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| - This used to be the joint. People would sit around at backyard BBQs and their neighborhood pools and rave about the awesomeness of Harris Teeter. Then Kroger took over. Don't get me wrong. Kroger is an exceptional company if you're a long-term investor. Even if the stock isn't performing well, you're still collecting a dividend while waiting for the stock to rebound. The problem is that when these big companies take over, the customer service tends to decline. It becomes all about the numbers, not the people.
This is a difficult spot for me because this HT might have literally saved my life. I played 4 of 7 sets (tennis) against a fierce competitor (we battle like hell, but we're athletes, not tennis players). It was hot out and I was operating with no food and Red Bull. Bad combo. Toward the end of the six-hour match (seventh set), I was serving from my knees because I didn't want to give up. I was dizzy and would fall forward on the ground here and there. My friend/opponent attempted to stop me, but I wouldn't be able to live with myself if I quit. Needless to say, I lost that match.
When I went to HT for Gatorade and water, I walked liked I was drunk and used the wall to support me. The management team recognized this the instant I walked in and brought me to a medical machine at the pharmacy where they took my readings. My heart rate was more than double my norm and I was severely dehydrated. They recommended going to the hospital and even offered to take me there, but I declined. They took good care of me, bringing me free Gatorade and water and genuinely caring. This lasted for more than an hour. They would check up on me every 10 minutes. This was after the Kroger takeover and it left a very good impression. So, I like HT (as well as Publix down the street).
There was a stretch where HT's cleanliness and organization declined after the Kroger takeover. Many customers noticed. I don't visit HT much anymore (only for different flavors of Bing), but when I do, it seems to have improved a little. It seems like management listened to what customers were saying. Then again, I'm not there enough to really tell anymore.
If you have to choose between HT and Publix, then you're probably going to have a better experience at Publix. However, if you're getting some Duck Donuts, if you need to get gas at the gas station around the corner, or if you're about to die, then HT isn't a bad option at all.
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