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aldi

Wednesday June 18, 2008

Yay, someone reads my blog!

Posted by: Gabe Hartwig at 8:05PM CST on June 18, 2008

Last week, I wrote in this blog about my recent discovery that I am turning into my mother because, among other reasons, I now shop at Aldi.

I wrote that, though I detest the shopping experience, I enjoy the low prices the grocery chain offers. Mine wasn't the most flattering description of the store, but it was my opinion.

Today, however, I have newfound respect for the discount grocery chain.

When I checked my voicemail at work yesterday, I heard a message from a pleasant-sounding woman, who identified herself as Martha Swaney.

Not a name I recognized. I usually only get messages from our human-resources department or from the fast-talking man who lets us know about United Way fundraising events.

Martha went on to say that she was with Aldi.

She wanted to "touch base" with me about my recent blog post.

My thoughts, in this order:

OMG (yes, my internal monologues actually are that annoying), somebody outside my circle of friends reads my blog?!
Hmmm. I'm certain I didn't libel anyone or overstep my First Amendment rights.

A quick Google search found several online references to Swaney as an "Aldi spokeswoman."

Whew -- not an Aldi lawyer. Maybe she just wants to offer me free grocery bags or cart rental.

After playing a bit of phone tag, I finally spoke to Swaney today. And she was genuinely concerned about my experiences in her stores.

She wanted to know which Aldi stores I had visited and whether my experiences were similar at each. She asked which products I tend to purchase. And she asked for more specifics about things I dislike about the stores.

I was honest with her. She cared enough to follow up on some random blog post that criticized her company, so I owed her some helpful feedback.

She asked if she could contact me with Aldi developments in the future and said she hoped I would consider continuing to shop at Aldi.

Not to worry, I told her. I love bargains, after all.

I hung up the phone feeling oddly satisfied. Had I made a difference? Who knows. But at least somebody bothered to listen.

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