Grocery chain gone anti-gun...

[TexasBill]

Kroger's in Texas just have the "unlicensed possession" warning that every store that sells alcoholic beverages must have in this state. I've never heard of anyone being hassled in a local Kroger; on the other hand, Texas is very strict about printing so maybe no one has noticed someone's carrying a gun in one of the stores.

My wife is a Kroger store manager and the only company-wide "no-gun" policy of which she is aware is the one that applies to employees. Even employees with CHLs are not allowed to carry on company property. Like most large businesses, Kroger would rather let the bad guy have the money than have employees shoot it out with would-be robbers. Incidentally, this is mostly a function of insurance and liability issues.

I am sorry to hear the Cincinnati Division (which is the headquarters) has adopted their policy, however the policy should be posted. I don't know if Ohio has required legal wording like Texas does, but even something that says "NO Firearms" or something would be nice. You can't really be faulted for violating a company policy of which you were not aware. And the letter from the ditz in Customer Response isn't satisfactory, either.

If you would like to go for the gold, a letter to the Chairman and CEO of Kroger might be in order. Here's the address:

David B. Dillon
The Kroger Co.
1014 Vine St.
Cincinnati OH 45201

 

[Ragnar Danneskjold]

A heads up, my local Lowe's is extremely anti-gun. Every single time I go (went) there, I would see employees huddled together looking at me with a half full cart and I'm looking at items. Not your typical BG profile. Finally, someone will get the nerve to approach me.

I have never been back, after 4 visits that were the same. I strictly do all of my business with Home Depot, where no one has had a problem. I know they don't care, but I alone have taken at least a thousand dollars of business away from Lowes. I bought some air filters at Lowes, they are the only place in town that carrys them. Do I get them there? Heck no, I order them on the net and not from Lowe's site.

I would save up all my receipts from Home Depot and then after a year or so, go to Lowes and show them to the manager telling him how the attitude of his employees lost him thousands of dollars in sales.

In fact that might be a good idea with a lot of stores. Shop elsewhere, then bring you receipt back showing them the business they lost.

 

[pockets]

Some of the Kroger's stores around central Ohio have had their posting on the service desk, not on the front doors. However, since the "Class D liquor sales" portion of our CCW laws (concerning places like Kroger's, Speedway, etc) changed last year, I haven't seen any postings at the two I normally shopped at. None have ever asked me to leave. But then, I wear a Sunday-go-to-Kroger's gun (rather than the biggest pistol my belt will hold up) to avoid the "reach up and reveal" syndrome.
Interestingly enough, Most of the grocery store robbery incidents that I see on the news or have seen around here, were at a Kroger's. Heck, my wife witnessed two separate occasions of purse snatching in the parking lot where we used to shop. Some idiots simply do not watch their purses, guy drove right up and reached out his car window to grab the purse from their shopping cart both times. And remember, many of the Kroger's around here also have banks, jewelry stores, and pharmacies inside them...prime hold-up fodder.
I must admit that I mostly shop at Giant Eagle now. Nothing to do with gun policies, it's just simple economics.
Funny thing about Giant Eagle; the one I shop at used to have a policy about gun magazines. Every time I went to buy one, a manager had to come over and approve the sale. I rate that as silly in the extreme! They have since stopped the practice.
.

 

[22-rimfire]

Many licensee's spend zero time worrying about printing or exposing their gun. So whether or not the original incident had the gun exposed is irrelevant to the fact that Kroger Corporate Policy is now to ban all firearms in their stores including concealed carry licensees.

It seems that Ohio licensee's need to spend some time thinking about printing (at least in Kroger stores). I think it is very relevant. Kroger exercised their constitutional rights as the property owner as you seem to want to exercise yours. Kids that come to my house follow my rules or they do not enter my house; my house my rules.

 

[ultradoc]

I shop at Krogers [it's convenient] and I carry. Haven't noticed any signage.

 

[gopguy]

so you referred to yourself as a "dangerous man with a gun?" ok.

No Full Metal Jacket, this is about a member of my gun club not me and if you had gone to the link supplied and read it, you would know that... You would see I post on the club forum using the same handle I do here.

Next question, were they posted?

No.

It seems that Ohio licensee's need to spend some time thinking about printing (at least in Kroger stores). I think it is very relevant. Kroger exercised their constitutional rights as the property owner as you seem to want to exercise yours. Kids that come to my house follow my rules or they do not enter my house; my house my rules.

Except they are not posted hence the incident was an insult to gun owners.

I shop at Krogers [it's convenient] and I carry. Haven't noticed any signage.

There were no signs at this store either...

Again see the letter they sent Andy on page three, post #61.



If enough people call,write or email we are hoping Kroger will capitulate on the subject.

Kroger's Wilmington
1230 Rombach Avenue
Wilmington, OH 45177-1943
(937) 655-5720


Call Center
(Open Mon. - Fri. 8 a.m. - 9 p.m. EST)

1-866-221-4141

Mail
The Kroger Co.
Customer Relations
1014 Vine Street
Cincinnati, Ohio 45202-1100

Corporate Switchboard
(513) 762-4000


Corporate Affairs/Media Relations
Corporate Affairs Department
The Kroger Co.
1014 Vine Street
Cincinnati, OH 45202-1100


Executive Offices
(please direct correspondence to the attention of a department or individual)

1014 Vine Street
Cincinnati, Ohio 45202-1100
(513) 762-4000
www.kroger.com

 

[Jumping Frog]

Ohioans For Concealed Carry is now reporting additional correspondence with Krogers, in which a Nicole Belcamino of Kroger Consumer Affairs is confirming that Kroger's has changed their corporate policy as of 4/28/2010 to ban all weapons, included concealed weapons pursuant to a concealed carry license.

This ban is effective for the Cincinnati and Mid-Atlantic regions.

Note the Mid-Atlantic region includes Virginia, West Virginia, Tennessee, Kentucky, North Carolina, Ohio.

It is now obvious that the ban had nothing to do with the actions of the OP. He wass simply the first public encounter associated with the new policy.

The OFCC thread can be found here: Kroger's IS now officially a CPZ ("CPZ" means "criminal protection zone")

 

[Gouranga]

Yeah it is time to notify as many folks as you can. Write them. If you got a frequent shopper card, return it and let the manager know why. Mail them the receipts for other stores you go to instead of them (let them count the $$ they are losing). Spread the word and make sure every pro 2a group out there knows about this.

 

[Zoogster]

Funny story, though, when I was carrying my PS90 SBR into King Sooper in Colorado - I walked in, grabbed a cart, and saw the manager TEARING around the counter, looking straight at me, then he shouted "HEY!"


I turn around, he smiles a huge smile, and says "Oh my God, it IS a P90! Guys! COME SEE!!!"

That story, the PS90 and all, was in Colorado, actually. Here in MT, no one has said a single solitary peep about my carrying firearms.

I do not know the circumstances, but that may have been a positive tactful way of alerting others to watch you in case it posed a problem.
If anyone walks into a store with a long gun it would be the responsible thing for armed individuals to take notice, and be ready to blow them away if they at any point appear to be a threat.



I am all for it being legal, and in favor of open carry, but that does not mean expecting complacency in others addressing security concerns.

 

[Pyzon]

I'd still like to know how the guy was outed in the first place.

Me too.

I've never noticed a Criminal Intent Freedom Zone sign at any of the 4 or 5 Krogers that I frequent. Nor have I ever had a single person point out that they noticed my concealed handgun, in Krogers or anyplace else. If I am doing it right, my wife doesn't even notice it unless she sees me strapping it on.

But, as much as I encourage Kroger shoppers to complain to corporate of such a stupid policy, I hope Kroger doesn't install the proper signs at the doors. I can at least plead ignorance and go shop someplace else.

I think Kroger is straddling the legal and liability fence on this, adopting a sorta secret policy to please their insurance folks, but without pissing off the customers too much.

 

[gopguy]

Quote:
I'd still like to know how the guy was outed in the first place.
Me too

Talked to Andy today, he picked up his three year old who was fussing and his shirt got snagged and lifted up, exposing the pistol. But it does not matter as Ohio is open carry as well and he was in the store the day before to pick up milk and was doing open carry without issue or comment from Kroger staff.

 

[Kentucky_Rifleman]

Ohioans For Concealed Carry is now reporting additional correspondence with Krogers, in which a Nicole Belcamino of Kroger Consumer Affairs is confirming that Kroger's has changed their corporate policy as of 4/28/2010 to ban all weapons, included concealed weapons pursuant to a concealed carry license. This ban is effective for the Cincinnati and Mid-Atlantic regions. Note the Mid-Atlantic region includes Virginia, West Virginia, Tennessee, Kentucky, North Carolina, Ohio.

If Kroger confirms this via email (I've asked their corporate PR department) Kroger will never get another dime from me. The Wal-Marts hereabouts are just as convenient and in many cases cheaper. I'll take some poster's advice and drop off my cut-up Kroger card and a letter about why.

I'll also get the word out to everyone I know. I'll even spring for some signs to post at the gun shops I frequent.

KR

 

[gopguy]

Just got a phone call from Andrew and Kroger corporate called his wife saying they were overwhelmed with the response and want this OVER. We are melting their phones and making them miserable! He told her we can carry but the gun must be concealed. So it sounds like they are ready to capitulate. I will look forward to seeing the letter they send him to that effect. Until he gets the letter I intend to keep the pressure up.

 

[Kentucky_Rifleman]

He told her we can carry but the gun must be concealed.

I'm still going to do everything I can to make this bite them in the ass until Kroger policy is to allow whatever is allowed by local law, including OC if applicable. We shouldn't back off the pressure yet.

KR

 

[Warhawk83]

Good going gopguy.

I agree with you as well KentuckyRifleman, apparently it affects you as well being in the Mid-Atlantic region.

 

[gopguy]

I agree, not time to call off the dogs yet, keep the pressure on.

 

[Buck Snort]

Obviously some are not reading the threads at the original link I posted . This is now their corporate policy in SW Ohio. However as they are national they may well go national with the policy which is why we need to contact them to get them to change their minds on the issue.

Appropriate reply: "No Ellen, I DO NOT care to discuss it with anymore Kroger employees. However, I WILL be discussing it with my gun owning friends and with anybody who'll listen on several websites on the internet. My intent will be to encourage them to shop at stores that respect Second Amendment rights. Have a nice day."

 

[JohnnyOrygun]

I don't think any of the Oregon Fred Meyer's have sold guns since the early 90's when they were bought out by Kroger. I will say that I was in the local Fred Meyers the other day and there were a group of older people sitting around drinking coffee in the deli section and I noticed one of the Gentlemen was open carrying some sort of med/large frame revolver. People were walking around in the adjoining produce section and to my knowledge no one noticed and if they did notice, no one said anything. The group of older people are part of a larger group that meets outside every Friday to show support for our troops in contrast to the "people in black" protesting. Just for note, the Fred Meyers is right next to the entrance to the Veterans Hospital in Roseburg.

I know that when Fred Meyers sold guns, I used to take my Mom grocery shopping and while she shopped I was over drooling over the glocks and other assorted hand and long guns. They also had a rather large shooting accessories aisle, mtm caseguard products, cleaning supplies, and etc.

I dont know how Fred Meyer's feels about guns today.

John

 

[heeler]

Hmm...Perhaps it's time to start grocery shopping at Walmart,Target,H.E.B.,etc.
I was shopping Sunday morning in the Kroger by my house and so far no signage but...
As I said it just might be time to start shopping somewhere else.

 

[FAS1]

Kroger and Albertson's could not compete with HEB here in San Antonio. I would not shop at a store that I knew had such a gun policy.

 

[hso]

I visited 3 Krogers here in East Tennessee in the past 2 days and none of them had anything other than no smoking postings. This may be a very local phenomenon considering that Kroger corporate had to make a customer service representative apologize for creating the impression that Kroger was anti gunowner not too long ago.

 

[Shawn Dodson]

The person cited by the OP claims he was CCW'ing, but in reality he wasn't if his "concealed" gun was visible enough to be so easily detected.

When I CCW, it's MY little secret. I don't want ANYBODY to know I'm CCW'ing, and I do it in a manner that keeps my gun reliably concealed from public view. I occasionally choose not to honor "no weapons" signage and policies at businesses. Leaving a gun in a car where it's vulnerable to theft and criminal misuse produces a greater hazard to public safety than keeping it secreted on my person and ignoring a store's sign.

 

[NotSoFast]

Vote with your checkbook/wallet/ATM card. I'd be sending the parent company a polite letter stating exactly why I am taking my business elsewhere, and why I am telling all my friends to do the same, bot online and local friends. If enough do it, especially to that individual store they will begin to get the picture. Sand Diego is seeing that influence now because of their boycott of Arizona. It has cost them $10 million in tourism because of their policy.

 

[Boberama]

I sent Kroger's an e-mail even though I'm in Canada and they don't have Kroger's or any of their stores here. You should all do the same.

Here was the response:

Dear Valued Customer,

Thank you for contacting Kroger.

This message is not intended to answer the email that you have submitted but we do want to confirm that we have received your message.

One of our E-Communications Specialists will read and address your comments personally. This often requires some time for research before replying but please be assured we are working very hard to get back to you as quickly as possible.

Please note that this is a post-only email address, meaning that replies to this auto-acknowledgement are not read.

If your request is time-sensitive, you may wish to contact our Customer Contact Call Center by calling toll free 1-800-576-4377.

Thank you again for contacting Kroger.

Best Regards,

The Kroger E-Communications Team

I won't be going Krogering anytime soon.

 

[Erik M]

If you are careless enough to have your CCW spotted, then you are careless enough to suffer the consequences.

I usually carry IWB under 2 shirts and a light jacket. If someone did get a make on my weapon I would notify them im licensed, if they said it was against company policy I would notify them of my LEO employment. Then I would permanently take my business elsewhere.

Krogers is to expensive anyway, even if u have one of the keychain discount cards.