Reply to the comment on my Sainsbury’s email

A few weeks ago I emailed Sainsbury’s. The reason I emailed them was because I picked up a recipe card in-store that listed an ingredient they didn’t sell in that store. So I went to a different store, and they didn’t sell it either. If you’d like to read my original emails, they’re here – Complaint to Sainsbury’s.

I’ve had a few comments left by visitors that, for one reason or another, I have decided not to publish. Either they were insulting, or they used bad language, or they were a bit spammy. The one below, however, seems genuinely upset by my email and so I thought I had better respond publically.

I’ve underlined the spelling and grammatical errors, just because I’m annoying like that.

Comment from Kerry Anee
November 13, 2011 at 8:10 pm

Are you stupid? Just because a recipe card says you NEED the chilli plant doesn’t mean it’s the only chilli type or the only chilli plant which will work for the recipe, all red chillies are the same – they’re used for pallet heat.
Sainsburys only put there own items on there to promote their own branded products, but you are not expected to only stick to their own brands.

I find it ridiculous (that) you went to all that trouble over something so stupid and idiotic, use some common sense. Sainsbury’s should have had more in stock, but they didn’t. Get over it.

Oh, and for future reference – seeing as you’re in the NW, Sains Salford, and Fallowfield stock them, i’ve seen them.

Kerry Anee

Hi Kerry.

I WAS going to reply to your email in a very sarcastic way, just highlighting and correcting your spelling and grammatical errors, (there are arguably between 7 and 9,) and being as angry back as you appear to have been to me, but I thought it might be a better idea to actually also address the points you raised. I prefer doing this because, by nature, I’m not a shouty person.

I know there will be a likelihood that when you read my replies back, you will do it in a sarcastic tone or an angry voice. This is not the tone in which I wrote them. I wrote them in a calm, explanatory voice. If they initially seem grumpy or snappy, please re-read them with this in mind. They will sound much nicer.

Are you stupid?

No, I’m not stupid. Although I don’t need to prove my intelligence as such, I will say that I do have an IQ of 148, which was confirmed by Mensa in a private, monitored test. I didn’t just fill in an online quiz and get a generic IQ prediction from a random site that claims to accurately calculate this sort of thing. My papers were marked and graded by a human Mensa lecturer and I have the paperwork confirming my IQ on Mensa headed paper. I dig it out occasionally and look at it to remind myself how ace I am.

I’m joking about the last bit.

Just because a recipe card says you NEED the chilli plant doesn’t mean it’s the only chilli type or the only chilli plant which will work for the recipe…

The recipe specifies this specific chilli plant as a “Key Ingredient”. The basis for my complaint wasn’t that without this chilli a similar recipe can’t be made, my argument is that without using the chilli they recommend the recipe will not be authentic. They must have tested a few chillis and decided this one is the best, and so I was unhappy that the one they specified is not available. It may be my OCD side that needs things to be authentic, but you would think that if a huge company such as Sainsbury’s publishes a recipe they would at least ensure that all the ingredients are available? Isn’t that part of quality control?

…all red chillies are the same – they’re used for pallet heat.

Chillies have varying degrees of spiciness, but generally the rule is this; the smaller the chilli the hotter it will be. As I don’t know how big the chillis are on the Sainsbury’s Chilli Plant, mainly because I couldn’t find one, if I were to use any other chilli it may give an inaccurate representation of how hot the recipe should be. Again, it is down to authenticity.

Sainsburys only put there own items on there to promote their own branded products…

Out of 10 ingredients only 3 were branded Sainsbury’s. No doubt they prefer to advertise their own products in their recipes, but by doing that they are causing their own problems as not all Sainsbury’s stock every Sainsbury’s product.

… but you are not expected to only stick to their own brands.

Then their recipes need to be less about self promotion and more about the food, wouldn’t you agree?

I find it ridiculous you went to all that trouble over something so stupid and idiotic, use some common sense.

It amuses me that you find THIS ridiculous but, as you haven’t commented on anything else I’ve ever done, seem to have no issue with any other things I’ve done on this blog.

I’ve made a list of things you’re ok with, and things you don’t seem to be ok with.

You’re ok with these:

• I emailed M&Ms to ask them if a single one is called an M?
• I emailed Douwe Egberts to suggest that, because the Refill Pack doesn’t actually RE-FILL a jar, they rebrand their refill pack as a Topup pack, using a sticker I made in Microsoft Paint.
• I emailed Subway to complain that the Nachos they sold me had been accidentally been baked “at some nuclear power likened to that given off by the sun.” I then also accused them of witchcraft, and emailed them a photo of Doritochu, a Pokemon they had inadvertently created out of welded Nachos.
• I emailed Batchelors to ask what the A in cup-a-soup stood for, and asked that they replied in Haiku.
• I emailed Flavia when I found that their ridiculous scale of coffee strengths went from 2 to 5, not from 1.

Things you don’t seem ok with:

• I emailed Sainsbury’s for not stocking a product that they claim to sell.

Is that just one step too far? You have strange priorities.

I am pleased that my letter to Sainsbury’s has provoked a reaction from someone, but I do find it funny that this has annoyed you, unless you work for Sainsbury’s in which case I can understand your annoyance.

Sainsbury’s should have had more in stock, but they didn’t. Get over it.

Get over it? I’m not the one who seems to be as bothered by it, if I’m honest. You’re the one who seems angered by it. Just to recap what I did… I emailed them, got an inconsistent reply, so I emailed them again. That has been it. If they reply, and their reply doesn’t answer my questions, I’ll probably email them again. If they don’t, I won’t.

Oh, and for future reference – seeing as you’re in the NW, Sains Salford, and Fallowfield stock them, i’ve seen them.

When I asked at the Customer Service desk, they told me that only 2 stores stocked them. They didn’t say that “only 2 stores had them in stock,” but that “only 2 stores stocked them.”

There is a distinct difference between these two statements; she was saying that out of 100-ish stores throughout the North West, only 2 stores are listed as ever selling the plant to start with. The other 98-ish NEVER have any stock in because they are not listed as stocking the plant.

You’re saying that you’ve seen them in what can only be the 2 stores they mentioned? THAT is a great coincidence! I love crazy coincidences like this! When you’re next passing either of them, would you mind taking a photo and proving me wrong?

I’m not going to say I don’t believe you, as I have no reason to doubt you; you probably live near to these stores and so you’re more likely to visit them, whereas I’ve never been to them. If you can take a photo of them in there, I’ll be so grateful!