What Can We Do For You?
Question of the Week for October 17: What Can the Co-op Do For You?
A Sampling of Member Answers
- I am having trouble with the increasingly strong odors coming from the laundry and cleaning products. It is especially bad in your WRJ store. I have brought home packages of crackers that smell like detergent. This is NOT from bagging in the same bag. They smell because they are in proximity to the laundry products. This is a real problem as there is increasing research showing that the chemicals used in commercial fragrances are poisons and do migrate out of packaging. I have a lot of information about this and would be happy to meet with someone to talk about this. For example. Fragrances are now made with petrochemicals. One fragrance in a detergent like Tide, for example, can have as many as 600 different chemicals in the fragrance. Many of these chemicals are known carcinogens. These are listed merely as “fragrance” on the label. The is NO government agency that regulates fragrances.
- How about posting a complete list of the regular prices for all products on the web site? I sometimes find myself in another store, and I see a “sale” price for some item and I wonder if the price is really good or not. I think people sometimes get sucked in by “sale” prices in other stores that turn out to be higher than the regular price at the Coop.
- Please improve the labeling and pricing in produce dept. Often the prices are far from the items, and sometimes the price tells the variety (sweet onions) but the bin does not. Also, there used to be a sign telling which hot peppers are hottest; those of us who are novice “hot-fooders” would appreciate seeing that, as well as clear labeling of the kinds of hot peppers.
- Put more interesting spices in the things being sold in the prepared food section. I have heard this complaint more than frequently. More people would buy things from this section. Then. Send your chef to the Brattleboro Co-op and get their recipes.
- Figure out a more sustainable way to wrap products from the meat department. The plastic bag and paper that wraps around it seems wasteful.
- I would like to see a relaxation of your ‘Senior Order’ policy to encourage seniors that are able to take the AT bus to the Hanover store, to do so on Monday and Tuesday to do their own shopping, taking a bag or two of the most perishable purchases home with them on the bus, but having the heavy and bulky stuff delivered by the Senior Order Delivery Van on Thursday.
- How about offering a “Bargain of the Week” item? — something which is clearly featured and offered at rock bottom prices. Could be produce or non-perishable or whatever, but something people use regularly.
- I’d very much like to see an expanded inventory—especially bulk and bin items—at the White River Junction Co-Op. I try to shop near where I live, but currently drive to the Lebanon Co-Op to buy bulk and bin items. Please offer them at WRJ.
