Sir; What is it with Safeway? Don't they want to keep their customers? When I read in The Grocer about Safeway preaching how crucial an issue availability is for them ­ even to the point of charging their suppliers to help keep their shelves well-stocked ­ it makes me laugh. Well, it used to. Now it just makes me mad. There is a trolley load of difference between what they promise and what they deliver. When I moved to Crystal Palace my heart sank when I realised that my local shop was Safeway. Not even any decent convenience stores nearby, so I had no choice. No choice being the operative words, of course. Week after week it's the same old story. Out of stocks. No mozzarella at 4pm on Saturday afternoon, when mozzarella was to be that evening's starter. Special offer on Chablis sells out before you even get to the wine aisle. No cans of Irn-Bru on Sunday morning just when your poor head needs it. Oh, and the staff aren't much better either. Don't ask them for an alternative for ricotta cheese (which of course they've run out of) as they'll only look at you blankly and say they don't know. And don't expect a quick scoot through the store on a Sunday. What Safeway cashiers excel at is waiting til you get to the till with your heavy basket and then tell you that their cashdesk is closing. With the shop full of customers? Mmm, great customer service I don't think. The only good thing about Safeway is the excellent in-store bakery. No one makes Danish pastries like Safeway do ­ but that's only when they haven't run out, of course! Disgruntled Crystal Palace {{LETTERS }}

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