SuperChill: SuperValu

Recently I found myself at Albertson's and I wanted to grab some soda before playing some D&D. I mistakenly picked up "Mt. Chill" flavored "SuperChill" thinking it was a generic "Sprite" when it was actually a generic "Mountain Dew". I don't consume things with caffeine in them aside from chocolate so this was an unfortunate mistake.

Caffeine aside, "SuperChill" comes in many varieties and is produced by a company called SuperValu. After purchasing the drink I decided to see what flavors they had so I wouldn't make the same mistake again. I did a web search for "SuperChill" hoping to find useful results, and found mentions of the brand as well as beverage chilling devices, but not a list of flavors. I decided to consult the bottle after the web search turned up the "SuperValu" company name I hadn't known before and found where it was on the label of the bottle. They had a different web address on their bottle than the one that came up in the search engine, and I found the address to in fact be not in service. Then they had a customer service number.

I call the number and get a fairly standard set of automated voice command options, none of which are relevant to me, but I am given an option for "More Options". From here I am allowed to summon a customer service representative, although the option for doing so assumed I'm doing something more serious than trying to get a list of flavors.

The rep answers immediately. I get the impression that this number is called very rarely. I was impressed that they were open though, on Saturday at 5pm. The following is a paraphrasing of the conversation to the best of my recollection:

Customer Service Rep (CSR): Hello, SuperValu Customer Care, how may I help you.
Me: I wanted to get a list of the different flavors in your 'SuperChill' beverage brand
CSR: Ok sir, I can look that up for you. You want me to tell you the different flavors of SuperChill, correct?
Me: Correct.
CSR: Ok, first can I get your zip code so we can locate the store nearest you.

I'd like to stop this transcript for a second, just to note that this is already weird now. I don't see why they have to locate a store at this point, but my zip code alone isn't going to hurt me so I give it and they tell me an address of a store and ask me if I shop there frequently. They do not name the store, by the way, and there's a brief exchange about there being a Safeway and some other stores on that street.

She then asks for my name. I give her just my first. She asks for me last, I ask if just the initial is okay, she says yes and I give it. She asks for my addresses, both physical and e-mail. I politely decline to do so.

CSR: Okay. We will contact the store and ask them.

We're pausing again. They put me on hold. My main question at this point?

You have to contact the local store? You don't even know your own brand's flavors, SuperValu? I could've called the local store myself!

Anyway, after a couple minutes the hold music ends and she lists off the flavors of SuperChill available. I find out the variety I want is just called "Lemon-Lime".

Looking back on this whole story, what have we learned?

1. We have learned that SuperValu is an extremely sketchy company that wants my personal information.
2. We've learned that their representatives are not given any information booklets about their own products.
3. We've learned that sometimes when you try to go straight to the source for information you end up getting it from someone lower on the grape vine anyway.

It was a super weird experience, and now I've documented it. Good day.

Allergies, Campaigns, and Moving

I have got seasonal allergies. Having them is like being sick all the time. Yesterday I took a Zyrtec because Claritin does nothing for me. The Zyrtec did not seem to do anything yesterday when I took it, but I felt really good this morning. That may be due to the pill, or maybe I really was sick and am getting better. I do know I can breath a bit again.

Want to have a convenient place to make notes and store information on your role-playing campaign? Try ObsidianPortal.com. It's good stuff.

Moving month is coming closer. Today I will put in my time off request for the last half of August.

Inter-tubes. YEAH!