Rotten Apple

Four days ago I was shopping at Hilltop Red Apple. It’s over priced, and doesn’t have great selection, but it’s convenient. There, in the frozen food section, I discovered something disconcerting: there is only one remaining package of the frozen burritos that I always buy. This isn’t so bad as I only want one package. But there are other packages of the same burritos for the same prize. These packages contain 8, as opposed to the normal 10. Are my burritos decreasing in package size? 

All is ok though, because in the clearance section I find a box of Krusteaz wild blueberry muffin mix. For those of you not familiar, this is one of the greatest muffin mixes ever. As soon as I get home, I decide to make muffins. I open the box, only to find that the can of blueberries is missing. I locate the phone number on the box, with plans of calling the next day as they are currently closed. 

Four days later I finally get a chance to call. Four days of course brings us to today. The woman at the call center promises to send me a coupon for a free box of mix. She asks me for the manufacturing code, located on the bottom of the box. I find it and give it to her. 

“Hmm,” she says. “Blueberries or no blueberries, I would be cautious about shopping there again: the sell by date on this mix was about 7 months ago.” 

I’m not going to Red Apple anymore. The prices are way too high, and the selection certainly leaves something to be desired. The people who work there, with one notable exception, aren’t overly nice. The only factor it has going for it is convenience, though there is a QFC about 2 blocks farther, also right off another light rail station. I guess this will be my new grocery store for convenience. 

It’s 10 hours later. I get off the light rail after work. I’m hungry. I decide dinner tonight will be ramen. Unfortunately, I’m out of frozen corn and frozen peas. Without these, my ramen will be boring. As the elevator crests, I see the red and green sign. I’m going to Red Apple. But this time, I’m checking expiration dates. 

Four days ago I was shopping at Hilltop Red Apple. It’s over priced, and doesn’t have great selection, but it’s convenient. There, in the frozen food section, I discovered something disconcerting: there is only one remaining package of the frozen burritos that I always buy. This isn’t so bad as I only want one package. But there are other packages of the same burritos for the same prize. These packages contain 8, as opposed to the normal 10. Are my burritos decreasing in package size? 

All is ok though, because in the clearance section I find a box of Krusteaz wild blueberry muffin mix. For those of you not familiar, this is one of the greatest muffin mixes ever. As soon as I get home, I decide to make muffins. I open the box, only to find that the can of blueberries is missing. I locate the phone number on the box, with plans of calling the next day as they are currently closed. 

Four days later I finally get a chance to call. Four days of course brings us to today. The woman at the call center promises to send me a coupon for a free box of mix. She asks me for the manufacturing code, located on the bottom of the box. I find it and give it to her. 

“Hmm,” she says. “Blueberries or no blueberries, I would be cautious about shopping there again: the sell by date on this mix was about 7 months ago.” 

I’m not going to Red Apple anymore. The prices are way too high, and the selection certainly leaves something to be desired. The people who work there, with one notable exception, aren’t overly nice. The only factor it has going for it is convenience, though there is a QFC about 2 blocks farther, also right off another light rail station. I guess this will be my new grocery store for convenience. 

It’s 10 hours later. I get off the light rail after work. I’m hungry. I decide dinner tonight will be ramen. Unfortunately, I’m out of frozen corn and frozen peas. Without these, my ramen will be boring. As the elevator crests, I see the red and green sign. I’m going to Red Apple. But this time, I’m checking expiration dates. 

Rotten Apple