Since this grocery store discontinued carrying Pepsi products, I basically have stopped giving them my business. However, yesterday on my way home from work, I did stop in because I needed milk and to my knowledge they had not discontinued Maola milk products. As I was checking out, I was admiring the nice polo shirts that some of the staff were wearing. They had a nice logo for the name of the store, but imagine my surprise when I also noticed what appeared to be a Coca Cola logo on the shirt sleeve. Say what you will about "he's free to sell what he wants", but at what cost? Has he sold out to Coca Cola? Is he increasing his profits by not having to buy "uniforms" because they are being supplied by Coca Cola? Wow, Coke has made out on this deal - no competition from their much more worthy component, Pepsi, and free advertsing by the store employees. Sorry, folks, but this borders mighty close to being a monopoly and questionable business ethics. I'm taking my business elsewhere because,just like when I go out to eat, if they do not serve the beverage I want, I go elsewhere. It is a common practice for restaurants to carry only one brand of soft drink, but a grocery store? Does anyone know of any grocery store that has ever made such a drastic decision as this? I have lived many places and never seen such blatant, stick- it- to you attitudes toward patrons of a business.
sounds to me like coke gave him a little perk action for switching or being a dedicated retailer. happens all the time in business...free shirts, free concert tickets, free use of the company beach condo.... or maybe he just turned in his coke rewards points mycokerewards.com
Count me in as another person that stopped going to DR Wells because of the lack of Pepsi products. We used to stop in at least 4 times a week, especially during ball season but I haven't been back since the drop of Pepsi. I really like "local" stores but when the products I use aren't being sold, I won't go!
Re Dangerboy reply I agree it happens all the time in "business", however, I shop at Lowe's, Food Lion, Kroger, Harris Teeter, and I don't believe I have ever seen anything like this in a grocery store - have you?
i miss the Pepsi products too and therefore i do not stop in as often but i still love their meat selection - just cannot beat it. So for meat shopping i go there but for my D.Pepsi i have to go elsewhere. Basically it caused me to stop going there a couple times a week and now i only go once every couple weeks.
I only go there for meat as the groceries seem quite pricey compared to the chain stores. They used to run a Pepsi special which was one two liter for $1.39. I will drive to Food Lion any day to get it for .99, or less. I could sure go for a Wells chop in about an hour...anyone???
have any of those places sold exclusively coke products? doubt it. but don't doubt that store managers who place high profile displays enjoy perks....
reply to Dangerboy - again If I walk through any grocery store I will see many large advertisements for various products. I won't, however, see the store clerks wearing polo shirts with anything other than the store name on it, not in a grocery store, not in a convenient store, not in any retail store, have I ever seen a blatant display such as this.
Mr.Wells was obviously given a good sum of money not to carry Pepsi products,or either Pepsi really pd him off. Having worked for Coke in the past,this is not unheard of,Pharmor and Rite Aid are two that come to mind. Chain resturants usually carry only one brand of soft drinks. The reason is they are given money up front or discounts to carry a particular brand. This is how you see 2 liters for .69 etc. It's all about the money.
you missed the point again: exclusivity. none of the places you mentioned carry only a single brand. i understand that it is unusual, but not unheard of. especially in a small business or single store
Also, if you notice at the grocery stores, Coke/Pepsi may be on the end cap (end of isle) or in a seperate display throughout the store. The vendors pay/negotiage for the space they get in the store w/management. Yes, and they do give perks. Examples: fly you to the superbowl, vip concert tickets, trips, golf outings, etc. He has a private store, so he can carry anything he wants in it. That's America folks. If you don't like it, don't shop there
I don't care about the pepsi products but i am annoyed that last year they fired a long time, local employee - an elderly man who was there every morning no matter what, - in favor of giving a job to some nephew kid. THis older man really needed the job as was very sweet, he may not have been the quickest anymor but he was pleasant and honest. I know the family is struggling now without his small income. That was not very nice of them and I question their loyalties, so the coke/pepsi thing doesn't surprise me. Since the son took over seems like all he is interested in is a buck.
I've noticed that they have stopped carrying a lot of products that they formerly carried, besides the Pepsi. I stopped in there for bread over the weekend (because I knew they used to carry Nature's Own wheat bread) and my choices were sunbeam white and bunny bread white...no wheat at all. I'll probably be driving the extra 2 or 3 miles to Food Lion from now on so I can be more sure of getting what I went there for.
Pepsi VS. Coke People try to understand that DR Wells store is only doing what he has to do to keep the prices down on the products that he sales. Did you notice that the 20 oz bottled coke producst are $1.00 and $1.38 at other convience stores? Pepsi is born in the Carolina's and is a great product but there prices are way to high to get a good markup to make money and save on the prices for the customer. He could bring that in and sell them at 1.58 per 20 oz and then he would hear about the prices are to high. Coke has more money to promote there products this year and there handing out coke merchandise to the customers. I just got a large load of summer merchandise that I am giving out as prizes to my customers. Dont knock the store owner I am glad he is giving the cold shoulder to Pepsi ( I love Pepsi ) to keep there prices down. Thats only looking out for the customer. If you delt with Pepsi everyday you would understand what David is going thru. No I do not work at DR WELLS I am the Executive Chef at a major corporation in NC.
I carry the same product and I had to pull my wheat bread off the line due to molding. Did you ask david about why they didnt have wheat on the shelves?
The problem is that you keep comparing D.R. Wells to Food Lion and Lowes. Which D.R. Wells is a glorified mom and pops country store. So comparing D.R. wells to Big Chain Stores is like comparing Joes Mechanics in his Workshop behind is house to Auto Zone.
As a FMR manager at a fast food chain that carried both Coke and Pepsi for a little while, money does matter. Coke came in and said they would pay for 100% of the advertising as long as in the ad the burger was shown with a Coke product. Pepsi counterd with only 80%. That was for a nation wide fast food chain. If Wells got something close to that good for him. As far as the shirts, at least they are in some kind of uniform, how many times have I wondered if the "child" was really ringing me up. Also I guess when the new super wal mart opens at 4042 you can go buy all the Pepsi you want. Wells might not be there any more. Then there will the cries of where did the "mom and pop" go........ damn you Wal-mart. Really this much fussing over a Pepsi. Get over people there gas stations all over and yes even a Food Lion.
Really this much fussing over a Pepsi. Get over people there gas stations all over and yes even a Food Lion. Get out of my head!!! I was thinking the same dang thing, can't swing a dead cat and not hit a store of some sort for crying out loud....:shock: :mrgreen: :mrgreen:
