On 3/16/13 I purchased a ham with a ‘sell-by’ date of 1 /29/13. Obviously, I did not see my error until 3/23/13 when I pulled it from my refrigerator for breakfast. The plastic packaging was swollen with air. I did not have my receipt because, come on, who saves grocery tags? Regardless, I took the ham back to this chain grocery store and asked for a new ham. The checker along with her colleague scoffed and said, “Impossible, you COULD NOT have bought this here last week.” This started me off on the wrong foot because, in essence, they were calling me a liar. I slowed my roll and calmly reassured her I had indeed purchased the ham. The cashier called the butcher and after explaining my situation to him the 2 of them scoffed and laughed as well. By now my blood is boiling. Keep this in mind, all I wanted was a new ham. I did not care for my money back….just give me a new ham!
At first they were going to give me a ham, but somewhere between the time they told me to go get a new ham and the time I got back to the register they had switched up and told me I was outta luck. Saying to me, “without a receipt we cannot do anything.” They asked me for the date, time, register #, and the name of the cashier. This was a week later. Like I am going to remember this information. The ham was only $10.27. I took the ham and left, vowing to get to the bottom of this injustice. Vowing to never shop at any of their stores.
Fortunately, I had used my debit card. Additionally, we had used the self check-out and as usually is the case with self-check outs, had a snafu during our transaction that caused us to remember the moment in time. With the help of my bank, they could tell me the exact moment the transaction occurred.
So now we had the date, time, register #, just no receipt.
We waited until the rude checker and her colleagues went home for the day and then returned to the store to ask for a copy of the receipt.
Viola’....they were able to retrieve it! There it was, in all it’s glory, a small piece of white paper chronicling our purchase of a hunk of PORK at least 6 weeks beyond the sell-by date. PROOF that I was not a liar. PROOF that this rude cashier could no longer scoff at, nor could she and her butcher buddy scorn with smug laughter.
This brings us to where I am currently. What can I do? One thing is certain now….I am going to be able to get a new ham. BIG SMILEY FACE! But I want to punish. Yes, this may seem juvenile, but at 51 I am only a few years beyond my teens so I feel like I can act juvenile. Certainly there must be an agency that can put a proverbial boot up the arse of these lucky grocers (hint, hint)
Please help!

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