Talk:Publix

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A Wikipedian removed Publix from the good article list. There are suggestions below for improving areas to satisfy the good article criteria. Once the objections are addressed, renominate the article as a good article. If you disagree with the objections, you can seek a review. Removal date: May 19, 2006

Contents 1 Number of locations 2 Stock 3 Baggers 4 Not Groceries 5 I take issue with a number of points in this article 6 POV 7 Central office text 8 Pharmacy 9 barcodes ??

[edit] Number of locations

Forbes lists 875 locations in the America's Largest Private Companies list.[1] The article shows 889 in the intro and 888 in the Locations section. Clipper471 07:47, 16 November 2006 (UTC)

The current "official" number of stores is 885. Forbes's number comes from the 2005 end of year count in Publix's Annual Report. The 888/889 numbers come from using the store locater and searching only by state. But it seems that somebody is updating one number but not the others. I'd prefer not to have the Locations section and just link to the official counts here. [2] It looks very close to being plagiarism. Filpaul 00:11, 18 November 2006 (UTC)

I've updated the article using the Publix information at the website. A list is not problematic if it's in the same form as the site. Clipper471 04:59, 18 November 2006 (UTC)

[edit] Stock

Publix's Stock Symbol is PUSH. --Patricknoddy 20:26, 25 Aug 2004 (UTC)User:Patricknoddy --Patricknoddy 20:26, 25 Aug 2004 (UTC)User talk:Patricknoddy 16:26 August 25, 2004 (EDT)

That link is not accessible to non-AOL users. TrbleClef 00:13, 26 Aug 2004 (UTC)

Publix does not have a stock symbol because it is not a publicly traded company. It is only available for purchase by current employees and members of it's board of directors. Employees buy stock through the company so a stock symbol is not necessary. Zoop 15:44 1 Aug 2005 (EDT)

It is definitely not a NYSE symbol!

Yes, Publix is certainly listed on the NYSE under the stock symbol PUSH. —The preceding unsigned comment was added by 71.100.88.5 (talk • contribs) 22:57, 23 February 2006 (UTC)

Again, Publix is not publicly traded on any stock exchange and only available to current associates through the company. Some stock services list Publix as PUSH or PUSH.OB, but these are not true symbols and the prices are not accurate. A full explanation is available on Publix's website: http://publix.com/about/stockholder/SSServices.do Filpaul 12:41, 1 March 2006 (UTC)

[edit] Baggers

Where is this? In Tampa they don't push your buggy to your car. Is this strictly for people who need the help? Mike H 04:17, Jan 29, 2005 (UTC)

Absolutely not. Definitely company-wide. TrbleClef 06:11, 29 Jan 2005 (UTC)

In N. GA, they will take your cart out to your car if you ask them, but no one ever does.--Kryptknight 01:05, July 14, 2005 (UTC)

They're supposed to. TrbleClef ♮ (talk) 12:28, 14 July 2005 (UTC)

Baggers are supposed to place one hand on the cart (if your hand or purse isn't there) and ask you to take the cart out to your vehicle. Some employees may not do this, but you have the full right to ask for this free service. Please no tipping.

It seems like, at least here in South Florida, that Publix isn't putting much importance on the baggers taking the cart out. I am very rarely asked anymore and the baggers make no attempt to even try to take the cart out. It used to be they would automaticly assume you wanted them to take it out and you'd have to say you didn't need help, now you have to ask them.--Skeev 14:22, 20 March 2006 (UTC)

This policy is probably enforced in some places better than others, but I was at a Jacksonville Publix yesterday and I saw a cart-catcher out in the parking lot offering to help people. That's service (or boredom of gathering carts). I never get any offers for assistance, but I've been with people before who were offered assistance. Khatores 06:39, 27 March 2006 (UTC)

When I worked at Winn-Dixie, way back in the day, it was a rule that if you were in the parking lot returning from gathering carts or taking a customer out you had to ask anyone you came across if they wanted assistance. I would imagine that Publix, being a better run company, would have a similer rule.--Skeev 14:01, 27 March 2006 (UTC)

I fill in as a bagger fairly often when we're busy, and when I do I always ask if the customer wants me to take the cart out for them. I also see other baggers taking carts out all the time. It seems like it's got to be something like 1 out of every 5 or 6 customers—there's a pretty steady flow of baggers taking out carts during the busy hours. So I'd say here we ask about the carts pretty much all the time. Everyking 06:53, 27 March 2006 (UTC)

I concur with the last guy. I work for Publix (in fact I just got home from closing) and baggers are told that they are supposed to ask if any customer wants help out. Of course, it is up to the bagger to ask, and they are more likely to ask if the customer were older or female (a gentlemanly thing), but they are still supposed to ask everyone. I see baggers going out all the time to help. If they aren't doing it in your area, they aren't following company policy. Although, there is the fact that the store that I work for in Orlando is known for its service, but even so, it still is policy.

Just a thought, why do all these middle aged women complain about not getting any help? Is it that had to push a shopping cart to your car? Didn't you just push it through the entire store? I think most women are just LAZY!!!

[edit] Not Groceries

Publix is also the name of a failed theater... -

[edit] I take issue with a number of points in this article

• Any number of grocery chains encourage thier baggers to push your cart to your car followed by loading the groceries in your car. This is not unique to Publix. It's offered at other chains all over the U.S.
• "Publix Pharmacies are ranked number one in customer satisfaction in supermarket pharmacies, three years in a row" sounds like an advertisement.
• Publix has also been sued for racial discrimination. There is no mention of this in the article.
• This article almost reads like it was written by the President's assitant or a very very loyal employee.

--angrykeyboarder 03:15, 18 May 2006 (UTC)

Angrykeyboarder, please, edit. That's what wikipedia is about. Bastique▼^parler _voir 04:10, 18 May 2006 (UTC)

I've not been fully clear on when to edit or when to just "talk" first.....

And how do you get thet subscript/superscript stuff after your ID? :-) -- —The preceding unsigned comment was added by Angrykeyboarder (talk • contribs) 03:07, 19 May 2006 (UTC)

As I mentioni below...nobody "owns" this article, and if they think they do, I have issue with it. I was unaware of the bias creep that has been occuring with it, but someone inserts a word here, a phrase there, and boom, you've got an avertisement.

Regarding the racial discrimination suit. I'd really not like to include that unless there's been more action than just the initial suit (filed in 1999). Unless the suit was settled--or if it's still ongoing, it may have been deemed completely without merit. It is my experience here on Wikipedia, that large organizations/people get a lot of suits filed against them--many of them frivolous, and that sort of information is deleted out of hand.

Of course, if there was a settlement, or if it is ongoing, then by all means, let's have it in there! Bastique▼^parler _voir 13:18, 19 May 2006 (UTC)

[edit] POV

I added a POV tag to the article because many points of it seem very POV. Unfortunately, I'm not sure how to go about correcting them without either flat-out deleting certain statements, or worse, adding my own POV. Many of the POV issues have already been raised above.

In addition to what's been said above, I'd like to note that, for example, of the four or five Publixes I have been to, and of the hundreds of times I've shopped at Publix, not once has a Publix employee offered the carry-out service. In fact, I can't recall ever seeing anyone receive this carry-out service. The only time I've seen a Publix employee outside the store is when they're collecting carts. Now, I'm not saying that none of the stores do this, as I'm sure there are stores where the policy is well implemented. However, at many other stores, customers most certainly are not encouraged to take advantage of the policy. I doubt many of them are even made aware of it.

And if statements like "Publix distinguishes itself from other supermarkets by offering higher quality products and services." aren't POV, I don't know what is. -- Zawersh 05:41, 19 May 2006 (UTC)

I've also removed the GA status, since POV violates GA. -- Zawersh 05:45, 19 May 2006 (UTC)

I've changed the POV tag to {{advert}}, because that's probably more in line with the article's issues.

Please don't be afraid of helping out this article. While there are several people who work on this article, and keep it on our watchlists, none of us have any desire to "own" this article and all contributions are welcome. The fact is, the Publices(?!) in my area do offer carry-out services, I always refuse as well--I have a problem with a senior citizen carrying my bags, but that's my thing. That's why I have never had any dispute with this statement. Furthermore, it seems at the competing store I have problems locating someone to bag the groceries. It's the company's policy to do this, I believe, and if the service isn't occuring where you are then it's the store/regional management who is at fault, not the company. Of course, we don't want this turning into a rating system either... Bastique▼^parler _voir 13:03, 19 May 2006 (UTC)

Upon rereading that paragraph, it seems that the phrasing appears to have put out by the company's center office. I'm not certain just who was off guard duty when this crept into the article, but I don't remember seeing it. Frankly it floors me to see that an article I helped work hard to get to Good article status to undergo such criticism because of junk like this being inserted into it. Bastique▼^parler _voir 13:11, 19 May 2006 (UTC)

[edit] Central office text

This specifically needs dramatic rewrite:

... Perhaps the best-known service that Publix offers to all of its customers free of charge is its carry-out policy, where Publix service clerks will take their shoppers' shopping cart to their car. Publix teaches their associates the "2 & 2" rule: following an order at checkout, two hands must be placed on the cart and two steps taken in the direction of door. Publix is adamant about its free takeout service and customers are encouraged to take advantage of it, regardless of their ability. Publix, believing that such a service is something that customers should expect from a grocery store, maintains a no tipping policy, in which it asks customers not to tip associates for providing services.

Maybe if you're not comfortable doing it in the context of the article, do it here. I would love to find out how it got in. Bastique▼^parler _voir 13:25, 19 May 2006 (UTC)

[edit] Pharmacy

"Publix pharmacies have a "face-to-face" policy; a Publix pharmacist, during working hours, is always available to answer any questions you have regarding your prescription or other health issues. "

In order for the pharmacy to be open, a pharmacist must be on duty. That's how pharmacies work. You can't dispense RXs w/o a pharmacist. How is this a special service publix offers? This is a requirement of current laws & regulations...

Trying to emphasise the interaction with the customer. It really does sound like this is coming from Publix PR, but to be fair, it seems they should be able to have a shot at informing people about company policies and operations.

[edit] barcodes ??

"In 1980, Publix became the first large grocery chain to utilize Universal Product Code scanning in all its stores."

Is there a source on this? I know A&P and Winn Dixie were members of the group that developed UPC... did Publix really beat them to the punch of rolling this out?