‘Why I Stopped Shopping at Vons and Why COX Is Screwed Up’

The Old Broad Has Her Say

I Just Remembered Why I Stopped Shopping at Vons

The calls regarding the closing of ACE Hardware, Trader Joes, Vons, Ralphs, have been burning up the wires the past few days.  At the request of one of my loyal readers, I decided to do an investigation as to what really was happening.

The first call I made was to ACE Hardware, where they confirmed that the store in Liberty Station will be closing by the end of February. There are all sorts of rumors as to why they are closing, but I was more concerned with the actually closing and did not go further with my questioning.

Then I called Trader Joe’s to find out if it was true that (1) they were closing at Liberty Station and (2) they were going to be moving to the Ralph’s store on Rosecrans.  I was assured that neither of the rumors were true. They are staying where there are, and they are not moving to Ralphs.

Then I called Ralphs to see if they were moving. I was told that they were not going anywhere; that the store would be remaining as Ralphs.

Then I called Vons.  The man that I spoke to on the phone told me that as far as he knew the store was not moving or closing, but suggested that I call the manager – Stephanie – to verify it.  I called at 2:00 pm because he thought that would be a good time to call her but I was told she was ill and was not in the store. I asked if there was another manager I could speak to and I was directed to Kevin.  He informed me that he was not authorized to talk to a reporter and I would have to call the corporate office and speak to one of two people for confirmation or denial.

I called the first number he gave me and I was told that “the person you are calling has not set up their mailbox.  Please call again later.” I found that very interesting:  A corporate person that has not set up her mailbox?

Then I called the second person and got a voice mail recording informing me that she was not available and if I would leave my number she would call me back. That was 4 days ago. I have not had a callback.

I doubt very much if Vons will be closing. They seem to have a successful operation going. I stopped going to Vons a long time ago because I felt that they were not “Consumer Friendly.” ( I have found just the opposite to be true at the Ralphs on Midway. )  I am not sure who the person was that told me that Vons was not closing, but when, sorry – IF – I get a call back from Vons I will certainly update this post.

COX – Time To Change; It’s So Screwed up

A few days ago I called my daughter on her cell phone and was so surprised when it was answered this way:  “Hello Judi. Michele is busy right now but if you will leave a message we will transcribe it for her.” Wow! I didn’t realize that she had her own secretary.

Yesterday, my friend Mary finally called me on my cell phone because she said she tried to call my land line 4 times by her memory dial and received these messages:  (1) The number you are calling has been disconnected.  (2) This party does not receive calls from unidentified persons. Please dial *82 and then the number to reach the party. (3) The person you are calling cannot be located and (4) There is no one available at that number.

When she reached me on my cell phone she asked me what I was doing that I was too busy to answer the phone. I was reading the paper. The phone NEVER rang at my house.  What if that had been an emergency?  I have a daughter out of town that will be flying back to San Diego. With the government slowdown and air traffic controllers calling in sick, I will worry until her plane lands.

Today Mary tried again, and again used her memory dial.  I point that out because there is no way she could have dialed the wrong number. She has been using that memory dial for years! And she received 4 more messages as to why I could not answer the phone.

I called COX and the woman I spoke to gave me all sorts of reasons why that had happened.  She said that there was a power outage in my neighborhood.  That might have been true – but there was not an outage in my neighborhood.  If there was I wouldn’t have had the ability to call her, and I could do that without problem.  She told me it was a fluke.  Eight times? Sure.  Someone already bought the bridge in Brooklyn.  She asked if it had ever happened before.  As a matter of fact I complained about the “*82” two months ago and they told me it was because I had a robokiller on the phone.  I took the robokiller off. I am still getting it.

Usually my complaint is about the wi-fi.  Sometimes it is about the television.  This is getting to be very annoying. I am paying way too much money for a service that, at best, is mediocre.  So after making a lot of noise, a COX repairperson is coming out tomorrow to see what is wrong with the phone.  Might be interesting to give me a call and see what I am doing.  Chances you will know before me that I am busy.