Art loves watermelon. It was a great shock to him when he discovered his first born child was actually allergic to it. How could that be? Tests proved however that indeed Tiffany was very allergic to melons.
For all of his birthdays it's become a tradition to get him a perfect watermelon and put a candle on it.
Recently we were at Costco and found they had watermelons on sale for $5.00. We couldn't believe it! They never have watermelon for $5.00
Art was so excited he didn't buy just one. He bought two huge watermelons. He put one in the refrigerator and left the other one on the kitchen counter.
The next day, I was passing by and saw a huge puddle of liquid puddling under the watermelon and ready to drip onto the floor. I told Art and he was still determined to have a slice so he said he would cut and salvage what he could.
Ah well... He decided to get the other watermelon from the refrigerator and eat that one instead.
It wasn't as bad, but it looked ready to rot.
I called Costco and explained what happened. They were very sympathetic and told me to just bring the receipt back.
I told them I was especially upset because I'd told friends about this "good deal" and now they'd be stuck with terrible watermelon too.
I'd taken photos and showed the supervisor who was aghast at what he saw.
Still... I saw people walking out with watermelons and hoped they all brought their fruit back too.
Do you suppose Costco knew the watermelons were old and maybe bad? Is that why it was $5.00?
Later: We'd also bought a package of this Super Sweet corn. When Art opened the package he said it felt a little slimy, but it looked OK so he cooked it.
It just didn't taste right so we ended up tossing most of it.
We'd bought strawberries too and I had to toss some of that away.
I'm not sure why the produce was so bad. Could it have something to do with the hurricane that almost hit us? Whatever the case, I don't think we'll buy their produce for a while now.
Recently we were at Costco and found they had watermelons on sale for $5.00. We couldn't believe it! They never have watermelon for $5.00
Art was so excited he didn't buy just one. He bought two huge watermelons. He put one in the refrigerator and left the other one on the kitchen counter.
The next day, I was passing by and saw a huge puddle of liquid puddling under the watermelon and ready to drip onto the floor. I told Art and he was still determined to have a slice so he said he would cut and salvage what he could.
It wasn't as bad, but it looked ready to rot.
I called Costco and explained what happened. They were very sympathetic and told me to just bring the receipt back.
I told them I was especially upset because I'd told friends about this "good deal" and now they'd be stuck with terrible watermelon too.
I'd taken photos and showed the supervisor who was aghast at what he saw.
Still... I saw people walking out with watermelons and hoped they all brought their fruit back too.
Do you suppose Costco knew the watermelons were old and maybe bad? Is that why it was $5.00?
It just didn't taste right so we ended up tossing most of it.
We'd bought strawberries too and I had to toss some of that away.
I'm not sure why the produce was so bad. Could it have something to do with the hurricane that almost hit us? Whatever the case, I don't think we'll buy their produce for a while now.
Ah---it is so frustrating to get bad produce (or bad-anything like that)..... Glad Costco gave you your money back... Not sure why most of the produce seemed bad --but you are right.. Maybe the hurricane messed things up....
ReplyDeleteI hope your Sweetie finds some more watermelons, ones that are GOOD that is!!!!!
Hugs,
Betsy
we have the same problem here with walmart but don't bother to take it back...peaches that don't ripen, cherries that rot too soon, etc. Much of our fruit is flow in from south america and picked green...sad to say.
ReplyDeleteYuck! I don't buy produce very often at Costco, since we have so many local options for great produce. Now I would be even more hesitant to buy it. That's terrible. :-(
ReplyDeleteUgh! What a waste of time and money. (Although next time take everything back. Costco has an excellent refund policy. And if you don't have the receipt they can look the purchase up on their system.
ReplyDeleteThe only produce I buy at Costco is spinach and mushrooms. In my area other items seem to be much cheaper at other stores.
Awful looking watermelon. Here in NY state, I have been on a watermelon binge for most of the summer, and it is a crap-shoot buying them. I have gotten maybe one that was perfect. Most are under ripe, hard and flavorless. Quite a few of the seedless melons have way too many seeds. And some are mealy, for lack of a better word, and generally unsatisfying. The quest for the perfect watermelon is getting old. Yours take the cake however. I forgot about one in my garage and it finally blew, oozing a sickly sweet river across the floor to the drain. Ugh. Makes a person wish for winter!!!
ReplyDeleteThere is nothing quite as disappointing as going to prepare fresh produce and finding it has gone bad. I bought a watermelon at a FL supermarket and ended up throwing it away. Thinking that was a fluke, I bought a second and that was in even worse shape. As for fresh corn, I only buy that from one of two area farmers during the very short season here in VT. Nothing else will do.
ReplyDeleteI read some where after the watermelon disappointment (I also love it) that some growers inject it with water and probably growth hormone to blow it up faster and get it to market. Really, we don't know what dind of tinkering goes on with our food anymore.
How very frustrating. I had good luck with the $5 Costco watermelons here. I figured they got cheaper at the end of summer.
ReplyDeleteEeeeuuhwh...bleh, gross. Even a booze-infused watermelon doesn't look like that. Yep, maybe sat on the dock too long. Must get watermelon Jolly Rancher candy for Art! Linda in Kansas
ReplyDeleteRecently got a good-priced melon from Sam's. It was almost half rind, so I threw half out just trying to get to the red part. I've been pretty lucky with tasty watermelon from local grocery stores. Linda in Kansas
ReplyDeleteThe grocery store nearest me has watermelon on sale for 4. I know you'll do have to pay more in Hawaii due to shipping costs.
ReplyDeleteDoesn't all of your produce have to come over on container ships? I would think much of it would spoil before being purchased.
ReplyDeleteI am so sorry. Yup, they were rotten to the core. Perhaps those veggies were on hold during the hurricane and only unloaded after a long wait. Like dkzody, perhaps those containers couldn't be unloaded in a timely fashion.
ReplyDeleteYou get what you pay for, as they say. How sad, so much end of season produce was literally broadcast to the public like..., well, you know what!
ReplyDeleteAiyaiyai. Thanks for the warning.
ReplyDeleteWhat a disappointment. Hate when I get my taste buds all excited then have to pitch what I was craving. At least you got your money back.
ReplyDeleteYou have so much beautiful local fruit there in the islands. Stuff from Costco has a long shipping journey to get to you. Eat local.
ReplyDeleteHow about trying to grow your own watermelon? They aren't tropical. Most of ours are grown in the heat of Eastern Oregon, but you could try it.
Poor produce has everything to do with large enter prize that have very little concern for offering a first class product. they have very few people handling produce who know anything about it.
ReplyDeleteHoney. Pull up a chair. Let's talk with no shibai. Yes, the hurricane probably disrupted supply lines. BUT being in N. Calif for a while now I HAVE to tell you the truth. As much as I miss Hawaii people, and sunsets, and way of life, I DO NOT miss the expensive and tired produce! I eat fresh fruits and veg every day and appreciate them! "This has not been on a ship for a week" I like to marvel. Amazon delivers like REALLY FAST, too..... OK, enough. I did not buy big lots of fruit at Costco Iwilei for just the reason you mention in your post. When we do move back home [we say 'when we old'] I will miss the fresh food...... Aloha Kay
ReplyDeleteI just had the sweet corn and it was really good!
ReplyDeleteSad about the watermelon, especially since Art love them. We just had watermelon for dessert at Ray's in Kalihi. HUGE prime rib for $18 and they bring out a nice slice of watermelon after. This place is a real small hole in the wall with NO parking and in a rather sketchy part of town, but the food and the cook were excellent. They even have rack of lamb! but were out today.
Good that you had a great experience. Last week the husband suggested we eat there, but after our friends shared the owner's loudly proclaimed love of the current WH occupant, just no. Kalihi has other choices.
DeleteArgh! We won’t go there either if that’s the case. It would sour my food.
Delete😟 They were shocked, hurriedly finished their meal and left.
DeleteThat's three strikes against Costco.
ReplyDeleteI am not a watermelon guy. I don't hate it but don't prefer it either.
Costco buys in bulk. From producers who must sell in bulk. I prefer going to our local markets.They'd never sell produce like this. I think you get what you pay for. Especially with JB managing cancer, we have to look for fresh, organic produce. I'm sorry you had this experience.
ReplyDeleteI think their truck is too warm and the produce sat in it too long.
ReplyDelete