Food Coop, I wish I knew how to quit you

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Food Coop, I wish I knew how to quit you

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jeffrey
is not in right now
Joined: Feb '07
Posts: 4,131

Note: this is not a complaint about the Coop. Many swear by it. And their commitment to local farms and organic specialty foods is exemplary. This is just our odd anecdotal situation.

After 13 years of living in Brooklyn (but not in Park Slope) we finally broke down and gave in to friendly suggestions to join the Food Coop.

6 months later it's gained us little more than the privilege of paying $170 to work 36 hours lifting bulk receiving items downstairs and stocking them on the floor.

In our case, for convenience, variety and prices we actually find ourselves at Trader Joes or Fairway far more often. But for folks living close by, where it's convenient to shop there a few times a week I'm sure it works out well.

Anyhow, to my point here:

I can't reach them to quit. Phone number's busy every time I've tried and there's no contact email on their site. The contact form on the site has no option for membership issues or even general questions, just things like events or problems with the web site.

So I just sent it under the option of problems with the web site.

Anyone else know of a way, via sooper seekrit email address or alternate phone line, I can reach them to cancel membership?

Thanks in advance.

i extend my battery life by turning down the brightness

# Posted 11 mos ago
kosherdave
The Kosherist
Joined: Jan '06
Posts: 1,036

And people wonder why it has a cult-reputation

# Posted 11 mos ago
Swifty
what am I, new?
Joined: Jun '12
Posts: 2

Mondays are super busy, but the office is open until 8:30pm M-Th. Try calling later in the day, or M-Th after 6:30 - 8:15pm. The office is busy, but not THAT busy.

# Posted 11 mos ago
BKChickie
Bagel Hole Girl
Joined: Mar '08
Posts: 1,088

From what I hear, all you need to do is stop doing your shifts. They find out about that really fast.

# Posted 11 mos ago
jeffrey
is not in right now
Joined: Feb '07
Posts: 4,131

Thanks Swifty.

BKChickie - HAAAA. Brilliant.

i extend my battery life by turning down the brightness

# Posted 11 mos ago
Mamacita
Stuck in the middle with you
Joined: Dec '06
Posts: 9,479

Beware!! If they catch wind of you wanting to quit, they'll QUIT YOU FIRST!! Sleep tight Jeffrey, pick me up some organic fruit... buuwaahahahaha!

(\__/)
(=’.'=)
(”)_(”)

# Posted 11 mos ago
OpossumQueen
rocking it
Joined: Aug '07
Posts: 2,520

I did a short stint in the office where such calls go. As swifty said, just call on another day or later. They will not make it hard for you to officially quit but you'l just need a few minutes for the person on the phone to fill out the paper work. Remember, those people answering the phones are mostly just other members trying to figure out what they are doing as they go

# Posted 11 mos ago
Rosita
getting it
Joined: Jun '11
Posts: 146

The office is open on Sat too. I have always gotten someone to pick up the phone. I think Mon is really busy, try calling after 11 AM on a weekday. Good luck. They do let people leave. I left once (but rejoined.)

It's so hard to be a saint in the city.

# Posted 11 mos ago
jeffrey
is not in right now
Joined: Feb '07
Posts: 4,131

Update:

I called just now and it was ringing. Sweet!

After the second ring someone picks it up and there's a second or so of silence so I say "Hi there, I'm calling to..."

At which point the Food Coop person on the other end said "Oh, I was trying to make a call." *click*

Yep, he hung up on me so he could make a call.

Redialed, and....wait for it...

Busy signal.

Grrrrreat.

i extend my battery life by turning down the brightness

# Posted 11 mos ago
bohuma
above average
Joined: Aug '08
Posts: 466

I suggest writing a letter, putting it in an envelope and dropping it in the mail. The address is:

Park Slope Food Coop
782 Union Street
Brooklyn, New York 11215

And if you send it certified, they can't claim they didn't get it. I have found that the only really effective way to divorce associations you no longer want to be married to is to send a writ of divorce through the USPS. Works for a variety of organizations. There is probably some obscure federal regulation requiring them to take notice of a letter sent via USPS, I don't know what, but it works.

# Posted 11 mos ago
whynot_31
Former Lurker
Joined: Mar '06
Posts: 16,028

ouch.

For better or worse, the change on Nostrand is going to make the change on Franklin look minor.

# Posted 11 mos ago
jeffrey
is not in right now
Joined: Feb '07
Posts: 4,131

Et voila. Just got through to a really nice person who was really helpful with getting it all sorted out.

Didn't get her name, but thanks!

So we're good.

i extend my battery life by turning down the brightness

# Posted 11 mos ago
Mamacita
Stuck in the middle with you
Joined: Dec '06
Posts: 9,479

So you handed over your first born?

(\__/)
(=’.'=)
(”)_(”)

# Posted 11 mos ago
jeffrey
is not in right now
Joined: Feb '07
Posts: 4,131

Two-fer.

i extend my battery life by turning down the brightness

# Posted 11 mos ago
whynot_31
Former Lurker
Joined: Mar '06
Posts: 16,028

Jeffery has learned that "Freedom is never free".

For better or worse, the change on Nostrand is going to make the change on Franklin look minor.

# Posted 11 mos ago
Jamzer
Lifer
Joined: Oct '05
Posts: 977

jeffrey said:
Update:

I called just now and it was ringing. Sweet!

After the second ring someone picks it up and there's a second or so of silence so I say "Hi there, I'm calling to..."

At which point the Food Coop person on the other end said "Oh, I was trying to make a call." *click*

Yep, he hung up on me so he could make a call.

Redialed, and....wait for it...

Busy signal.

Grrrrreat.

It is stories like this one that make me glad I've made the easy decision to not associate with that bunch of freaks and geeks.

# Posted 11 mos ago
TVC15
rookie newb
Joined: Jan '10
Posts: 13

Go in person, quit. Done.

# Posted 11 mos ago
tsarina
above average
Joined: Aug '08
Posts: 479

I have been a member for 17 years and I have never had the experience that you couldn't get through to the membership office. Yes its been busy but call another time and you get through.
With 16,000 members and a waiting list of people waiting to join it can't be all that bad.
Most of the creeps, geeks and freaks, are the ones complaining about an institution that they know little about.
There is an introductory session that explains how everything works. If you dont have the time to shop there, or live too far away why join? As for your investment of $170, that refundable if you quit. If you dont want to be a member that is fine, nobody is forcing you. There is a waiting list of people waiting to join!

# Posted 11 mos ago
vidro3
running you over with my bike
Joined: Feb '08
Posts: 1,493

The coop annoys me. I should be able to just buy in (for a higher price or a non-ownership share) and then shop there - with 15,500 members they have to make busy work just so everyone can work off their 2.75 hours per month.

By my rough estimates the Co-op is open 5200 hours per year.
There are varying numbers of members but let's say 14,000.
At 165 minutes every 4 weeks that's 2,145 minutes per member or 500,500 member hours per year.
Divide by 365 and that's 1371 hours per day, divide by 2:45 per worker and that is 500 workers per day.

ridiculous

# Posted 11 mos ago
Idlewild
rocking it
Joined: Sep '05
Posts: 2,795

500 workers per day and I still see a slew of squads short-handed. A lot of those squads needing serious training and leadership.

"Clamato! Straight Up! No chasah!

# Posted 11 mos ago
whynot_31
Former Lurker
Joined: Mar '06
Posts: 16,028

Having to depend upon a workforce that is largely there to sustain their membership is difficult.

....in response, most grocery stores depend on a workforce that is largely there to sustain themselves.

For better or worse, the change on Nostrand is going to make the change on Franklin look minor.

# Posted 11 mos ago
Danny Hellman
getting it
Joined: Feb '07
Posts: 247

# Posted 10 mos ago
jeffrey
is not in right now
Joined: Feb '07
Posts: 4,131

^ Ha, that is awesome ^

i extend my battery life by turning down the brightness

# Posted 10 mos ago