Costco, Safeway and Whole Foods Poll

Before I post my new Safeway – Whole Foods Study, I’d like to get your opinion.  I’ve added Costco since we’ve been trekking there as of late for some of their fine Tri-Tip.  So, go ahead and have a go at it and I’ll be back with my study.  I believe it’s Study 5 – lose track.

One comment before I leave.  May be hard to answer customer service as it appears to us folks at FigVille, no one offers it these days – jobs cuts?  Looks that way.

Thanks for your 2 seconds.

Bank of America Cash Deposits and Overdraft Fees

Here we go again.   Something you may not know about Bank of America.  Hopefully, you’ve figgered out all you need to know and have moved on to another bank who treats long-time customers with some semblance of respect.

So, yesterday, a sum of CASH was deposited into my account.  I was getting close to deadline on payment of a bill and generally don’t pay bills online because … well, just because.  Call me old-fashioned.  I don’t mind.  In fact, I’ll Waltz across Texas with you if you do.

I checked the status of my account online and all was well.  I proceeded to pay the bill online.  All was well.  Until today.

Checked the status of the account to see if all was still well – I do that as a habit since with Bank of America, things happen just like that, everytime.  They must have an overnight shift who reassesses all that transpired during the day.  These folks are hired to see what they can scramble up to pick-pocket the day’s customers. Gotta be.

There they were:  two overdraft charges.  Not one, two!  I investigated each transaction to see what was up with that.  Okay, the deposit was okay….wait!  It says “pending.”  Pending what?  A counterfeit examination that takes more than 24 hours?   I continued checking my checking and saw the bill payment was “pending.”  Don’t two pendings make a nothing?  I guess with Bank of America two pendings = two overdraft charges.

Of course I called!    The customer service gal, Claire, said she understood (six times) why I would ask that question, BUT nothing she could do about it.  The supervisor, Horhay(?), explained to me what I already knew.  He understood too (4 times).   Poor brainwashed kids.  I know, they need jobs.  He repeated:

“The deposit is pending, the bill payment is pending, there are two overdraft charges totaling $70.00. There’s nothing I can do.”  Know what I said to Horhay?   “I understand what you understand, but you and Claire are not talking to a robot.”  Click.

Needless to say, which I’m going to say anyway, I’m going down to the bank tomorrow with copies of my neighbor’s bank statements, AGAIN, that they mailed to me in error.  Worked last time they messed up.  Glad I kept them.  Must have been a stroke of luck to get those statements, but it does prove one point:  Bank of America is irresponsible and untrustworthy.

Only reason I stayed with the bank was to keep an eye on them.  We’re keeping a look-out for the rest of you.  Plus, I’d have no writing material.  Guess I need to thank them for that.  Always a silver lining…

Thanks for the Charity Water.  Our friends will have plenty to drink tonite.

Goodnight from FigVille USA.

Happy Birthday Mr. President

Sending Our Best - Just Like You!

Howdy Mr. President:

The folks at FigVille USA got together early today to whip up a cake for your birthday.   We’d have frosted it, but most of the good folks can’t afford it these days. Especially since lots of us lost a ton in the Stock Market over the past month, not to mention today.

Plus, we know you’ll be having cake at your $35K+/plate birthday gala, so we figured you wouldn’t mind.

By the way, we missed you during your absence from the “debt ceiling” foray.  Okay, I lied.  We were glad you weren’t there – the results were bad enough.

You wouldn’t be thinking of resigning, possibly???  Do the people a favor???  If you do, I promise to send a whole fig tree to you – that’s saying a lot because most I’ve sent is a couple baskets.

Try it, we’ll like it.

Google’s Lack of Creativity – July 4, 2011

This is it?

A doodle’s better than nothing, I suppose.  I’m not impressed though.

Here we are, it’s July 4th and I’d expect to see one of the biggest splashes of fireworks on Google’s Search page – live streams of displays across this great land of ours.   I was disappointed – thought they just might do something…anything.  Alas, one can only continue to hope they’ll try to lead once again.

Speaking of leaders, Twitter (my favorite) via Mashable (my other favorite) has it covered in photos! Go Twitter! Go Mashable!  http://mashable.com/2011/07/04/4th-of-july-fireworks-pics/

Think about it.  Since their creation of Google Search, exactly how are they engaging with us?  How do they plan to be that once vibrant entity of yore.  Oh!  You’re probably thinking Google+ their latest copycat scheme.  They didn’t come up with it…my point.

It may work, I’m not here to judge the merit of taking someone’s idea (again) and trying to profit from it.  They’re really good at that!  Why Facebook is cooperating in such a big way is, my guess, simply more of what they already have = $.  And, when it’s said and done, this makes it more laughable: Zuckerberg is the most followed on Google+ – check it out for yourself http://techcrunch.com/2011/07/04/mark-zuckerberg-is-the-most-followed-user-on-google/

And, let’s not forget that we, the people, get to forego our real time, best possible search results since Google’s not keeping their promise to us –  tough for them to do two things at once.  Sidetracking is no tracking.

By the way, how many of you are planning to do the Google+ and the Facebook thing?   Like you aren’t already addicted to Facebook and now you’re going to have to compromise your time to make circles of friends (sounds like the name of a pre-school) between the two.

I have some great ideas for Google, but they refuse to hear me out.  Not that I’ve contacted them, but I have to believe that they watch what people are writing about them –  I’ve have written a thing or two on this subject.   Even offered to help.  No contact yet…they’re circular = dizzy.

Hey Google!  I’ve got a smashing idea (no one’s thought of it yet), gimme a holler!

Enough about Google, hope you all had a nice July 4th. We, in FigVille USA, celebrated with tributes to our military and their families, past and current.  Thank you very much ladies and gentlemen, parents, children, relatives.  We’re grateful for your service.

Carry on.

Walmart Discrimination

True Story

Seems that Walmart’s gotten away with discrimination in a big way of late.  Congress is going to look into it.  Feel comforted?  What could be worse?  I’ll be the first to admit I’m wrong if Congress can actually get something done.

What baffles me is that they (the court) didn’t read my blog on Walmart’s other discrimination practices

http://bit.ly/m11hlv - citing the facts.

Another matter, but discrimination is discrimination.

@Congress, due diligence is in order.  Do it right, Do it Now, Just Do It!

p.s.  My television commercials scout reports that Walmart is now paying Randy Jackson of American Idol fame to point out that they (Walmart) will match any competitor’s price.  He is, along with several store employees, a stand out who gets to holler out – through the columns and aisles – to the cashier “Match It.”   How brilliant and expensive.  Wondering why that Jackson appearance makes the point better.  Is it because we are thought to not understand “Walmart matches any competitor price?”

Target’s Sells Kids Junk Food In Toy Aisle

Why spend a lot of money with ads targeting kids with junk food when you can strategically place it in your stores.  At least that’s what Target’s figured out.  Don’t know who else does it…probably Walmart.   If you know of any others, let me know and I’ll ship out a basket of figs to you.

Neighbors took the twins, Donnie and  Carmie, over to Target to pick up a birthday present for their friend and turned out to be a free for all.  Once those kids saw the toy entry wall rack  filled with Hostess Donettes and Twinkies, all they’d learned about healthy eating disappeared in 1 second flat (or round and puffy).

Here’s what they saw.

Hey Kids...Look!

Of course the kids saw them and, of course, they wanted some – and, of course, mom and dad said “no!”  But it didn’t end there.  Kids can be darn stubborn and what started out as a happy go lucky trip with the family turned into a rather unpleasant family event.  Plus, they left Target immediately (okay, about 20 minutes later) and went on over to our very own Just Toys store.

I hearsay the kids were really ornery till dad made them some fresh apple pie when they got home.

So much for “not advertising to kids.”  Tsk tsk, Target!  @Jaimie Oliver, when you’re finished with schools, visit Target.

In case you’re interested, here’s nutritional data on Twinkies and Donettes.

Wind Me Up!

CALORIES	FAT	CARBS	PROTEIN	SODIUM
180	9g	23g	2g	200mg

Rewind!

Calories	Fat	Carbs	Protein	Sodium
150	5g	27g	1g	220mg

Eat Well!

Yoplait Pina Colada Yogurt

For Dot and All Pina Colada Lovers

Dot, I sent a scout to Safeway today to talk to the management about shipping some Pina Colada Yogurt to Maryland.  You know where they told him to go, so I won’t say more on that.

You did your best, as anyone would, to get your child’s favorite food, to no avail.  Here’s some help.  My scout took a photo for you.   If you have a mind to, you can print the photo to take  to your Safeway store.   Proof that it’s carried at other Safeway stores.

Another approach which might appeal to you is to  write to Yoplait (e-mail or snail) and report Safeway’s shenanigans. In fact, if you tweet Yoplait, betcha they’ll send some free of charge right to your door.  Tell them I sent you.  (I already sent them one to get in touch with you. They have a couple handles:  @yoplaitlove and @yoplaityogurt.)

By the way, do you know that “plait” in French means please?  ”Yo” in Spanish means I?  Yoplait aims to please!

In any event, I did my homework for you and hope it helps.  If you ever need some figs, let me know…

Regards,

Jenther @FigvilleUSA

p.s. @Safeway please contact  dorothyadele.wordpress.com direct.  I’m busy.

Please Vote on The Rapture 5/21/2011 (future polls forthcoming)

He Came, He Saw, and He Said:  To Hell With It!

Here’s your chance to vote on your satisfaction level of the recent Rapture.  If you have any recommendations for future Raptures, please leave your comments.

Take our poll and let us know how you fared.  Future polls forthcoming as we learn of them.

Google Foible – Free Web Site

Here it is in black and white and red and especially YELLOW

Need a domain? Take this for $60K!

Thanks to Google, you can own the www.stg.net web site domain name for a mere $60,000.00.

My neighbor, Josh St. Germaine (StG), came by today to tell me all about it.  He had his eye on putting up a fancy web site to sell his collection of antique milk buckets. Said he was looking for free web site host and voila!  up came Google.  He was happier than a tick on a dog (that’s what he said).

Josh was performing his due diligence before signing up for his free “StG Antique Milk Buckets” web site when he came upon this highlight from  a supposed happy customer.  Google uses his testimonial ????

Read what our users are saying

Scott Griepentrog
software developer and owner of www.StG.Net

Google has kicked me off of adsense.  There used to be ads on this site, and without any sort of explanation they have shut down my account.  I have to admit, I’m normally a staunch defender of all things Google, and especially like Sites, but after this experience with adsense, I’m starting to rethink that attitude.  Google, you’re only going to make enemies with the attitude that you can do whatever you want without explanation to anybody.

To add insult to injury, they also put a stop on the last check, so that has cost me $5 on top of not getting the over two hundred dollars that I had earned.  I would really love to know what I did wrong guys, but since helping us poor smucks avoid your wrath is against your policy, you’re leaving me no choice but to leave Google.

The top of the StG site offers the domain name:

Interested in purchasing this domain (stg.net)?  Send $60,000 to paypal@stg.net and its yours.  Or make me an offer.

Josh didn’t know what to make of it, rushed over to my house to show me.  I had an idea, “let’s email this fellow and make him an offer!”  Josh was happier than that tick in the whatever.  So we did.

Well, after emailing the StG people to ask them to reconsider their price of $60K to our $6.00 offer, we received their reply:

From: Griepentrog, Scott <scott@stg.net>

Subject: Email changed to scott@griepentrog.com Re: domain name

Date: May 9, 2011 9:41:09 PM PDT

To: JentherGabmar@yahoooooo.com

Please note: After April 1, emails to scott@stg.net may not be
received.  Please change your address for me to scott@griepentrog.com.

For a list of all the ways technology has failed to improve the quality of
life, please press three.”
- Alice Kahn
“Discovery consists of seeing what everybody has seen and thinking what
nobody has thought.”
-Albert Szent-Gyorgyi

We pressed 3, nothing happened.  Wonder what that poor fellow was thinking (or not).

Anyway, looks as if Google put the screws (axe) to one of their bargain hunters.  Too bad for Josh St. Germaine.  Maybe not, we found a free web site offer from Microsoft.  We’re looking into it.

If you want to visit the page, here ya go:  http://www.google.com/sites/help/intl/en/overview.html  You’ll have to click on StG site to see the hidden message.  http://www.stg.net/

Moral of the story:  That’s what free means to Frugal Google.  You can have it free, but we’ll get even.

Careful what you ask for.

Goodnight from FigVilleUSA

Safeway Customer Service News Bulletin

Yes, Virginia, there is a Safeway Customer Service!

Friends tell me they went over there the past weekend for some hamburger patties and a few other items.   My buddy, Angus, said he went behind the meat department to hail a butcher.  He asked the butcher if Safeway makes patties for their customers.

What do you think they said?  You’re right.  They said, “we don’t do that.”  Angus, who heard about pre-patted patties at Whole Foods, spoke up:  ”We heard they have them patted out for you at Whole Foods.”  At which point, the fellow grabbed the three packages and smilingly replied:  ”We can do it for you!”

Angus was tickled pink (same color he likes his hamburgers).  Not only did he get the 94% lean beef at a major discount, he got some good old fashioned service!

Came back and reported directly to me – The Comparison Shopper in FigVille USA.  That’s what they call me. http://bit.ly/mIXZNy  I like the title…could be a book in it.  We’ll see.

Goodnight from FigVille USA