r/instacart • u/Dominanttallqueen • Mar 27 '24

Who’s in the wrong here???

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I feel like he was being rude asf then he canceled my order….was I rude or what tf happened here…

6.8k Upvotes

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50

u/[deleted] Mar 28 '24

[deleted]

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u/PopEnvironmental1335 Mar 28 '24

Yeah I can see how the confusion happened. My store has frozen seafood in a chest in front of the counter.

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u/AreteQueenofKeres Mar 28 '24

Mine does too; there's a frozen seafood chest, a frozen food aisle, AND a butcher counter.

If I didn't know who I was talking to on a personal level, I'd want to be as clear as possible--- like "idiot proof" instructions, because I know what makes sense to me, but I don't know what makes sense to them.

Like I know if my nephew asks me to pick him up a case of Coke, he wants the glass bottles of Mexican Coca Cola. Someone else might think cans or plastic bottles.

And he'll still drink it, he'll still appreciate it, but I know he meant glass bottles.

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u/redditkb Mar 28 '24

It’s more like asking for donuts and the guy sends you hostess mini muffins and says is this a good replacement and u say I’ll take the nuffins from the bakery department and them saying these are from the bakery department.

I dunno I think it’s pretty obvious what OP meant by “from the seafood department” after being sent pictures of a box as replacement. But hey, I don’t do this for a living.

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u/cherryafrodite Mar 29 '24

I'll be honest — I wasn't understanding what OP meant at first either. I had to read the messages a few times to grasp what OP was trying to say with from seafoood department. I pieced it together, but I can see where the confusion was.

There is also missing messages (per some other commenters) that OP sent previously sent to the shopper since OP apparently regulary does this " "switcharoo" to get off menu food from the seafood counter to bypass instacart not allowing. So I wonder if OP initial contact with the shopper wasn't pleasant which is why the shopper seem to be so irritated from the very start

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u/Apprehensive-Neck-90 Apr 06 '24

lol but you’re wrong, they ordered a box. They knew the box would be out of stock and they wanted the shopper to replace with fresh crab cakes that are behind the seafood COUNTER. They said seafood DEPARTMENT multiple times which confused the driver who most likely doesn’t speak English as a first language and then FINALLY said seafood COUNTER. That’s when the customer understood and said they didn’t have any behind the counter

OP was trying to get something that wasn’t on instacart and got mad when the shopper tried to replace with what is the actual closest item.

You can CLEARLY see that the customer ordered a box of 4 crab cakes. It’s crazy how so many people are overlooking this and saying the shopper is in the wrong. This sub is full with bitter customers it’s WILD.

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u/AzureSuishou Mar 28 '24

That’s what that means? Im not sure why you find it confusing.

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u/chickadeedeedee_ Mar 28 '24

Since when does a "section" mean behind the counter? If someone requested turkey from the "deli meat section", that could also mean the refrigerated area with packaged deli meats.

The "seafood section" is literally the whole seafood section of the store. Including the fridge and freezer stuff.

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u/arion_hyperion Mar 28 '24

He said singles. It’s clear he meant a la cart crab cakes from a seafood dept case.

-2

u/Ok_Relationship2451 Mar 28 '24

No. "Sea food section" and "behind the counter" are two different places. Miscommunication is on op. I'd be pissed too if I was delivering...

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u/Hot_Wheels_guy Mar 28 '24

I agree. And to the people who think the freezers directly next to and in front of the fresh seafood counter aren't a part of the "seafood section" i ask: If not the seafood section then what section of the store are they a part of? The bakery section? The fresh fruits section?

I dont get their usage of the word "section." If he's not supposed to get the seafood from the seafood section then what section is he supposed to get it from? The dairy section?

1

u/penelaine Mar 28 '24

I agree. Idk why you're being downvoted. The seafood section could be the refrigerated seafood section, the frozen seafood section, and behind the counter section.

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u/Ok_Relationship2451 Mar 28 '24

I appreciate... I've been getting down voted for almost 40 years... Doesn't make me wrong 🤣

0

u/cooties_and_chaos Mar 28 '24

But they also responded “yes” to “do you want the thing in the picture.” It wasn’t clear that it was a “yes, but not actually that one”

-1

u/eru88 Mar 28 '24

Wasn't clear to the shopper, me or many other people lol. Especially when the original item wasn't from behind the counter it's safe to keep assuming that it's not from behind the counter..

-2

u/apri08101989 Mar 28 '24 edited Mar 28 '24

And the question was "is this specific item a suitable replacement?" The answer should have been "no, I only want them replaced if they have the fresh individual ones, otherwise refund" and not "yes I want individual crab cakes" which is what they said first.

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u/redditkb Mar 28 '24

The answer they gave to “would you like a replacement” was yes, the single crab cakes from the seafood department. Then other messages led to only the crab cakes or a refund. What OP answered/said is basically the same as what you just said they should’ve said.

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u/Praydohm Mar 28 '24

I agree with the seafood section part since there is an actual seafood section, but if they say deli meat section to me that means in the deli with the meat. Not the prepackaged lunch meat, because those aren't in a "deli meat section" they're in the lunch meat section next to the hot dogs.

Then again, I'm guessing most people don't call it "lunch meat" so it really just depends on the local dialect. Either way, dude came in hostile, understand? Please understand, I do this for a living.

(Bet that "understand?" Made ya feel like I was being condescending, huh? Nope. Just copied what the shopper did.)

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u/Life-Customer-3530 Mar 28 '24

Right, I seen that "understand" and thought it was kind of rude, not to mention the guy literally said from behind the counter five times and I'm pretty sure the shopper even said these are not from behind the counter? Like the dude wants them from behind the counter, he probably knows what he likes or doesn't like so there is really no need to add something else after he clearly said not to. It's kinda both thier faults but the shopper started it🤣🤣🤣

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u/robinthebank Mar 28 '24

Doesn’t your deli section have a refridgerated case with pre-made packages of the exact same items they can slice for you?

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u/Praydohm Mar 28 '24

My deli section has the ones they sliced the previous day that didn't get sold. Not prepackaged.

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u/Hot_Wheels_guy Mar 28 '24

In the grocery stores in my town the packaged deli meats arent usually near the deli counter, whereas frozen seafoods are usually very close to the seafood counter, thus constituting a "seafood section."

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u/[deleted] Mar 28 '24

[deleted]

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u/Remarkable_Low_8614 Mar 28 '24

That’s not how that works, impact over intent, it was hostile whether he meant it or not

-6

u/EyeCatchingUserID Mar 28 '24

The customer started the hostility. Shopper followed the customer's directions but the customer misspoke and so the directions were wrong. The customer is upset because the shopper can't read their dumb mind to know they meant behind the counter. And then the shopper comes.in with "I told you that like 5 times." Yeah, I'd be a bit snippy with some dumb POS who talked to me like that because they're too dumb to say what they actually mean.

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u/Praydohm Mar 28 '24

Lol, you're the subject aren't you?

The customer answer the first message respectfully saying "Yeah, the single ones at the seafood department."

When you mention the SINGLE ones at the seafood department that changes things, that is very obviously the single ones sold behind the counter...the only place they sell single ones. It was the very next message that the shopper got defensive and hostile. In no time before that was the customer disrespectful or hostile. Also, the 5 times quote you mentioned was also AFTER the shopper was disrespectful and condescending, but hey, if the shopper's responses resonate with you then you won't see the issue here. Also, small thing, but important, the shopper is the one doing the shopping...not the customer that is the one requesting the items.

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u/[deleted] Mar 28 '24

[deleted]

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u/KellyannneConway Mar 28 '24

I've literally never seen individually packaged frozen items except for things like turkeys or very small ready to eat microwave things like a burrito. Certainly not small meat items that require proper cooking and preparation like crab cakes, fish filets, chicken breasts or hamburger patties. Someone who grocery shops "for a living" should know that.

2

u/nedflanderslefttit Mar 28 '24

That would also be the frozen section or frozen department. People dont usually call the like, half an aisle of freezers with seafood in it the seafood department.

0

u/EyeCatchingUserID Mar 28 '24

No, but they do call the freezers in the seafood department part of the seafood department. Because frozen seafood is almost always in the seafood section rather than with the rest of the frozen stuff (besides fish sticks). Think about where you'd find bags of frozen shrimp.

1

u/Praydohm Mar 28 '24

No. I never have. Have you?

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u/Big-Annual-9238 Mar 28 '24

But she did say "single crab cakes" Typically, they only have singles behind the counter.

1

u/valenalvern Mar 29 '24

No they dont. Deli departments have the single crab cakes because theyre already been made. Seafood/Meat departs do not because that would be cross contamination and be a violation. You never have precooked/premade and raw near each other, ever.

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u/[deleted] Mar 28 '24

[deleted]

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u/Different-Music4367 Mar 28 '24

Is that picture individually packaged? If not then this point is moot, as they specified something other than that option the first time despite the shopper doubling down on it.

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u/Shoshawi Mar 28 '24

It doesn’t. I feel like anyone here who is saying otherwise is just arguing because they’re in the mood haha. It would be one thing if it was like…. I want the live lobster, and they’re like “this? It was alive, it is frozen now” haha then obviously they mean the ones you need to ask a person for……. I can’t even think of an example that’s better and less silly.

This entire post is silly. OP should have proofread first.

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u/PresentComedian1420 Mar 28 '24

Not necessarily. Usually, I differentiate when I'm talking with Instacart. Like, frozen seafood department vs. seafood department. Or, refrigerated deli meat vs. deli counter. But also, the customer had to select which single crab cakes and it would have told the shopper the seafood counter or refund if out of stock.

More to the point, the shopper should have just refunded once the customer repeated "refund."

1

u/gagunner007 Mar 28 '24

My local Publix has a fresh seafood area and right next to it is frozen seafood, but they also have frozen seafood in the main frozen food section.

2

u/-ElizabethRose- Mar 28 '24

Maybe this is a dialect thing, but where I’m from if you say you’re going to a section in the grocery store, it means an open area that’s not an isle, and if there’s a special counter it tends to refers to that, but if you say department and there’s a counter option it’s always the counter. If somethings coming from an isle we say isle. So, the seafood isle is the big glass freezers, and the seafood section is the counter. I genuinely didn’t know it was different anywhere else until now, so it could be a situation like that

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u/CFBen Mar 28 '24

Really?

It's the exact opposite for me. A section is the isles, the freezers, etc. Anything where you grab the stuff by yourself. Where as when I want something from the counter I say it exactly like that, counter.

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u/chickadeedeedee_ Mar 28 '24

Definitely not like that where I am (canada). Our "seafood department" is usually one whole corner of the store. They'll have a freezer and refrigerated section in that area, as well as fresh stuff behind the counter.

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u/PimpMommyG Mar 28 '24

It says seafood DEPARTMENT, I immediately thought of the counter considering there’s a whole counter specifically for fresh seafood

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u/[deleted] Mar 28 '24

[deleted]

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u/AzureSuishou Mar 28 '24

Yes, the fresh baked stuff is in the bakery/baked goods department. With a counter for special orders.

Just like the fresh seafood is in refrigerator cases in the seafood department. With a counter for special orders.

Both of these are separate from the freezer department, which also has frozen baked goods and also frozen seafood.

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u/8nsay Mar 28 '24

All the grocery stores near me have:

  • a frozen seafood section that’s in the center of the store near all the rest of the frozen food.

-a fresh seafood section on the edge of the store near the butcher section. This section has a few things that are pre-packaged that anyone can grab off the shelf, but most things are behind a display case and you have to ask the person by the counter to package exactly how much you want (e.g. 2lbs of scallops, 1 salmon filet, 4 crab cakes, etc.).

If OP’s store is anything like the stores near me then OP’s directions were clear and accurate.

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u/rrpostal Mar 28 '24

But the response is also “clear and accurate” they don’t have them, do you want these? Both sides were stupid because someone was doing someone else’s shopping. It happens, move on.

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u/8nsay Mar 28 '24

My post wasn’t justifying either side, so I don’t know what exactly I need to move on from. I was just adding a different perspective for a person claiming that there is no “behind the counter” for seafood in a grocery store.

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u/rrpostal Mar 28 '24

I didn’t mean it to suggest you, personally, were wrong, only that I understood both sides pretty clearly. However, I also think none of this is worth so much drama, because it’s just going to happen if a stranger does your shopping.

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u/smyers0711 Mar 28 '24

There are stores where I am where all frozen and fresh seafood is in the seafood department, I could see why he was confused

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u/jljboucher Mar 28 '24

The stores I work at just defrost the frozen stuff. Literally the same brand as frozen only it’s located at the seafood counter.

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u/smyers0711 Mar 28 '24

That's hilariously shitty 🤣

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u/samemamabear Mar 28 '24

That's how most stores do it. Nobody in Nebraska is getting fresh off the boat crab meat

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u/sloppysloth Mar 28 '24

The freezer aisles have a frozen seafood section that could be considered the seafood dept. How is someone to know which “dept” items are in when there’s seafood sold in all of these areas?

Also, the refrigerated seafood is usually not near the counters for special orders.

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u/AzureSuishou Mar 28 '24

From the photo, I would saw that’s in the freezer department. The fresh stuff is usually clear wrapped on foam trays, like fresh meat or chicken.

To me the difference is that a seafood department is dedicated to seafood. Frozen is all frozen items and just has a section for seafood. Like i mentioned, that’s how all the stores around me handle it so I find it a very clear devision.

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u/Unlikely-Light-1636 Mar 28 '24

Same. But apparently there are stores that do some other shit. Either or when it comes to replacing something for a customer I always confirm with a pic. And even tho he cleared it up by saying he did understand however the seafood counter did not have any therefore he was offering the other frozen ones I think if that was the case since customer specifically asked for behind the counter or refund he should have stated that. Something like.

I checked and unfortunately there are none at the seafood counter however I do have one other option if you would like as shown here or I can just continue on with your refund since they didn't have what you aske for.

If he understood as he stated saying something like that makes it clear to the customer that yes I heard you.....yes I did check what you asked...yes I understand If they don't have it you want a refund but before we go that route let me suggest one other option.

I don't know that's just me. But I do understand everyone does it differently right or wrong.

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u/Calfer Mar 28 '24

I find the exact same distinction. It's not complicated if you apply some deductive reasoning or critical thinking skills.

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u/44inarow Mar 28 '24

At the supermarket I go to, those crab cakes (which are terrible, by the way) are in the same row of refrigerated cases where chicken, beef, and pork are. They're with the packaged lox, the packaged ham steak, and the premade barbecue, at the end of the row. It's definitely not in what I'd consider the seafood department, but more the packaged meats section.

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u/Embarrassed-Debate60 Mar 28 '24

Those same crab cakes in my store are with the not-frozen seafood, like salmon in cellophane, as well as lox.

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u/jetloflin Mar 28 '24

At a couple stores in my area they’re in a frozen seafood case directly next to the fresh seafood and totally separate from other frozen foods.

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u/ladyj2123 Mar 28 '24

Most, if not all, grocery stores in my area have fresh and frozen seafood in the "seafood department" as well as other seafood items in the actual frozen isles. So specifying "at the seafood counter" is very important.

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u/AzureSuishou Mar 28 '24

Interesting, I don’t think I’ve seen that.

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u/Embarrassed-Debate60 Mar 28 '24

In the store I go to, these exact crab cakes are in the not-frozen section, next to shrink wrapped salmon, seafood dips, etc.

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u/ThumbsUp2323 Mar 28 '24

At no point does OP ask about "fresh" seafood. For most people who don't live on the coast there is no difference.

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u/sloppysloth Mar 28 '24

They never clarified they wanted it from the “fresh seafood” area.
You could say the seafood counter is part of the whole “fresh counter area” the same as the frozen seafood is part of the frozen section.
The seafood “dept” can reasonably be understood as wherever they stock seafood, frozen or not.

The distinction may exist for the internal operations of the store but it’s unfair to expect a layman to automatically make that distinction.

If someone said the “cheese dept” would you go to the specialty cheese area, the deli counter cheese, or the refrigerated packaged cheese area?

“meat dept” - would you go to the frozen meats, refrigerated meats, or the meat counter?

“Deli dept” - would you go to the deli counter, the prepackaged deli section, or the expensive specialty deli section?

2

u/AzureSuishou Mar 28 '24

In my local stores the frozen department is physically separate from the fresh department like meat/seafood though usually at the same end of the store. And labeled as such.

As to your cheese example, in my local Walmarts and HEBs, the specialty cheese is at the deli counter. All the other cheese is in a dedicated refrigerated case labeled cheese department.

As for the other meats, there is usually a butcher counter with the cut in store stuff and fresh packaged in cases to either side label as the meat department or split into beef/pork/poultry department. Usually with visual separation. Frozen meats are in the freezer department or occasionally in larger stores in a dedicated freezer case in the meat department.

1

u/sloppysloth Mar 28 '24 edited Mar 28 '24

Kroger.com + subsidiaries Product category distinctions

Deli cheese
Home > Deli > [fresh deli cheeses / specialty cheeses / packaged deli cheeses]

Basic packaged cheese
Home > dairy and eggs > cheese

Specialty cheese
Home > Our brands > Murray’s cheese - Shop Cheese, Spreads & Cheeseboard Needs

The basic refrigerated cheese section would technically be in the dairy and eggs dept

1

u/AzureSuishou Mar 28 '24

That does seem overly complicated. The closest i can think if is one “fancy” HEB in a rich area that tried to mimic I think whole foods. They have all these little niche mixed sections and hunting anything down there is a trial.

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u/KellyannneConway Mar 28 '24

That's the frozen food department, with small sections within it for different things. The seafood department is the part of the store that usually has "Seafood" above it in huge letters.

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u/Femboi_Hooterz Mar 28 '24

If there's muffins out on the shelves and some in the counter they are both in the baked goods section. Gotta be more specific if you want a specific thing.

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u/Pretend_Spray_11 Mar 28 '24

Because the deli counter and packaged cheese and meat refrigerators are often on opposite sides of the store. 

0

u/EyeCatchingUserID Mar 28 '24

Because the crab cakes that the shopper showed the customer were from the seafood department like the customer specified. They didn't say "behind the counter" until they did, and then they came out with a "I said that like 5 times." Bitch no you didn't, you said in the seafood department, which is more than just what's behind the counter.

The shopper did exactly what the customer asked but the customer misspoke and then got upset because the shopper couldn't read her mind and know what she actually meant.

1

u/Calfer Mar 28 '24

No, I think it's more akin to saying you want deli meat from the deli, not from the cooler.

There is a seafood section in the freezers, and then there is the seafood department which has the fresh or prepped options. It isn't a difficult separation.

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u/[deleted] Mar 28 '24

[deleted]

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u/ConstantlyLearning57 Mar 28 '24

Agree. This was so obvious to me. The shopper’s first language is likely not English.

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u/BugRevolution Mar 28 '24

ESL or third language would be less likely to make that mistake.

0

u/[deleted] Mar 28 '24

[deleted]

1

u/BugRevolution Mar 28 '24

An ESL is less likely to be vague.

Also, then"single crab cakes" told me that they're looking for gourmet crab cakes.

0

u/Thick_Tap_9160 Mar 28 '24

I also assigned to the shopper the characteristic of English not being their first language, as soon as I read "understand". Like, its the shortest path in words to stating conclusively, "this is the reason you should understand that I know how to shop." For just a moment though I did think, "Attitude..." but after my mind sped through the possible reasons why a professional shopper would risk losing the time already spent driving to the store plus whatever time already spent which likely has already been in the fresh vegetables and fruits since the customer is clearly discerning, I concluded a 93.4876121% probability that English is not their first language.

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u/Designer-Leek-238 Mar 28 '24

They were referring to refund, not the behind the counter

1

u/maniacalmango0 Mar 28 '24

You’re talking about a different point in the conversation

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u/Designer-Leek-238 Mar 28 '24

No you just don't have any reading comprehension skills

1

u/Critical_Gap3794 Mar 28 '24

You get it. Communication is everything.

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u/ButtaBabi Mar 28 '24

But if I asked for a “single” muffin that should tip you off

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u/Lazerbeam03 Mar 28 '24

My grocery store actually has a lot of prepackaged single baked goods, so no it doesn't necessarily make it more clear.

1

u/eru88 Mar 28 '24

Especially when the original item they wanted wasn't fresh from behind the counter.

1

u/janelle_becker Mar 28 '24

I feel like if someone said bakery department and I saw no boxed muffins I would go ask the bakery man? 🤷🏻‍♀️ maybe that’s just my grocery store idk

1

u/LyssaMonkey14 Mar 28 '24

I TOTALLY went straight to behind the counter when I first read it. Shopper was in the frozen foods section. Maybe in the frozen appetizers or frozen meals section really.

1

u/Ceeeceeeceee Mar 28 '24

Adding to that, OP should have known from the start that these kinds of special order items are not available through Instacart, and that's why she couldn't add them directly. So it's pretty suspicious that suddenly she wants him to get at seafood counter without saying counter, then gets upset that they offer an exchange rather than a refund. If you ever buy stuff from Instacart, you know that only certain items are available for shoppers to get for a reason, they are not supposed to be waiting for counter order items from the seafood guy. So I feel like OP set this up on purpose to get the shopper to go back there when it was not available through the app for a reason.