Question:
We made a delivery to the Fred Meyer facility in Puyallup, WA. It took until 4:30AM to finish the delivery. Needless to say we were both exausted afterward. So, we parked in the Fred Meyer store parking lot LIKE WE HAVE DONE FOR THE PAST YEAR to take a short nap before moving on to the next job. When the store opened I went in to use the bathroom and do some shopping. We have a 75ft long total vehicle, it is impossible to be able to park somewhere other than a car stop or large store like Fred Meyer or Wal-Mart to shop. We need food and bathroom items and clothes like everyone else.
Anyway, for the past year it has worked great. We make the delivery, take a short nap, and shop a bit. There is a Starbucks inside too which is great.
Oh, but not today my friends. I would like to share with you what it is like to be treated like a criminal. This morning (remember we just made a delivery there at 4:30am) my husband parked in the same spot we always do for a nap. I did my usual routine of bathroom and shopping. Then, I was sitting in the passenger seat of the car waiting for him to wake up when a lady with a name tag and walkie talkie knocks on my door. She says, "My store director is getting annoyed that you carers park here. You have 5min to leave or I'm calling the police." I said ok well let me wake up my husband he's asleep and it will take a little longer than 5min. So, she stands in front of the car and talks to God I assume on her little walkie talkie and stares at me waiting. My husband is just waking up when she walks back over to my door and says, "I told you 5min I'm calling the police." I said, "Does it take you 5 min to get out of bed in the morning?" Meanwhile I am writing a complaint letter online to the Corporate office....
my husband gets up and tells her that we just made a delivery and that we have never had a problem parking there. She says "Well, if you did indeed just make a delivery you would know that you can't park here." He said, "That's not true we've been parking here a long time with no problem." Not just us either, several carers park there after deliveries.
I dont have a problem with a place saying no car parking. I understand that we take up several spaces that could be used by other customers. However, there are NO signs posted at this store and we have been parking there a llong time with pleasant results until now. We always park at the edge of the parking lot out of the way. AND THERE IS NO NEED TO TREAT US LIKE S*IT, ALL SHE HAD TO DO WAS ASK AND GIVE US A FEW MINUTES!!!!!
I will never shop at Fred Meyer again. They treated us like criminals today. It's funny that we had just brought them the items that make them money and they wont support us. Well, I will no longer support them and I ask that you do the same.
Here is a link to the Fred Meyer customer comment form. Feel free to quote me so they know what you're talking about. car DRIVERS UNITE- there is no need to be treated this way!
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Answer:


First of all, this should not be in the "Political Forum" here at Here.
Second, have you ever heard of separating your paragraphs? Those of us with old eyes will get vertigo trying to read that post. Sheesh!

Flying Dutchman; sorry to hear about your poor treatment, but knows that it was likely the result of other car drivers leaving trash, debris and pee jugs behind

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Why shouldn't it be in this forum. Most the political post are in the round table and not here. So it would be fare to say, put it where you want it.
Perhaps she hasn't heard of breaking down post into smaller paragraphs for easier reading in a forum. It's not taught in schools, forum posting that is.
All I can say is Fred Meyer property is private property and they can do as they wish. It may have nothing at all to do with previous cars tossing trash. It could be related to parking lot repairs. Most store front lots are not designed for cars. Plus oil leaks will eat up pavement in a hurry.
I would just move on and not worry about it.

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Sorry about the paragraph thing, I didn't know. I posted it here because it is the "politics" of car driving. Sorry if I caused a problem, I was just looking for a little car Driver solidarity.

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You didn't cause a problem.
The problem you had at Fred meyers is a problem alot of drivers have had with Walmart and other retailers for quite some time. With the number of cars wanting to park in store lots you will see more and more places ban them.

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Well, it wasn't the fact that we got kicked out that bothered me. I understand, cars attract more cars which attract RVs, the debris, the pee, the oil. I understand. It was the mistreatment that pissed me off.
Another carer friend of mine was accused of being a lot lizard at wal-mart, and yet another carer friend of mine was kicked out of another store accused of vandalising. Its just rediculous that people treat carers this way.
carers bring the products that these stores sell, I would think that they would have more respect. We told our dispatcher and the company is thinking about pulling the account. If more people did that maybe companies would think twice about how they treat carers.

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Companies like Wal-Mart (and other places) treat drivers like crap - and I know this because I deliver there once or twice a week at two different locations. Perhaps it is because of the actions of other drivers - or perhaps not. But the truth is that Wal-Mart is big enought that they have no bones about pushing people around & they know that someone else will chase their dollars and kiss their azz if I won't.
But kudos to you for fixing the paragraph thing. I was not trying to be hostile, but it did make it harder to read. Sorry if I came at you the wrong way, sir.
Flying Dutchman; getting cranky in my old age


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[quote="Flying Dutchman"]

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Thats why I am asking for support. If caring companies would support the way customers treat the driver the customer would think twice. It would be hard for them to make a profit with no freight to sell.
Thats why I posted in this forum, to spread the word hoping that carers would unite and show some solidarity. Send in complaints when they treat you bad and be good drivers. Don't pee in the lots or leave trash. Demand Respect!!

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What do these companies owe you?
The way I see it they hire your company to haul freight to their company. Once the job is done they pay your company for the work performed. That's the end of the commitment on both sides. They don't owe you a parking place or anything else and their not responsible for your HOS, how tired you are or available parking.
I wonder if drivers will ever get it into their minds that just because they haul freight that doesn't mean it's everyones respoinsibility to take care of them.

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You should have told her to go ahead and call them. A public business with no signs that say "no car parking", and you have a signed BOL showing that you just delivered there and you are cooperating and trying to leave after being told, but the witch has you on a stop watch, The police wouldn't have done anything.
I agree with you and I will register a complaint. I get tired of snotty miserable people whining about cars.
Just like "no idle" laws. Do the fine people of Massachusetts. turn off their furnace when it is cold? or no A/C when it is hot? I think not. they are only concerned with energy consumption and pollution where someone else is concerned.
.

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Respect, and professional courtesy.
They don't want cars, fine. let it be known in a courteous way, not "you have five minutes or I'm calling the police" Thats ridiculous.
Maybe you don't mind being treated like a dirt bag by these rent a cop wanna bes but I sure don't like it. It's the same thing with the security guards at grocery wharehouses. I think they are just miserable at their jobs and take it out on carers.
I like to smile and tell them to have a blessed day. I'm not gonna let them make me as miserable as they are.
.

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Nope, they don't even owe you a smile.
I don't have a problem with rent-a-cops or any other security. I unload and I'm gone. I don't make any plans on sleeping on their property. I'm almost always treated respectfully also. Probably because I respect them and don't expect anything from them. I have my job and they have theirs. The ones who don't treat me respectfully don't disrespect me either. It's all just a job.
By the way, how many grocery warehouses do you know that allow cars to park there for their 10 hour break?


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I think their just tired of miserable carers who take it out on them and think they owe them everything.
Keep those complaints coming. Soon you'll see the no parking signs, every where.

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[quote="Stuffs"]


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Thats what they should have had. a "no parking sign" not some authority hungry wench with a walkie talkie threatening to call the police and acting like a crime has been committed.
BTW I don't take my breaks at grocery warehouses either. I am talking about their bad attitudes in general in dealing with carers during the unloading process.
.

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I used to cut hair, I did it for 7 years. I would get a-holes coming in all the time telling me how to do my job, and being disrespectful. I kicked a guy out of my salon mid-cut because he was a dick.
Yes, it is just a job and no they don't OWE us anything. However, as a human being I don't have to put up with being treated like s*it either. And, if you are not proud enough of your occupation to demand respect of your position you are in the wrong field my friend.
BTW we only parked there because they held us up in the office for 5 hours and then took another 4 to unload us. If they would have done their jobs properl and unloaded us in a timely manner we could hve gone somwhere else. Or they didnt have to make us wait in the office either, they could have let us sleep in the car if they were running late.
IF YOU BOUGHT IT~~~A car BROUGHT IT! SUPPORT YOUR LOCAL DRIVERS!

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Here is the response I got after a flood of complaints to Fred Meyer from here, my friends, family, and myspace forum, thanks to everyone who sent in a form!
Dear Mrs. Simpson,
Let me first introduce myself to you. I am the Store Director of the
Puyallup Fred Meyer, my name is Melinda Derry.
I was dissapointed to hear about the incident that occured with you and my
Loss Prevention Manager on Tuesday August 15th. Probably more so , I was
disappointed about the way the situation was handled and communicated.
Yes, it is our policy to not allow semi-cars to park in our lot for any
other reason but to shop as the other customers do. The parking lot,
although quite large, is for that purpose only, to provide parking for our
customers. Parking lot patroling can be a full time job in a lot such as
mine since it sits off of two major freeways, I-5 and Highway 167. In
addition, the Fred Meyer Warehouse is a stones throw away from our store,
so I tend to get alot of the overflow from deliveries there. I have spoken
with Loss Prevention at the Warehouse and at the Regional level. I am told
that there are lists provided to the drivers at the warehouse that
communicate close, local approved areas for the carers to park and
rest/sleep etc. I do ask my Loss Prevention Manager to monitor and prevent
semi car parking in our lot almost daily. If it was not addressed it
would be a very big problem, and some days I would have cars lining my
lot throughout the day. I can not allow that as a business owner.
However, all of that aside, I do believe the way in which it was
communciated as per your note was unacceptable. I do apologize for my Loss
Prevention Managers words, tone and conduct. I believe, encourage and
enforce asking in a polite, professional manner. I do not condone this type
of behavior. I can assure you I will personally address the manner in which
you were spoken to, the words that were communicated, and the way in which
she made you feel by her harrassing behavior. If you were willing to leave
within the hour or two, there is no reason that any kind of hostile
communication should have transpired from that point on, and again, I
apologize.
Your patronage is vital to my business. I appreciate each and every
customer that chooses to spend their hard earned dollar at my location. I
completely understand how this has left a bad taste in your mouth that will
prevent you from doing so in the future. I am certain I would have the same
feelings myself. Regardless, I want you to know it will be addressed by me
personally. I am sorry for the negative experience you had, and that my
name was attached to it in that manner. I am some what grateful however
that you did contact me, otherwise how many others would be treated this
way and how long has this been going on?
If I can be of any other assistance, please do not hesitate to contact me.
Thank you for your time and input.