From Paula – conflicted lover of YDFM…
Big news! Went to YDFM this morning, and they didn’t make me check my bags! The customer service person said they were “trying it out”.
Finally, they’re responding to our copious rants from mid-2008!
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Wow, this is huge. And right before Tgiving, too.
Hopefully they are also “trying out” not arresting people, too!
I “quit” them all the time. Once it was because I broke the rule on the bags. No one stopped me so I just went on by and started shopping. They had someone come up to me in the dairy dept and get my bag! The smell has improved but the customer service still needs work. But the bag thing is a big improvement in customer service!
I never had trouble with the bag policy (just smuggled them in my enourmous purse or diaper bag)!
After a 3 or so year hiatus, I’m back on in my ‘on again, off again’ relationship with YDFM. I don’t notice the rancid smell anymore (which was a HUGE turn-off to me), and I think they have expanded their selection of organic produce. Granted, it’s not local, but I try to buy all in-season produce from local vendors at the Decatur Farmer’s Market. And I do love the spices and other dry goods! I still won’t buy wine, dairy, meat/produce/fish, and bakery items, though (mainly b/c of their tough ‘all sales final’ policy – scared of getting burned by a spoiled item).
I meant ‘meat/poultry/fish’…
Man, you’re missing out on some good chicken sausage.
That spicy chicken sausage is totally delicious and super affordable! We love it with whole wheat pasta and homemade pesto sauce. It’s awesome on pizza too.
That’s great news. The bag thing is so annoying that I don’t usually bring my own bags there, which I hate to do. It’s just too much of a pain, especially if you are shopping for multiple households (which I will admit is unusual).
I didn’t mind the bag check policy except the cashier ALWAYS refused to get them and I would have to go fetch them myself everytime. It was a big waste of time for everyone trying to check out.
good news. good, good news. now if they would only designate certain hours “no tourists”
so those of us trying to get in and get out with our groceries could avoid the big gaggles of gawkers. it’s a great field trip, I love that people can go there and encounter foods (and people) from different parts of the world. but jeez, it can really try your patience when you’ve got a long list and a short day.
This is great news. I also smuggle mine in my purse.
I hope they can get someone over at the deli who can move faster than the speed of sludge. Then all my dreams will have come true.
Wish they would give numbers at the deli, meat and fish counters so it’s “first come, first served.”
Ah, the deli counter employees. Just count the number of times they outnumber the customers at the deli counter, and it still takes 10 minutes for someone to even take your order.
That is good news. That policy was always so annoying. Their system pretty much sucked.
We do all our shopping at YDFM and love having the opportunity to have inexpensive organics and all natural/hormone-free meats. That said, I find it mathematically impossible to follow their policy that everything in the FULL cart has to be out of the cart and on the tiny checkout station before you return bagged groceries to the cart. Carts are larger than tiny checkout areas. . . .
I also wish it didn’t smell like pesticides where I am shopping for organics. . . .
That said, love the YDFM (except the parts I hate)!
I quit YDFM long ago. I now go to Buford Hwy Farmer’s Market. The prices and selection are great, and the atmosphere is much more pleasant. Sure, it’s a hike, but it also gives me an excuse to eat lunch or dinner at one of the awesome ethnic restaurants nearby.
I had the same experience on Sunday…It was nice not feeling insulted for a change.
This weekend, my wife and I went to DFM; she knew about the new “policy”. We were all the way to the beer section when an employee came running up to us to insist the bags go _under_ the cart while we’re shopping. What exactly are they worried about? So, while they’re making progress, it’s still a weird thing they’ve got going on there.
My apples a couple of weeks ago had that special farmer’s market stench — so I’ve quit again. I agree that the Buford Highway Farmer’s Market is a good alternative — but a long haul.
Is it just me? Or does anyone else notice that at YDFM they’ll put like one item per bag if you’re going plastic. But if you bringing your own bags, they think you’re a sherpa or something!
It’s not just you, I’ve always been impressed at how much they can fit into my reusable bags. I also don’t understand what everyone’s problem was with the checking of the bags. Yeah, I like the new policy (that I experienced Sunday) but it wasn’t that hard to check your bags and then pick them up from the left side of the room where they hang them all. But I definitely like not having to check them at all now!
> I also don’t understand what everyone’s problem was with the checking of the bags.
It’s the idiocy of it, at YDFM and other stores. As others mentioned, if you bring a PURSE, no matter the size, you could bring a squirming piglet into a store and nobody would dare question you. There’s probably some horrific feminine hygiene product in there, avert your eyes, don’t question her junk! But if you have a backpack, by god, obviously you are a thief waiting for an opportunity.
I’ve experienced this many times, across state lines and various stores. Well guess what, as a cyclist or pedestrian in need of cargo space, the average purse is a joke, volume-wise and ergonomically speaking. Pardon my unladylike accessory choices while I take my business elsewhere. Harrumph.
They aren’t the only ones. I have that same problem with Publix and Kroger. Perhaps they assume that plastic bags will fail if they put more than one item in each.
HUGE pet peeve of mine….the 1 item per plastic bag thing at all the grocery stores around here! because of this compulsive disorder i have to tetris everything, i will shop at trader joe’s just for this satisfaction. those employees know what’s up.
I’ve been shopping at YDFM for 30 years. Overall i find the place an amazing asset. Before the County started curbside recycling, I used to recycle there. Their wine selection and prices are outstanding. The fresh brewed coffee is a great value. I’ve purchased custom made flower arrangements that would have cost 2 or 3 times that amount from a florist. The cafeteria remains a great bargain and a good place for some inspiration and encouragement to try something new. The grass fed strip steaks are delicious. This time of year they always have a great selection of organic apples and Florida citrus. I love the place. Yeah, the bag policy was nuts and the undercover security are annoying, but overall the place is fantastic.
I don’t mind the slow employees. I wouldn’t want to work there either. If that have all those rules for customers, God only knows what it’s like for the employees. What I can’t stand are the annoying customers who won’t get out of your way or who use their cart like a battering ram, who stand in front of the snap beans and pick them out one by one, blocking everyone who gets in the way, etc.
I wish they’d “try out” getting rid of the security guard’s shotgun.
I agree with Chris. The bag policy is really not that cumbersome. Drop off at the door, pick up at the registers. Get over it and stop complaining. And please stop acting as if the bag policy is some kind of personally-directed insult. Regarding the other complaints, I don’t know where to start. I’ve lived all over the country, and I have never found another place like YDFM. It’s a terrific asset to our community, despite the minor flaws. If you ever need a reminder of this, just bring your out-of-town foodie guests there and watch the jaws hit the floor. The place is great. The workers are gracious (security notwithstanding). The selection is terrific. The prices are right.
Can someone please explain why they made you check the bags? I never understood this. I could see them wanting you to check bags with stuff in them. But empty bags? What’s the worry?
This is good news. It’s because of that stupid policy that I refused to bring in bags. I’ve got a ton of bags just waiting for my dog to poop.
I’ve got a ton of bags just waiting for my dog to poop.
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Goodness, gracious! How long has it been?
If you get stuck with plastic bags you don’t want, the library will take them. They give them to patrons who have a stack of books to carry out.
I can only think of one reason they would have required us to check bags, and that they must have been having a problem with pilfering. Likewise, making us empty our carts at check-out before starting to re-fill them with paid-for items relieves the checkout clerk of having to police us and be sure we aren’t pilfering. I know, none of us would ever do such a thing. But plenty of people would, and probably have.
The only gripe I’ve ever had about YDFM employees is that they are TOO polite and accommodating, e.g., letting a customer go through the express line with 30+ items. It’s worth remembering that many, if not most, of those folks are new arrivals in a strange, strange land and won’t always respond to a given situation the way we reflexively might.
That’s good news. I stopped bringing my bags because of the hassle and general principle. I used to enjoy carrying nothing but my own bag and loading it while carrying it. I have gone to YDFM since I was a pre-teen (30 years) and since an adult have always been annoyed at how they treat you like you are a thief with the unload the cart first, remove items from bottom first, etc. When the park-your-bag policy started, I was annoyed. But, still give them my business because I like to support all our Decatur vendors and I know where everything is. Oh, and if the employee doesn’t speak English, please don’t have “I speak English” on their name tag! I like going there on Easter for the Orthodox Church and all the Ethiopian women are wearing their gorgeous white outfits.