# Dierberg's, Schnuck's, fire the guy with the ball-peen hammer **URL:** \ **Category:** The BBQ Pit\ **Created:** [May 11, 2011, 12:23am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dierbergs-schnucks-fire-the-guy-with-the-ball-peen-hammer/581453 "2011-05-11T00:23:52Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 15\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![Kobal2](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kobal2/32/20_2.png) [@Kobal2](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kobal2)\ **Post date:** [May 11, 2011, 11:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dierbergs-schnucks-fire-the-guy-with-the-ball-peen-hammer/581453/21 "2011-05-11T23:45:49Z")
> [@CitizenPained](#): > > I was just wondering if there was a method of getting produce that didn’t look like shit two days later. ☹ Sorry, no. The whole of the grocery industry (from growing, to transportation, to distribution) is engineered within very difficult constraints that ensure produce looks perfect from the instant you step into the store up to 20 seconds after you leave it with your bag of tomatoes that’ll go from firm to wrinkly, soggy and barely edible by the time you get home. It’s a harder feat than getting a guy on Mars. Don’t knock it. ---
**Author:** ![Sierra\_Indigo](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/f0a364/32.png) [@Sierra\_Indigo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sierra_Indigo)\ **Post date:** [May 11, 2011, 11:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dierbergs-schnucks-fire-the-guy-with-the-ball-peen-hammer/581453/22 "2011-05-11T23:51:17Z")
> [@Cicero](#): > > I ordered online a dozen cans of marrowfat peas- I enjoyed them overseas. When they arrived every can was dented. Now, I doubt it was possible for even Australia Post to do this so they came from the seller in that condition. I couldn’t send them back as it was far too expensive. But why unload them on a customer and ensure you will never get repeat business? Check your local Coles. Ours has an “import” section that includes gravy granules, bottles of Irn Bru and marrowfat peas. ---
**Author:** ![sitchensis](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/sitchensis/32/4892_2.png) [@sitchensis](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/sitchensis)\ **Post date:** [May 12, 2011, 12:45am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dierbergs-schnucks-fire-the-guy-with-the-ball-peen-hammer/581453/23 "2011-05-12T00:45:24Z")
> [@Cicero](#): > > I ordered online a dozen cans of marrowfat peas- I enjoyed them overseas. When they arrived every can was dented. Now, I doubt it was possible for even Australia Post to do this so they came from the seller in that condition. I couldn’t send them back as it was far too expensive. But why unload them on a customer and ensure you will never get repeat business? Why would a dented can be a problem? ---
**Author:** ![romansperson](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/romansperson/32/17100_2.png) [@romansperson](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/romansperson)\ **Post date:** [May 12, 2011, 12:52am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dierbergs-schnucks-fire-the-guy-with-the-ball-peen-hammer/581453/24 "2011-05-12T00:52:02Z")
> [@CitizenPained](#): > > I was just wondering if there was a method of getting produce that didn’t look like shit two days later. ☹ Farmer’s market. The stuff I buy there lasts WAY longer than anything I buy at the grocery. You have to be willing to accept what’s in season, though - which in my area means no tomatoes right now. By the time they are in season, most of the lettuce will be gone. Caprese makes up for that, though. ---
**Author:** ![kaylasdad99](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kaylasdad99/32/3398_2.png) [@kaylasdad99](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kaylasdad99)\ **Post date:** [May 12, 2011, 12:56am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dierbergs-schnucks-fire-the-guy-with-the-ball-peen-hammer/581453/25 "2011-05-12T00:56:52Z")
> [@sitchensis](#): > > Why would a dented can be a problem Because cans don’t ONLY get dented by being banged around a bit. Sometimes denting can be indicative of little anaerobic nasties inside, waiting for a chance to get inside YOU. ---
**Author:** ![MOIDALIZE](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/e274bd/32.png) [@MOIDALIZE](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MOIDALIZE)\ **Post date:** [May 12, 2011, 12:58am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dierbergs-schnucks-fire-the-guy-with-the-ball-peen-hammer/581453/26 "2011-05-12T00:58:03Z")
When it comes to apples, I’m an independent contractor. Sorry. ---
**Author:** ![california\_jobcase](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/9d8465/32.png) [@california\_jobcase](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/california_jobcase)\ **Post date:** [May 12, 2011, 2:31am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dierbergs-schnucks-fire-the-guy-with-the-ball-peen-hammer/581453/27 "2011-05-12T02:31:18Z")
Unionized grocery people? Isn’t that good? I’m thinking ionized grocers would be pretty useless and give you a lot of static. It would make the store a highly charged workplace- ---
**Author:** ![Cicero](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cicero/32/3594_2.png) [@Cicero](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cicero)\ **Post date:** [May 12, 2011, 5:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dierbergs-schnucks-fire-the-guy-with-the-ball-peen-hammer/581453/28 "2011-05-12T05:22:43Z")
> [@sitchensis](#): > > Why would a dented can be a problem? > [@kaylasdad99](#): > > Because cans don’t ONLY get dented by being banged around a bit. Sometimes denting can be indicative of little anaerobic nasties inside, waiting for a chance to get inside YOU. > [@kaylasdad99](#): > > Thank you for curing my ignorance on both subjects. As Kaylasdad99 has said… I avoid any produce with damaged packaging. And these cans weren’t just dented, they looked like they had been compressed somehow. > [@Sierra\_Indigo](#): > > Check your local Coles. Ours has an “import” section that includes gravy granules, bottles of Irn Bru and marrowfat peas. Since found them at Super IGA. None at the local Coles or Woolies. ---
**Author:** ![EvilTOJ](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/ee59a6/32.png) [@EvilTOJ](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/EvilTOJ)\ **Post date:** [May 12, 2011, 7:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dierbergs-schnucks-fire-the-guy-with-the-ball-peen-hammer/581453/29 "2011-05-12T07:02:07Z")
> [@california\_jobcase](#): > > Unionized grocery people? Isn’t that good? I’m thinking ionized grocers would be pretty useless and give you a lot of static. It would make the store a highly charged workplace- Virtually every grocery store chain except Wal\*Mart has unionized workers. Ionized workers have to be placed in the Photo/Electronics section, for obvious reasons. ---
**Author:** ![constanze](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/f9ae1b/32.png) [@constanze](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/constanze)\ **Post date:** [May 12, 2011, 1:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dierbergs-schnucks-fire-the-guy-with-the-ball-peen-hammer/581453/30 "2011-05-12T13:55:28Z")
> [@Frank](#): > > But still, my grocery costs could be dramatically lowered by the elimination of that skilled position and the transfer of their role to the lower-paid baggers. The baggers already have a natural talent for diligently placing my carefully picked out pears and green peppers gently in the bottom of the bag, and then dropping a 28 oz can of diced tomatoes right on the top. One of the several reasons why I consider baggers a disadvantage and not a service. But are you required to use them - does the store forbid you to bag your groceries yourself?? (You could also bring your own cloth bag and re-use it! Like a hippie, you know. ;-)) ---
**Author:** ![constanze](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/f9ae1b/32.png) [@constanze](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/constanze)\ **Post date:** [May 12, 2011, 1:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dierbergs-schnucks-fire-the-guy-with-the-ball-peen-hammer/581453/31 "2011-05-12T13:56:42Z")
> [@Lightray](#): > > I would recommend that they simply repurpose the ball-peen hammer guy, and instead have him smash up their Point-Of-Sale system. Since they never use it anyway. > > _Both_ of their stores are _always_ sold out of popular items, or items they’ve put on sale. And complaints to the management elicit the response that, “Oh, guess we couldn’t predict what the demand would be.” You don’t have a law against this, that is, false advertising? ---
**Author:** ![Lightray](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lightray/32/391_2.png) [@Lightray](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lightray)\ **Post date:** [May 12, 2011, 5:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dierbergs-schnucks-fire-the-guy-with-the-ball-peen-hammer/581453/32 "2011-05-12T17:46:50Z")
> [@constanze](#): > > You don’t have a law against this, that is, false advertising? Most stores advertise sales as “while supplies last”, or with similar phrasing, to get around that. Nonetheless, their POS data should be able to estimate how much they’ll sell, and either have enough on hand for the demand, or limit the sale’s length to how much they want to sell. Heck, usually I’d be willing to pay the $0.25 more of full price – if they just had the thing in stock! ---
**Author:** ![kaylasdad99](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kaylasdad99/32/3398_2.png) [@kaylasdad99](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kaylasdad99)\ **Post date:** [May 12, 2011, 5:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dierbergs-schnucks-fire-the-guy-with-the-ball-peen-hammer/581453/33 "2011-05-12T17:48:10Z")
> [@Lightray](#): > > I would recommend that they simply repurpose the ball-peen hammer guy, and instead have him smash up their Point-Of-Sale system. Since they never use it anyway. > > _Both_ of their stores are _always_ sold out of popular items, or items they’ve put on sale. And complaints to the management elicit the response that, “Oh, guess we couldn’t predict what the demand would be.” Don’t they have rainchecks in Missouri? I _lu-u-u-uves_ me some rainchecks. Get me some of that white corn at six for a dollar while everyone else is paying four bits… ---
**Author:** ![Frank](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/3d9bf3/32.png) [@Frank](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Frank)\ **Post date:** [May 12, 2011, 6:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dierbergs-schnucks-fire-the-guy-with-the-ball-peen-hammer/581453/34 "2011-05-12T18:57:07Z")
> [@constanze](#): > > But are you required to use them - does the store forbid you to bag your groceries yourself?? No, I could bag them myself. If I trusted the cashier. 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![constanze](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/f9ae1b/32.png) [@constanze](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/constanze)\ **Post date:** [May 13, 2011, 10:34am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dierbergs-schnucks-fire-the-guy-with-the-ball-peen-hammer/581453/35 "2011-05-13T10:34:08Z")
> [@Frank](#): > > No, I could bag them myself. If I trusted the cashier. 🙂 ?? What’s the cashier got to do with it? You arrive at the belt, load your stuff from the wheelie thing onto the belt. The cashier scans while you look at each price being shown, and shoves each product onto the second belt/ glideway section. You pay the total, and go to the end of the second belt/ gliding section to bag your stuff. Where’s the difference in your stores? Even ALDI, which has a short cut-off after the cashier and no large second belt, people manage to gather all their stuff together and bag it leisurely at the shelf a bit away. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dierbergs-schnucks-fire-the-guy-with-the-ball-peen-hammer/581453.md?page=1)