New Years Ralphs Notes
Eric Richardson
[Flickr]
DOWNTOWN LOS ANGELES — Since the store was the top story of 2007, two quick Ralphs notes to kick off the new year.
New Validation — Instead of the validation cards the store had been using, there's now a tiny validation machine on the customer service desk that you need to stick your ticket in to get your free parking. It's to the right of the dry cleaning desk.
Dated Milk — This is hopefully only relevant tonight, but Kathy and I found basically the entire display of Mountain Dairy 1% milk to be three days or so beyond its sell-by date. Penelope noted experience with expired foods in the comments on our last Ralphs post.
Update (Thursday, 11pm): A day later and there's still bad milk out there. An update and a photo below.
I needed to stop by Ralphs this evening, so obviously I went back to the milks to take a look. Spot check results? Out of a sample size of eight or so, two sell-by dates of Dec 31 and two of Jan 2. The rest were comfortably current. The pictured jug is actually 2%, just to show that it wasn't a solely 1% trend.
I have this funny vision of extra people stopping in just to check milk expiration dates as a result of this post, but that may just be something only I would do.
S Terry on January 02, 2008, at 08:24PM – #1
I have found their Horizon organic milk to be expired at least the last three times I went (with 2 kids we consume a lot of milk). Sometimes a whole month expired.
meekorouse on January 02, 2008, at 09:21PM – #2
Wow that is pretty bad Eric. I don't get the milk at Ralph's very often but I've not had that issue yet. You'd think they would have people pulling the old milk in the mornings when it's not so busy. I was in there early today and there's no reason they couldn't have someone there pulling the expired milk. It takes what?? 5min. sheesh. Bad for business getting people ill. Hopefully something will change with what they are currently doing there (or not doing).
Just the same I like to have some boxed soy milk for backup. It takes a while to go bad and if you are out of milk you can at least open that up to stick on your cereal to you can find some fresh milk.
Whitman Lam on January 02, 2008, at 10:31PM – #3
Or better yet .... powdered milk. Boil, mix well, and serve. That stuff is so good when camping in the mountains.
VAtomic on January 02, 2008, at 10:46PM – #4
The first week the store opened thay had expired milk on stock.
Ken on January 02, 2008, at 11:47PM – #5
I suggest if you have experienced bad service or other problems, let the manager know. Don't assume that someone else will say something. Call, write or email your comments or complaints.
(see info below)
RALPHS FRESH FARE 645 WEST 9TH STREET LOS ANGELES, CA 90017 Store Phone: 213-452-0840 Manager: Art Postajian - (Art is the manager during the day) Email: Ralphs.com
Adam on January 03, 2008, at 10:54AM – #6
Commenter #1: That's REALLY surprising/gross, as Horizon milk tends to have a longer shelf life than any other milk (almost 2 months)!
I don't know what's going on with Ralphs, but it seems to be going on everywhere. I shop at the one on Bundy and Wilshire, and numerous times I've been there, the produce section is filled with rotting old vegetables. Not exactly "fresh fare." One time I went to get romaine lettuce - there was only one bag of expired romaine hearts, and ALL the fresh stuff was wilted and brown - and there was tons of it.
Bread - almost everything had a sell by date of that day or a few days earlier.
Then I went to get some fish - frozen salmon fillets. They had two bags - one expired in July, the other in August. And this was October. Those things have a shelf life of almost a year.
On top of that, they were sold out of some of the most basic items. They had no broccoli at all - and there wasn't a recall going on or anything.
What's the deal!!!
Rico A on January 03, 2008, at 11:02AM – #7
Eh. Go to Food 4 Less. You'll still get expired milk, but at least you won't be overpaying for it.
Rick on January 03, 2008, at 11:22AM – #8
Way to break the big stories boys!
Dan on January 03, 2008, at 11:30AM – #9
I go to Ralphs for milk, cus the Rite Aide always has expired milk. Even Rite Aide's milk that isn't past date tastes sour. There's probably a time during loading when it goes unrefriged.
Pegasus on January 03, 2008, at 01:32PM – #10
Same problem on Monday...the further back I went on the shelf, the older the milk got until it was finally beyond its sell date. But my shopping cart wheels did not lock this time - you win some, you lose some.
John Crandell on January 03, 2008, at 02:56PM – #11
Well, we all know that money is the Mother's Milk of spoilitics..
vv on January 03, 2008, at 04:51PM – #12
i guess the store is not doing as well as we all thought it would. expired milk? come on... it's either not selling or bad business pratice of the company.
David Kennedy on January 04, 2008, at 01:09PM – #13
I'd point out that the staff at Ralphs has been unfailingly friendly to me and my family. I really appreciate that they give out free balloons to my kids everytime we go. (Just ask. Kids only.) A couple of times they have actually given my kids some very expensive musical balloons. Once during Halloween and again this Christmas. Really nice and very appreciated.
browne on January 04, 2008, at 10:43PM – #14
New validation?
Why exactly does anyone have to drive to Ralphs in downtown LA? Yeah sometimes there is a party, but in general why? Get one of those baskets. Why would anyone in their right mind want to drive to Ralphs, the vast majority of people in downtown LA are single or couples, so what's the carload of groceries for?
I've walked from East 1st and Alameda to Ralphs and back with two bags of groceries and I hadn't even planned on going there. Not that hard. And it's not that far.
I bet I could walk faster than anyone could drive there. Ralphs should charge people 10 dollars to park there.
Browne
meekorouse on January 06, 2008, at 09:31PM – #15
^it seems they expect people to drive, and also seem surprised if you have your own bag. I try to bring my own bag but if things are too much to carry (soda on sale!? can't really do that without a cart or a car)I am frustrated to bother bringing my cart,(it's more a insulated cooler on wheels than a granny cart).
I'm used to doing groceries by bus or foot but downtown Ralphs seems to also forget they are servicing downtown customers. (I think there's a point made in there somewhere). Maybe I'll start shopping at the 7-11 instead (I wonder if their milk is fresh?) =P
David Kennedy on January 06, 2008, at 10:17PM – #16
I've had no problems shopping at Ralph's and arriving on foot. Occasionally, I'll drive if I anticipate buying a large amount or if I'm on the way home. But, I walk to the store at least once a week with three kids and a stroller. Never any issues. Staff is always kind and helpful.
Benjamin Pezzillo on January 07, 2008, at 09:00AM – #17
Browne:
Cat litter, dog food, paper towels, toilet paper, gallons of liquids, pounds of baking supplies, fresh fruit and vegetables.
Our shopping trips usually require at least two people and sometimes two trips up from the car, I'm not ashamed to admit I drive to Ralphs from Sixth and Spring...
downtown toilet on January 07, 2008, at 04:42PM – #18
just the toilet paper alone for my place would break your back if you had to lug it to 5th and hill from ralph's.
browne on January 07, 2008, at 08:16PM – #19
"Cat litter, dog food, paper towels, toilet paper, gallons of liquids, pounds of baking supplies, fresh fruit and vegetables. " Benjamin
I'm not saying you should walk Benjamin, but I think that owing to the nature of the area they shouldn't make it appealing. Or better yet give me money off for not driving.
And the pounds of baking supplies. What are you baking? Is it good, will it make me fat?
There are too many places to eat and drink in downtown.
I would also like to add Eric your blog is getting very good. It has moved beyond neighborhood blog in my mind into a more of a editorial type blog with neighborhood leanings.
While I don't agree with some of the things you say, the information behind the things you say is very good. Like that info on zoning, very good and not easy to find.
Browne
Benjamin Pezzillo on January 07, 2008, at 09:35PM – #20
Browne:
Zoning information is available on ZIMAS (http://zimas.lacity.org/) and changes can be tracked through the public agendas of the Planning Commission and Planning Department.
Eric does slice through the bureaucracy to get to the salient actions related to Downtown though.
As for our shopping list, I'm married to a baking school grad, so yes, the pounds of baking supplies often translate into pounds of good baked goods.
I like being able to easily drive to Ralphs as grocery shopping is often on the tail end of a string of errands for us.
I suspect the growing number of single women in the area appreciate being able to safely park late into the night when doing their grocery shopping.
But for what it is worth Browne, I rarely see the parking lot full at the Downtown Ralphs.