Over the years I've grown increasingly disinterested in celebrating Halloween, which is probably the biggest holiday of the year in the United States, except for maybe Christmas. Maybe this is because increasingly Halloween is associated with outrageousness rather than the spiritual time it's connected to - a celebration of the ancestors and those who have passed before us. Therefore, I am sitting this Halloween out as I have many years, staying home - alone , and enjoying some cider and harvest foods, while quietly reading my spiritual books. Sister
10/15/11
RALPHS GROCERY DISCOUNT CARDS CHEAT THE SINGLE : SISTER SPEAKS
I was shopping at my local grocer the other day, Ralphs, one of the Kroger companies, when they actually told me I had lost 5 points, one a plastic bag, because they had bagged my groceries in these plastic bags, even though I had brought along one of my own shopping bags! (The clerk had not noticed by bag and told me I had not shown her I had one in enough time... yeesh!)
You see I live in California where there has been legislation to reduce the number of plastic shopping bags due to ecological concerns by charging for them in some way. Consumers are overall not impressed. Nobody wants to leave a store with purchases unbagged but no one wants to carry around stinky wrinkled old bags either.
WHAT I SEE IS THAT WE ARE NOW PURCHASING BAGS AT A DOLLAR OR MORE EACH and these bags are MADE IN CHINA and do not look biodegradable to me! (Though some of them may be made of some recycled materials.)
Beyond an argument for ecology here, is the fact that I CANNOT BUY GROCERIES AT THE BEST DISCOUNT AT MANY STORES WITHOUT USING ONE OF THEIR ACCOUNT CARDS. THESE CARDS PROVIDE SO CALLED REWARDS FOR HIGH GROCERY BILLS PER ACCOUNT : they reward FAMILIES.
It was this account card that was being zapped five points and the clerk (that twerp!) was admonishing me.
So I said (and her face turned red when I did). "You know, as a single person I HAVE NEVER ONCE PURCHASED ENOUGH TO GET ANY RALPHS REWARD. I believe that every person who walks in here should be eligible for the lowest price without these stupid cards! I see no reason whatsoever that your company should be collecting information on what I purchase here! It's enough to shop elsewhere!
The truth is that ever since the strike a few years back when Ralphs got caught by the IRS having some employees work using OTHER PEOPLE'S SOCIAL SECURITY NUMBERS and got a fine of a million or two, prices have been up into sticker shock zone. While I feel for dedicated employees and I see the trick the company used to try and break the unions, I'VE BEEN TAKING MOST OF MY GROCERY SHOPPING ELSEWHERE.
The other day I learned that Ralphs has closed about 50 stores since that strike and that people are now buying good at places like TARGET and WALLMART as well as Trader Joes which provide competition (and no union workers).
Trader Joes is my favorite for high quality basic items (I can't afford their fancy stuff) AND FOR PAYING THEIR EMPLOYEES WELL!
As the SINGLE (and unmarried) who are self supporting and have a household of ONE, WE ARE OFTEN NOT TREATED WELL AS CONSUMERS. But really, why does Ralphs or any other company need to know your name, address, phone number, demographic information, and that you do or do not buy... sanitary napkins, beer, canned chili, People magazine, or anything else!? in order to offer their lowest prices? Once in a while a coupon spits out of the register for something I bought or they want me to buy. I've gotten those intelligent coupons elsewhere without such a card.
NMNK need to speak up as consumers and on the spot.
You see I live in California where there has been legislation to reduce the number of plastic shopping bags due to ecological concerns by charging for them in some way. Consumers are overall not impressed. Nobody wants to leave a store with purchases unbagged but no one wants to carry around stinky wrinkled old bags either.
WHAT I SEE IS THAT WE ARE NOW PURCHASING BAGS AT A DOLLAR OR MORE EACH and these bags are MADE IN CHINA and do not look biodegradable to me! (Though some of them may be made of some recycled materials.)
Beyond an argument for ecology here, is the fact that I CANNOT BUY GROCERIES AT THE BEST DISCOUNT AT MANY STORES WITHOUT USING ONE OF THEIR ACCOUNT CARDS. THESE CARDS PROVIDE SO CALLED REWARDS FOR HIGH GROCERY BILLS PER ACCOUNT : they reward FAMILIES.
It was this account card that was being zapped five points and the clerk (that twerp!) was admonishing me.
So I said (and her face turned red when I did). "You know, as a single person I HAVE NEVER ONCE PURCHASED ENOUGH TO GET ANY RALPHS REWARD. I believe that every person who walks in here should be eligible for the lowest price without these stupid cards! I see no reason whatsoever that your company should be collecting information on what I purchase here! It's enough to shop elsewhere!
The truth is that ever since the strike a few years back when Ralphs got caught by the IRS having some employees work using OTHER PEOPLE'S SOCIAL SECURITY NUMBERS and got a fine of a million or two, prices have been up into sticker shock zone. While I feel for dedicated employees and I see the trick the company used to try and break the unions, I'VE BEEN TAKING MOST OF MY GROCERY SHOPPING ELSEWHERE.
The other day I learned that Ralphs has closed about 50 stores since that strike and that people are now buying good at places like TARGET and WALLMART as well as Trader Joes which provide competition (and no union workers).
Trader Joes is my favorite for high quality basic items (I can't afford their fancy stuff) AND FOR PAYING THEIR EMPLOYEES WELL!
As the SINGLE (and unmarried) who are self supporting and have a household of ONE, WE ARE OFTEN NOT TREATED WELL AS CONSUMERS. But really, why does Ralphs or any other company need to know your name, address, phone number, demographic information, and that you do or do not buy... sanitary napkins, beer, canned chili, People magazine, or anything else!? in order to offer their lowest prices? Once in a while a coupon spits out of the register for something I bought or they want me to buy. I've gotten those intelligent coupons elsewhere without such a card.
NMNK need to speak up as consumers and on the spot.
10/9/11
THE DISABLED : ANOTHER CATEGORY OF NMNK!
The other day I realized that I have devoted no time on this blog to THE DISABLED. Now we know that some disabled people are having relationships and getting married. BUT WHEN I THOUGHT ABOUT IT, I realized that many disabled people are ALONE (and MAYBE LONELY TOO) because - sad but true - being disabled is being disadvantaged, often economically.
Under the title of this blog I say AN INTENTIONAL COMMUNITY. I also say that NMNK is a lifestyle by choice or by fate.
And when you are born or become disabled, I think it's tougher in general to have a full life.
I know there are some disabled people out there who are showing us that is not so.
I WANT TO HEAR FROM YOU IF YOU ARE A NMNK DISABLED PERSON!
I want to know what your life is like!
Sister
Under the title of this blog I say AN INTENTIONAL COMMUNITY. I also say that NMNK is a lifestyle by choice or by fate.
And when you are born or become disabled, I think it's tougher in general to have a full life.
I know there are some disabled people out there who are showing us that is not so.
I WANT TO HEAR FROM YOU IF YOU ARE A NMNK DISABLED PERSON!
I want to know what your life is like!
Sister
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