Publix - Unknown Substance in Food
I have shopped at Publix for over 20 years but in January 2014 I experienced a different side of this company. As I have done many times in the past, I purchased chicken fingers from the Deli Department and ate them in the store. Immediately after biting down, I tasted a sand-like gritty substance and it instantly snapped off a large piece of my molar. I quickly brought it to the attention of the on-duty store manager and showed him the chunk of my broken tooth. The store manager offered to file my claim with Publix headquarters and stated someone from the corporate office would contact me in 2 days. Note the whole incident was videotaped on the storeโs security cameras.
After several days passed without any response, I repeatedly contacted the corporate office of William Crenshaw (CEO) in Lakeland, Florida and left several voicemails. When a Publix representative from headquarters finally returned my calls, I was transferred to several others that were defensive and full of empty excuses as to why my previous calls were never returned.
Finally, Charles Henry (Risk Management) called and emphasized it was โstandard procedureโ for Publix to test the whole batch of chicken fingers. He promised I would be contacted with the test results within 2 weeks. After 4 weeks passed, I again contacted Publix corporate headquarters and was informed the testing results would be completed on the following Tuesday. Since it was clearly obvious I was getting the run around, I chose to contact William Crenshaw (CEO) once again and leave several voicemails.
After several days, Charles Henry (Risk Management) called to announce they didnโt find anything in the chicken finger itself and I would be contacted once their final evaluation was complete. Before I ended the call, I offered to provide documentation of dental costs estimates I acquired but Mr. Henry declined my offer. Lastly, in order to validate Charles Henryโs โstandard procedureโ testing process, I contacted the Publix store manager where I purchased the chicken finger and asked if the โstandard procedureโ testing process Mr. Henry described was initiated and completed. The store manager replied โNo, not at allโ. To reiterate, the original incident was videotaped on the storeโs security camera.
The final settlement offer ended up being 70% of my total out of pocket cost for the dental repair, provided I sign a waiver releasing Publix from any further liability; also the offer was presented as if they were doing me a favor for being a long-time Publix customer instead of being a sincere apology regretting any trouble they caused.
After I expressed my dissatisfaction with their assessment, Mr. Henry forwarded me to David Thomas who began accusing me of trying to extort money when all I was trying to do is receive equal and fair compensation for my dental expenses. I am a hard working professional in the public domain as well and do not appreciate his unprofessional and unwarranted false allegations.
Furthermore, after reading several Publix consumer complaints posted on the internet, I noticed the following patterns of behavior within Corporate Headquarters.
Corporate Headquarters:
1. Mix legitimate consumer claims with scams regardless of the facts and real truth
2 Bully and completely disrespect consumers with rude comments insinuating
extortion and criminal intent
3 Provide no clear procedure, information or point person for consumer questions
pertaining to claims
4. Respond reluctantly only after numerous attempts by plaintiffs to reach
โthe right personโ
In conclusion, Publix should address their business much more professionally when handling consumer claims. What happened to Publixโs website promising โhigh standards of customer serviceโ in their mission statement below???
โMission Statement & Guarantee โ Our Mission โ Our mission at Publix is to be the premier quality food retailer in the world. To that end, we commit to be: Passionately focused on customer value; Intolerant of waste; Dedicated to the dignity, value and employment security of our associates, Devoted the highest standards of stewardship for our stockholders; Involved as responsible citizens in our communitiesโ
You be the judgeโฆ.. MLB
Location: Mineral, Virginia
Thank You for Your Reply! We are processing your message.
Comments
Please avoid publishing any personal information and promotional content
He's just trying to make money.
I know of a lot of places whose liability insurance has a set amount that they settle for. The apartment complex where I live has a $5,000 maximum coverage, if a person falls on ice in the parking lot.
This applies even if the person has to have surgery because of the fall. They don't cover anything for time missed from work.
I've got news for you. It's not the chicken fingers.
If it's a molar with a filling or even just a molar, your tooth was weak. It starting to crumble. That's what that "sand like" feel in your mouth was that you experienced. Publix owes you nothing.
As far as I'm concerned, I hope they sue the pants off of you, because YOU, genius, signed a waiver, therefore now THEY can sue you because you violated that waiver. DUH!
I agree with you because I too have tasted a sandlike substance in my mouth and it turned out to be my tooth with a filling that had weakened.
Thank you, Anonymous. This guy who posted his complaint not only is trying to scam Publix, but his so called dentist pretty much gave him the screw, too.
His dentist should know this and should have explained it, but hey. He figured this is his way of making a fast buck too. I'm with LouSkunt69.
I'm still trying to figure out what he thought was gritty and sand like in a chicken nugget and enough to break his tooth. OH...maybe it was the beak!
Nicely done Truth! I'm curious though, what does this guy think was in there that "broke" his tooth?
Thank you, LouSkunkt69! Honestly, I thought of asking that in my original post, but I figured I'd get some way out there answer from this guy and I just don't think I could take any more silly made up b.s. from this guy.