Went to the grocery store today. They had totally reorganized the produce section. Why do they do

[applegrove]

this? There was no new shelving units or anything. They put tomatoes in the first isle, like they make so much money on them or something. Do they?

[CaliforniaPeggy]

1. My dear applegrove...

They do it to keep the shopper off balance, to keep you looking. They want your experience to be "interesting."

My store revamps itself about every 10 years, and it's always so frustrating. I have to re-learn where everything is.

It must work, otherwise they wouldn't do it.

On edit: I have no idea why they do it, either...

[ohnoyoudidnt]

2. This idea makes sense.

It makes you look around more and see things you normally wouldn't search out to buy, but might buy if you come across them.

[Boojatta]

3. "It must work, otherwise they wouldn't do it."

:rofl:

Does the same principle apply to political policies?

[applegrove]

9. I think peggy's point was that we are all little mice to corporate marketing. very true.

[AngryAmish]

14. Trader Joe's does this also

They are constantly changing the stores around. It is a corporate strategy. It lets the drones think they have a say in how their work environment looks and gives the shopper a constant new look.

[hifiguy]

16. Yep

Went in to my local TJ's for the first time in a couple of months and couldn't find the cat food anywhere. Had to flag down a staffer. It was, of course, where the paper towels used to be. Perfectly sensible. :crazy:

[rucky]

4. our Kroger cut the organic section in half

and it's all in the refrigerated area - including the mangoes & avocados. ugh.

[grilled onions]

5. It May Work For The healthy and Non Rushed Customers

But I have seen many seniors settle for a certain product because their favorite product was moved. I have seen people in a hurry quit in frustration and literally drop their few items in an isle and walk out of the store. This plays well for those stores too small to have the space and resources to keep shifting goods around.
In todays world many are not looking for that great shopping experience. In the fifties many women felt it was a great way to get out of the house and perhaps run into a friend in the aisles. Today with kids in tow,many with cell phone attached to their head they are pressed for time and don't have time to see what's new in every aisle. Local stores have tv commercials blaring and no one listens to them. In checkout more tv ads and you can barely hear the clerk ask you questions.
I would like to see stores keep their general line up. No reason to move coffee to the back,soda pop three aisles down and produce in a haphazard design of small displays where everyone zigzags in circles.

[csziggy]

6. Yeah, for me shopping is an endurance sport these days

It's always a challenge to find everything I need before my knees give out. The new store of the chain were I usually shop is great - they have a wider selection of products and more brands to pick from. But I have yet to be able to get all the way through it because it's so big.

The one I usually go to has become a frustration. I swear they randomly move things around without a big re-organization. Too many times in the last year I have given up on finding everything on my shopping list because it is not where it used to be and I simply cannot hike back through the store to the various possible new locations. Even if I could ask someone who works there, I wouldn't have the endurance to make another circuit through the store.

Fortunately, Mr. csziggy does most of the shopping for me. But it sure would be nice to be able to do it my self sometimes.

[Ineeda]

7. Apparently there's a science to it,

like always having the milk, eggs, and meat at the farthest reaches. It's so you have to walk through other aisles to get to the 'essentials' and be tempted by a whole lot of other items you didn't know you 'needed'. The same reason they keep impulse items, like candy bars and magazines at the checkout.

[rurallib]

8. Part of it in the produce aisle is seasonal and availability

part of it is change for the sake of change.
IIRC changing things around keeps rats in the maze interested
(I recall a study called the White-Westinghouse study where workers were kept happy by simply changing things around occasionally - very old study)

[JustABozoOnThisBus]

10. Yes, I went to buy tomatos, and there were green beans in the bin

But I am a relentless, hard-headed shopper, so I made my purchase.

I have discovered that I am no fan of Bacon, Lettuce, and Green Bean (BLGB?) sandwiches.

:hi:

[Lindsey]

11. I love, love, love Traders joes but they do this all the time.n/t

[RedCloud]

12. It is done to piss you off. Like the loud and embarrassing music they play.

[Taverner]

13. Because the UFCW is very committed to providing WORK

Why Wal Mart would not want to unionize with these guys is anyone's guess.

I was a member back in college, and worked at a Lucky's market.

Good benefits, good pay, and LOTS OF WORK

The Shop Steward made sure we all WORKED for our money

As a result, Lucky's stores have *usually* gone along with cost of living increases, because they know their employees will never slack

[meegbear]

15. Just to fuck with yah

[Kali]

17. oh I HATE that, I still can't find stuff from the last rearranging more than a year ago

in fact I could rant for hours about what I hate that grocery stores do, but I might give myself a stroke

[skygazer]

18. 1. Tomatoes are in season right now

So they're more popular and there are more varieties available.

2. Certain items that are in the ad or on sale tend to be displayed in more eye-catching locations.

3. Rearranging makes the customer aware of products they don't normally notice because shoppers are creatures of habit.


I work in a grocery store. I understand how having to search for the things you normally buy can be aggravating but I also understand why stores try to entice/lure/trick buyers - they're in business to make money, not to make it easier for you to go through the place without buying anything you don't really need or didn't intend to buy. :P

[whistler162]

19. Rule of stores and websites - If it ain't broken, break it!

[LiberalEsto]

20. Did they alphabetize everything?

Or did they use the Dewey decimal System?

[graywarrior]

21. It's all about placement and which food companies pay them more for shelf space.

[Odin2005]

22. Us autistics hate when things get changed around, so that drives me crazy.

Especially because I hate being in big stores, I like to know where everything is so I can be in and out.