I had some friends over for lunch this afternoon and the watermelon that I had just bought and cut up earlier today had a horrible taste - it had good color but was very bitter. It was not edible so I threw it away and two of my girlfriends said I should have returned it to the store for a refund. I would never have thought to do that because that's the risk you take when buying fruit.
This made me start thinking about what others do. Do you return fruit that doesn't taste good or do you throw it away?
I would pretty much throw it away and move on.
I work full-time with two kids, a husband and a house. It simply is not worth my time to take something back for just a couple of dollars. If I kept getting bad stuff, then I would stop buying there.
We live on the edge of the woods and I always put things like that out at night for the wild animals. If you live in town, I'll bet the birds would love it. It wouldn't be worth the hassle for me to take it back.
If something was officially rotten then if it was convenient I would. Like I bought blueberries at Whole Foods the other day, opened them same day and the underneath were moldy already. I didn't return them bc just not convenient but to me that was more the store's responsibility. But if fruit looks ok still but just doesn't taste right then no. I don't. I think it is a risk you take. If I went to the store a lot though I might mention it to them so they know to tell the vendor...
If it's convenient to take it back tomorrow, take it back (or I do know our local store would probably do an exchange if you had the receipt but not the actual piece of fruit -- they know it may not keep or may smell strongly so you'd throw it out).
The supermarkets don't know they're getting lousy produce unless customers tell them. They need the feedback so if you shop there regularly, give them that feedback. But like others, I would not necessarily return it unless I were going the next day anyway.
I had this happen. It wasn't worth the $3+45 minutes it would take for me to drive back to the store (spending gas $) and stand in line for the refund. I just threw it away.
I wouldn't because store where I shop is too far. Fruit does not taste the same each time. Even if store was close by, I would not take it back
No I don't return them, it is just the luck of the draw when picking fruit, sometimes it is good and sometimes not. Now, if I open a new jar or can and find mold or something like that then I will return it.
I throw it away. To me the hassle of packaging it, standing in line for a refund isn't worth getting a few dollars back. Bad produce is rare for me. My daughter, who shops at a different store, said bad produce is common this summer. She didn't take it back. She has started buying produce at a farmer's market and says it's very much fresher and tastier.
How much is it worth to you? Depending on your time to bag it up and drive it to the store is your call.
I'm at my grocer daily so it wouldn't be a huge deal for me to take it back.. I never have though. Some people live miles away from the grocer and that would not be worth it in my book.
My time = $$$ so figure out what's best for you.
I've returned bad food to my local Safeway, even without a receipt they exchanged it no problem (I never asked for a refund, just an exchange.)
ETA: it isn't a hassle for me, I am at the grocery store almost every day anyway! I'm one of those people that buys a lot of fresh food and I tend to make dinner based on what I feel like eating that day and how many of my family members will actually be home for dinner :-)
for the most part i think produce is in the 'luck of the draw' category, and the hassle of returning it wouldn't be worth it to me. however, IF i were going to the store the next day anyway and IF the item were pricey (eg i always get the 'dirty dozen' organic, so if i'd laid out $7 for og strawberries and they were furry) i'd take them back. most stores are good about it.
khairete
S.
We'd feed it (everything except potatoes) to our neighbors chickens.
If it's convenient, like I'm driving right by, I'd return it.
Otherwise, I'd rather do other things with my precious time.
It depends on how much it cost and how much time I have.
It would depend on how long I had it before I tried to eat it, and how much I paid for it. I seldom have fruit sit around long enough to go bad, but when it does, I usually just throw it in the composter.
I'm with Jill... If it's their "fault" there is something wrong with the fruit I will return it if it's convenient... Otherwise, I chalk it up to bad luck.
If it's something that happens more than once, or if I consistently get bad produce (of different types) from the same store I tell them, then take my business elsewhere. Lol. Is it sad that I have one store I LOVE for the veggies, and another I prefer for fruit? (And another for meat... Lol.)
I bought a pineapple from a local store (national chain big box), and when I cut it up that evening, it was way overripe.
I took it back, and they gave me a refund.
It depends on the circumstances. If I bought it yesterday and cut a watermelon open and found it was bad, I would probably take it back and get another one. If it had sat around my house for a week, I would not take it back. A store is not going to know if it got bad produce (like a closed melon) from a supplier unless people bring it to their attention. When I have had to return produce to Costco, they are more interested in the empty box or label which indicates the date and supplier. They promptly refunded my money with or without a receipt (because they can pull up your purchase records on your card). At Sam's, they made me return the watermelon in order to get credit for it. They made me so mad I brought them the white trash bag from my house to give them back the melon.
You were right: It's a risk one takes when buying fruit. That said, giving you a replacement--typically NOT a refund--is up to the discretion of the market. It might be worth a try, especially if you bring it back mostly intact with only a taste cut out of it, and tell them that you are hosting an event and want to serve watermelon. They will likely think that replacing it for you would go a long way in keeping you as a loyal customer and gaining other customers in your guests.
My local Stop and Shop just refunds the money the next time I'm shopping (could be a week later). I just bring my receipt to the desk. They consider it good customer service. I don't have to bring back bad produce or meat or take an extra trip. Perhaps you could call your store to see if they have the same policy.
Was it really 'bad' or was it just sour/tart? Fruit is not always 'sweet'. Sometimes you do get sour grapes or sour oranges. Watermelon is no different, you can get sour melon too. It's just a toss of the dice, just a chance, that you'll get a sour piece of fruit. Thumping it & getting a 'hollow' sound is a good sign that it's the proper ripeness, hope that helps!
The only thing I take back is bad meat or bad dairy if it is supposed to be good per its 'sell by date.' I don't want another customer with poor olfactory senses getting sick. Good luck.
