- Report: #1465951
Complaint Review: Kroger - Cincinnati Ohio
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Kroger
1014 Vine St Cincinnati, 45202 Ohio, United States
Phone:
513-762-4000
Web:
www.kroger.com
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Kroger Fry's Refused service based on erroneous policy Cincinnati Ohio
I have a folding bike the entirety of which, when folded, fits inside a Kroger's shopping cart. I shopped at a Kroger Fry's a number of times with my bike in a cart, but was recently told that I could not bring the bike into the store because it presents a "health" risk. My complaint is not primarily that I can't bring the bike into the store. I can work around that (although I will not lock my bike up outside the store; it is fairly expensive and, being different, often attracts attention). My complaint is that, in my opinion, Kroger has supplied a justification for their policy that is completely unsupportable and thus is spreading misinformation among it's customers, employees, and possibly the retail community. I support my contention not only with what I believe is common sense but with precedents. A supermarket in England (Tesco) once had the same policy. After a customer called attention to it on Twitter, the store eventually apologized and withdrew it's policy. In addition, the Health and Safety Executive, a government body in Great Britain, possibly because of the above incident (I'm not sure), had a panel look into the issue.
Their conclusion: that folding bikes present a health and safety risk in supermarkets is "clearly a myth" and banning them from supermarkets is "clearly inappropriate." Finally, one must ask, what about all the other wheeled vehicles you may see in a supermarket: mobility scooters, baby strollers, personal shopping carts, delivery carts, wheeled suitcases, and the shopping carts themselves, which have in all likelihood made numerous trips around the parking lot and sometimes, albeit illegally, around the neighborhood.(Some effort has been made to distinguish between these and vehicles used for transport. But, really, they are all used for transport.) I contacted Kroger and, later, the Better Business Bureau, and presented the above evidence. Both efforts ended with my responding that I have not yet received a satisfactory answer. Kroger continues defending their policy, albeit simply by fiat (this is our policy) rather than by presenting reasoned support.
They have never directly addressed the issues I've brought up above or said precisely why they consider folding bikes a health and safety threat. Because, I suggest, they can't. (The manager at the supermarket the incident occurred at did say "what if you rode over some dog poop on the way here?," which I consider as transparently weak attempt to defend an indefensible policy.) As I said in my final communication with the Better business Bureau, I will only consider my complaint sufficiently answered if one of two things happen: Kroger's retracts the policy banning folding bikes, or, they provide a clear and specific explanation of why they consider folding bikes in carts a health threat. If they chose the second option, I will consider my complaint sufficiently answered, even if I disagree with it. At least they will be on record and other readers can decide for themselves the suitability of their answer.
