Meijer — Local services in Frenchtown Charter Township

Just got home from Meijer. After seeing my cane and hearing me say that I have little strength, the cashier ... made sure I would have help at home before she bagged some heavy things together, found a worker to help me at my car, AND had him push aside the signs blocking the closest doors (that said to use the doors at the other end) so I wouldn't have to walk so far. ... and all without making me feel like I was putting anyone out. I felt honestly taken care of as a customer and a human being.

From four months ago:

I really like this store -- and it's my favorite compared to anything similar in town. But here are three small issues.

The outdoor Garden Center. It is well maintained with a variety of plants, including herbs and vegetables. Not all of the items have prices listed near them, though, and buying startings of ground cover or vines means carefully separating them from others nearby. Also, the workers aren't necessarily trained in the department, meaning they often don't know what's in stock, let alone what it looks like or where it is.

Check-out lanes. I'm a fan of the cashiers here. They're pleasant and efficient. ... I'm against using self check-out. It's a way for stores to cut back on the number of employees and their hours by having customers do the work. Sometimes Meijer only has one or two lanes with actual cashiers open, and they're often on the same side of the store -- and extra walking for someone who uses a cane isn't easy.

Gardening in general. Walking in the doors on the right of the store, indoor plants and accessories are immediately in your left. Then, walking straight to the right leads you to doors to the Garden Center, but they are for emergencies only. Walking further back, you pass unrelated items before finally coming to the doors going outside to the Garden Center. Accessories and other outdoor stuff is starts there and goes for a few aisles back. Within these aisles are more indoor needs, including pest control. ... It's a lot of walking and hunting (and one day three aisles were blocked...

Historically, I would choose Meijer over Walmart any day of the week. Even though Meijer typically has less inventory and slightly higher prices, it used to offer better customer service experiences. Those days are over.

Here is one example of many: I just spent well over 45 minutes waiting for customer assistance take some can and bottle returns that the machines wouldn't scan (products purchased at Meijer). I called on the courtesy phone four different times and was left just standing there waiting for close to an hour. When I finally stopped an employee walking by and asked for help, I was given the attitude as if my reasonable request to recycle cans purchased at Meijer was an annoying problem to them. When I eventually took the return slip to the customer service desk, in a mildly pleasant voice, I tried to make a joke to the employee behind the counter about the experience. She never once looked me in the eyes, didn't respond to the joke, in fact never said a single word (no "hello," "how can I help you," "thank you," "have a nice day," nothing), just handed my my deposit money and turned her back to me.

I would guess that about 85-90% of the Meijer employees hate working there. They wear an expression of total contempt and disdain on their faces. The general attitude of employees is that helping customers is a majorly annoying inconvenience to them.

I get it. Their jobs suck and they're disgruntled. They are over worked and underpaid, and none of them want to be there. I don't blame them, but if there going project their frustrations onto the customers and provide terrible service, I might as well shop at Walmart. At least there I'll find more inventory and...

This store is terrible. I went shopping this Friday and they had two lanes and uscan 20 items or less. I stood in line for more than a half hour and the ice cream I had in my cart was super melted . When I asked the head cashier a short African American woman if they were going to open any more lanes she was rude and gave me the dirtiest look and her flippant answer. When I can get some people to run them. This store ( carpenter rd. Ypsilanti) is always full. So you can’t tell me they can’t afford help. This isn’t reasonable on a weekend. I’ve also been getting a lot of spoiled meat. So now I don’t buy meat there. I really hate to go to a store come home and open a package that I couldn’t tell was spoiled and the use by date isn’t even close to being expired. Last thanksgiving I bought a ham that was on sale. When I got home I noticed there were 2 labels on it. I peeled the top label off and the price was more than ten dollars lower. They had covered the label to fake a sale. The label also read a different brand. This store has some serious management issues. One night I went there and baskets completely blocked all handicapped parking. When brought to my attention the night shift manager said it was the day shifts job to bring them in the store. He was very nasty to me. I explained that I am handicapped and it was a problem for me he was again rude and said it wasn’t his problem. I went back to talk to upper management and they took my statement and said they’d get back to me. Well that never happened. I really think the main office for Meijers need to take a good hard look at this stores management and fire or retrain them before they put them out...