Harps Food Stores — Local services in Fort Smith

I feel compelled to share a recent incident that I encountered while shopping at the CVs grocery stores in Fort Smith on Hwy 271. I thought that I had found a good alternative to shopping at WalMart, as this smaller grocery chain has great specials and the staff have always been friendly (and they carry your groceries to the car). Until last week… I went in with my grandson and my fiancée to take advantage of their 5 for $25 specials and to see what other specials they had. Right by the meat case was a big display of Doritos that said, ‘Buy one, get one free’, so I picked up a couple of bags. When I got to the register the cashier told me that special was over, and I explained to her the sign was still up. The store manager was working the next register over and said, ‘No, you get a bag of Doritos free if you by the Lays XL (or whatever it was called). Not remembering that from the sign, I walked back to the display to double check to see if indeed I had read it wrong, when I hear running footsteps behind me. Now, keep in mind I had every intention of apologizing if I was incorrect…and when I got to the display I saw in tiny letters ‘with purchase of Lays’. Imagine my surprise when I turned around and saw the person running up behind me was the STORE MANAGER who had been running the register. Puzzled, I asked him where the Lays were…he pointed around the corner and said, ‘they’re over there’. ‘Over there’ was two aisles away and no display for them. I commented, ‘Well, that’s a bit misleading, don’t you think?’ where upon he said, ‘You just have to read the sign. By that point, my blood was starting to boil…and I told him, ‘I thought I’d found a good place to shop…and don’t you have customers waiting at the register still?’ I then followed up with, “You don’t have to worry about me, I won’t be back here to shop”. I was stunned and angry and couldn’t figure it out…until I was talking with a very dear woman (who is black). When I recounted the story to her, she said, ‘Girl, you were just treated like a black man.’ The truth in those words threw me…and it pissed me off. The reason I think he followed me is because I have purple hair…therefore, defying what he thinks is a societal ‘norm’ makes me a rapist, murderer or thief instead of being an individual who is celebrating life and loves being different. I am so angry about it right now…and tremendously sad to know that this is how people who are considered ‘different’ are treated. My heart is breaking for anyone who has ever had to deal with...

Too many times we go in this store to shop and there will be empty places on shelves, they will be out of products we are looking for sometimes for several weeks. I have been looking for a certain sinus medicine for almost 2 months. I used to buy it every week before now they never have it. The meat department is lacking. The meat IS good and the staff is friendly and helpful but the last 3 times I was in they were out of ground beef and no one there to get any. I used to buy breakfast pork chops but what they label as breakfast chops are NOT what I usually buy. This week I was looking for Ocean Spray Cran Grape juice. I usually pay around 2.58 there and other stores as well. This week the bottle was different and the price was 3.51 or more cant remember for sure. Almost $1.00 more than before and than the same juice at all the other stores. So at cost plus the 10% its MUCH more than other places. You have to watch the pricing many times their cost plus is about the same and sometimes more than other stores. I used to buy case of can Chill cream soda ALL the time. Now they dont have it and I was told by some rather RUDE worker that they didn't make it anymore so they couldn't get it. HUMMM I went to the other store and guess what they still had it. I witnessed that same guy being really hateful to some of the workers That guy doesn't work at this store anymore thank goodness but I think he works at a different one now . Attitude with customers and employees make a huge difference to me and whither I shop somewhere. I have started shopping at different stores and have not spent that much more money. I still shop at this store for quick spur of the moment things because its closest to me. Most of the workers are friendly and helpful but I have not been impressed with the store since they changed from CVs to Shoppers Value and I HATE that they no longer carry Best...

Thank you Jada for renewing my faith in your store. Sometimes the staff catches an attitude but you were working, smiling, being sweet to the cranky old people in line, all the while calling for someone to help you sack. But you kept working ,smiling, no ATTITUDE!!!! and no one comes to help you. And then tape runs out in your machine and all the sudden everyone needs their receipt! You were doing the best you could all the while🤣WOW.... no attitude. What a difference from when I usually come visit. Come to find out she has been there only three weeks . ONE person came up to help two cashiers who were really backed up. One of them was frowning and not even thanking the mostly older folk waiting patiently yet Jada was smiling and working and bagging her own after asking for help for 5 minutes! Give the Lady a raise!!!!.......keep this one .... she's a good worker! Some of your clientele are old and we certainly value the respect that she showed us. Yes - I said WE I can't help it though, I still say the food tastes funny here and not funny Ha-Ha. Which laboratory was it made in? I bought 2 gallons of butter pecan ice cream with no pecans!!! Okay maybe they were five pecans in each gallon but I digress. Thanks Jada you're doing great I hope you still work there but the food sucks where do they get it from?...