PICK 'N PAY - FALLING STANDARDS AND POOR SHOPPING EXPERIENCES IN CAPE TOWN!

<p>What is happening at Pick ‘n Pay, and more specifically PnP Tokai in Cape Town?</p> <p> </p> <p>Over the past eight months I have noticed a marked decline in the quality and reliability of operations at this PnP supermarket store.</p> <p> </p> <p>I have made PnP aware of a number of issues blighting this outlet on at least four occasions via FB and direct emails and have subsequently been called by managers on each occasion promising to improve matters. Unfortunately, the problems persist so perhaps by posting this complaint on HP someone senior and empowered will sit up and take notice, respond and ring the changes!</p> <p> </p> <p>To keep this complaint short, I shall not delve into the content and detail but try to limit list to issues that I’ve experienced over the past eight months relating to flagship ‘PnP Housebrands’ where supplier ‘out-of-stocks’ can be removed from the list of complications and ‘an unreliable supplier’ and the ‘ordering system in Johannesburg’ can be removed from the explanations and excuses:</p> <p> </p> <p>1. Conflicting pricing on shelves where packers have neglected to remove the ‘old’ price (PnP Biscuits)!</p> <p> </p> <p>2. (Related to 1.) Marking-up prices in the shelves. (I recall Mr Ackerman stating that this was not PnP policy). (PnP Biscuits)!</p> <p> </p> <p>3. Routine items out-of-stock for up to six weeks (PnP Fat-free Milk and Butter)!</p> <p> </p> <p>4. Expired and close to expired items on the shelves (PnP Tinned Green Beans and others).</p> <p> </p> <p>5. Packaging Confusion. Does the term ‘Lean Burgers’ mean the fat content or the thickness of the patty? How many are in the shrink-wrapped package? (PnP Burgers)?</p> <p> </p> <p>6. The Bread and Confectionary counter is consistently out of basic staple items - ‘Ouma Bread’ (“the baker did not come in to work this morning…”), pies (ditto) and rolls (ditto) (the PnP Bakery)!</p> <p> </p> <p>7. Finally, my favourite and one that I have yet to get an answer on… Pricing! In January 2016 I paid R23 for a 500g brick of PnP Butter – admittedly on ‘special’ as the regular price was around R27. But by last week the price was sitting at R47, having peaked at R52 about a month ago! A price rise of close on 200%??? Have the ***s gone on strike? How on earth can PnP hike prices to this level so unjustifiably? Is this perhaps evidence of ‘collusion’ in the retail industry? If so, we need an investigation – and quickly! (PnP Butter).</p> <p> </p> <p>On the positive side it must be said that I have had extremely courteous and helpful dealings with the floor and branch managers when complaining and bringing these issues to their attention. However, despite assurances and staff changes, the rot just seems to continue!</p> <p> </p> <p>As for timing, I unfailingly shop between 11am and 1pm, so there is surely more than enough time for the store to be up-and-running, operating at optimum capacity and trading efficiently during these times. So, it’s over to you PnP…!</p>