Strack & Van Til — Attraction in St. John

This has been my store of choice for more years than I can remember. I know they've had their issues lately, I still chose to shop there. However, this past week, on my regular shopping trip, I encountered not only rude employees, but very unsatisfactory performance. I've been purchasing whole hams from the meat department, and having them sliced to order at the deli for over 17 years. On this day I was told that they do not do that anymore because it's against the law!?! Upon questioning this Law I wasn't given any insight as to when this so called law came into effect, since I had purchased a ham, the week before, and had it sliced, AT THE DELI! This made no sense to me. They went as far as to say it had something to do with the aluminum pan they put it in...same pan you get when you purchase a large order of chicken. ( I might also add, I offered to pay for said pan) My personal opinion is that they were just to lazy to do my request. I was told if " I had a problem with it, I should talk to the deli manager," who in turn, was to busy to talk to me about it at said time. Being tired and extremely frustrated, I walked away fuming. I will not be returning to that store for anything, any time soon. You would think that after having the trouble they've had recently, they would be more willing to at least offer a reasonable explanation for their actions. Shame on you. I've been a very loyal customer since I went shopping with my mom when I was a kid. Who also would purchase whole hams and have them sliced to order from the deli. I am 55 years old. If that tells you anything. . If nothing more than to at least have an explanation for their reasoning. Or... maybe train potential employees, to have a little respect for the people who pay their wages. Without the consumer, there would be no store. Over the years, I've overlooked, the downhill quality of their meat & produce, along with the ridiculous astronomical prices, and chalked it up to the way things are these days. But there's no overlooking rude, lazy employees. It's too bad, I enjoyed shopping there, really never had any problems, besides the occasional nasty cashier, but it's easy enough to avoid going thru their lane. I will return to shopping at Costco for meat (in my opinion, has fantastic meat, not to mention the prices..I know, it's the bulk difference) and other things that I use. But as for the little things that I don't need to buy HUGE amounts of, I will find another grocery store that IS friendly, willing to accommodate their customers to the best of their ability, and if not, at least have a reasonable explanation as to why they can not do so. So Jack Strack, you might want to look into your Rensselear store, they give you a...

Normally we shop at Stracks in St. john Indiana because it's convenient and local. We never had much issue until today. And well.. I'll just let the letter I just fired off speak for itself..

My wife just called the Bakery at the St John location to inquire about getting a short notice cake done for this evening. Either something premade and decorated for us or made up if there was time. She got sick overnight and wouldn't' be able to make the cake for our daughters party this evening. So we weighed our options and called the bakery at the store. We were just looking to get a simple cake.. The person she spoke to at the bakery couldn't have been ruder or less helpful if she tried. First was the snarky attitude. I'm sorry we interrupted your day with our petty request but in the future it would be nice if you kept your attitude to yourself.

Next. Yes.. I know you would like 24 hr notice. I'm sorry that my wife was so inconsiderate as to not plan her sickness on a more agreeable schedule. So that's our fault as well.

Next.. We aren't psychic. We don't work in your bakery. We don't have a handy printout of all your options, whats available and what, under the time constraints, is even possible. And your website is completely useless as to what is available and how. So when we ask difficult questions like "How large of a cake should we get for 25 children" it's an honest question and not a personal attack. And when we ask a relatively simple question like "Not all the children like Chocolate.. can we get a cake with 2 flavors or do 2 smaller cakes?" it isn't an attack on your personal belief systems or parentage. So keeping the hostility out of your responses would be helpful..

In the end.. We decided that you obviously had far better things to do with your time today and we should have planned our illnesses in advance to accommodate your busy schedule. I'm quite frankly disappointed in the response and attitude. So we have no problem taking our business somewhere it will be...

Learn to process EBT. I called during Christmas week and spoke to your manager, Stephanie, who was very sweet and helpful. She explained to me how the cashier was in the wrong when processing my EBT card. Unfortunately, I had to spend the money from my personal funds and nothing could be done to rectify the situation. She did apologize but, the financial damages had already been done. I do genuinely appreciate her understanding and taking the time during the busiest time of the year to try every way possible to fix the situation. She handled it with patience and poise.

Now for the hard part, I have been repeatedly embarrassed by cashiers for being an EBT user. As I explained to Stephanie, it is none of anyone’s business if someone is on EBT. It is also nobody’s place to judge. There are cashiers who seem to think they can roll their eyes, loudly ask if you are using “Food Stamps” (which is no longer the program’s name) and when they mess up the process loudly ask if you’re sure you have enough funds to cover your purchase. Sometimes I wonder if they would prefer to announce Food Stamp usage, life circumstances and the balance over the loud speaker. I have had other customers make snide/judgement comments due to cashiers not being discrete about EBT use. I have, on more than one occasion, left your store crying out of embarrassment. Please give your cashiers sensitivity training and teach them to be discrete.

Please. We struggle enough without mental anguish from your cashiers and financial strain of your system not working properly. EBT users are hard enough on themselves for everything related to their life circumstances. Please fix your broken system to make sure we feel welcome within your store. Help us help ourselves.

FYI: Those who are foster parents, adopting from a State facility/program, disabled or raising a disabled child...