returning groceries

[gsjr77 Member Find all posts View Profile Close gsjr77]

Anyone ever do this?
We bought groceries to fill our fridge while on vacation and at the end decided to return anything that was unopened. We didnt think much of it but the publix clerk wasnt too happy about accept $40 worth of food. Being that the publix was attached to the resort I thought this was a natural occurance.
Nobody ever buys exactly what they need, always a bit more. So what do you do with the leftovers. They wouldnt have fit in our car and some wouldnt have survived the trip. So what other option is there?

[Kay H Senior Member Find all posts View Profile Close Kay H]

Buy less next time.

[joycapecod Silver Contributor Find all posts View Profile Close joycapecod]

I have a meal plan and buy for two days at a time. That way if things change during the day and ypu end up not hungry you move the meal plan to the following day. You are never stuck with lots of leftovers (opened or unopened). I always have a few left over unopened bottles of water which I leave on the counter for the cleaning staff.

Joy

[mdurette Senior Member Find all posts View Profile Close mdurette]

I don't think I would ever return food that wasn't used....especially produce or meats. Bad or spoiled....I would think of it, but probably not worth the time to do it. Heck, can a grocery store even put returned food back on the shelf?

We always have a bit of left over food.
What I can take home I do.

Anything unopened is left for the cleaning staff....typically beer, soda, bag of chips, etc.

Anything opened gets tossed.

[chriskre Super Moderator Find all posts View Profile Close chriskre]

I just leave it for the maids to decide if they want it or they can throw it away. Last year someone left an unopened box of Captain Crunch in the cubpboard in of all places Animal Kingdom Kidani. Since we got there late at night we picked up a bottle of milk in the lobby and had breakfast the first day taken care of. I'm sure the maid didn't check that cabinet but it was nice of someone to think of me.

[Pstreet1 Senior Member Find all posts View Profile Close Pstreet1]

I don't think grocery stores can put returned food back on the shelves, even if it is APPARENTLY unopened. I believe the Tylenol problem years ago ended their ability to do that in most states; there may be some states where it is legal to put returned food back on the shelves, but it doesn't seem likely. Since grocery stores operate on very slim margins, if they can't put the food back, returns do create problems. If there is a problem with the food, they can return it to the manufacturer for a refund to the store to make up for the refund they give the customer, but returns for no reason probably come out of their profits. Additionally, there is no law requiring a store to take back any product; it is up to the retailer to set his policy. If the grocery store does, indeed, have to dump the food you returned, no wonder the clerk was not too happy about it.

[lawren2 Malibu Beach Barbie & A Super Moderator Find all posts View Profile Close lawren2]

I'd be more inclined to leave unopened, unperishables at a local food bank if there was anything major left. Little sundries for cleaning staff.

After too many years of timesharing I have a pretty good idea of how much of what to bring or buy.

[BoardGirl Senior Member Find all posts View Profile Close BoardGirl]

I would never consider returning food that had been in my possession more than an hour.

If I were the store owner, I wouldn't take it back, either. I'd rather make one customer angry that dozens or hundreds of others ill or worse. While I'm sure you are kind decent and all that, not everyone is.

[1950bing Senior Member Find all posts View Profile Close 1950bing]

Trying to return food is pretty low. With computers in control, steps were put in place to re-supply the shelves the second you purchased them. To return items just upsets inventory. They do not need to purchase from you.
Plan better or why not just eat out ? Hey, your on vacation! Why cook?

[grest Senior Member Find all posts View Profile Close grest]

Wow, I've never thought of such a thing, and frankly, I don't think I would want to purchase groceries which had been returned...it can't be legal, can it? If you buy too much, it's on you...as others have said, l leave what's unopened with a note to the cleaning staff to help themselves or throw it out.

[T. R. Oglodyte Moderator Find all posts View Profile Close T. R. Oglodyte]

I'm with the crowd that donates unused items to the food bank or else I leave it behind for the resort staff.

Many of our resorts actively encourage guests to donate unused items to the food bank. They even have a collection point where you can leave the items for transport to the food bank.

*****

When we rent a condo from an owner, we normally leave non-perishables behind (and even some perishables that can store for a long time in a refrigerator). I've found that most whole ownership condo owners try to keep a supply of such items in the units. It's nice to arrive and find that a lot of basics, such as cooking oil, coffee, tea, dry cereals, baking soda, honey, pasta, cheese, etc. are already there.

[jericap Super Moderator Find all posts View Profile Close jericap]

I've never returned items to a store...but if I see there are families that check in the day before we leave, I will knock on their door to see if they want any of the unopened items. It has never been refused so far.

[bnoble Senior Member Find all posts View Profile Close bnoble]

I've learned the hard way to under-buy. If I end up having leftover unperishables that haven't been opened, I usually ask the resort if they have any mechanism for accepting donations (e.g. Wyndham Bonnet Creek does). If not, I just leave it all behind with a note for the staff to do with what they will.

[jackio Gold Contributor Find all posts View Profile Close jackio]

I'm with the crowd that donates unused items to the food bank or else I leave it behind for the resort staff.

Many of our resorts actively encourage guests to donate unused items to the food bank. They even have a collection point where you can leave the items for transport to the food bank.

*****

What a great idea! I've never seen any donation collection boxes. I leave unopened items for the staff.

[rapmarks Moderator Find all posts View Profile Close rapmarks]

this brings to mind leaving Florida in May. certain families who live there year round get a lot of donations and have multiple bottles of salad dressing, ketchup and mustard given to them. Are you sure the cleaning staff wants your unused items?

The only thing I returned to the store was a gigantic box of Pampers. I bought two when my grandson visited and used only half of one. They were so nice, took them (the unopened box) right back and gave me a store gift card.