In 17 years in grocery retail.... this is a first!

[TheHaitian]

I started in grocery retail when I was 18... did a short sting at Babies' R  US as a part time gig, security guard for a year or so, 2-3 years as an accounting intern followed by accounting staff... but the majority of my career has been Grocery Retail. This remind me of Haiti, this is different...

It started Thursday 3/12... when it all went CRAZY! I was off... and I remember asking my daughter Nursery School if they intended to stay open, how long etc. Talked to my daughter teacher about the precautions they were taking, small talk. It was 11:30... went home with my daughter and we went to Costco.  There they had limit on toilet paper and paper towels there (store brand - limit 2) and we passed on it laughing at these people panicking and me being a brand snob for Charmin ---- how stupid that was, how the tables have turned and how I wish I have taken the 2 paper towels and the 2 toilet papers less than 1 week later.

The texts started while I was napping; the store was crazy, lines all the way down. Did a quick google search for news : DC/MD canceled school till 3/27 and VA canceled school till 4/14 and feds were sending people home. Ok I figure that was why, did not think much of it and went to pick up my wife at 5. On our way home we discuss her job also expect her to go remote starting Monday, College Kids being sent home and no kids coming back from spring break. We wonder if my daughter nursery school would be closed? Ballet on Saturday? Gymnastic on Sunday? By the time we got home we got answers to all our questions : Everything canceled. Some for this weekend followed for by other emails that it was for the rest of the session or year or until further notice.

Got texts from work how sales were out 110%, we were running out of essentials and it was crazy. I got to work Friday (I opened) and I saw how bad it was.  and I knew it was bad because we were busy since we opened at 6 AM till I left that day at 6 PM, lines kept on coming non stop, we were wondering what could they possibly be busying since we had nothing else to sale, our shelves were bare.

Saturday when we got a memo from corporate hours were changing, I knew it was different... as I texted another YM forum : this is worst than a holiday combined with a snowstorm because these last 24 hours and  comes the quiet.... this is consistent. We were in Day 3 of this (Saturday) and  folks were not stopping. My body ache, I was tired, I was on day 2 of 16 hours...  and my second day off was off the table. I am on week 2 of a 6 days work week.

Sunday I knew for sure this shit was serious when bars and restaurants were ordered to close. We missed our first grocery truck because the warehouse could not keep up (imagine how 1 store is busy multiplied by 150 for my corporations). Truck drivers were also working 6 days, being put back to work right after they legally mandated 10 hours downtime. Warehouse was about to get off the wheels, the demands were taxing. 

Monday we all looked at each other at the grocery store and said : employees first; customers second. This is going to last and it is going to last to God knows how long. So we allowed associates to do some shopping on their breaks and lunches, put some items aside for them if they are in dire need. Why? Because corporate was limiting how much each store could order on each order because that is the only way the warehouse and drivers could keep up. They came up with a formula based on your size store how much your meat, dairy, grocery, produce order should be. You need a 3,000 piece truck to refill your shelves to capacity... to bad, your limit is 1900. And if you order more than that you are punish 2 ways : your order is pushed to the last in line so you go 48 hours without a truck (we have been there so we are careful now not to go over the limit) and they make the choice for you what to cut.  Also automatic ordering or computer generated ordering is turned off... going back to old school : you order. SO our shelves will not be (till further notice) fully stocked because we are ordering in some cases way below what we would actually need to fully restock in 1 night or 2. 

I talked to others working different retailers and the craziness is everywhere. I went to Walmart this morning to get 1 item and it took me 35 minutes in line to check out at 7:30 AM. The store opened at 7 AM... 

[TheHaitian]

a few notes :

-> I am guilty of stocking up. I have 4 other people in my household besides me (so 5 of us)… and I have accepted being considered essential (going on 11 days stretch before my next day off) or working in a essential industry it is not a matter of if I get it but a matter of WHEN because people are still shopping like crazy more than a week later.  So yes I spent over $600 this week making sure we are stocked up with everything for when I am diagnosed and need to stay home or be quarantined (between my store, Costco and Walmart)... now I just have to replenish the 1-2 things we finish as we go till I am diagnosed.

-> You see the best of people (thanking us for working, being appreciated) and the worst of people (telling us to fuck off, cursing us off, throwing a tantrum because we don't have their favorite brand/kind of bread) during those times and the worst of people are really trying my people. I am black and I am imposing at close to 400 lbs so people tend not to mess with me, so I get the pages up front when people want to get out of line... and I have gotten a lot of pages this week.

-> Placing your order online does not guarantee you will get everything. And no matter how much you yell at me at the phone that will not change. Your order is shopped in the same store as your neighbor heck your neighbor may have gotten more by coming in themselves because they can make a quicker decision being there what to substitute. I think we should have turned it off since last Thursday and have been saying so to everyone that will listen... we are just pissing people off by only filling their order 20-50% with what we have. 

-> times have changed since last Thursday. Stop being picky and asking us if we can check in the back for your specific flavor you like. Not going to happen, just buy what is available or come back. My people are under strict instructions to just keep working the truck, what we have is what we have... asking them to look through 3-4 pallet for your specific item times 20-30 customers is valuable time they need to use to fill the shelves that are bare.

Any questions?  Today is Day 9 of 12-16 hours shift, not of till Tuesday and have to be at work at 6 AM tomorrow... so I may pass out soon. I will answer as soon as I am able too.

[Tennesseer]

[mollyanna58]

In case anyone forgets to tell you, TheHaitian, thank you for all you are doing.

[Tennesseer]

You and your crews hang in there, Haitian.

[Deleted]

I wish I had better words than thank you, God bless you and your family, and a prayer that better days lie ahead for all of us.  You are on the frontline for us all.  

[TheHaitian]

Mar 21, 2020 21:14:33 GMT -5 mollyanna58 said:

In case anyone forgets to tell you, TheHaitian, thank you for all you are doing.

Thank you, we are all trying are best including the pharmacists and techs.

People have gone mad! And what is pissing us off are people coming to the grocery store for a stroll: STAY THE F HOME.

We are on a stripe full of closed restaurants and this weekend it was still packed with people waiting outside in line for their orders or just taking a stroll.

- either it is not serious and they are smarter than the rest of us
- or it is and they don’t give a damn
- or they just did not get the memo.

Which is why I believe for us, it is a matter of WHEN we get it which is why I self isolated myself to the basement with my brother (he does not mind) and stay away from MIL which is is at risk.

[TheHaitian]

Mar 21, 2020 21:17:27 GMT -5 Tennesseer said:

You and your crews hang in there, Haitian.

They are talking about this going on till July/August... DC just canceled school till April 24... not sure we can. We will all be burned out by then.

I think if it is that serious (only if) they need to pull all the stops and force people to stay home in the DMV area because a lot of us are thinking this is a joke, plenty of house parties and BBQ’s this weekend. .

[TheHaitian]

Mar 21, 2020 21:20:19 GMT -5 @donethat said:

I wish I had better words than thank you, God bless you and your family, and a prayer that better days lie ahead for all of us.  You are on the frontline for us all.  

Thank you and I sure hope so but after a conference call today and the things my company will do starting Monday is giving us all a feeling: we are going to be at this for awhile.

The expense is not warranted if it is short term. So to us this is a feeling there is more to come; it is not yet over.

[Deleted]

TY.

But who is the fourth in your household?  Did you guys have another baby I missed?

If so, congrats!

[Tennesseer]

Mar 21, 2020 21:37:35 GMT -5 TheHaitian said:

Mar 21, 2020 21:17:27 GMT -5 Tennesseer said:

You and your crews hang in there, Haitian.

They are talking about this going on till July/August... DC just canceled school till April 24... not sure we can. We will all be burned out by then.

I think if it is that serious (only if) they need to pull all the stops and force people to stay home in the DMV area because a lot of us are thinking this is a joke, plenty of house parties and BBQ’s this weekend. .

I wonder, with advanced announcement to the country, if all grocery chain stores could be closed say on a Wednesday to give the vast majority of employees, including managers, a day off from work. Only activity in stores on a Wednesday would be inventory and restocking. A second day off could be shifted around during the week so that just about everyone got a second day off. The days off would not be consecutive but it would be two days off a week.

Stores would need to be open on weekends to accommodate those working Monday through Friday.

No stores opens 24 hrs a day. Set and semi-limited store hours.

[TheHaitian]

Mar 21, 2020 21:58:53 GMT -5 Tennesseer said:

Mar 21, 2020 21:37:35 GMT -5 TheHaitian said:

They are talking about this going on till July/August... DC just canceled school till April 24... not sure we can. We will all be burned out by then.

I think if it is that serious (only if) they need to pull all the stops and force people to stay home in the DMV area because a lot of us are thinking this is a joke, plenty of house parties and BBQ’s this weekend. .

I wonder, with advanced announcement to the country, if all grocery chain stores could be closed say on a Wednesday to give the vast majority of employees, including managers, a day off from work. Only activity in stores on a Wednesday would be inventory and restocking. A second day off could be shifted around during the week so that just about everyone got a second day off. The days off would not be consecutive but it would be two days off a week.

Stores would need to be open on weekends to accommodate those working Monday through Friday.

No stores opens 24 hrs a day. Set and semi-limited store hours.

All stores have reduced their hours here in the DMV because we were getting so burned out and we have so much more cleaning to do and re-stocking.

Our hours are 7 AM till 8 PM , and next week we have senior hour on Monday and Thursday from 6 AM till 7 AM. Managers get there at 5:30-6AM and closing manager is usually there till about 10 PM-11 PM when night crew comes after cleaning / disinfecting is done.

Not sure they will go for closing 1 day as we have lines the moment we open - people waiting outside etc. and they have seen the growth in SALES (either people are eating more or whatever they used to spend at restaurants they are now spending at grocery stores because we are ALL WAY UP in SALES AND GOING ON WEEK 2).

[TheHaitian]

Mar 21, 2020 21:53:31 GMT -5 @bamafan1954 said:

TY.

But who is the fourth in your household?  Did you guys have another baby I missed?

If so, congrats!

No baby - my 28 year old brother lives with us (long story).

[busymom]

Thank you for all of your hard work, TheHaitian!  I was in the retail industry for years, both the floor, and the back office, and this sounds worse than Christmas rush, especially when you don't know when the chaos will end.  Plus, I think food is much more important than "stuff".  (Although I know from personal experience how angry some people get when the specific item they want isn't available.)  Get your rest, maybe amp up on vitamin C, & take care of yourself, too.  Your family needs you!

[Deleted]

Funny how we picture people in our heads. I knew you were Haitian, but I always pictured a really tall skinny dude for some reason. 

Can you say anything about how you think the situation will go for the long-term and if there actually will be shortages?

In this area, we are now having problems with tourists who have decided the mountains/desert is a much better place to ride this out, not seeming to care rural areas can't support their needs and don't want their germs.

People are also traveling far and wide for groceries in other towns and some places now make you show you live in the area to shop there. I actually like this plan. Where I live now is 130 miles to the nearest city. There are 3 small stores here who serve 4K+ people.

[TheHaitian]

Mar 21, 2020 22:06:25 GMT -5 busymom said:

Thank you for all of your hard work, TheHaitian !  I was in the retail industry for years, both the floor, and the back office, and this sounds worse than Christmas rush, especially when you don't know when the chaos will end.  Plus, I think food is much more important than "stuff".  (Although I know from personal experience how angry some people get when the specific item they want isn't available.)  Get your rest, maybe amp up on vitamin C, & take care of yourself, too.  Your family needs you!

Thanks... cannot fall asleep it seems, too much caffeine in my system.

[TheHaitian]

Mar 21, 2020 22:32:13 GMT -5 @shastasnewlife said:

Funny how we picture people in our heads. I knew you were Haitian, but I always pictured a really tall skinny dude for some reason. 

Can you say anything about how you think the situation will go for the long-term and if there actually will be shortages?

In this area, we are now having problems with tourists who have decided the mountains/desert is a much better place to ride this out, not seeming to care rural areas can't support their needs and don't want their germs.

People are also traveling far and wide for groceries in other towns and some places now make you show you live in the area to shop there. I actually like this plan. Where I live now is 130 miles to the nearest city. There are 3 small stores here who serve 4K+ people.

I believe there will be some shortage on some items; ex: charmin/bounty , name brand. Most stores are now only selling store brands or whatever else they can get their hand on. Also what I am getting from truck drivers, the warehouse is not looking any better than the stores, a lot of empty slots.

You have to think we have never seen this before so no one every had what? 30 days worth of supply on hand? People have exceeded that within the first 3 days of this thing. My store was up over +400k vs projections. In my district we were up +5Millions over projections. That is 1 small district in a chain, a total of 12 store I think. Now imagine we are a chain of 150+ stores, all the Walmarts, all the Krogers, all the Giants etc... I don't think Charmin and Bounty has the manpower to produce fast enough o keep up with current demands because people buying pattern is not slowing down; at least no signs of it because we are all concerned that any day now we will be stuck in our house for good for awhile.

I live in DC and work in VA so we have not done that, I can shop in DC, VA and MD within a 30 minutes drive. And enough stores in our urban area that it would not be a concerned. But even with all the stores, we are barely keeping people satisfied so I feel for those having to drive long distance to a grocery store.

Everyone now (Costco, Walmart, US and others) have now had to put limits on water, toilet paper, cleaning supplies, paper towel (1 per customer) just to keep from running out of stock within 5 seconds of a delivery but we do end up running out before our next delivery. Heck we were informed Corporate is running out of plastic bags so they will send the basic white bags that say thank you, no company logo. 

We have seen an uptick in people stealing our toilet paper in the bathrooms... we were expecting that. The hospital bed is a concern here so I would hate to be an a rural area, your tourists sucks. they are putting more weight on a system barely able to support the people that live there already. 

Good luck and stay healthy!

[countrygirl2]

We are in a very rural area. I was out today, mask on sanitizer linked to my body believe me.

Today I was told in the area around us no flour is available, no yeast, none to be had.  I gave a tenant a 5 pound bag of flour today, but that's it.

Our Walmart was scarce of food, some was there, just a few boxes of cereal. But they had plenty of milk. At the grocer, I just picked up a few things limit of 1 loaf of bread and 1 gallon milk. Saw shelves pretty thin. Lots of fruit, not sure how many veggies, last time I was there potatoes were slim. I did not go in a grocery in the city so don't know how they are doing.

I'm always stocked and when I saw what was happening in China, I told hubs we better beef up on supplies. We went on a meat run and stocked up and I have anything and everything. Today I did pick up one bag of pods, not much detergent left, I didn't look at TP, I have 2 cases, always keep 2 back and last month ordered a 60 roll case.  I told people they better make sure they had some food on hand. A lot did not take the advice. Now they are panicking. We have a regular grocer, a Save A Lot, a Walmart but small one, and a Dollar Store, they are all busy plus a CVS.  People are still being nice but someone is cleaning out the stores, or a lot of someones I guess. Last week it was ok, this week I think folks have thinned it out a bunch.

I read there is a lot of food as distributors were stocking up to start exporting to China then the virus hit and the exports didn't happen. So they said there was bunches of meat, eggs, and milk.  However the issue is the food is not where its needed. Also distributors are back pedaling and making packages for families instead of restaurants so are having to change package sizes.  I don't know how true this is but have read logistics is the problem. Sounds reasonable.

You are giving a behind the scenes report, sure sounds like what we consumers are seeing. But I think in our rural area we are likely to get hit worse. I really think the big city stores will get stocks before us, but don't know.

I sure don't envy you, going to work you to death. Take care of yourself, like to read what you post. Hope you are your family stay well.  Keep up the good work and be careful. I think eventually these "customers" could turn mean.

[mollyc]

I hope your chain of stores does something like this for all of you.

Email from pcoptimum re staff

In case the link doesn't work, the relevant part is:


"We have made the decision to temporarily increase compensation for our store and distribution centre colleagues by approximately 15% retroactive to March 8th in recognition of their outstanding and ongoing efforts keeping our stores open and operating so effectively


Our extraordinary teams are motivated by what they see as a responsibility to Canadians and the opportunity to make a difference. But, unlike so many businesses across the country right now, our supermarkets and pharmacies are performing well. And the leaders in our business wanted to make sure that a significant portion of that benefit would go straight into the pockets of the incredible people on the front line and in our distribution centres."

Good luck.

[crazycat]

My son works for a grocery store here in SoCal . It is just crazy . My DH is the President of a UFCW Local here . He has helped get the grocery workers at most area stores a $2 an hour raise and is working to get older 65+ workers paid leave so they can stay home and stay safe . He is very worried in general for all the workers and of course , his office staff . They’ve already put a few that are older ,out on paid leave til this craziness settles . 

Thank you you for all your hard work ,it is much appreciated . 

Take care of yourself and yours 😊

[NancysSummerSip]

TheHaitian thanks for all you do. I always make it a point to ask the workers at my store how they are doing. I feel kinda guilty when they ask me. In spite of the reduced hours, they all look tired. And they still have to stock shelves throughout the day, even though the point of the early closure was to clean and restock before store opening. But it is that crazy here. A lot of snowbirds have not left the area yet (they normally begin to leave around Easter/Passover) but many would be returning to the northeast, where the virus is hitting much harder. So they are staying here, crowding the stores and medical facilities (but at least not the roads -- everyone is mostly off the roads!)

[Works4me]

"Thank you" seems so inadequate for what you and your colleagues are doing. Please accept my gratitude and know that your sacrifice appreciated.

One of my nieces works M-F at an acute care hospital while moonlighting at California Fresh Market. Between the two jobs, she is working, sleeping and going for an occasional walk. Surprisingly enough, she said that the market is now harder work and by far crazier than doing hands-on patient care. They have also received a $2 raise. The insanity is almost unbelievable.

Add me to the list of people who enjoy reading your posts. Please stay safe and don't forget to get take care of yourself while you are caring for your family and others.

[giramomma]

Mar 21, 2020 21:37:35 GMT -5 TheHaitian said:

Mar 21, 2020 21:17:27 GMT -5 Tennesseer said:

You and your crews hang in there, Haitian.

They are talking about this going on till July/August... DC just canceled school till April 24... not sure we can. We will all be burned out by then.

I think if it is that serious (only if) they need to pull all the stops and force people to stay home in the DMV area because a lot of us are thinking this is a joke, plenty of house parties and BBQ’s this weekend. .

Our schools are closed indefinitely, likely to the end of the school year.

We've got three kids, now to homeschool, on top of working. And, its just DH and myself..we aren't leaning on the grands very much.

[TheHaitian]

We have been open for only 1.5 hours and it feels like 5. We had 35 people waiting at the door when we open at 7 AM.

We got some Charmin and Cottonelle toilet paper last night and even with the limit of 1 - it is all gone now by 8:30.

We still have some Scott, Bounty and Sparkle baby towels left, not much. Figure by noon we will all be out.

Got cursed out by a lady because of the limit of 1 for Clorox wipes. She claims she was buying the other one for a neighbor... sorry, limit is 1.

Another beautiful day ahead!

[TheHaitian]

Replenishment is getting better from warehouse , I think limited the order size from each store has helped them even if in the grand scheme of things the stores are not fully stocked but they are not empty either...

I guess better than nothing is what I am trying to say .

[busymom]

Mar 21, 2020 23:03:55 GMT -5 TheHaitian said:

Mar 21, 2020 22:06:25 GMT -5 busymom said:

Thank you for all of your hard work, TheHaitian !  I was in the retail industry for years, both the floor, and the back office, and this sounds worse than Christmas rush, especially when you don't know when the chaos will end.  Plus, I think food is much more important than "stuff".  (Although I know from personal experience how angry some people get when the specific item they want isn't available.)  Get your rest, maybe amp up on vitamin C, & take care of yourself, too.  Your family needs you!

Thanks... cannot fall asleep it seems, too much caffeine in my system.

      It could be an adrenaline rush.  You have to hurry, hurry, hurry to deal with all of your customers, and you don't get to slow down until after you leave work.  During Christmas rush it used to take me until an hour after I got home to even try to sleep.  Even those days I was working until 1 or 2 am, cleaning up the store.  Getting to bed at 3 am, then getting up at 6 am to get my oldest ready for school, then collapse back into bed for a little more sleep.  Good times!  

[TheHaitian]

Mar 22, 2020 0:32:55 GMT -5 mollyc said:

I hope your chain of stores does something like this for all of you.

Email from pcoptimum re staff

In case the link doesn't work, the relevant part is:


"We have made the decision to temporarily increase compensation for our store and distribution centre colleagues by approximately 15% retroactive to March 8th in recognition of their outstanding and ongoing efforts keeping our stores open and operating so effectively


Our extraordinary teams are motivated by what they see as a responsibility to Canadians and the opportunity to make a difference. But, unlike so many businesses across the country right now, our supermarkets and pharmacies are performing well. And the leaders in our business wanted to make sure that a significant portion of that benefit would go straight into the pockets of the incredible people on the front line and in our distribution centres."

Good luck.

We all got a $25 credit loaded on our store cards to spend at the store.

[TheHaitian]

Mar 22, 2020 7:22:05 GMT -5 giramomma said:

Mar 21, 2020 21:37:35 GMT -5 TheHaitian said:

They are talking about this going on till July/August... DC just canceled school till April 24... not sure we can. We will all be burned out by then.

I think if it is that serious (only if) they need to pull all the stops and force people to stay home in the DMV area because a lot of us are thinking this is a joke, plenty of house parties and BBQ’s this weekend. .

Our schools are closed indefinitely, likely to the end of the school year.

We've got three kids, now to homeschool, on top of working. And, its just DH and myself..we aren't leaning on the grands very much.

Good luck... our daughter is 3 so really homeschool is whatever we want it to be. Her nursery has circle time online everyday at 10 with her nursery teacher and that is about it. It is saved online for later use for parents that are working and cannot log on live.

And yeah it is tough for my wife to work from home because my Daughter is having a hard time accepting that just because mommy is here does not mean she is 100% accessible to you.

Good luck

[oped]

We have pick up schedules for today. Scheduled it 3 days ago and earliest time was 4 today. Will probably do it weekly. They let you modify order till morning if. Will bring it out and put it in your trunk. Automatically paper bags.

Can’t accept tips 😕

[Deleted]

Mar 22, 2020 7:49:52 GMT -5 TheHaitian said:

We all got a $25 credit loaded on our store cards to spend at the store.

Their benevolence moves me to tears.

Thanks for your updates- they make me feel a little better about restricting my shopping to once a week even though I'm bored out of my mind. Thanks also for being there. I appreciate you and your coworkers putting in the extra hours and working with the public during these crazy times. Stay healthy.