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I wrote in the past about 'turkish delight' - food/beverage items produced and imported from our neigbour country Turkey.
This year I've become acquainted with a certain type of their mineral and soda water - small bottles of mineral water (500 ml), and tiny glass bottles of soda water (200 ml). It's good stuff and decently priced, but it's sold only in a few places because of the objection of the local monopols.
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Lately, there was shortage of these bottles at my supermarket (they come in packages of 8 water bottles per package , 6 soda tiny bottles per package); so I complained to the guy in charge. He said some nonsense like: 'the bottles are on the way, swimming from Turkey to Israel..' He thought he was being funny. He wasn't.
After several days, though, the bottles were in the store . Great performance!
He listens to the customer and takes immediate action (probably by contacting the warehouse, the other branches, or the import firm). I like that. It's not for the first time that I notice his efficiency.
I've heard from another employee in the store, that he makes it very hard for suppliers to raise prices. I like that too. He may seem strange sometimes, but does good work , and understands the importance of each and every customer.
At my age, I have a more or less fixed menu. If an item is missing at the store , it disrupts my nutrition routine, and might affect health. Luckily, there's no shortage of local basic products (milk, eggs, cottage cheese, veggies, ...), but rather of some imported stuff (from east-central Europe, mainly). Anyway, I'm pleased the place has a reliable person to turn to in case some item is not available.
I am glad your store is getting the things you want. It seems like a slow boat for some things here, too. And certain bottled waters are very limited I have found. I dislike it too when something you could get a big bag of now only comes in very tiny portions. I'm afraid our local grocer isn't as nice as yours. Especially, when it comes to the price of meat and limes and lemons that look as if they have been in a bad storm. We are facing in a lot of places to where it is a desert for those who need to get to the places with food, and affordable food at that. Still, there are some organizations that are really helping those who need food too. Yet, that means going online to sign up for such things and that isn't easy either.
ReplyDeleteAll the best to a great November ahead. Thanks so much for your comments too.
Prices are up here, but as long as there's no shortage, people can manage. I don't buy meat, but once in a whille I go out and have some meat dish.
DeleteWishing you a great November too!
We need someone like him here. One item recently went up $3.00. Who could afford that, on one item?
ReplyDeleteI was told that he even gets in conflict with the owner in his attempt to protect the customers from the suppliers' greed.
DeleteWe could have more of those dedicated employees/store owners.
ReplyDelete'dedicated' is indeed the right word for this store employee.
DeleteThat's correct. Especially at a certain age, we do have to have certain routines.
ReplyDeleteI've noticed a few things here too that we can't always find. Then they reappear next grocery trip. That's new for us, at least in my memory.
ReplyDeleteWhat makes this Turkish water so good?
I can't explain it. It's just a new experience, a new mineral spring. The soda water is strong, and I like it this way.
DeleteA neighbor gave us soda water, butit was too carbonated or something for me. I know what you mean abourt getting used to the staples. Fortunate to have a supplier who listens. Have a great weekend.
ReplyDeleteThe more carbonated, the more I like it. I consider soda water a useful way to detoxify the stomach of toxins.
DeleteI;m glad he was able to get them back in stock.
ReplyDeleteYes, I'm of course, glad too, and feel grateful to him for his swift, successful action.
Delete"A more or less fixed menu" comes with the ageing process.. yes, I hear you. We are happy to experiment when the children lived at home, but now I just want simple, nutritious and can be cooked in one pot.
ReplyDelete'one pot' . We don't need more for our essential, simple cooking in old age.
DeleteIt's good the fellow listens to his customers and does his best to satisfy their needs.
ReplyDeleteI don't buy water of any kind. I do, however, drink lots of water. Here where I live we're dependent upon rainwater-filled tanks, and the mountain aquifer. The latter supplies pure, crystal water....always a very good supply, also. I boil my drinking water...just a habit of mine...and not a bad one, I believe.
Take good care, DUTA...have a great week. :)
I believe one learns a lot about business from listening to customers.
DeleteBoiling water is a useful habit.
With inflation at an all time high here, going to grocery store for food is no longer fun. Prices have doubled. So glad you got your water back in. Janice
ReplyDeleteRight. Shopping has ceased to be fun because of the high prices.
DeleteWe seem to always be out of something at the store in town, and from what I hear that's happening everywhere. Glad you have someone who listens and is working for you!
ReplyDeleteIndeed, there's always some unavailable item. Luckily, that has usually nothing to do with stop of production or import, but more with bad store management.
DeleteGlad you were able to get the items and its nice to hear of the kindness of the interaction with the staff person. Shavu`a Tov. Have a blessed week!❤️
ReplyDeleteGood interraction with staff is a Must, if one wishes to find and get what one needs.
DeleteShavua Tov!
It's good you were able to finally get what you wanted to purchase. It can become annoying when the supermarket runs out of stock on certain items. We have a problem with one brand of 'butter' the one I like and we can go for about 2 months before it arrives.
ReplyDeleteI remember a 'butter crisis' in previous years. It was solved by steady import from Europe. Me, I seldom use butter.
DeleteThe manager at the store provided excellent customer service. We need more of that! Glad you were able to get the water you wanted, Duta! Here we are pretty much still able to get what we want, albeit at a much higher price than just a few short months or years ago. That saddens me for those on fixed incomes or families with young children.
ReplyDeletebetty
As long as there's no shortage, there's hope prices will get under control somehow. It depends a lot on global events as globality has been ruling us for at least the last two decades.
DeleteBeautiful blog
ReplyDeleteThank you.
DeleteThe fellow sounds like a good merchant, offering good customer service and watching out for his people. That doesn't always happen. Prices and supplies are challenging everywhere. It's one thing if it's an indulgence, quite another if it is part of a regular need.
ReplyDeleteI regularly use mineral water and soda water. However, since we've got local stuff, one may consider the turkish water an indulgence. Still, I wouldn't want to give it up, as it is good and relatively cheap.
ReplyDeleteI'm glad your situation was resolved!
ReplyDeleteUntil...next time. It appears these bottles have become a hit and disappear quickly. Family local bottles, though cheaper, take up a lot of space in the car's trunk and the water is less tasty.
DeleteThe manager does sound good, and I am pleased that he was able to get them back in stock.
ReplyDeleteLike many others I am finding that the cost of the weekly shop gets higher each week.
All the best Jan
The cost of living is definitely becoming a global problem.
DeleteYou are very lucky to have a supermarket manager who listens to his customers and cares about them. Here I'd get to talk to a supervisor and judging by past interactions with them, doubt they genuinely care very much about my thoughts, although they are always polite.
ReplyDeleteI suppose, we customers, could consider ourselves lucky with this manager. He's not always polite, but takes care of complaints in the best possible way.
DeleteWe also have shortage with some articles, and is curious if something is missing in one supermarket it is missing in the others too ! Since 3 weeks I am looking for rice biscuits can't find them. As with the Brexit lots of trucks are stuck because a lack of personal it's sometimes very annoying because we are not used to that. And the Ukrainian war doesn't help !
ReplyDeleteShortage of items worries me even more than the prices. Yes, the war definitely makes things worse.
DeleteWe cherish those reliable people we can turn to, don't we? They are few and far between, but when we find one it's fantastic! Soda water? Not for me.
ReplyDeleteI'm a great fan of soda water, since childhood. We always had it on the table. I have reason to believe it protects the stomach.
DeleteIf only there are more people like him working in places catering to the public. Glad the storage of the product has been solved.
ReplyDeleteHi, Nancy. 'If only...' - shopping woud have been a pleasure. Sadly, people like this guy are in the minority.
DeleteHello, glad to see you and your wonderful stories!
ReplyDeleteGood to hear from you, Daliana. Thanks for your kind words.
DeleteBoa tarde minha querida amiga Duta. Obrigado pela matéria de qualidade. Boa terça-feira.
ReplyDeleteI'm glad you consider my story one of quality. Thank you, Luiz.
DeleteGood for you to speak up and then even better to find your concern was heard and resolved. That’s not always the case.
ReplyDeleteSometimes, one has to speak up to get things solved. Especially now, with prices going up and speculations about a possible shortage of essentials.
DeleteBoa tarde. Obrigado pela visita e carinho. Bom final de semana com muita paz e saúde minha querida amiga Duta.
ReplyDeleteYou're welcome, Luiz.
DeleteHello Duta. It's so nice when storekeepers listen to their customers and try to meet their needs and wants. Good customer service is important and I am glad that you were heard.
ReplyDeleteI definitely agree with you on that, Lorrie. It's very important that both the customer and the service giver cooperate.
DeleteHello Duta, I am writing to you through this comment so that you know that I have come this far after reading your previous posts. I like reading you because you make comments and reflections about yourself and your country that are common, I think, to almost all people.
ReplyDeleteThanks Norma for your very kind words. Hope you'll enjoy reading more of my posts.
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