What were your best and worst consumer experiences this week?

Which consumer happenings cheered you recently and which ones made you want to scream or weep?

Here are my best and worst consumer experiences this week:

My best: A great workshop for baby boomers

“Change,” a workshop to help boomers get through the changes they’re experiencing and figure out what to do for the next chapter of their lives, was a worthwhile experience.

Sponsored by Next Chapter Puget Sound – an organization that connects people in the second half of life with opportunities for self-discovery, learning, service, and meaningful work – the three-hour workshop dealt with the cycles of change.

We learned to think of change as a circular process like the seasons. Summer is an active time when we’re managing our time and energy and staying on track. Fall is a time to reevaluate and let go. Winter a time to grieve about losses and develop a new vision. In spring, we can explore options and find out what’s right for us.

The facilitator of the workshop was Carol Vecchio, the founder of Centerpoint Institute for Life and Career Renewal in Seattle, Wash., a group whose goal is to change the way people live and work.

 “Change” was the first workshop in an four-part series.

My worst: The price of rice milk at Albertsons

When I went to Albertsons to return my two $1 Redbox movies, I thought I buy some rice milk. However, when I located it, the price was $4.16.

That seemed like much more than I usually pay. I stopped by Safeway and the price was $2.65. At the Olympia Food Coop, it’s $3.06.

I wonder if Albertsons thought people wouldn’t notice their rice milk costs $1.51 more than Safeway’s?

It pays to be an alert, informed consumer.

Copyright 2010, Rita R. Robison, Consumer Specialist

Comments

[Lisa]

Was the rice milk a different brand, or organic instead of regular? It does seem like a steep price difference. Would you have gotten a discount with an Albertson's membership card?

[Rita]

Hi Lisa,

It was exactly the same product and brand; Rice Dream, original, enriched, organic.

The rice milk wasn't on sale at Albertsons, so a membership card wouldn't have given me a discount.

I could get 10 percent off at the Olympia Food Coop if I bought a case of rice milk. That would make the price $2.76 each, still more than Safeway.

I'll buy rice milk from Safeway for a while. It will be interesting to see if the price goes up.

Rita