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longlegsinlapaz
Super Nomad
Posts: 1685
Registered: 11-18-2005
Location: La Paz
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I'm pretty sure I heard someone rattle my cage!!  I'm one of those who was
devastated to hear that the Ruffo family sold their 3 stores to a large national chain! For the past 12 years, CCC was THE store in
La Paz where you could buy US imported dairy products...milk, sour cream, cottage cheese, etc.
When the sale was announced, stocking levels plummeted immediately & then they tore both La Paz stores to rat poop...IMO. I'm half-an-hour
outside of town, so try to not have to run into town several times a week & I've been known to not make a trip in for 3-4 weeks!  So when I do finally get in there & leave the store empty-handed because
they're out of stock on virtually everything I went in for, I'm not a happy camper! I went in twice during construction & swore I wouldn't return
until the remodeling was completed because both stores were filthy & unsafe. The produce was beyond bad & the imported US dairy products were
totally out of stock. They'd moved the frozen foods units & all the foods inside were thawed out & water pooling on the floors...the freezer
units either weren't plugged in or were non-functional after being moved. They'd moved remaining shelf stock hither thither & yon, with no rhyme
nor reason, wherever they found a little space, they'd stashed food & non-food items.
I hadn't been in there for nearly 2 months but went last week for US dairy products. The items I couldn't find, I asked about & was told they
were out of stock, no looking to check, simply they didn't have it or don't carry it any more. I'm talking basic stuff here, not exotic cheeses from
Outer Mongolia! Sliced roast beef for sandwiches, dog treats, medium cheddar & colby, pickles, black olives, CoffeeMate French Vanilla liquid
creamer...the regular stuff, not the non-fat that Comitan's apparently
responsible for them over-stocking!  Employees standing chatting in groups
blocking the aisles & watching while I stretched my 5' 10' height on my tiptoes & tried to reach the new upper shelves, which have to be 7 -
7' 6" above floor level!
I damn near left my cart & walked out!! Instead, I decided to stop at WalMart on my way home for fresh produce & still ended up spending
$1,269 pesos at Chedraui...despite the lack of products I'd wanted which weren't in stock or couldn't be found. I'd been in the states for 2 weeks,
so this was not my typical grocery run...it was a full-up supply run after not having hit the grocery store for a month!
I was so angry by the time I got home, I went online to find Sara's e-mail address (La Paz area residents will understand that reference) &
blasted off a detailed e-mail of what my experiences have been & how I feel rude employees are ruining customer goodwill & creating major
waste in the produce department through their rough handling of food...stuff that hits the floor goes right back onto the display, smashed &
dirty, crushed & damaged cartons on the shelves, the conveyor belts at the registers still weren't working on the 16th when I was in there, the
cashier never looked me in the eye let alone uttered a word to me despite my "Buenas dias" & "Gracias", nor did she verbally acknowledge the
customers in front or behind me.
Imagine my amazement when I answered my phone at noon today & the General manager of the Colima store introduced himself to me & expressed
sincere appreciation for the details I'd provided because it gave both him & the owners specific areas in which they can make improvements. He
said most other messages they've received just asked for specific items to be stocked, but he appreciated the fact that my message gave them specific
things that they could actually target to improve customer service for the entire population of La Paz, not just "gringos" as the
"Bringing Back Gringo Shoppers To Chedraui" posts on all the Baja forums convey. I'd written that despite the fact I'm a "gringo" I took offense at
the apparent exclusion of the local Mexican population.
Actions speak louder than words, so I guess it remains to be seen how much of a change employee attitudes will improve in the future, but I felt the
store Manager's words were sincere rather than patronizing.
Rob, "sullen" is a pretty accurate term for the overall employee attitude I've encountered, despite the fact I used the term rude in my e-mail.
I agree with Kate, no two wish lists would look the same!
lingililingili, I buy locally as too...my personal line gets drawn on dairy products. Apparently I just missed some locally made fresh strawberry pie
yesterday due to that glutton hubby of yours!
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vandenberg
Elite Nomad
Posts: 5118
Registered: 6-21-2005
Location: Nopolo
Member Is Offline
Mood: mellow
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Would be nice to finally have a yoghurt that tastes like yoghurt. However, I'm here in Sacramento and the so called non fat yoplait yoghurt looks and
taste like the stuff you texture drywall with. Weird stuff, to say the least.
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lingililingili
Nomad
Posts: 449
Registered: 2-24-2008
Location: La Paz, Bahia Asuncion
Member Is Offline
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Paula, the Lala Yoghurt Natural has no sugars and no colorants. It is quite good. Also, if you are in La Paz "Sabores de Mexico" has homemade plain
yogurt that is also very good, but pricier.
| Quote: | Originally posted by Paula
Lingililingili,
Is the Lala yogurt really plain plain-- without any kind of sweetener?
About a year ago the grocer around the corner from me was sure the Yoplait yougurt sin azucar was what I wanted, and he told me to come back in two
days. I did, and bought a big carton of artificially sweetened stuff, knowing that it wasn't what I wanted. So if there is really plain plain yogurt
to be had I sure hope it makes it's way to Loreto! |
•Life is just one damned thing after another
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lingililingili
Nomad
Posts: 449
Registered: 2-24-2008
Location: La Paz, Bahia Asuncion
Member Is Offline
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Alan, have you tried "La Choya" coffees? They have a very dark roast that is really good. We live are used to Pete's Coffee and this is close! They
will grind it for you there or you can take home the beans. "La Choya" is located on Colima at 1650 entre Durango and Chiapas. Hope you are as happy
with the coffee as you are with the juice!
| Quote: | Originally posted by Alan
Lingililingili,
Thanks again for that find (Gloria's Jugos). They now have a new steady customer. Grabbed a gallon first thing this morning. was like biting into
the freshest, sweetest orange imaginable. Matched it with some fresh baked Rustico bread from Pan d'ley and I had a breakfast fit for a king. Next
on my scavenger hunt is Columbian coffee |
•Life is just one damned thing after another
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Paula
Super Nomad
Posts: 2219
Registered: 1-5-2006
Location: Loreto
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Thanks for the info, Lingili and Kate! Another good reason for more trips to La Paz!
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oladulce
Super Nomad
Posts: 1625
Registered: 5-30-2005
Location: bcs
Member Is Offline
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Lilli guini-
THanks for the coffee resource. What are their average prices per lb/kg?
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Alan
Super Nomad
Posts: 1628
Registered: 4-6-2005
Location: Yucaipa, CA/La Paz
Member Is Offline
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Saw their ad in the Citizen and planned to check it out. Thanks for letting me know it will be worth the trip.
In Memory of E-57
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bajalinda
Senior Nomad
Posts: 552
Registered: 6-7-2008
Location: Pacific Coast, BCS
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Wow Longlegs...way to go - good for you!
And right - the construction/change-over period was ridiculous. I also refused to go in there during the remodel after a couple of trips where I felt
like I had to dodge falling objects from the ceiling. Why they didn't just close down completely and do an all-out remodel over a shorter period of
time....well, who knows.
Kate and Lingili - thanks for the yogurt info - I'll be on the lookout for it.
Perhaps the key for those of us who live outside of La Paz is to find out if there is a reliable delivery schedule for the items we crave. I've
noticed that the dairy shelves seem to be emptier later in the week - the last time I was in there on a Monday, I found everything I needed. Could be
a fluke? Think I'll try to find out from Sara.
On the positive side, I have filled out 2 or 3 customer satisfaction forms at the check-out, requesting specific items, and they have appeared a
couple of weeks later, so they are trying. And it's true that even good ole CCC didn't always have the greatest record of supply consistency.
But please get those check-out conveyor belts working!
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vandenberg
Elite Nomad
Posts: 5118
Registered: 6-21-2005
Location: Nopolo
Member Is Offline
Mood: mellow
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| Quote: | Originally posted by bajalinda
And right - the construction/change-over period was ridiculous. I also refused to go in there during the remodel after a couple of trips where I felt
like I had to dodge falling objects from the ceiling. Why they didn't just close down completely and do an all-out remodel over a shorter period of
time....well, who knows.
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I found it difficult to believe that they would start a couple of month remodel right during the Holiday season.
But, then again, we're in Mexico, where lots of things don't make much sense.
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Bajahowodd
Elite Nomad
Posts: 9274
Registered: 12-15-2008
Location: Disneyland Adjacent and anywhere in Baja
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Given that it has been posted that not only do they listen to customer requests for products, but also are conscientious enough to follow up on
complaints with phone calls, I'd guess that the primary mistake made by these folks was to not be more aggressive with their remodel of the stores. In
their defense, it does seem to me that they had a great deal to do to make the old CCC stores into their desired image.
And then there's-
http://www.fageusa.com/
Great stuff. Check out their product line. Although I could find no evidence that this Greek company does business in Mexico, their products are
available all over San Diego County in such diverse markets as Vons, Albertsons, Ralphs, Trader Joes, and Costco. Wonder if the Costco stores in MX
might carry their stuff.
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longlegsinlapaz
Super Nomad
Posts: 1685
Registered: 11-18-2005
Location: La Paz
Member Is Offline
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The opening paragraph of my e-mail to Chedraui read: "Chedraui did a huge dis-service both to themselves & to the residents of La Paz! In my
opinion, you'd have made a better entrance to La Paz (& the Cabo store, from what I've heard) if you'd have closed the store during remodeling.
Both the Colima & Bravo stores in La Paz were filthy, unsafe, totally disorganized & poorly stocked during the remodeling."
Howodd, you seem to be looking through a very different knothole than the majority of those who live here full-time are looking through!!
Do you sincerely believe that we're going to be ordering food items online?? I've learned to adapt to what's available locally, as have my friends
& neighbors. There's already a large variety of imported food & non-food items available here. I personally don't ever feel the necessity of
making a supply run down to Costco in Cabo....but I do know a few people who opt to do that. There's plenty here already & IMO if someone can't
survive on what's available locally, then I guess maybe those people forgot or were incapable of leaving their USA mentality & standards at the
border....or Baja isn't the right place for those people to live.
The majority of my friends & neighbors of all nationalities are on a limited income & for most, including myself, ordering food items online
is outside the scope of financial reality, let alone practicality!
Your post reinforces my long-held belief that there is clearly a different thought process between people who vacation in Baja occasionally &
those that live here full-time. The occasional visitor can haul all their mandatory food items down with them in quantities sufficient for their
length of stay. Those of us who live here make do with what's available locally & last I heard, no one has died of starvation or pined away from
deprivation....though my dogs are really torqued over the sudden lack of dog treats! They keep looking at me trying to figure out exactly what it was
they did to not deserve treats any more....whatever it was musta been really BAD....if only they could remember!
For those who live further out of town like bajalinda, it's even more hassle & expense to make supply runs into town when items typically in stock
are all sold out. I know that in the old CCC days, Thursday was the day the perishable dairy products were replenished. I didn't think to ask the
General Manager if there's a certain day of the week that Chedraui gets those items....I was too amazed over his call to think that clearly.
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Bajahowodd
Elite Nomad
Posts: 9274
Registered: 12-15-2008
Location: Disneyland Adjacent and anywhere in Baja
Member Is Offline
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Hmmmm. Don't see where I made any suggestion about online ordering. Pointed to a quality product.
Not sure why you need to draw some line in the sand between full time, part time and tourist people in Mexico.
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comitan
Ultra Nomad
Posts: 4177
Registered: 3-27-2004
Location: La Paz
Member Is Offline
Mood: mellow
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Strive For The Ideal, But Deal With What\'s Real.
Every day is a new day, better than the day before.(from some song)
Lord, Keep your arm around my shoulder and your hand over my mouth.
“The sincere pursuit of truth requires you to entertain the possibility that everything you believe to be true may in fact be false”
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comitan
Ultra Nomad
Posts: 4177
Registered: 3-27-2004
Location: La Paz
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Mood: mellow
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Larry
I have to agree with you, tho I feel I've been treated very well.
Strive For The Ideal, But Deal With What\'s Real.
Every day is a new day, better than the day before.(from some song)
Lord, Keep your arm around my shoulder and your hand over my mouth.
“The sincere pursuit of truth requires you to entertain the possibility that everything you believe to be true may in fact be false”
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longlegsinlapaz
Super Nomad
Posts: 1685
Registered: 11-18-2005
Location: La Paz
Member Is Offline
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Howodd, then what was your point in posting that URL & saying "Check out their product line"....why? What difference does it
make to those who live here full-time what CA stores they supply? Or even what supplies CA stores carry?
The "line in the sand" (your words, not mine) dividing tourists from full-time residents exists, it's not something I created, it's not discrimination
or a slam. IMO, it's a revision in thought processes, how we adapt to the cultural differences & what's available here. This is home for many of
us, not a vacation that we take somewhere different before we return to a home NOB. Those who are here full time have learned to adapt to what's
available here & accept what's not. It's simply a fact of life that we aren't in Kansas anymore, Toto! Our eating habits have changed, by
necessity based on what's available locally, possibly for reasons of health or simply to adopt a healthier diet....like Comitan wanting non-fat
products....or buying locally for a myriad of personal reasons. I sincerely believe that vacationers & full-timers have a different mindset,
different priorities. My use of the word different doesn't mean wrong, it simply means different. There is a cultural mindset adjustment living here
full-time & it takes time for most to evolve to the reality of an entire new way of life & all that entails. Does that make sense? Anyone who
can express it more succinctly, feel free to jump in!
lencho, are you suggesting that the employees....cashiers & stockers....are imported from outside of La Paz rather than local
hires? I know management must be, but in hindsight I've only recognized one Customer Service Desk person & I haven't seen my old buddy from the
seafood counter.
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Bajahowodd
Elite Nomad
Posts: 9274
Registered: 12-15-2008
Location: Disneyland Adjacent and anywhere in Baja
Member Is Offline
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| Quote: | Originally posted by longlegsinlapaz
Howodd, then what was your point in posting that URL & saying "Check out their product line"....why? What difference does it
make to those who live here full-time what CA stores they supply? Or even what supplies CA stores carry?
The "line in the sand" (your words, not mine) dividing tourists from full-time residents exists, it's not something I created, it's not discrimination
or a slam. IMO, it's a revision in thought processes, how we adapt to the cultural differences & what's available here. This is home for many of
us, not a vacation that we take somewhere different before we return to a home NOB. Those who are here full time have learned to adapt to what's
available here & accept what's not. It's simply a fact of life that we aren't in Kansas anymore, Toto! Our eating habits have changed, by
necessity based on what's available locally, possibly for reasons of health or simply to adopt a healthier diet....like Comitan wanting non-fat
products....or buying locally for a myriad of personal reasons. I sincerely believe that vacationers & full-timers have a different mindset,
different priorities. My use of the word different doesn't mean wrong, it simply means different. There is a cultural mindset adjustment living here
full-time & it takes time for most to evolve to the reality of an entire new way of life & all that entails. Does that make sense? Anyone who
can express it more succinctly, feel free to jump in!
lencho, are you suggesting that the employees....cashiers & stockers....are imported from outside of La Paz rather than local
hires? I know management must be, but in hindsight I've only recognized one Customer Service Desk person & I haven't seen my old buddy from the
seafood counter. |
I guess that I overlooked the " ex-pats in La Paz" header on this thread. 
If you care to scroll up and see the original post of this thread, it had absolutley nothing to do with dairy products.
So, to somehow take after me for introducing a very fine product line, that perhaps many nomads who live, at least part time NOB, would find interest
in, just doesn't make sense to me.
This forum has participants, that represent a broad spectrum. Probably, the majority are not full time ex-pats. That doesn't mean that anyone, would
be incapable of offering good insight
Unless one is a shut-in with nothing more to do than to criticise.
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bajajazz
Nomad
Posts: 386
Registered: 12-18-2006
Location: La Paz, BCS, Mexico
Member Is Offline
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Personally, we find the new incarnation of the old CCC operation ridiculous. Oversized and trying to do to much in too many different areas of
merchandising -- and not doing any of them well. Want cheap clothes? Want overpriced electronics? Want to walk a half mile to get a bottle of milk?
Go to Cheddies.
We find the Aramburo markets on Madero and Forjadores to be far more convenient than either of the Cheddies. The Forjadores store is stocking
American products with increasing frequency and the butchers in both stores are accessible and very agreeable in cutting-to-order. The stores are
reasonably sized -- big enough to contain what we need, small enough to find it quickly and get out promptly. Best of all, when you enter an
Aramburos' you know you're in a grocery store, not some Wallyworld knockoff.
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CP
Nomad
Posts: 434
Registered: 7-19-2006
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YEAY! Thanks for the unsweetened yoghurt tip. Used to be that we might luck out and find an errant container of Safeway brand at the Ley in Cd. C.,
but now they carry the dark blue Lala we found this week.
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MitchMan
Super Nomad
Posts: 1856
Registered: 3-9-2009
Member Is Offline
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Does Mexican butter smell like cheese to you? Sorry for the hijact, just wondering.
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rob
Senior Nomad
Posts: 509
Registered: 10-19-2004
Location: Pacific Coast, BCS
Member Is Offline
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Yesterday we checked out Aramburos again (based on comments in this thread) for the first time in 8 years - a clean store with good people and
reasonable prices - and Tillamook Sharp Cheddar as promised. They even had Coleman's mustard powder, a Baja first, and tougher to find even in Alta
California!
The one less than sweet note was the fact that that the dark blue Lala "natural " yoghurt clearly states that there is added sugar.
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