Returning fruit?!?

[shinysparklybubbles]

When I was at the store today someone was returning a watermelon that had a chunk out of it. The lady said she was returning it because it was not ripe. I always assumed fruit was kind of buyer beware and if it wasn't good it was my problem. Thoughts?

 

[yoopermom]

I'm the fruit returner. Watermelons drive me crazy (if the place doesn't have one cut in half for you to see). I hate getting it home and having it be almost white inside/pale pink. I asked the produce manager, and he said that I should feel free to ask any employee in that section to split one for me if there's not one already cut. I like my watermelon almost ripe to sugar, so no white watermelon for me!

Terri

 

[SC Minnie]

reminds me of a Sienfeld episode.

 

[RitaZ.]

If the grocery store has a satisfaction guaranteed policy, then there is nothing wrong with returning an item that you're not satisfied with.

 

[Robinrs]

Sam's and Walmart have a produce return policy. I've seen people return rinds!!

 

[RitaZ.]

Sam's and Walmart have a produce return policy. I've seen people return rinds!!

For real?

 

[momof1princess]

Sam's and Walmart have a produce return policy. I've seen people return rinds!!

i wish i'd known this a week ago! the watermelon my DB bought last saturday was so UNripe, it tasted like a cantaloupe!

 

[minkydog]

I'm a fruit returner too. Sometimes fruit looks ripe on the outside, but doens't have much flavor or isn't ripe on the inside. Fruit is expensive, too expensive for me to just throw it away. If it's not right, it goes back. But I never eat the whole thing and THEN complain about it.

Incidently, I do the same thing with other supermarket products too. We have Publix and Kroger here, and they are very competetive. I have never had them even bat an eye at bringing stuff back

 

[jlewisinsyr]

I don't see an issue with returning fruit/vegetables if they are not ripe (or spoiled where you cannot see). Granted I've never done that, but I don't see an issue.

 

[VAfamily1998]

I've returned fruit. I remember one time in particular, it was a basket of raspberries that looked fine on top, but when I opened it at home, I was able to see the majority of the raspberries were moldy!
I brought it back and the manager told me they have a policy of triple your money back on fruit returns!

 

[FredinFL]

I've returned fruit, a funky watermelon and a box of clementines that were all molding in the middle of the box. I pay good money for this stuff, it better darned well be edible.

 

[tlbwriter]

I've never returned produce because the only issues I've had were pretty small dollar amounts, but I don't have a problem with someone doing it.

 

[mdsoccermom]

I've returned boxes of strawberries and clementines because of molding fruit in the middle.

 

[BalooTheBear]

Deleted

 

[SandrA9810]

As far as it not being ripe enough, a little weird to me. You should be able to tell when it's ripe. I know most fruit sold in stores are usually a little under ripe for shipment time, so I always wait a few days for melons and such before chopping it open. But if it's moldy, sour, or gross on the inside when the outside looks fine, I don't see a problem with returning it.

 

[starrzone]

I returned a bunch of bananas once; they all turned black and mushy in the exact same area the day after I bought them. I think they must have been crushed accidentally while being packed/unpacked.

 

[Christine]

I was in Wegman's last summer and a woman was in there talking to the produce manager about the watermelon. She told him that she had already purchased two in that season and both were disappointing. He gave her a "free" watermelon right on the spot and told her that anytime that happened she could bring it back and they would give her a refund. I made a note to myself that I should do it also as I threw a lot of money away last year on unripe watermelon.

 

[shinysparklybubbles]

Hmm Looks like I need to get with the times and return the fruit if it's bad. I'm glad I saw this and asked!

 

[si-am]

As far as it not being ripe enough, a little weird to me. You should be able to tell when it's ripe. I know most fruit sold in stores are usually a little under ripe for shipment time, so I always wait a few days for melons and such before chopping it open. But if it's moldy, sour, or gross on the inside when the outside looks fine, I don't see a problem with returning it.

Agreed.

I can see returning fruit if it's moldy or rotten, but for something not ripe? That is up to the consumer to determine.

 

[Michelle67]

I don't do it too often because I live too far from the grocery store to make it really worth my time and gas. But my best friend works in a grocery store and she gives me a hard time about NOT taking it back if it isn't good. There's a certain amount of common sense involved in picking produce---a completely green tomato is obviously not ripe---but these days produce is available a long way from where it is grown and people don't necessarily know how to tell a "good" one from a "bad" one, and sometimes things can look great on the inside and be nasty on the inside. If it isn't good it isn't good, and you shouldn't be paying for it. In the case of not knowing how to pick a good one, though, don't be shy about hunting down someone in the produce department to help you.