Is there a way to get your grocery to carry new things?

[Cluricaun]

For whatever reason my local grocery stocks no real East Indian or Middle Eastern foods whatsoever. Sure, they might have naan every once in a while in the bake shop, and you can sort of cobble together some things with the Thai stuff in the Asian section and they do have hummus of course but they don’t have any dedicated section like the grocery in my old neighborhood did. Hell, there isn’t even an Indian takeout in the town I live in, there’s one sit down place a town over but they charge insane prices ($20 Tikka my ass). So can you fill out a form or talk to the manager or anything to try and persuade them that it might be a good idea to sacrifice the aisle long Italian down a bit and sell me some damned vindaloo?

[jali]

Ask the store manager.

There were no Jamaican spices at the local market when I first moved to the area. The manager finally ordered a couple of items after my asking for a few weeks in a row. Now there's half an aisle of "Caribbean products".

[silenus]

Chain or local? If it's a local, you have a chance. Talk to a manager. For a chain it's next to impossible. Shelf space is at a premium, and they get paid big bucks to stock what they stock.

Your best bet is to shop online .

[TheFlame]

I was going to say much the same thing as silenus.

If you do go to talk to a manager, I expect you'll probably need to convince them that stocking the Asian foods will be profitable. Maybe put together a mini-'petition' and see if you can get other lovers of the spice to sign it?

[Cluricaun]

It is a chain, but oddly enough other stores of the same chain DO have the things I want. I’m getting close to wanting to 86 the whole chain grocery thing, but they have such splendid sales and cheap beer and gas rewards, so I really can’t. I hate making more than one stop.

[WhyNot]

You talkin' Dominicks? I've found that asking for a manager at Customer Service is useless, but striking up a conversation with one of those older guys wandering the aisle with a scanner thingy and/or a clipboard will sometimes get you results. Not the shelf-stockers, but the older guys in khakis and button up shirts. I think they're ordering managers or something. Whatever their title, I've had luck twice now with getting items I know other Dominickses carry. (One was Better Than Bouillon, the other was, uh...Major Grey Chutney, I think?)

Of course, you may not have generous cleavage working for you. Maybe have your girlfriend give it a try while you hide in Diary. :wink:

[Cluricaun]

Actually it's Jewel. I don't even have a Dominicks near me anymore, Caputo's shut them down.

[Zsofia]

Chain or local? If it's a local, you have a chance. Talk to a manager. For a chain it's next to impossible. Shelf space is at a premium, and they get paid big bucks to stock what they stock.

Your best bet is to shop online .

Not necessarily true. At Publix down here there's a shelf next to Customer Service of "Customer Requested Items" - if you ask for it they'll order a few, see if they sell.

[MsPurlMcKnittington]

Chain or local? If it's a local, you have a chance. Talk to a manager. For a chain it's next to impossible.

That's not true in my experience. I've gotten two separate chain groceries to start carrying items just because I asked someone about it.

Maybe WhyNot is onto something. Maybe you do need boobs for it to work.

[WhyNot]

Maybe WhyNot is onto something. Maybe you do need boobs for it to work.

Seriously? I think, but I don't have a cite, that it's been found that women are more brand and store loyal than men. Maybe those stocking managers have heard this too, and they will order for a woman, because she'll keep coming back and buying it, but their experience with men is less profitable.

[silenus]

Or maybe the stuff I've requested has just been too weird. I'll wear a low-cut top next time I ask and see if that makes a difference.

[MsPurlMcKnittington]

Maybe WhyNot is onto something. Maybe you do need boobs for it to work.

Seriously? I think, but I don't have a cite, that it's been found that women are more brand and store loyal than men. Maybe those stocking managers have heard this too, and they will order for a woman, because she'll keep coming back and buying it, but their experience with men is less profitable.

Oh, I like the idea of that a lot better than the idea of my 18-year-old breasts convincing the older-than-my-father manager of Sentry to stock a different brand of sugar-free ice cream.

silenus, maybe you could just wear a Hawaiian shirt and knot the shirt tails above your midriff, Daisy Duke style.

[WhyNot]

Oh, I like the idea of that a lot better than the idea of my 18-year-old breasts convincing the older-than-my-father manager of Sentry to stock a different brand of sugar-free ice cream.

[dryly] Honey, I think wars have been fought over 18 year old breasts. Enjoy the power while you have it! :wink:

[MsPurlMcKnittington]

Eh, that was 7 years ago. Me and my 25-year-old boobs are doing great, though!

[Taumpy]

You can ask the store manager, or better, the manager of the grocery department. But IMO the best route is, find out the exact product you want, and come armed with info like who distributes it locally when you talk to said manager.

In many cases, assuming they're serviced by whomever distributes the product, they will gladly special order it for you. Especially if you're willing to buy an entire case worth.

[Taumpy]

Oh, and if the product you want is independent vendor delivered/stocked, rather than delivered to them in their regular warehouse load, don't be afraid to find the name of that vendor and speak to him directly.