I used to work in a deli. Just ask for how many slices you want. Do you want it thin, shaved or sliced thick? I hated it when people asked for stupid things like "I'll take 1.36 pounds of shaved roast beef, no more, no less." After we cleaned the slicers. i hated even more when people wanted a sheet of deli paper to separate the shaved slices of meat. Actually I just really hated my job. A quarter of a pound of thin sliced meat is only 5 or so slices, not that much. I say you we're way too anal, I would have been annoyed too, but not outwardly showing it.
Everytime we open bulk deli meat and slice, we have to throw away the first slice (per health department). So, in order to slice your 2-3 slices for 1/8 pound, we would have to waste 1 slice each and every time. I'm sure you can do the math and see how a company could not sustain a department if their waste was anywhere from 25-50%. Oh, and that clerk was incompetent. I would never hire an employee that did not understand basic math.
You're really snippy in this thread.
Not snippy at all. Just stating the facts. I don't hate my customers or my job. I would find a new one if I did.
Ok, justlky, I see your point about throwing away the first slice. I wonder if that's the norm in most communities? I've never really noticed that when I go to the deli. I always order a full pound and then some, as DH eats it just about every day for lunch. From time to time I'll order 4 slices of turkey just for me and I've never noticed an attitude.
There are some stores in my area that just slice up a ton of meat and have it sitting on trays each day and I try to avoid those places b/c that sort of creeps me out. I guess RR should start shopping at that type of deli to avoid any unpleasantness!
Everytime we open bulk deli meat and slice, we have to throw away the first slice (per health department). So, in order to slice your 2-3 slices for 1/8 pound, we would have to waste 1 slice each and every time. I'm sure you can do the math and see how a company could not sustain a department if their waste was anywhere from 25-50%. Oh, and that clerk was incompetent. I would never hire an employee that did not understand basic math.
No, if too many people started ordering 2-3 slices, your store would just raise the price per pound by 20-25% to cover the cost of waste.
OP - I think it's totally reasonable to order what you want.
This is my point though. Food prices keep going up because the waste that is produced in a grocery store is exorbitant. The prices are already so high that customers complain and our department profit margins are thin. If there wasn't so much waste, the consumer's prices would remain low.
I have never worked at a deli but I deal with health department regulations and slicing deli meat for my job. I could see how a request like this could be kind of annoying.
That said, it's the deli's job to serve their customers. The person working there was rude and unprofessional. They never should have complained in front of a customer.
Ok, justlky, I see your point about throwing away the first slice. I wonder if that's the norm in most communities? I've never really noticed that when I go to the deli. I always order a full pound and then some, as DH eats it just about every day for lunch. From time to time I'll order 4 slices of turkey just for me and I've never noticed an attitude.
There are some stores in my area that just slice up a ton of meat and have it sitting on trays each day and I try to avoid those places b/c that sort of creeps me out. I guess RR should start shopping at that type of deli to avoid any unpleasantness!
I don't mean to come of as rude if I am. I am a very black and white person so I can see how ppl perceive me as so. As this is the MM board and the question was asked, I am just trying to explain the logistics of a deli department and how OP's question was not MM overall. I find it kinda fascinating actually and it's not something I ever thought about as a consumer (I'm just moonlighting while I get through RN school people! Ha!). I could also explain 3 other ways that the deli loses money just by slicing meat for 1 customer (but I won't bore you all) lol.
I have never worked at a deli but I deal with health department regulations and slicing deli meat for my job. I could see how a request like this could be kind of annoying.
That said, it's the deli's job to serve their customers. The person working there was rude and unprofessional. They never should have complained in front of a customer.
If 1/8 lb is really all you needed total then I don't see a problem with it, but you ordered 3 different types of meat at 1/8 lb each. I'd just get one type of meat with at least 1/4 lb and get another kind the next time if I couldn't finish it instead of getting a little here and a little there. That's just petty.
No, if too many people started ordering 2-3 slices, your store would just raise the price per pound by 20-25% to cover the cost of waste.
OP - I think it's totally reasonable to order what you want.
This is my point though. Food prices keep going up because the waste that is produced in a grocery store is exorbitant. The prices are already so high that customers complain and our department profit margins are thin. If there wasn't so much waste, the consumer's prices would remain low.
But instead of being a total bitch, wouldn't you just tell your customer that 1/4lb was the smallest amount she could order?
I have never worked at a deli but I deal with health department regulations and slicing deli meat for my job. I could see how a request like this could be kind of annoying.
That said, it's the deli's job to serve their customers. The person working there was rude and unprofessional. They never should have complained in front of a customer.
Absolutely agree.
its also a customers responsibility to not make asinine requests. I'm not saying that the posters request was asinine,but some are, and are so eye roll worthy.
This is my point though. Food prices keep going up because the waste that is produced in a grocery store is exorbitant. The prices are already so high that customers complain and our department profit margins are thin. If there wasn't so much waste, the consumer's prices would remain low.
But instead of being a total bitch, wouldn't you just tell your customer that 1/4lb was the smallest amount she could order?
Absolutely and I do, but not everyone is me. In order to avoid confrontation, I also tell people that our scales cannot print the price tag for anything less than 1/4 pound. And of course there are exceptions to the rule. I am not a hardass and appreciate our customers and try to give them what they want.
Ok, justlky, I see your point about throwing away the first slice. I wonder if that's the norm in most communities? I've never really noticed that when I go to the deli. I always order a full pound and then some, as DH eats it just about every day for lunch. From time to time I'll order 4 slices of turkey just for me and I've never noticed an attitude.
There are some stores in my area that just slice up a ton of meat and have it sitting on trays each day and I try to avoid those places b/c that sort of creeps me out. I guess RR should start shopping at that type of deli to avoid any unpleasantness!
I don't mean to come of as rude if I am. I am a very black and white person so I can see how ppl perceive me as so. As this is the MM board and the question was asked, I am just trying to explain the logistics of a deli department and how OP's question was not MM overall. I find it kinda fascinating actually and it's not something I ever thought about as a consumer (I'm just moonlighting while I get through RN school people! Ha!). I could also explain 3 other ways that the deli loses money just by slicing meat for 1 customer (but I won't bore you all) lol.
It sounds like your deli is rather poorly run if you're losing all that money simply by serving customers.
its also a customers responsibility to not make asinine requests. I'm not saying that the posters request was asinine,but some are, and are so eye roll worthy.
I don't mean to come of as rude if I am. I am a very black and white person so I can see how ppl perceive me as so. As this is the MM board and the question was asked, I am just trying to explain the logistics of a deli department and how OP's question was not MM overall. I find it kinda fascinating actually and it's not something I ever thought about as a consumer (I'm just moonlighting while I get through RN school people! Ha!). I could also explain 3 other ways that the deli loses money just by slicing meat for 1 customer (but I won't bore you all) lol.
It sounds like your deli is rather poorly run if you're losing all that money simply by serving customers.
Lol. The narrow profit margin for the deli (and produce as well) is actually standard in the grocery industry.
If 1/8 lb is really all you needed total then I don't see a problem with it, but you ordered 3 different types of meat at 1/8 lb each. I'd just get one type of meat with at least 1/4 lb and get another kind the next time if I couldn't finish it instead of getting a little here and a little there. That's just petty.
I agree! Is there any reason you really needed 3 different kinds?
If it isn't against a posted store policy I see no issue with it. Get what you want! If it is such an ordeal/loss/too confusing for remedial math students for them then they should ban it. If they don't, I don't see how you are being rude for taking advantage thee services and buying what you want.
Post by MixedBerryJam on Nov 25, 2012 23:09:25 GMT -5
When I was dating my husband, I stopped at the deli once a week and bought one slice of a cold cut ... for his cat. This cat taught me early on that the way to a man's heart is through his cat's stomach.
If 1/8 lb is really all you needed total then I don't see a problem with it, but you ordered 3 different types of meat at 1/8 lb each. I'd just get one type of meat with at least 1/4 lb and get another kind the next time if I couldn't finish it instead of getting a little here and a little there. That's just petty.
I agree! Is there any reason you really needed 3 different kinds?
Who cares what the reason is? She wanted it, the store sell it and there is no policy against it.
I am not sure what is more impressive: that MM has so many posters who buy salami one piece at a time or that MM has so many experts on Deli Economics.
I am not sure what is more impressive: that MM has so many posters who buy salami one piece at a time or that MM has so many experts on Deli Economics.