feeling cheated by a food retailer
I recently purchased the "power of pork" gift for my husband from Zingerman's. I believe I read about it on SE, so I wanted to post this here. It features 4 types of bacon, a Voges bacon chocolate bar, a sheet of recipes and a canvas tote for $90. (I know, expensive, and you have to pay pricey overnight shipping, but anyhow, the point is not that I paid this much in the first place, the point is what happened today.) I received the Zingerman's catalog in the mail today and was dismayed to find that each of the products sold separately by them are MUCH cheaper then purchasing them in your gift set.
Help me with the math- $9 chocolate bar, applewood bacon $17, long peppered bacon $19, Kentucky bacon $ 11, and Virginia bacon $11 = $67. I'm just wondering where the extra money is going. I had thought perhaps the packages of bacon in the set would be larger then the standard, but after examining them they the same weight as offered separately. Is the tote and the sheet of paper that they provide as a "bonus" $23 dollars?? (the chocolate bar is also described as a "bonus," but I calculated it in with the price anyhow.)
I'm not unwilling to spend money on quality products, but I am not willing to spend more for products I can purchase at a cheaper price, from the same retailer.
I have emailed Zingerman's customer service and will update if I hear a response. Anyone have any other experience with this retailer?
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6 Comments:
Is the tote really good quality? I'm betting that is where the extra money is coming from. Why don't you call their customer service and ask, they would have to give you some sort of answer.
Carosone at 2:52PM on 06/22/08
After seeing so many recommendations for them over the years from a variety of food and recipe writers (and finding their catalog descriptions particularly seductive), I placed a large order. Everything was disappointing or mediocre. A close friend on the other coast, from a cerifiably foodie family, says her experience was the same.
islandexile at 4:24PM on 06/22/08
The same chocolate bar retails for $6.99 at Whole Foods, $5.99 at Costplus World Market.
beth1 at 4:41PM on 06/22/08
illeatyou, I have known the Zingerman's founders for a really long time, and I have always found almost everything they sell to be really good. I have also found them to be totally stand-up people. I don't know what could explain the price discrepancy except for the tote bag. Do the individual item prices include shipping? I would be happy to contact them on your behalf to find out what the story is here.
Ed Levine at 6:47AM on 06/23/08
@Ed Levine, Carosone: The totebag is a thin canvas tote. It does have a zip pocket and has reinforced handles, but doesn't zip closed or anything. I would call it one step up from the canvas bags you buy at your grocery store for taking stuff home. I wouldn't pay 23 dollars for it. As for shipping, there was a 45 dollar shipping fee on TOP of the 90 I paid for the gift pack. I have emailed them and am awaiting a response. If they are as stand up as you say, then hopefully they will explain or remedy the situation. If I don't hear back I may take you up on your offer, Ed. I will definitely update you all on what, of anything they have to say.
illeatyou at 7:56AM on 06/23/08
UPDATE: Zingerman's customer service returned my email promptly. Their explanation was that the extra cost was for warm weather shipping, packaging, labor, and the tote. I did pay shipping on top of the price, plus, wouldn't any bacon product need to be shipped the same way? At any rate, they stressed their desire to make things right and offered to wither refund me for the package or send me more bacon. I commend the promptness and thoroughness of their customer service department and will be getting a refund. ( I think we have enough bacon!) Thanks all for your concern and offers to help!
illeatyou at 6:36PM on 06/23/08