticed this new “policy” at the bottom of the DeKalb Farmer’s Market’s recepits.
So let’s just say – hypothetically of course – that I get home and discover that the shrimp I just purchased from your lovely reusable bag-hating establishment is absolutely rancid – hypothetically. Can I bring it back and get some new, non-rancid shrimp?
It sure don’t look like it now that ALL SALES are FINAL.
So I must smell and taste all of my food before checking out from now on?
If this is indeed how I should be reading “ALL SALES FINAL”, screw ’em.
ALL my SALES are going elsewhere.
It’s hard to understand why people, some of them on this blog, continue to patronize an establishment with a such a poor customer service record and attitude.
I don’t believe anyone should shop at a store they don’t like, but I’ve been shopping there regularly since 1996 and have never had a bad experience.
Good call, Steve, but at least it makes for a good reply when anyone says there’s not much demand for natural and organic foods. In Atlanta, there’s such demand that people are willing to be treated like crap or risk compromised food just to get a shot at some!
Imagine if the place were actually good on a consistent basis…
I have had zero, nada, NO problems shopping at Your DeKalb Farmers Market for over two years. Their selection and prices can’t be beat, and I have never ever had to discard a single thing I ever bought there. I have also found their stocking, service, and checkout personnel to be extremely friendly and helpful in every instance. Gee, if you don’t LIKE a place, just don’t go there!
I love the Farmers Market, and really don’t understand the constant complaints on this blog about them.
If you don’t like it, then shop at Publix.
Obviously there’s a lot of people who haven’t had any problem, but the comments DM has collected over the past year are pretty clear that, at the very least, YDFM has issues with inconsistency.
That’s the point people need to be aware of. You may get lucky. You may not.
Carolyn, though your own personal experience is definitely the one that should matter most to you, its hard to ignore the large quantity of complaints about YDFM on this blog in the past 6 months.
I was willing to give it another chance. In fact, I titled a post “The Farmers Market is Good Again!” and received all kinds of disagreement.
I’m glad you and Andisheh have never had a problem with YDFM…but I’ve had 4 or 5 issues with food that had to be returned in the past 3 or 4 years. I’ve swapped out almost all of it. Now, it doesn’t sound like I can do that anymore.
So, for everyone that hasn’t had a problem, congrats! You’ve won every round of YDFM roulette thus far. But just know that many others have had problems, and once you do, don’t expect to experience a friendly resolution.
Regardless of whether you (the royal you) have had a problem with any of your purchases there, what does it say about any retail establishment’s philospohy that they would prevent returns of defective products. Would you shop a clothing store that prevented you from returning something with a hole in it? What about an electronics store where you are forever stuck with a broken piece of equipment?
Why do they make it SO hard to like this place? I think they are well aware that they fill a unique niche, and have a captive audience – cheaper than Whole Foods, much better selection than Publix or Kroger. Thier continuing disregard for customer serivice is really growing tireseome. I long for a better option.
Oops! Philosophy is spelled with the o BEFORE the p! Should have payed more attention in kindergarten.
Can you return shrimp at Kroger or Publix? I think with fresh fish/meat/etc you can’t return it after you leave the store…but maybe I’m wrong…
Everytime I run into that little Kroger on Commerce to “save time,” I end up cursing myself for entering the building and promising, yet again, to never set foot in there again. They have nothing, what they do have is gross, and you end up waiting in line for 20 minutes while one checker checks you out.
Now those are complaints …
Ted makes a very valid point on the unique niche YDFM fills, even if to some extent it’s a perceived niche. Whenever a product is organic; environmentally friendy; green; or whatever term, it tends to demand a premium. In the case of YDFM it sounds as if they may not put their premium on the price, but they ignore the need to offer decent service as they feel they may have a slightly captive audience? By the very nature of a lot of the products they sell at YDFM (not pumped full of preservatives), the potential for a freshness problem is increased, so the lack of any option to return a product is a serious issue. I don’t recall personally ever returning anything to a grocery store, but I’d still shy away from shopping somewhere that states upfront it’s not an option.
Sorry Decaturguy…I don’t understand.
Problems with food quality, smells, an inflexible bag policy and now a weird “All Sales Final” stipulation aren’t valid complaints?
What other grocery store has an “All Sales Final” rule? None that I know of.
I think many of the answers are found at the top. Look no further than Robert Blazer. If what I am told is true, his employees have no insurance benefits and even after ten years of employment are paid in the ten to fifteen dollars per hour range. My impression is that many of the workers there feel trapped; English is definitely a second language for the majority and they have difficulty finding work elsewhere. It’s Blazer’s party and he can set the rules as he wishes. We get to decide if we will play by them. If yes, we shop there. If no, we don’t. At least we have choices.
Aaron – Can’t speak for Kroger, but you can definitely return meat & seafood to Publix after leaving the store, or if you have cooked it and found the food to be crappy.
Susan….if someone has been here 10 years and can’t speak English, then $10 an hour is $10 an hour too much.
If I moved to France you can be sure as hell that I would learn French. Immediately.
Susan said that English is a second language, not that the employees can’t speak English. Maybe you still have some trouble reading English, Left Wing?
I read it with the understanding that they were not proficient enough after ten years of living here.
If you are not FLUENT, that is a problem.
Aaron, you can absolutely return any item to Publix for any reason – I do not shop at Kroger so I do not know their policy. I certainly wouldn’t shop at a place that was not customer friendly and wouldn’t honor the products they sell – sounds to me like they have had too many returns…
Apologies as this is a bit off topic but can anyone help me identify the peculiar taste that is in many of the baked goods at YDFM? I seem to be especially sensitive to it as my partner does not detect the taste. I think it might be related to whatever is used to either clean the baking utensils or package the baked goods. I sent a note to YDFM asking about this but they did not respond. It is a pity as I find their baked goods quite acceptable apart from this problem.
Nosey, don’t expect any response. I don’t think any one who has ever sent them an email has ever gotten one. Another example of their poor customer relations.
Although I appreciate the variety of fresh produce and meats at reasonable prices, I’ve never understood why people rave about YDFM so much. It has such a chaotic atmosphere – it’s like bumper cars trying to push your cart around. Plus I don’t appreciate the re-usable bag nazis, the weird smells that sometimes permeate the baked goods and cheeses, the lack of customer service, and now the ‘final sale’ policy.
To me, at least, it’s worth the premium to shop in a pleasant atmosphere at Whole Foods and Trader Joe’s. Heck, I’ll even take Publix or the Kroger in Edgewood (which has a surprisingly nice produce section).
Plus when I am in the wine/beer area and the cart is going around I feel like I am in a Road Runner/Wyle E Coyote cartoon. “Beep Beep”! Only reason I go is for the rare occasion I need a rare veggie or fruit, or to stock up on herbs. I do peruse the grocery area for odd fun items. Rarely buy meats or dairy. Then, I happen over to the wine/beer area, and my cartoon memories reoccur.
Amen on Commerce Kroger…ugh! Filthy, crowded with displays that probably cause it to need meet fire code….but the beat goes on…really reflects poorly on our downtown efforts at livability when we have ONE grocery store option and it is a pigsty.
Heh, I hadn’t noticed that yet!
But honestly, it’s not worth the trip back to complain, I just throw it out, retune my mental “Rules for shopping YDFM” list and move on. The one time we DID actually stop and complain at the store (we wanted to buy some bacon that was sealed by the vendor in a pre-weighed factory-labelled package that was sold /by the package/ and they were weighing it on the scale and trying to charge by the pound to charge us extra). The cust svc lady gave us some form to write down on and wouldn’t really discuss they were doing … It was a waste, and they got really nasty… at one point they tried sending out some lackey buddy of theirs to be the “manager” we asked for, etc.. It was really pathetic.
The latest thing for me was that I was making jam a couple of weekends ago. Right in the middle of everything, I had to have Stacy go to Publix and get me two more bags of sugar because the 2 I had purchased at the market that morning were full of ANTS. I opened the first bag and they went scurrying. They were already trying to figure out what I had done to their neighborhood (boy can I relate to that!?) when I went to open bag 2.
Every time this happens I’m like I should have KNOWN, why did I DO this again? It’s totally a case of fool me once, shame on you, fool me twice… But the lure of variety and price, I guess, and the true market atmosphere has its draws, but it’s just so damned inconsistent I am just beside myself whenever stuff like that happens…
Costco at North Dekalb *.
TJs at Pep Boys.
Somethin’!?
* Anyone got an update on this at all?
Mr. Nosey-You’re not alone. It permeates everything, not just baked goods. A box of cereal, the cheese, coffee. The plastic milk bottles suck it up like a sponge and it can’t be washed away. It sticks in your clothes when you shop there and you off-gas the funk for hours unless you strip and shower (Silkwood, anyone?)
My rule for minimizing that has been to go there very early (before noon, preferably 9-930am) and check the packed on date. If it does not say THAT DAY (not yesterday or 2 days ago, but that day), do not buy it, it will taste like … well you know…
If you DO hear anything, please share! But I wouldn’t hold my breath.
Costco has been put on indefinite hold because of the poor economy. I talked to one of their reps at the Norcross Arts Festival and she didn’t sound like it would be built soon if at all.
oops! That should be NOT meet fire code.
I’ve shopped there almost every week for 25 years. In fact one reason we bought our house was because it was convenient to the market. So, I guess my prejudices and bias are to the market. I’ve never returned an item. The bag policy itself is inconvenient, but if that is my big complaint in life, I really don’t have much to complain about. The goofy looking security guy that enforces the policy needs to learn some manners. I don’t mind following the rules, but don’t treat me like about to commit a crime.
I’ve talked to Robert Blazer and his wife on different occasions and they were always interested in my opinions, complaints and praise. I haven’t broached the the bag policy, but I will at the next opportunity I have.
It is unfortunate there is no spokesperson for the market because I’m certain there is another side to the bag policy and the “no returns” policy. I think it is reasonable to assume that theft is at the bottom of the problem. I remember a few years ago when the checkout people stopped allowing you to refill your buggy as they scanned your order and filled bags. The reason was because lots of people were stealing. Some hid unpaid items under the bags and others started mixing unpaid items into the bags. Another checkout policy is to empty the bottom rack first. Again, this was to prevent theft.
Typically grocery stores work with very thin margins. One of the reasons national grocery stores rarely locate in poor neighborhoods is because theft seriously reduces the profits. There are three Krogers and 0 Publix inside I-285 and below I-20. Neither East Point, nor College Park has a grocery store!North of I-20 both companies have more than 20 stores. Stealing $40 in NY strip steaks can wipe out all the profits from the sales of 4 or 5 customers at the farmers market.
The Farmers Market is not your typical grocery store. There is no parent company to assume responsibility for wholesale purchases, shipping, marketing, advertising, pricing, personel, accounting, IT, training, etc. The Farmers Market seems to be much more focused on operational issues with running a very large complex business, and less concerned about customer service. There is a trade-off with dealing with a local small business, but for me it is well worth shopping at the farmers market for their variety, quality, pricing and -call me nuts – the shopping experience.
I’m not a fan of the Decatur Kroger’s produce or baked goods, so I do most of my grocery-ing elsewhere.
That said, Tarnation, I think it’s unfair and inaccurate to describe the Decatur Kroger as filthy. Is there garbage strewn about? Is there dirt or paper on the floors? Is it rodent infested? If so, I’ve never seen it.
Yes, the store is jam-packed, which makes some of the passages cramped. But that’s the price we pay for living in a dense, walkable community. No suburban-style megastores in our Downtown.
But its not Tokyo-subway-cramped. It’s every-couple-weeks-you-have-to-say-excuse-me-cramped. It’s not like you walk out of the place with bruises from collisions.
My guess is that most of the complaints about the Commerce Kroger are from folks who weren’t around for the A&P it replaced. Yikes.
It may not be perfect but it beats the hell out of what was there before. As far as I’m concerned, I’ll take a long, slow upslide over a long, slow downslide any day. The trend is what’s important.
For the life of me, I fail to see what all of the griping about YDFM is worth. If you don’t like shopping there, DON’T GO THERE! Go to Kroger’s, or Publix, or Whole Foods, or Trader Joe’s. You have your choice every single day, in numerous other stores — no one is forcing you into shopping at YDFM. Having worked in retail shops, I understand completely their policies about bringing in your own bags and rushing the checkers to load them up at checkout. Why not just relax a little, follow their rules, and enjoy the shopping there? I intend to continue to shop there, and always look forward to finding just what I want or need in so many departments. I don’t notice any weird smells, so I don’t know what that complaint is about at all. Maybe it’s just the varied fragrances of the open bins of vegetables mixing with the brewing coffee and bakery emissions?? — whatever it is, I haven’t found it to be even noticeable. YDFM serves a large community of happy customers, so if you aren’t one of them, just drive on by and try to find somewhere you like better. Good luck with all that!
Anidesh…Yes it is filthy, IMO. Garbage cans overflowing both in the parking lot and at the doors…trash blowing across the parking lot, carpets that appear as if they are uncleaned in years. I have talked to the manager several times about this to no avail. I cannot verify rodents, but my filthy is not measured in rodents. Believe that the store is the best we should expect in our oh-so-progressive community if you wish, but desiring a clean, well managed store in our “walkable” community is not boorish, demanding or even pushy. From someone who lived in NYC for several years and shopped at bodega’s daily, let me tell you small and packed with goods, doesn’t have to mean filthy. I fully expect tires to be sold there next…no doubt in the middle or end of an aisle that prevents two of those mini-carts from passing at the same time. Meh….How can you even defend that is beyond me! Guess we here in Decatur are just worn down and don’t expect a clean grocery in our vital urban downtown and its’ renewal.
Scott…the trend is flat..LOL…
Exactly, Carolyn. I vote with my feet (and wallet) and don’t go to YDFM anymore. I probably shopped there 2-3 times a month 3-5 years ago, and I think I shopped there a grand total of 2-3 times in all of 2008. Obviously they are not hurting for lack of my business!
It’s definitely becoming a “love it” or “hate it” establishment, whereas I think it used to be a point of pride for all Decatur residents.
I shop at the Commerce Kroger frequently and feel that I must come to its defense. I think the aforementioned comments by Tarnation are exaggerated. While not perfect, I never have found it to be filthy.
My complaint with the Kroger continues to be the long lines. There always seems to be only one or two check out lanes open when the place is slammed with customers. A self check out lane would be great.
In light of the flaws, I appreciate the opportunity to walk to the store from my apartment. I suppose everything is a trade-off.
The Commerce Kroger may lack in efficiency and variety. But filthy? No.
Ice House, I think a self check-out lane would be great at the Commerce Kroger too. Unfortunately, I don’t think they’ll do it because of theft/shoplifting.
Publix is only ONE MILE north of downtown Decatur and has NO carpet. It seems spotlessly clean every time I go there. Why not try it? It is certainly less crowded than Decatur Kroger, but I honestly don’t have any gripes about Kroger either. Why is everyone in such a HURRY!?!?!?!?
Hey, does anyone remember when the market used to be at Medlock Plaza and customers had to park in the street? And the registers were outside?
Carolyn – The problem for many of us is that we both love AND hate YDFM. It’s hard for us to just “vote with our feet” because, as many have pointed out, it does fill a niche.
I’d be very surprised to learn if you have *never* complained about any consumer experience. I think it’s a healthy for any company to hear about unsatisfactory experiences from the consumers. They are of course free to ignore or address the situation, but that doesn’t mean that the customers won’t stop trying to improve their experiences. In a case where the company has a virtual monopoly (which is something of the case here, since YDFM is unique), customers may have no option but to both continue shopping there and continue to complain.
To Paula – Yes I have (infrequently) complained about consumer experiences during my long lifetime, but so far (2.5 years in Decatur), I have had NONE to complain about at YDFM. If I had a problem there, or anywhere else, that seemed important or substantial, of course I would complain. But maybe having worked behind the counter of a retail establishment for several years, I have more tolerance than most customers. I am also, by nature, a patient person and respect and follow rules of commercial establishments when they are known to me. I have had only good shopping experiences at YDFM, Kroger’s, Whole Foods, Trader Joe’s, and Publix, so I haven’t had to make one grocery store complaint in 2.5 years. There is only one retail establishment in Decatur in which I will never ever shop again, and I prefer not to name it. I voiced my complaint to the store’s owner, and that was the end of that, because his reply was nasty and rude — so now my $$ goes elsewhere.
All I know is that the Farmer’s Market was CRAZY crowded today and almost every day I’ve ever been there. They must be doing something right … they do lots of things right if you ask me.
I remember when the YDFM was at Medlock. My mom used to drag me along to go shopping at what I then called the “United Nations” market. What I can’t stand about the place are all the rules posted everywhere. I’m always tempted to drive the wrong way in the parking lot just to see what will happen. And trying to get around in that place is difficult. It’s a huge building but always seems crowded. I’ve always felt it just has bad mojo.
Au contraire — GOOD MOJO!!! People shopping there are going in every different direction
up and down the aisles with a purpose — good food for their families — and they are HAPPY to find the produce and products that they are looking for. Every time I go to the YDFM, I feel happy. Maybe crowds of happy people make ME feel happy too — all I know is that for me, the YDFM is a special place and the “rules” posted are just an attempt to keep things organized and moving in the right direction. If you don’t like crowds while you are grocery shopping, I suggest going to Publix at 7 a.m. when their doors open, and you will usually only encounter a handful of people along with a few stockers working the aisles. The “United Nations” context of the YDFM is appealing to me, it represents “the real world” that we all live in. My apartment complex is the same way, and believe me I couldn’t possibly have nicer, more helpful neighbors!
Has anyone actually tried to return something at YDFM since the new policy was posted? My guess is that they would absolutely accept returns of substandard products. I’ve been shopping there weekly for over 10 years and have had very few problems (but ya gotta be able to handle chaos and the fun of bumber carts). Happy New Year to all.
That’s my main question too JC. Its kinda hard to believe that anyone would set such a strict policy…but with the precedent of their bag policy, I wouldn’t be surprised if YDFM did it.
Since the bag policy has been mentioned several times…
Well, really, what’s so bad about it? I’d put it at about a 2 on a 1-10 annoyance scale. I take my Trader Joe’s bags in there, and it usually takes about 90 seconds total or so to hand them over and get my tag, and another 90 seconds or so to pick them up after I’m done picking up my stuff. And in the meantime, I do’nt have to carry them around.
I agree. If complaining about bags is your big problem, you got it pretty damn good.
hallajuha!!! If you don’t like the policy stay away!!! 42 years in this world and I’ve never returned anything to a grocery store. I’ve been in the restaurant industry for 27 of those and I’ve never smelled anything strange in the cheese, bread or anything eles. Everyone please stay away to cut back on the volume of shoppers. The amount of business they do says it all and the same goes for all the foo foo shops in the square going out of business. Maybe Dress Codes should have banned the bags?
We moved here seven years ago from a major metropolitan city with lots of ethnic groceries, organic markets, specialty markets, and a Trader Joe’s three blocks from our house. I was *very* apprehensive about leaving a place we liked for “The South” (cue dueling banjos!
). The first time I visited YDFM, I literally thought to myself: “It’s all going to be OK.”
Around that time, I was raving about the market to an acquaintance, who dismissively said, “Oh I don’t shop there anymore. The quality has gone way downhill.” (This was seven years ago, remember!). I was irrationally angry with her for this comment, and silently told myself that she was a Philistine who simply didn’t have any appreciation for the types of products offered there.
And for the last seven years, I have loyally shopped there, taken visitors there, told everyone we know that it’s the best thing about living in Decatur. I didn’t mind the fact that you can’t use credit cards, the no photography policy, the crowds, the sub-arctic temperatures, or the other somewhat eccentric things. That’s all part of what makes it such a great, interesting place, I thought.
But then, slowly, some unhappy moments have crept into this love affair: a rotten ricotta salata, a rancid slab of ribs, the fruit tart with moldy raspberries; the tense run-in with the jerky security guy who treats all customers like potential shoplifters; the increasingly weird smell, which gave my out-of-town friend such a headache he had to leave and wait in the car; and the bag policy – oh, the bag policy!
But, still, I love the place. Where else can you get antibiotic-free chicken for $2.69 a pound? And sure, the some of these complaints are “high-class problems”. But that doesn’t mean they aren’t legitimate complaints that take away from the experience of shopping there.
All this to say that it seems pretty obvious that the Farmer’s Market occupies a special place in the hearts of many Decaturites (Decaturians?). Does any other topic generate quite as much heat on this blog? It’s not necessarily worse than Publix or Kroger for customer service, but I want so much more from YDFM! I want that special relationship we used to have, where I could love unconditionally! I won’t stop shopping there. I can’t, we’ve been through too much together. But that won’t stop me from yearning for the old days, either.
P.S. I just wanted to add that I too have worked in retail, as well as food service. I understand it’s a difficult, low-profit-margin business, and customers can be irrational, unreasonable creatures. I try not to be one of those kinds of customers, but sometimes, you just have to let the business know how you are feeling.
It there is anything they could be doing that they aren’t it’s the publicity on causes for these changes in policy. Maybe they have a solid reasoning behind the no bags/no refunds, but it’s been really easy to vilify the YDFM because they’ve been so quiet about it.
Anyway I think it’s a great place to shop and am fortunate in that I’ve never smelled the chemical odors people have written about. I did return a piece of meat once because it was skirt steak and they charged me for another cut that was far pricier. The customer service ladies at the front made me fill out the form and gave me a prompt refund. Not the friendliest encounter, but miles away from rude. Good luck to everyone in the new year at the YDFM, shoppers and workers alike.
I even notice the smell outside these days.
One of my fond memories of YDFM is watching and listening to Mr. Blazer screaming F bombs at some poor soul over his cell phone while standing just opposite the information counter. This was about six months ago, and it made me question any commitment to customer service that he might have.
That said, we still stop in when we need something we probably won’t find at Kroger or Publix (last time it was a fennel bulb and a rack of lamb) or a nice bottle of wine at a decent price. The beer selection was long ago outstripped by a few of the local package stores and even the Edgewood Kroger.
The East Lake Publix is one of my all time favorite places to shop. The crowds are manageable, the staff is friendly and helpful (despite the bagger last week who told me I reminded her of Colonel Sanders), the store is clean, the subs are great, and the prices are decent.
One of my friends who is a chef and caterer will not buy any cheese from the Farmer’s Market. He claims it has a funky smell to it. The bread gets funky as well. The rudeness factor is off the charts. There is no doubt in my mind that the quality of the YDFM has fallen. I still shop there but for more specific items not found at Publix.
I LOVE the Dekalb Farmer’s Market and have NEVER had a problem with their policies, customer service, atmosphere, or anything else. The quality and price is a great value. In fact, any time we have out-of-town visitors, we bring them to the market as entertainment, because most places don’t have anything like this market.
I have shopped there weekly since it opened, and shopped at the previous location behind where Melton’s is now. I don’t know what people are complaining about! I only go to Kroger or Publix for paper goods or other things that cannot be purchased at YDFM.
Kathy, people are complaining about the smell, the taste of the baked goods and cheese, the minimal customer service, the attitude of management, the silly bag policy, and the absurd “all sales final” policy that has recently been instituted (and the previous return policy was not at all consumer friendly either). Other things I’m not crazy about: trying to negotiate what’s most likely the widest aisle in any market in the metro area but constantly having to ask people to move because they’re busy socializing or have just stopped their cart without noticing thyt they have just completely stopped any free movement behind them or in front of them; the absurd pastry line that can take 20 minutes or more to serve three or four people because the purchases are stacking up and the checkout person can’t figure out which cake is to be rung up next; the credit card policy; the complete lack of regard any of the employees has when any of these issues is pointed out to them (which I’m sure is just the way management wants it).
I’m glad you have no issues with YDFM. I wish I could say the same. I used to love the place. Now it’s an absolute chore to go there.
Susan, you’re probably on sturdier legal ground than meets the eye. When you shop at YDFM, you enter into a contract: They give you food to eat, you give them money. Implicit in their part of the bargain is that the food is edible. (Implicit in your part of the bargain is, say, the money isn’t counterfeit or, more realistically, if you pay with a check it’s good, or, with a debit card, it’s valid.) So, if push came to shove, the best that “ALL SALES FINAL” could mean for Blazer is that if you buy it and if it is not inedible, you can’t just change your mind and return it because you don’t want it.
But, your post about one bad policy raises another bad policy, which, when I make enough of a fuss about it in the fish or poultry sections, the staff usually backs down: They won’t let you smell the food before you buy it, and, as you probably know, you can feel it or look at it, but nothing knows if it’s good or not as well as your nose.
There is a solution to this “no smell” rule that works all the time. Get the fish or chicken wrapped in its plastic, take it somewhere else in the store, open the plastic and smell it. (If it smells bad, I always dump it in the cheese or bakery sections. Only kidding. Only kidding.)
As I’ve told upper-level management, such as it is: You sell cookbooks in an alcove, many of which advise you to smell your fish, etc., before you buy it, yet you don’t let people do what the books you sell recommend.
I LOVE the Dekalb Farmer’s Market and have NEVER had a problem with their policies, customer service, atmosphere, or anything else. The quality and price is a great value. In fact, any time we have out-of-town visitors, we bring them to the market as entertainment, because most places don’t have anything like this market.
Absolutely! My thoughts exactly. I cannot even count the number of out of towners who I take to the YDFM and their reaction is always the same … this is an amazing place … I wish (insert hometown) had something like this.
I think this is a case where we have it so good (being in such close proximity to a place many drive 200 miles away to get to one weekend a month) that we take it for granted. Remember the first time you laid eyes on this place …
Now as far as the “All Sales Final” policy. Has anyone actually tried to take back a rancid piece of meat or fish or spoiled cheese since this policy began appearing on receipts, or are we just assuming the worst?
Now if you really want to get me started on a place with poor, rude service, but a place I still frequent for some reason, how about Dancing Goats Coffee House? Always a wait, rude service (how about a “your welcome” when I say “thank you”), never enough space to sit, no plugs for your computers, unreliable internet service … the list goes on and on … but for some reason I still go there.
I absolutely love it. Just can’t figure out what all the fuss is about. This market is set up for people of all incomes and backgrounds. It’s for everyone! Therefore, it does not have a “classy” environment. One might say, it is a market for the people. It is not perfect, but it serves a need for our community and beyond. People of all walks of life are able to get fruits and vegetables for a decent price as well as specialty items.
JEM said it. I’m really grateful for both The YDFM and the little Kroger. When we first moved to Atlanta 20 years ago, we drove far to shop at YDFM. Then it finally just seemed easier to move to Decatur, which had other attractions too.Turned outt o be a great choice! Yes, I’ve had a few debates with the customer service people across those years, most memorably when I was convinced rye bread had been made with cumin seeds instead of caraway and the guy and I got into a dueling taste debate. Wasn’t much bread left to return after a while and I fumed for weeks. But it was also funny. Yes, the bag thing is an eyeroller…BUT I can take stacked up recycling there when the guy on the truck gets picky about my bin and find that service more than compensates. YDFM has fed my family like kings and queens in tight budget times — like now. Haven’t met security dude but thanks for the warning to steer clear. Generally high quality products, amazing prices, variety of choice, interesting experiences. Occasionally very slow help behind the counter but that’s true everywhere. People talk to each other differently while shopping for food around the globe, and this place is NOT southern.
Yes, the little Kroger is a little shabby. BUT I can park by the door, it’s close to home for this exhausted working mom, and the choice is pretty good for the size of the store. There might only be a couple of checkouts but it has some of the nicest checkout people and baggers in 5 counties, week after week. I actually like the place — that guy who greets at the door makes me smile and I often see a neighbor too.
Surprised no one has pointed out the parking lot begging at the big Kroger. Despite not liking the store at all, I go to buy gas. And then there’s Walmart, which also appears to have a shoplifting problem. Surely all that care they take to read my receipt at exit does them no good at all against the problem customers.
YDFM and the little Kroger meet needs very well in my world, and I’m glad to have them both just as they are. I tried Dunwoody, I tried Gwinnett, I run errands in Cobb near work. YDFM, little Kroger, and the Publix option provide the best of all worlds in Decatur.
I’ll agree with both sides here. I absolutely love YDFM, have since the first time I went there a week after I moved to Decatur. Virtually anything I need, they have and usually at a decent price. The bag policy is an absolute cinch: drop off bags, shop, pick up bags. Arbitrary? Yes. Enforced by people lacking in social skill? Yeah, sounds like it. But the heart of the matter is that unless you’re a princess, I don’t see how that policy pea can trouble you that much.
That said, the one big gripe I have with the market is the baked goods. There’s just something off about them. So, I don’t buy baked goods other than the bread, which I’ve found is still pretty good.
I remember when the farmer’s market was at the corner of Medlock & Scott. It was quite an event to go shopping there as a kid. Now I live in the neighborhood and shop at YDFM at the other location. I must admit, I do not shop there as often as I used to. I agree with all of the complaints listed above, and don’t have the patience to tolerate the crowds very often. We did take some visitors there on New Year’s Day, and found it rather quiet, which was nice. The selection was better than I had seen in a while, and the funky smell was undetectable (my other half is very sensitive to stuff like that, and would have evacuated quickly had there been a reason to). There were several stands where employees were handing out samples of bread and other items. Sadly, though, I mostly use YDFM for the fantastically convenient recycling area. Other than that, I spend my grocery dollars elsewhere. I have gone to the farmers market too many times to find fruit that I could have purchased elsewhere and gotten better quality and much the same price. I’m more wary than ever about meats, seafood, and chicken. Any suggestions for purchasing those kinds of items would be most appreciated.
Does anyone have contact information for ownership or management? There was an episode with the security on Saturday.
We’ve been going to YDFM for the 15 years that we’ve lived in Atlanta. The cashiers know my two-year-old son’s name, just to give some indication of how often we go there. Sure, it’s crowded on the weekends, so you try to avoid that. Checking the bags is no huge deal.
I’ve never had a bad experience there, until Saturday, when the security guard accused my wife and two-year-old son of attempting to steal water and frog-marched them out to the cashier area and announced that she “had to pay for this right now and leave.” In the ensuing argument that I had for him, he threatened to have me arrested for criminal trespass if I didn’t leave, because I asked him if he seriously thought my two-year-old was stealing water. It was absurd.
I know complaining isn’t going to do anything, but I’d like to try anyway.
Next time you’d better check your two year old with the Publix bags.
I had an experience years ago purchasing red wine at YDFM that turned out to more closely resemble carbonated vinegar. They were more than happy to enforce the “no returns on alcohol” policy. As a result, I’ve never purchased alcohol there again.
once again…please stay away so theres less traffic for me to navigate and be careful up on that high horse. bad juice can happen anywhere and unbehaved children are common.
TJ, you don’t need a high horse to have these ridiculous, overly strict policies bite you in the ass. Lots of folks here loved YDFM as much as you before they had a problem. And its not the problems that you detailed that caused people grief…it was management’s reaction to those problems.
But if the sheer # of detailed complaints isn’t enough to convince you, then nothing probably will. So here’s to you not ever needing to return anything or unjustly being accused of stealing.
Wow! Who would have known this topic would result in such an interesting set of perspectives with such a diverse array of histories with this place. I will say I’m kinda disappointed by some of the accusations that some posters are making about some of their neighbors being on a “high horse”, but it’s the Internet and, well, there you go. I personally don’t think that anyone is riding on a high horse by expecting YDFM to allow for reasonable returns of sub-par product, employ safe product handling, or to not have things inundated with chemicals that cause some folks to run to their car for safety.
I certainly do not shop at yDFM with Whole Foods expectations for a Big Lots price. But even at $2.50/lb. for chicken, if you buy 4 lbs of chicken that’s no good, you might just as well stay home and throw $10 in the trash. Even Bell & Evans chicken can be quite unpleasant if it’s not handled properly or if it picks up bad odors sitting around.
I think Paula best articulated my concerns and aspirations about YDFM. I love the international nature of the market, the open-air feel, and the fact that the food is on display in the cases and you can pick what you want. It’s fairly unique even compared to other major cities like LA. I’m not snooty, but I know good food from bad, and regardless of whether I’m paying $1, $10, or $100 for something I worked for it and I still expect value for those dollars. Of course, I piss off the beef guys when I make them hold up a NY strip so I can check the cut — sorry, dudes, but I’m not buying a trapezoid for $1/lb let alone $8. LRN2CUTBFPLZ.
Even with all its flaws, I’ll /still/ take the “au naturel” smell of YDFM over walking up the horrible scent-laden chemical wasteland that is the kitchen and bathroom aisle at Publix or Kroger. If you see some guy in Publix scrunch his face like he’s stumbled into an open morgue and walk quite hastily up the aisle to freedom, it’s probably me.
Brian – I’m sorry to hear about the “water theft” incident. Maybe someone will get a clue or we’ll get lucky enough that the tough economy will force the bad apples from the bin.
Here’s to a better YDFM experience in 2009. We can only hope. If not, maybe some other alternatives will present themselves. SuperH Mart is opening in Doraville, soon.
TO THE FOLKS AT ALDI:
Are you paying attention to the opportunity in Decatur?
Brian
Lately, at YDFM I have noticed a gang of two and three year olds moving suspiciously through the aisles. One of them aske me to hand them a box of organic blueberries, which he hid in his blankie. One of those in the group of toddlers had a five-oclock shadow. How creepy, I thought. I didn’t say anything and moved on.
Apparently, theft by small folks has been a problem. I am sure the management would want us all to be patient while they get to the bottom of this.
They were more than happy to enforce the “no returns on alcohol” policy. As a result, I’ve never purchased alcohol there again.
Actually, Carl, state law requires that there be no returns on alcohol. It’s the same at Greene’s, Kroger, Publix, anywhere.
It’s about like complaining and taking your business elsewhere because they don’t sell wine on Sundays.
Seems to me that Brian has a real complaint. I would be pissed.
The bag policy? Yeah, it caught us by surprise the first time and the guy was a little overzealous, but now? Not really a big deal. And the bag check ladies are always very nice.
The smell seems to have gotten better, although, I still stay away from granola, bread and cheese.
To the ALDI poster:
There’s one right outside of Decatur 3480 Memorial Drive
Decatur, GA 30032. Just found out. Will check it out!
Mary, I’m aware of that state law (in theory) but it doesn’t seem to be universally enforced, or perhaps there are exceptions. I know folks who will regularly buy large quantities of wine for parties and then return the unopened bottles for credit. I guess the bigger point is that I’ve never purchased spoiled wine anywhere else, and it was quite a statement that YDFM had some for sale and didn’t seem to be phased when I reported this. If I had that experience at WFM or other retailers, I know they would make it right somehow, via store credit or other method.
Buying wine at a market is not like buying wine at a restaurant. At a restaurant, you get to sample it and if it’s bad, you can send it back. And the wine is marked up accordingly to allow for that. But I know I’ve bought wine at retailers and it’s been corked or just plain terrible and the idea of trying to return it never even occurred to me. It doesn’t happen often and why would the store be any more responsible than the vineyard, the bottler, or the distributor? It’s not like they’re sampling each bottle. Richer folk than I buy multiple cases of skunky champagne and are stuck with it, so don’t expect a lot of sympathy when you get a bad bottle ANYWHERE, much less at YDFM where the stuff is already very cheap. Some more prestigious establishments, as a courtesy, may bend over backward to accommodate you, but they can afford to.
The other thing I will say to people who keep comparing YDFM to Whole Foods is that WF is a nationwide corporation working with vastly greater margins than the singular YDFM. It doesn’t surprise me that WF would be more generous in responding to your complaint because they can afford to be due to their size (not to mention the prices they charge). It’s easy for them to absorb the loss. At YDFM, not so much.
I purchased food from Your Dekalb Farmer’s Market’s (YDFM’s) “cash only” cafe. My amount was $6.34. I paid it with a $20.00 bill. The cashier returned to me $13.66 in change.
After eating, I shopped for groceries which came to approximately $19.76, I attempted to pay with another $20.00 bill, and the $10.00 bill that came from YDFM’s $13.66 change. The cashier marks both bills, then states that the $10.00 is counterfeit. In the confusion, she never gave me back my clean $20.00 that I tried to put with the $10.00 YDFM passed to me. This $10.00 is eventually given to Mahburbuy Rahman. Rahman, who later stated he was a supervisor, and not a manager, asked for my receipt. When I told Rahman I threw my receipt in the trash, and that someone would have to find it, he stated that he did not need the receipt, but that he would find the cafe cashier to see if that person remembered passing the $10.00. When Rahman brought an employee to me, I did not remember him, and the man did not remember me. When I restated that someone needed to go through the trash, Rahman replied that I could go and look through the trash, but that no one would accompany me. Both YDFM’s undercover security, who were extremely unprofessional, concurred.
By this time, I had called DeKalb County police to make a report. I also knew better than to reenter YDFM without an escort. When police officer Wright arrived, I explained what happened and walked him to the cafe stating that I needed a report, and either a copy of the receipt, or that I would need to get it from the trash.
Long story short: YDFM did not have a duplicate receipt; I looked through the trash until officer Wright needed me to come out front; officer Wright stated YDFM was not pressing charges; I told officer Wright that I was the one who should press charges since YDFM passed the counterfeit bill to me; officer Wright stated that YDFM wanted me to leave the premises; the second YDFM security person stated that I was banned permanently; officer Wright stated that was YDFM’s right.
So I am out of not only the $10.00, an additional $20.00, my weekly groceries, and basically the only place that I shop for groceries.
Another example of that poorly run business. Why do folks still shop there?