I promised you a rant about two weeks ago. I got out of the mood, you know, I mellowed out 
about it but it brought me to the boiling point again last night. I like Iced Tea. I find that while not exactly better than some brewed tea's, Nestea Unsweetened is convenient and fast for me and my preference. It is the 'Original' tea they started selling as instant. I think it superior to Lipton or any of the others. My tea has a dark green band around the top of the label. Nestea also makes the same label with a yellow band for lemon flavored and and light green band for de-caf. I don't want those, I want the original with the dark green band. See picture.
SO, about 3 weeks ago I was down in my supply and stopped in town at our local store. It's a small store but it's where I buy most of my groceries. I tried to buy some of my tea and found that while they had about six different kinds of tea including the Nestea yellow and light green labels that were all well stocked and full to the front, the space where the 'Original' was supposed to be was empty. I mentioned it at checkout. They would tell someone.
A week later, repeat the above. Only this time I talked to someone who was in charge of some of the ordering and she said she would order some, "It's my favorite too," she told me.
Last week, (MY SUPPLY NOW COMPLETELY GONE) same as above only two ordering people said "we have two cases coming in."
Our neighboring town has a big store and a medium sized store. I don't mind spending money in that town instead of my home town once in a while. Marilyn does get the biggest share of her business from there after all. Last week I stopped in twice at the medium sized store. Same as above. Plenty of every type of tea but mine is sold out.
Last night we stopped at the big one thinking that there is no chance of getting it at one of smaller more convenient stores. The big store was SOLD OUT OF NESTEA UNSWEETENED.
So we drive to the smaller store and lo and behold they've gotten in a shipment but have just two bottles left. We took them. Oh sweet victory!
This began about a month ago and Marilyn and I have had occasion to be together in three different grocery stores since that time, and have noticed one obvious thing. Any product that says 'Original' is either in low supply or completely missing while all of the other improved versions are always fully stocked. You can see three or four examples of this down every isle. If you need 'low salt', 'de-caf', 'no sugar', 'nonfat' or 'sweetened' then you are in luck.
20 comments:
Well Dad, things are rough all over.
I've had that same experience. My "work around" is to keep a backup stock to cover that month of looking for replacements and then re-stock. "New and Improved" is a well known marketing scheme - folks will buy into it every time.
When I come to visit I know what to bring!!
I hate it when they are out of just what I want. I'm glad you finally found some before you went into Nestea withdrawal. That might not have been pretty.
Cliff
Back in January 2005 I went on a little rant about spaghetti sauce. One of the people who left a comment was right on the mark. It's as true now as it was back then. While I could try and remember it, I think a direct quote is in order:
Cliff Morrow said...
Ralph, this is right on. Great Blog!! You are so correct, I spend most of my time in a store making sure it's the 'original' and not some improved version. Most of the time they should boldly advertise, "NEW AND IMPROVED, WE'VE SCREWED UP THE TASTE"!!.
What do you call a Saltine Cracker that has been improved by making it without salt? The funny thing is, it only resembles the original product in shape.
They are trying to force you into trying the others, Cliff...that's all there is too it! Make a stance!
Well, Cliff, you should keep a year or so in supply in your pantry at all times.
Do like Ralph's underwear drawer and put the oldest up front.
Then if the store runs out, all you need to get is one to replace the one in the back and you can work on getting it for a while.
It sure is too bad that I'm so easy-going, I never have anything to rant about.
..
You've been shopping in our town, haven't you?
Cliff,
Funny you should mention it. The last time I bought tea was at Kroger. Like your experience, they were out of the original. Lots of flavored teas, then there was Lipton and Kroger generic brand (Yikes). I settled for Lipton, but I am quickly getting to the bottom of that jar, and will have to go shopping for it again. This time I'm armed with information.
Thanks, Cliff!
Oh Cliff, I hate that too. What I hate more is that the companies always, and I mean always, change your favorite product! Just when you LOVE something,poof! They add something to it or take something away from it, or take it off the shelf altogether. Then when you complain to the manufacturer, they send you coupons for the other products that you really don't want to use! And to top it all off, they aren't even good coupons! YOu have to buy three to get 50 cents off! Good NIght! Are they serious. Glad that you finally found your favorite though, and you were smart to buy 2! I always do that, especially when it is on sale.
When you come to a tea in the road, take it. MEM
Exactly, MEM.
well i am so glad you found your tea. have a glass for me. you will have to remember everytime you are in any store to just pick up a can of it so that you don't go thru the same thing. it is better to have way too much of our favorite foods or drinks than to run out!! not sure that is a good theory but i live by it. maybe that's why i can't loose weight. lol
Glad you got your tea. And it's probably time to look for another supply. I mean, how long can 2 bottles last?
That scenario sounds a lot like trips that I've made to the store for special items. I'm fussy too. But then, aren't most of us?
I know it's trouble, but brewing your own is hard to beat! Throw a little home grown mint in...perfect.
Awww Cliff now you see here I know a thing or two about tea. Don't be given me none of this instant tea malarky. You need a real cuppa me old mate. Oops sorry about the old bit. But you need to try a real cuppa tea not none of this instant tea nonsense. Come to your senses and get yourself a cup of Tetley love. You won't regret it. Step away from the Nestea!
Take care xx
I've got to get me some of that Original Nestea Unsweetened. That must be some gooood tea!
You should do a commercial for them!!
It sounds like some sort of conspiracy or something..
Cliff ~ I am just a BAG guy! (and usually Lipton). ~ jb///
It kills me when there's something hard to find and I do come upon it, then only buy one. Thereby going home, putting it away and kicking myself wondering why I didn't stock up.
But since we all know what you like, you can be sure there'll be many bottles heading your way now!
Cliff,
Just getting caught up on your newer posts. Don't know if you go back and look at older comments, but here we go.
The absolute best tea for iced tea is Lipton cold brew. Sort of like sun tea, but closer to instant tea. It only takes 5 min. in cool or cold water. I even tried making concentrate ( four quart bags in a quart of water, then refrigerate )
Post a Comment