Tuesday, December 16, 2008

 

Puregold San Pablo City: First Impressions





I love to grocery. I find it relaxing. And of course, I find it nice that I can go to a grocery and buy stuff. But it's cooler when I can find and buy different and unusual things.

My favorite grocery in San Pablo so far has been the one at ULTIMART. It's bright and air conditioned, the aisles are wide enough for two carts to pass by each other, and best of all, once in a while you can find things you won't find at other San Pablo groceries. Stuff like frozen salmon, parmesan cheese and jalapeno dips. But even then, it's still painfully lacking in other stuff I want to buy in San Pablo, which is present in major groceries in Manila. Like fresh herbs. Exotic cold cuts and cheese.

So I did anticipate the opening of Puregold here in San Pablo. I didn't know about Puregold before. Apparently, it's a huge nationwide chain of groceries. I saw the start of construction at this big empty lot at Sambat, near the intersection of Rizal Avenue and the fork going to Alaminos and the other one going to Calauan.

By November, I thought that they still had a long way to go before it opened. When I heard they were opening on December 13, I didn't believe it. I thought it just wasn't possible. There was still a lot of building to do before this was anywhere near finished. The building being constructed was HUGE. This was by far the biggest grocery here in San Pablo, and by far one of the biggest buildings here ever.

But open on time they did, and with much hoopla, at 2pm on December 13. I wasn't able to go because I had a thing at my parents' house. I heard there were a lot of people, not only because San Pablo denizens just love checking out new stuff (remember the mob that greeted the opening of Pizza Hut a few years ago?), and also because celebrities were there. I didn't know most of them, but I do know Andrew E.

Naturally, it caused a huge traffic jam. Not only is this right next to an intersection, but it's right along San Pablo's most major road.

I waited a few days for the flurry of people to subside and then I went.




Going to Puregold from Central School was pure murder. In fairness, it was horrid traffic not because of Puregold but because of asphalting of Rizal Avenue.

SHOCK AND HORROR! They asphalted OVER the railroad tracks! That seems to cement (or rather asphalt), my observation that the trains won't be coming here to San Pablo anymore. They haven't for a while. Not since the horrid accident of a few years ago that claimed several lives.

Upon arriving at Puregold, I was immediately impressed by how huge it is. At least by San Pablo city standards. San Pablo has never seen anything like this before. At a Jollibee being constructed on the left side of the building I happened to saw San Pablo mayor Vic Amante.

Inside the building, it's one huge open area that seems bigger on the inside than it is outside. Strange I know. It's very bright and the air conditioning sufficiently cool as I like it.

There are a few food stalls open with ample seats and tables where people can rest and eat. There's stands for hot dogs, shawarma, pizza, balls, roast chicken, and there's a spot of "Plato Wraps", which I recognize from malls in Manila. It's not open yet though. The grocery area is a great big mixed area. There's canned goods, frozen goods, and all the other stuff one can see at a typical grocery. Surpringly, there's also small and big appliances, there's furniture, there's hardware stuff, clothes, school and office supplies, household supplies and kitchenware. Literally anything that you could possibly need you can find there.

Impressive as everything was, I was kind of disappointed that those items I was hoping was there, wasn't. And that's stuff like fresh herbs like basil and oregano. Not the bottled ones like from McCormick ok? Fresh ones in bags. I was also looking for stuff like Mozzarella and velveeta cheese, frozen salmon and some exotic cold cuts... stuff that you can normally see at an SM or Robinson's grocery.

Well, the place is huge and they have ample space for everything so I'm sure they'll stock with those things eventually. They've been open for like only three days so far anyway, so it's probably too early to complain.

I do have to comment on the look of the building. Sorry, but I just don't like the color. GREEN? What is this, PureGREEN? Because really, that's how some people are already calling it. Puregreen. I'm sure they did this to attract attention, but it just looks BADUY. They could have just used neutral colors and just made the lettering stand out. They could erect a very tall sign board, like the one Mcdonald's has at the Public Market.

NOW ON TO MUCH DEEPER ISSUES.

How does Puregold affect the commerce of San Pablo City? Will it kill the public market and other groceries? All of this is debatable at this point, and we won't see how it will change things this early. In a year or so we can probably tell for sure.

Right now all we have is opinion, so this is mine:

On opening day lots of people can still be found at CENTRO and ULTIMART and there were still lots of people at the public market, so in all probability fears of adverse effects of Puregold may be unjustified. But I do believe it's still to early to tell.

The presence of this grocery gives the residents of San Pablo and nearby areas more choices, but I also think it's an opportunity for retailers to try and find ways to entice their customers through better quality of product and service. For instance, I was in the town yesterday looking for something. The guy at this store I went to was so friendly and accommodating that I desperately wanted to buy SOMETHING from his store although they didn't have what I needed. I would definitely go back one day to buy something, in spite of Puregold being there. I can't say the same for other stores in town.

I think it's worth going to the grocery and see what they don't offer, and offer that instead. And with a SMILE. Because that's how people will be able to compete with huge corporate entities like that.

Imagine what it would be like if SM built a branch here in San Pablo.I mean... what if they built a branch at that huge area in San Rafael? You know, at RIVERINA? It's huge enough to affect everything. Even Puregold.

Comments:
kung sayo maganda ang puregold sa akin at sa aking ina ay hindi..Pinaramdam nila samin ang Na iba ang Estado ng Mahirap at Mayaman sa pamamagitan lamang ng kanilang PARKING LOT. Na hindi pwede pumarada sa taas ng Puregold Ang mga Mamimili Kung kayo ay Gagamit ng Sasakyan Trisikel at doon ka papupuntahin sa baba ng PUREGOLD kng saan ay wlang kasiguradahan na nasa ligtas na lugar ang iyong sasakyan..Kami ng aking ina ay dalwang ulit pinalayas ng mga SECURITY GUARD sa taas dahil hindi daw ako pwede pumarada doon at sa baba daw ako..Bilang isang Mabuting Tao sumunod ako sa kagustuhan ng Gwardya subalit ng ako ay malapit makarating sa lugar na kung saan doon daw ang paradahan ng trisikel eh wala naman puwang para sa akin sasakyan at sala salabit na sasakyan ang andon...Anong Klase Pamunuaan Meron ang PUREGOLD..ANO ANG PAGKAKAIBA NG DE KOTSE AT NKA SAKAY SA TRISIKEL PAREHONG MAMIMILI,PERO KUNG ATING PAGAARALAN SIKWENTA PORSYENTO NG MAMIMILI NG PUREGOLD AY GALING SA AMIN MAHIHIRAP TAPOS TRATRATUHIN NILA NG GANITO...ANG AKING INA AY SINAMA SA KANYANG NARANASAN NA KMI AY PAALISIN, AT AKOY NG DISISYON NA HUWAG NG TUMULOY SA PUREGOLD NA PANGMAYAMAN LAMANG.,.

MULA NOON HINDI NA KMI BUMALIK NG PUREGOLD..

OO AT MAGANDA AT KUMPLETO ANG PAMILIHAN PERO BABALIK KA PA BA SA LUGAR NA YAN KUNG NAKARANAS KA NG HINDI MAGANDA...

MABUTI SANA KUNG MAYROON NAKALAGAY DOON NA PASKIL NA ANG LUGAR NA ITO AY PARA SA MGA KOTSE AT MERON MAAYOS NA LUGAR PARA SA MGA MOTOR,TRISIKEL,.

KAYA ISIPIN MO.

HUWAG NINYONG MASAMAIN ANG MGA SINABI KO...NILALABAS KO LANG ANG AKING SALOOBIN
 
HOY KUNG SINO KA MAN.BUTI NGA NG-PATAYO D2 SA SAN PABLO NG PUREGOLD EH IKAW NMAN.!BUTI NGA NA-PAALIS KA NG SECURITY GUARD KASE WALA KNG PUSO.UNG MGA SNABI MO WALA YN KWENTA.OK.KAYA IKAW WAG NA WAG KNG MG-SASALITA NG GANUN KUNG GANYAN LNG ANG UGALI MO....
ANG UGALI MO .DEMONYO!...
KC WLANG PUSO.SA MGA SINASALITA NYA.
KAYA KPAG NG-TAYO NG SM D2 WAG KNG PUPUNTA.PATI WAH KNG PUPUNTA NG PUREGOLD HA!
TANDAAN MO TONG ARAW NA ITO.
SA AMIN MAGANDA SAYO HNDI.KC IKAW PANGET ANG UGALI MO...
WALA UTAK...


WAG KNG MAG-SAITA NG GANYAN DHIL PI
 
Princess,


Sana lng hindi maranasan ang naranasan nmin ng aking ina sa PUREGOLD.BInasa mo b ng ayos o naintindihan mo ang mga sinabi ko alam mo ang mga ngkokomento ng mga ganyan pamamaraan ay walang pinagaralan yung bang tipong basta lng makapagkomento yung hindi iniicip o hindi kaya hindi nagiicip. Sa aking mga sinabi patungkol sa PUREGOLD isinalaysay ko ng maayos ang aking karanasan.

Sana intindihin mo muna ang isang komento bago ka mag bigay ng puna.Yung tipong komento ng isang Nagaral na tao...


Sayang Princess mo p nman ang Pangalan mo hindi bagay sa ugali mo.Sino satin ang mayroon masamang paguugali yung nagsalaysay ng ayos o yung gumamit ng ng mga salitang hindi angkop.
 
im an architect for puregold. green is admittedly not a friendly color to design with, but that's the company color, together with gold. the aim is to create a corporate identity. if we used neutral colors it would look like every other building.
 
Jhayar at princess ou tama mgnda ang puregold pero may mga bagay n dpat isinasaalang alang bgo ang mga bagay na mkkakaapekto sa mga mamimili.
 
para sa mga complainant.. well im not a costumer of puregold but i actually understand the concern of princess and jhayar.. ang masasabi ko lang naman lets be fair to each other... walang mahirap at walang mayaman... ang pagkakamali lang ng puregold ginawa nila ito sa kanilang costumer.. at ang pagkakamali ni pricess sa kanyang feedback ay nakapagsalita sya ng mga words na very unethical or lets say below the belt.. yung kay jhayar naiintindindahan ko sya sa kanyang concern but napasobra naman dahil sa nakakasira sya ng pangalan kahit na totoo pah ito ay hindi parin ito tama na i post sa web.. bakit hindi nyo toh pausapan ng maayos..

well ittry ko magshop sa puregold using a tricycle para lubos ko kayong maintindihan,,,,,,

ingat.. bwuahahahaha


Sincerely yours,

Mark jaison ricafort..

ps.. baka kilala nyo ako..


harharharhar..
 
naku mainit ang salitaan nyo dito...

harhar


:-)
 
I tried to shop there once, di na ako bumalik. Hindi friendly ang mga staff, habang nagpapunch ng aking pinamili, chismisan ng chismisan. Nung tinanong nun cashier kung ilan mali tuloy bilang. kaya anong ginawa, tinanggal ulit sa plastic at binilang ulit isa-isa. habang tuloy pa rin ang chismisan. kaya sinabihan ko na na kung pwede bang magtrabaho muna sila at mamaya na chismisan, sumimangot ang cashier.
nung papalabas na, kelangan mo pa ipakita ang iyong resibo kung hindi eh hindi mo mailalabas ito. na parang nagshoplift ka, eh pano kaya yun mashoplift, pati mga plastic nila kasama sa shoplift?
Ultimart pa rin ako for my daily needs, kung may okasyon, south supermarket pa rin, kumpleto na, laki pa parking at well trained ang staff.
 
remember puregold customer is the reason why we are in business.
 
kpag po sumama sa motorcade ng puregold pag sale po my bayad ba sa mga smasama ka2lad ng tricycle driver sa toda ng puregold o kaht ndi toda ng puregold??
 
kpag po sumama sa motorcade ng puregold pag sale po my bayad ba sa mga smasama ka2lad ng tricycle driver sa toda ng puregold o kaht ndi toda ng puregold??
 
Sa Tindahan ni Aling Puring!!!

AASENSO KA!!!

HAHAHAHA
 
ask ko lng sino pwede kausapin para sa Display dito sa puregold???

Thanks Thanks
 
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