No longer a happy Gelson's customer
I used to be a very happy Gelson's customer, but those days are history. New ownership has of course expanded locations, but also dumbed down the spectacular customer service that used to be part of their hallmark and personal touch. I went to a Gelson's in the Valley Village area of the San Fernando Valley to purchase 2 pounds of Shrimp. For the very first time ever, when I came home to peel and devein my shrimp before cooking, they were unacceptable. They were very dry, super hard to get the shells off, and smelled so off. This in itself is not the end of the world, as I knew I could return them. A nuisance was my biggest complaint I guess. I happen to live near the Sherman Oaks Gelsons, and called Valley Village to ask if i could exchange them at the closer locale. The manager was nice and said he would call the Sherman Oaks Gelson's to say I am coming. Once there, the manager told me to get new shrimp and that they would do the switcheroo. As a frequent shopper you get reward points that translate to getting $5 off of your purchase price. My 2 pounds of shrimp at Valley Village was $35 because I had a $5 reward that was taken off the bill automatically. In Sherman Oaks the Shrimp was $40 and I asked the checker to honor my $5 off for this purchase. I showed her the original receipt with the $5 taken off. She would not do so and called over the manager. The manager "J....." was miserable towards me. She made made me feel like a criminal for asking for my earned discount. I told her that I'm upset enough to call Gelson's corporate offices. She told me "they no longer have corporate offices", and could not care less. What an attitude. She ended up taking off my $5 but far from gracious. There are more important things going on in the world to complain about than bad Shrimp. But these really were sub par, and should never have been sold to customers. They used to have very fine butchers and fish mongers. It was a lot of money and their attitude was nowhere near how they used to treat people. They did not need to do anything extra for this bad experience, but that would not have been a far fetched gesture. It was the demeaning manner in how I was treated, having to "beg" for what I rightfully had earned. I'll be heading to Bristol Farms from this point forward.
By Jeff W.