Returning frozen shrimp @ Whole Foods?

[gate_pourri]

I was craving shrimp today. Traffic was bad, so instead of going to Costco, which I know had good frozen shrimp, I went home and instead walked over to Trader Joes. When I got there, I was shocked to find that they had no raw shrimp. Only one kind of cooked shrimp. I passed on the cooked shrimp and instead walked over to Whole Foods. They had a few different kinds. I came home and cooked up a serving. blech! These shrimp smell and taste very "fishy". I have never returned anything to Whole Foods (actually I can only recall every returning food to any grocery store once and that was because once I got it home (breakfast sausage), I realized it had expired over 2 weeks beforehand). But, I cannot imagine myself every eating these - and the bag was $13.

Does anyone have any experience returning something to Whole Foods? Since TJ's had none, is there a shrimp shortage/problem I am unaware of?

 

[happygirl]

I was craving shrimp today. Traffic was bad, so instead of going to Costco, which I know had good frozen shrimp, I went home and instead walked over to Trader Joes. When I got there, I was shocked to find that they had no raw shrimp. Only one kind of cooked shrimp. I passed on the cooked shrimp and instead walked over to Whole Foods. They had a few different kinds. I came home and cooked up a serving. blech! These shrimp smell and taste very "fishy". I have never returned anything to Whole Foods (actually I can only recall every returning food to any grocery store once and that was because once I got it home (breakfast sausage), I realized it had expired over 2 weeks beforehand). But, I cannot imagine myself every eating these - and the bag was $13.

Does anyone have any experience returning something to Whole Foods? Since TJ's had none, is there a shrimp shortage/problem I am unaware of?

I have never returned anything because of my personal dislike of any item.

 

[monkeybug]

Whole foods is all about customer service and top quality foods, they will happily take it back and refund your money! Nobody shops at Whole Foods because of the prices, you know what I mean?

We returned coffee beans there once because we had asked for something mild, and what we got was bitter and super bold. (their coffee guys recommendation)
They didn't bat an eye and were super friendly about the whole thing.

 

[kirstenb1]

One of the signs that shellfish is past it's prime is a strong fishy odor. I'd return them.

 

[stepmommyof1]

This is not about "personal dislike of an item". This is about quality and freshness. I read in the newspaper that if seafood has a "fish smell", it is either not good quality or not fresh. Most people would be surprised by that because you would expect sea food to have a fish smell right? But it's actually not supposed to smell/taste that way if it's good and fresh. You should return it.

 

[katesorad]

Bring it back. I used to bag groceries at Albertsons when I was in high school and there were two types of "returners"- there was the type that would "try" expensive new foods and take them back when their kids didn't like them.. and then there was the type of person who would honestly have a big problem with the item (not being fresh, expired, not what they wanted, etc.) and there would never be an issue with it.

 

[shortbun]

Take it back. They are very good about returns.

 

[kellyg403]

OP, if you feel the product is in any way not a good one, take it back to the store. I have not had an issue returning anything that I thought there was a chance may not be a good product, had a bad date or in some way subpar quality.

I am not an advocate of returning things I have bought and 'tried' to see if my family liked it. I personally believe if I am willing to take the chance my family will/will not like something I am willing to take the chance the money is not being spent wisely. I was standing behind someone returning some donuts the other day. I should say just the box. She said they were stale but her family ate them anyway and she wanted her money back. That is something I just think is wrong.

I would certainly take your shrimp back. Seafood is one of those items I would never mess with.

Kelly

 

[Disfan1]

Take it back! I bought my cat a big tray of canned food at Costco but when I put a can of food in her bowl, she tried to cover it up after just smelling it - she wouldn't even TRY to eat it. I took the tray minus one can back to Costco, explained that my cat hated it, and they returned my money no problem! Good luck!

 

[LuvOrlando]

The shortage is called "Lent" and you will have a hard time on and near Fridays until Easter, I think we keep seafood suppliers & Pizzarias in business

I have returned funky fish before, just don't throw it away. Wrap it up in a Ziplock and bring it to them. Sometimes people leave stuff like that out and employees simply return it to the bin when its found or people leave the freezer door open and the stuff on top defrosts. There are no guarantees but at least a better chance it didn't defrost if you reach in and take a package from the middle.

 

[marcyinPA]

Definitely take it back. It sounds like it was spoiled (or at least, on it's way out). If you can't get there immediately, you should call the store, ask them if they want you to actually bring the item in with the receipt, and then get the name of the person you spoke with.

I have had to return a lot of spoiled items (I didn't realize they were spoiled until I opened them...like mold between tortillas, etc.)

I would never try to return a food item because I didn't like it, though. I saw this yesterday, when I had to return a Coffee-mate creamer because the bottle leaked on my car floor on the way home (it tipped over...I didn't realize the bottle was not sealed properly. They shouldn't leak before you pull the seal). Anyway, the woman in front of us was trying to return an opened jar of pickles because she didn't like them. The CS woman told her they can't take something back just because she didn't like the taste. A manager had to be called, and then we were waited on by someone else and we left. I don't know how it ended up.

 

[luvmy3]

I have never returned anything because of my personal dislike of any item.

I wouldn't have returned it but I wouldn't have purchased frozen seafood either. If you aren't buying it fresh then you shouldn't be surprised that it isn't "fresh"

 

[tasha99]

I wouldn't have returned it but I wouldn't have purchased frozen seafood either. If you aren't buying it fresh then you shouldn't be surprised that it isn't "fresh"

Flash frozen on the ship is much fresher than any "fresh" fish at a big box grocery store.

 

[Imzadi]

Edited: _I_ can't read correctly.

I have not returned something to WF, but once, I did pick up a salmon steak from my local supermarket. As soon as I ripped open the plastic wrap, it wreaked! I put the plastic wrap back on and put it back in the plastic bag. I returned it the next day, telling them it was spoiled before I bought it. They had no problem exchanging it for something else.

 

[MaryAnnDVC]

I guess people can't read to the bottom of your post. This is all the info necessary in your OP.

Return the shrimp with label intact. It is 2 weeks past the expiration date. The store should have pulled it from the freezer two weeks ago.


I have not returned something to WF, but once, I did pick up a salmon steak from my local supermarket. As soon as I ripped open the plastic wrap, it wreaked! I put the plastic wrap back on and put it back in the plastic bag. I returned it the next day, telling them it was spoiled before I bought it. They had no problem exchanging it for something else.

Actually, it's not about people who "can't read to the bottom or your post"...the OP was referring to the sausage that she had once returned that had expired two weeks beforehand.

 

[luvmy3]

Flash frozen on the ship is much fresher than any "fresh" fish at a big box grocery store.

But you have no idea if an ideal temp has been maintained from the point of flash frozen until you take it home and open it. At least with fresh you can visibly see, and smell if its not as fresh as it should be. I also don't buy my seafood at my big box store, I buy it at a locally owned market with a fishmonger. Seafood is just not something I take a chance with, what happened to the OP is exactly why.

 

[Imzadi]

Actually, it's not about people who "can't read to the bottom or your post"...the OP was referring to the sausage that she had once returned that had expired two weeks beforehand.

Whoops! Okay, _I_ can't read a post properly!

 

[merekc]

But you have no idea if an ideal temp has been maintained from the point of flash frozen until you take it home and open it. At least with fresh you can visibly see, and smell if its not as fresh as it should be. I also don't buy my seafood at my big box store, I buy it at a locally owned market with a fishmonger. Seafood is just not something I take a chance with, what happened to the OP is exactly why.

Unfortunately, not everyone has the luxury of buying fresh fish straight from the local fisherman.

My vote is if you think it is bad, return it. If you try something and don't like it, then you keep it (if it isn't something they can resale).

I have returned fresh shrimp before to the local grocery chain. I unwrapped it and the smell took my breath away. It took me a day or two to get it returned and they didn't give me any trouble. I live in Kansas...What was I thinking??? I now only buy frozen.

 

[tasha99]

Unfortunately, not everyone has the luxury of buying fresh fish straight from the local fisherman.

My vote is if you think it is bad, return it. If you try something and don't like it, then you keep it (if it isn't something they can resale).

I have returned fresh shrimp before to the local grocery chain. I unwrapped it and the smell took my breath away. It took me a day or two to get it returned and they didn't give me any trouble. I live in Kansas...What was I thinking??? I now only buy frozen.

Yup. I live an hour from the coast, and I don't think fresh fish is all that fresh! I'm moving to coastal Alaska this summer though, where I will be catching my own halibut/salmon/crab/clams etc. Fresh seafood is in my future, and I'm ridiculously excited about that.

I do get the previous poster's point about being able to tell if it was maintained better with fresh, but only to a point. The best case scenario for fresh is not as good as the best case flash frozen one unless you live on the coast. But, worst case scenario you're right--you can't tell until you open and thaw the fish, and you could usually smell through the package if something was unfrozen and old.

 

[luvmy3]

Unfortunately, not everyone has the luxury of buying fresh fish straight from the local fisherman.

My vote is if you think it is bad, return it. If you try something and don't like it, then you keep it (if it isn't something they can resale).

I have returned fresh shrimp before to the local grocery chain. I unwrapped it and the smell took my breath away. It took me a day or two to get it returned and they didn't give me any trouble. I live in Kansas...What was I thinking??? I now only buy frozen.

Oh I wish I lived where I could go to the shore and buy my catch as it was being pulled in. A fishmonger isn't a fisherman, its just someone who sells fish, we have a small family owned market with an excellent seafood dept.
I am only speaking for what I would do, if I purchased it frozen and it was bad, I wouldn't return it because to me buying it frozen is chancing it and its like buyer beware. I wouldn't fault anyone for bringing it back though, its just not something I would do.