On Friday August 6, 2021 I went to the Garden Center of the Meijers Store on Plainfield Ave, in Grand Rapids, Michigan.. This is a billion Dollar family business and that family is one of the most influential in the mid-west. After parking I was going across the freshly re-laid and painted pedestrian cross-walk. Unfortunately, it was very poorly designed in that instead of cutting into the curb with a gentle slope as is universally standard, the relaid walkway butted into the 6" high curb, the edge of which was also painted neon yellow like the walkway stripes themselves, giving the impression of a smooth transition like a curb cut would impart. The old walkway which I have used many times over the years, had the standard gentle cut. Walking across I tripped against the curb and fell, badly hurting my wrist and head and severely injuring my left knee, as can be seen in the attached photos. The fall also broke my new I-Phone-12 Max Pro.
Initially there was no one in the garden center as I waited at the cashier's desk. Finally a cashier came and did his best to help. The First Aid Kit was empty so I used the Covid-19 Antibacterial wipes to clean the blood. I did not get his name but for identification I would just refer to him as a tallish African-American gentleman. He called for a manager, and while waiting he stated that that particular new walk-way had been discussed with other staff numerous times. When the manager came he also immediately decried the poor design and confirmed numerous discussions with with staff on that score and further stated that issue had been reported to corporate managment several times. I inferred from that that perhaps such falls/injuries had been witnessed and reported many times before. The manager, who I later learned was Fred, took my particulars, photgraphed the injuries including the damaged telephone and advised me that he would write up an Incident Report for the Corporate Offices. He also assured me that that being Friday evening, someone from Corporate would call me "next week" to enquire. That call has never transpired. On August !9, I went to the Store Customer Service Desk and asked for a Manager. I was met by a Jordan who indicated that Fred was not available that day but that he would have him call me the next day. He also advised that he would enquire from Corporate. Till date I have not heard from Fred or from anyone at corporate. I do not expect this attitude or treatment from an entity like Meijers. Hence this complaint.
For the record I have shopped at Meijers stores for forty years, starting as a Foster Homes Operator and doing hundreds of Thousands of Dollars of business with them over those years. About thirty years ago I had even had to take them to court for questionable practices. The gist of those was that their check-out machines, at least in the side exit in existence then at this very store, appeared to be "doctored". The gross totals of receipts would not sync with the item extension totals. The gross totals would be about 8% or 9 % higher. Similarly, one item in particular, Tomatoes, which the store would sell in pre-packaged saran wrapped trays would look visibly pretty, but the underside would be rotten. The store's way of profitably disposing off spoiled goods. I reported the store to the State of Michigan, and since I had suffered considerable financial loss because of hefty purchases I also sought legal redress, representing my business myself. In court the Meijer attorney protesed my representation on the grounds that since I was a corporation, I had to be represented by Legal Counsel. The judge's hands were tied but while accepting the Meijer Attorney's Motion he advised me that I had a very strong case, based on the receipts and pictures, and I should engage an attorney. Being a relatively new naturalised citizen I was hampered by a limitation of funds, so I let the decision stand. Nevertheless, within weeks of the filing I noticed that all the old machines had been replaced, perhaps to get rid of the "doctored "evidence, in case of a formal investigation. Since then, Meijer has discontinued the sale of tomatoes in fancy Saran wrapped trays. Possibly the State had intervened.