Ed Pawlowski wrote:
>sf wrote:
>>Jean B. wrote:
>>
>>> That's one reason why I also don't like the idea of using one
>>> of the delivery systems. I want to assess ripeness for example.
>>
>> I have the same misgivings about ordering produce. However, I was in
>> one of my stores and saw someone doing the "shopping" - he really took
>> his time and picked out the best produce. I was happy to see it, but
>> also wondered how often that happens. One guy in one store, one time
>> does not make a trend.
>
>Smart stores do it that way. My wife worked for local produce supplier
>with an excellent reputation for high quality. In addition to retail,
>they supplied some of the nicer local restaurants.
>
>The long time owner retired. The new owner no longer picked the best.
>You just sent what was grabbed out of the bin. About a year and a half
>later, he was out of business and did not know why.

When I was a kid there were essentially no stupidmarkets, food stores
were individualized, butcher, deli, green grocer, bakery, fish monger,
dairies, small general stores that sold dry goods; grains, canned
goods, cleaning products, hardware, pharmacy, and others. Most of
these individualized stores delivered for free, you phoned in your
order or sent a child with a written list to be delivered or to buy a
small order to carry home. There was enough competition to ensure
that the shopkeepers delivered only their best products in order to
keep their regular customers... sometimes they'd tell a customer that
something was not very good so would recommend something else. These
small stores couldn't afford to mistreat their customers... and their
service was impeccable, in those times "The customer is always right."
was a truism.