Vons — bad business practices

I am writing you about the most unpleasant and disappointing experienced I have ever had at a grocery store. On October 13th I received two $25 Vons/Safeway gift cards for my birthday. On October 14th, at approximately 11:15 P.M., I bought $32.35 worth of groceries and used one of the two gift cards. I took another one out, whereupon the checker took the card to speed up the process. I cannot honestly say if he swiped it or not but, one thing is certain, he took the card from my hands, told me no funds were on the card and kept it. Thinking he had the card I previously swiped, I slide the card in hand which, through sleight of hand, was the card I slid before.

These are the facts, which, can be confirmed by checking not only the surveillance video from store #2257, I had two gift cards worth $25 each. I swiped one and the checker took one and told me no funds were on it. I swiped the same card again two more times, which can be concerned in the Vons system. Upon leaving the store I felt as though I had been short changed but decided that perhaps my father had given me an extra gift card with no balance on accident. I called my father the following day and he confirmed that both gift cards did indeed have $25 on it, and that the checker must have taken a card with full balance. My question to the checker/cashier should have been, “why are you so eager to take my gift card which, according to you, has nothing on it, while you leave me with another gift card which actually does have nothing on it?” Why was he so eager to take one card instead of offering to take them both?

On Monday, October 16, I called the number on the back of the gift card I had and talked to Vladimir at ext. 1661 and told him my story. I immediately contacted the Vons (store 2257) where this took place and talked to a supervisor by the name of, Robert Verdugo, who surprisingly was of great help. Unfortunately, I would find out later that he was the only one helpful in the whole of the company. Mr. Verugo told me he would look at the surveillance footage and call me the following day. He kept his word informing me that a manager would need to look at the footage and get back to me. My immediate question to him was, "Why wasn’t this done in the first place?"

I urged them to look at the surveillance footage so that they might ascertain the truth of this matter. The checker, seeing that I showed obvious signs of drowsiness, took advantage of the situation and stole my gift card, telling me there was nothing on it. I am most unhappy how store 2257 handled this matter. They never apologized for what happened nor did an actual manager personally take care of the matter. I had to contact Corporate and only through them was I able to get results. 72+ hours after the fact, they issued me another gift card but what of the hours I wasted tending to this matter? I will never shop at any Vons store again and it gives me no satisfaction to write this letter, but I implore you to ask yourself one thing, If someone stole your money, your birthday money, wouldn’t you want the matter resolved as soon as possible and expect some kind of apology?