returning groceries

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

One box of Pampers is quite a bit different from food items.

[Keep Traveling Member Find all posts View Profile Close Keep Traveling]

I could just see it now $5 worth of apples, corn a head of lettuce and a roasted chicken all never opened. Haha

[Icc5 Senior Member Find all posts View Profile Close Icc5]

Working in a Grocery Store I

Hopefully more care can be taken when you buy your groceries. The way it works where I work is canned goods are fine but we have to throw away Produce and or refridgerated/frozen items because we have no idea how long they have been left out. It is a straight loss to the grocery store and one of the reasons prices are what they are.
We try to plan our meals as much as we can and usually ask at the front desk before the end of the week as to what to do with things we might have but are unopened. Many times the resort will use these items in their breakroom.
Bart

[gsjr77 Member Find all posts View Profile Close gsjr77]

I guess I deserve all the flaming

We had no idea unopened perishables couldn't/wouldn't be restocked. It was a simple case of ignorance/oblivion. Didn't realize how low it seemed. We noe have a heads up for our next vacay. Joycapecod's idea would work great if a store was close enough. I'll also leave DH at the resort and go shopping alone. Shes the overbuyer

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

Publix (Where shopping is a pleasure) is extremely accomodating to take anything back so that's probably why you haven't had any troubles but I think other chains might not be so eager to please.

I think Publix donates also. I know my Mom's church gets weekly donations from the bakery from Publix. I never buy bread anymore. Just go visit Mom and she loads me up with all kinds of baked goods.

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

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

I haven't yet seen an actual collection box. I have been at resorts that provided information on how and where to leave items for pickup by resort staff (e.g., to leave items in a bag on the counter when checking out. I've also seen them give out maps to the drop off location for the food bank.

I think one issue with a collection box would be that too many people would not use it properly, putting in items that didn't belong and resulting in a mess.

By simply having people leave things in the room, the resort staff can easily remove anything that isn't appropriate to go to the food bank.

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

I haven't yet seen an actual collection box. I have been at resorts that provided information on how and where to leave items for pickup by resort staff (e.g., to leave items in a bag on the counter when checking out. I've also seen them give out maps to the drop off location for the food bank.

I think one issue with a collection box would be that too many people would not use it properly, putting in items that didn't belong and resulting in a mess.

By simply having people leave things in the room, the resort staff can easily remove anything that isn't appropriate to go to the food bank.

Worldmark Bass Lake has one right in the lobby with a big sign. My thought is the food bank probably comes by and picks it up on a schedule. It's open and you can see what's inside so even if something inappropriate ended up inside-the staff could remove it. I was happy to see it.

Other than that- I leave everything that is unopened and nonperishible in a group on the counter for the cleaning crew to decide what to do with it.

************

On the flip side-I have also had my food taken from me. This was in Vegas. They tried to make look like a break in...trash on the floor, toaster turned over, things moved around. The big heist was gallons of milk. I figure they must have needed it more than me. The front desk offered to replace it-but honestly they had a bigger problem than just replacing my milk.

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

The Arroyo Roble in Sedona has had a collection box in the lobby for years...I love the idea.

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

WOW, it would never appear to me to return groceries.....
It is cheap and low.....
FOOD BANK or CLEANING CRUE.....

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

For the first few years of TSing, I always ended up with way too much food by the end of the week. Part of the problem is that we bring some food with us when we drive and we tend to eat out more often than anticipated. I've tried planning meals ahead of time and portioning out food for meals. Yet, that never seems to work well. We've learned to purchase only enough food for two meals, plus a few staples, like eggs, bread and milk. As we get closer to the end of the week, we now skip eating out until most of the food remaining is gone. I'd rather save the grocery money and spend it on one or two restaurant meals if we run out of food. I think we've finally gotten things down to a science because this year we only had a few things left to bring home.

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

Regular check-out morning breakfast: french toast.

Use up eggs, milk, bread, butter, syrup and whatever bacon, sausage, ham or steak may still be around.

[RESORT2ME Senior Member Find all posts View Profile Close RESORT2ME]

At check-in, much of this information is available.

We make it a point to get acquainted with the staff during our stays to learn their wishes. Often they welcome our extra condiments and food stuff. There are also times when they would just as soon not have to clean up our excess.

We often over-purchase because we make want good stuff and make sure we will not starve. We give excess to new arrivals.

As we chat with others, we find some who are departing that we accept from. Much of this is a matter of just being neighborly.

Two times I recall dealing with store returns while touring.
Once, an unopened case of water to Costco, when we needed to cancel reservation and fly out early. The other was to Safeway, a guaranteed tender steak that wasn't. Both stores were surprisingly acceptable.

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

I have never done that-- Generally I leave unopened food on the counter and find a staff member and ask them if they want it or leave a note explaining that we hope someone can use it.
I would love to see a box in the lobby so it could be sent to a homeless shelter.
Usually the maids are happy to take the left overs though!