The Bloom Experiment

[jb4563]

Anyone with any inside info know about how the Bloom experiment is going?

I just saw they have put banners outside them that say "Come Experience Bloom" or something to that effect. Seems a little late be putting the banners out....are they having trouble attracting business (or extra business)?

And, I saw the Charlotte Observer is asking people to contact them that shop at Bloom...so they are probably about to do a story on Bloom.

[DigitalSky]

Yeah it does seem late considering they opened like over a year ago at least. Bloom's territory is still small too, just 5 locations according to shopbloom.com

Charlotte, NC

[monsoon]

I think it was a solution looking for a problem. I would rather Foodlion spend the money to operate cleaner stores and improve the quality of the staff they have, rather than hand people a computer terminal to make it easier to buy a can of beans.

[f0xym0p]

I think it was a solution looking for a problem.  I would rather Foodlion spend the money to operate cleaner stores and improve the quality of the staff they have, rather than hand people a computer terminal to make it easier  to buy a can of beans.

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

I agree, and the few times I have been in Bloom, I think I was the only one using the hand scanner.

[SmellyCat]

I like the layout of Bloom (with staples like milk, etc. at the front of the store), but I agree the quality of the staff is horrendous. It makes me think that if these people have jobs, how can there possibly be unemployment.

[DigitalSky]

I saw a billboard on I-85 today that said "Play Laser Tag While Shopping" advertising Bloom and their personal scanners.. a bit funny

[Norm2]

If you use the damn scanners you wont need to deal with rude staff unless you need help finding food or something.

[reverbandwhiskey]

Ok, to recap this concept.

I walk in, get a handheld scanner, then scan all of my own food, bag it myself, but still pay the same price as the people who have someone else scan it and bag it for them?

Why should I pay the same to receive less service?

I do like the receipe kiosks. If Food Lion wants to compete, make all of your stores look like Whole Foods, hire friendly people, PAY THEM well, and fire the bitter, lazy slobs that make customers feel unwelcome.

I would gladly pay an extra 5$ per visit to have a more pleasant experience. Surely there is a business model that would allow for a clean store and employees that make a decent wage.

[DigitalSky]

There are a few new articles on Bloom in today's paper

http://www.charlotte.com/mld/charlotte/business/12622226.htm The seeds of Bloom took ages to sprout

http://www.charlotte.com/mld/charlotte/business/12622200.htm Tell 'em your tastes - grocers are listening

[ilektronik]

the FoodLion by my house (the one on Mt-Holley- Huntersville & Harris Blvd) has self-checkouts.

They were actually shooting a commercial at that location this morning.

[f0xym0p]

Ok, to recap this concept.

I walk in, get a handheld scanner, then scan all of my own food, bag it myself, but still pay the same price as the people who have someone else scan it and bag it for them?

Why should I pay the same to receive less service?

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

It's no less service than you get using U-Scans and I love those. I have to admit that when I go grocery shopping, I try very hard to not have any interaction whatsoever with the employees. It is much easier and faster for me to scan and bad myself. Plus, if I wait in a regular line, I usually end up having to bag myself anyway because they don't have enough people working (at HT anyway).

I also wanted to point out that you don't have to use the handheld scanners--you can still go through a regular line and have them scan for you. It's just another option for shoppers.

[DigitalSky]

the FoodLion by my house (the one on Mt-Holley- Huntersville & Harris Blvd) has self-checkouts.

They were actually shooting a commercial at that location this morning.

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

I think they do use that Food Lion for the commercials (with the Andy Griffith theme song)

[monsoon]

I noticed in the printed paper version of that article posted about Bloom they had a photo of a woman doing her shopping. She was using a printed ad from the paper to find her groceries. LOL No scanners and she had that electronic thing on the cart covered up with the paper ad.

[Miesian Corners]

The deviant in me wants to know, what if I "accidentially" forget to scan one (or 10) of the items in my cart?

As a side note, do you get a discount for beached fish at a Bloom?

[f0xym0p]

The deviant in me wants to know, what if I "accidentially" forget to scan one (or 10) of the items in my cart?

As a side note, do you get a discount for beached fish at a Bloom?

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

They allegedly do random checks of the merchandise at the register to make sure no one is taking things he didn't scan. I've only been there a couple times, but I didn't see any checks.

[DigitalSky]

The deviant in me wants to know, what if I "accidentially" forget to scan one (or 10) of the items in my cart?

As a side note, do you get a discount for beached fish at a Bloom?

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

[dubone]

i've never been to bloom, but i just assumed they weighed your cart at the end like they do with the bags a U-scan in teeters. that is crazy if they don't, although perhaps they figure what they save on checkout facilities would more than cover a couple random things unscanned. they also might monitor that with vid-cameras on the isles to make sure they spot anyone who is not scanning their stuff.

[DigitalSky]

Food Lion's discount concept, Bottom Dollar, will open in Hickory. Here is a good description of how it will compare to regular Food Lions: http://www.hickoryrecord.com/servlet/Satel...833685004&path=