A bad example
Jan Crawford
Friday, June 22, 2007
WHEN I FINISHED reading the news item on the front page of the June 18 Gazette titled “Groceries in Greensburg,” my first thought was “Good luck, Greensburg!”
I have become convinced Dillons does not care about their customers enough to “rebuild” or even “relocate.” I contacted them a few times about providing another store on the west side of Emporia when the one there was very hastily closed.... NOTHING. They felt the one on the east was serving the area fine. WRONG!
Then when I learned that the pharmacy at the Flinthills Mall was HAVING to close because of Walgreen’s, I contacted them again and asked if they were going to try to keep the pharmacy up and running in Emporia. The answer I got was that their real estate department was looking into the matter. I learned from pharmacy personnel that anything suggested by the Emporia pharmacy was rejected.
So again I say, good luck, Greensburg and do not look to Emporia as a good example of what Dillons/Krogers do to and for their customers.
Jan Crawford
Elmdale
blulitespecial (anonymous) says...
Dillon's first went to hell when they realigned,getting rid of their transport drivers and many longtime better payed employees over the last several years.I think the remaining store is shortlived.It's 25% of the stores in Topeka and other places.Used to be Dillon's had the best produce,then they went the cheap route.Food4Less took over being the best produce supplier-then closed.Haven't been in a Krogers- Maybe that's the good store and Dillon's is the cutrate?? The Dillon's Pharmacy always treated me right.In between them and ExpressScripts you couldn't ask for more.Now the East store seems to be an entry-level summer job.I want the same people,well paid and happy to be there! There are a few longtime employees there I know,but the "lowball"business plan for the remaining Emporia Store shows.It shouldn't.
June 22, 2007 at 6:17 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
etown_homegirl (anonymous) says...
Dillons on the east side has been around since Ive been little and I know that it was never meant to be a big store like the store on the west side was. It just never was. It was a sad deal when the west side closed and a lot of people lost their jobs. The employees had NO warning that it was going to happen. They found out just like the community did. The "old" faces have found new jobs and some did go to the east side. But Dillons is just like any other company, they lose people and they gain people. There are new faces in there but thats going to happen with any job. Checking and carrying out does seem like a job for a high school or college student thats why it would look like a "entry-level summer job". But look at the other departments, a lot of them havent changed.
Every shopping place in Emporia or anywhere else isnt going to be perfect. The produce is just as good as other stores. I dont think Ive ever picked something up that was rotted or took something home that didnt taste like it should. The meat department has wonderful meat and tastes better than some other places here in town. Yes the departments are all smaller but again, it never was meant to be a big store. Even if you have trouble finding something, theres these cards you can fill out and they try to get it in for you. At least they're trying!
As for Greensburg, maybe they will rebuild. They have to rebuild a WHOLE town and it will take time. Dillons here have helped the families out because if you ever went in on a weekend about a month or so ago, the employees got to wear casual clothes and a green ribbon. I asked an employee what it was for and they said they got to donate money to the Greensburg familes to dress down. I know they did that for a few weeks because I do my shopping on the weekends. So like I said, at least Dillons East helped out.
The pharmacy closing, yeah its sad, and alot of people were comfortable with them. They had great service and friendly people there but some good things come to an end. Step out of the comfort zone and try the new things Emporia has to offer. Walgreens took over the perscriptions so its not like there wasn't a place to go. Theres also other pharmacies in town with just has friendly custmor service and delivery.
Its unfair to degrade Dillons when they're doing what any other company is doing, and thats trying to run a business. Maybe its not up to everyones standards but it is a good store with a hometown feel to it. Dont like it, shop somewhere else.
June 26, 2007 at 6:10 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
disgruntledcitizen (anonymous) says...
WOW, Now we are complaining about grocery stores??? I think we have enough. There's like 4 plus walmart and walgreens in a town of 25,000. And how do you expect Dillon's pharmacy to stay open with a chain like Walgreens coming in right by it anyway??? You expect the elderly who can barely scrape by on their retirement money to pay the extra money to shop at Dillons pharmacy since they can't give the same prices as huge chains??? I think not. Emporia needs to wake up and realize that we are all whining about small things!!! Like not having a target or a home depot when they are only 50 miles away. There are a lot bigger things to woory about in this world and in this town than small things like eating at an Olive Garden or shopping at a Target or saving 3 dollars on some lumber from lowe's or Home Depot. Wake up people!!! And as far as the Dillons stores helping out to "REBUILD" Greensburg, It is a great thing they are doing and leave it to the great Emporia Gazette Comment gods to put a sour twist on it.
June 26, 2007 at 10:51 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
blulitespecial (anonymous) says...
Never meant for my comments to be taken as directed towards the employees, past or present, at Dillon's.Shopped in their area stores for many decades.Not sure Walgreen's can"take over" Dillons pharmacy as they're competing corporations.They forced them out and to leave the area.Dillon's didn't think it was worth staying open across town.They have,in the past, done a lot of good things for local communities.Never said they didn't.My statements were directed to the corporate office.Around 8-9? years ago,Dillon's fired and let go all the better payed and insured longtime employees.Suddenly people you knew and shopped with for years(some were neighbors) were just....gone.Fired.I bet starting wages now ain't what they were 8-9 years ago. These were the dedicated people,meatcutters,transport drivers,bakers,florists,and pharmacists that brought them success all these decades-thrown away.It's called slash-and-burn.How many employees lost retirement and medical insurance?Makes no difference what they were promised.Ya dance with the one that brung ya- Dillon's threw away good hardworking people all over the state.I stand behind my statements about the company.
June 26, 2007 at 11:06 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )