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Penzey's Spices  

post #1 of 16
2/7/08 at 11:02am
Thread Starter 
I recently received an order from Penzey's in which I included an 8 oz. bag of ancho chilis. I noticed that the bag, which was labeled "8 oz.", seemed awfully light for a half pound so I weighed it bag and all. It weighed 4.4 oz. The next time I went to Raley's Market, I bought a bag of ancho chilis that looked to be about the same size but that had 2 more chilis in it and that was labeled "3 oz." When I got home, I weighed it and it weighed 3.4 oz. That bag cost me $1.79 and the "8 oz." bag from Penzey's that only contained 4 oz. cost $7.99. So much for Penzey's. I suppose they can get away with that because not many people own a precise kitchen scale. (Mine is actually a postal scale that weighs to the nearest 1/10 ounce.)

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post #2 of 16
2/7/08 at 1:08pm
Did you contact Penzey's about your concern or are you just going to give them a lot of bad publlicity? I can think of any number of things which may have caused the discrepency. :suprise:
post #3 of 16
2/7/08 at 1:30pm
I agree. Have you contacted Penzey's about their mistake? I use Penzey's all the time. Mostly I buy direct from one of their stores as I am close to one, but I have ordered online a number of times also. All without a problem. I suggest contacting them and telling them about your issue. I am sure it was a mistake and that they will owe up to it and take care of it.
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post #4 of 16
2/7/08 at 1:50pm
I'm sorry you had a problem with an order, but suggesting they intentionally cheat people is not right, especially if you haven't given them a chance to correct the problem.

BTW, you should compare quality and taste before making the assumption that supermarket spices are a better deal.
post #5 of 16
2/7/08 at 1:54pm
I have been absolutely pleased with each of my many orders from Penzey's. If that happened to me I would consider it an honest mistake.

Nobody's perfect, but Penzey's is outstanding!! The only problem I have ever had with them was a misprint on a recipe. They are the best herb and spice supplier in my experience, and I have ordered at least 200 items from them.

By the way, the one problem I had was a capital T in place of a lower-case t on a recipe.
post #6 of 16
2/7/08 at 2:27pm
Thread Starter 
Of course they'll own up to it; what else would they do? I did compare the quality. I made a batch of salsa using each brand and I couldn't detect any difference of quality.
post #7 of 16
2/7/08 at 3:15pm
Let's play nice!

Back to the topic....

I agree with Pete. I, too, live near a Penzey's. If I had a problem I knwo they would solve it. I strongly recommend you call them and explain the problem. I think you'll be pleasantly surprised.

FWIW, with the decline in customer service in recent years, it's not surprising one might assume a bad outcome from an experience like this. That's why I say you'll be pleasantly surprised.
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post #8 of 16
2/7/08 at 3:25pm
Thread Starter 
>>But since you bring up ancho chiles, I have some of their ground ancho chile in my freezer and it's great.<<

So is the $1.79 for three ounces from Raley's and I don't have to pay for shipping.

By the way, I'll bet you're one of those that think that anise and fennel are the same thing.
post #9 of 16
2/7/08 at 3:29pm
I know my spices and I say you are reacting too much to an honest mistake.
post #10 of 16
2/7/08 at 8:39pm
Penzey's is my lifeline. I take this stuff to my job, on my own dime because I'll swear it makes everything better than the spices I would get from super market or my purveyor.
I must admit there are other mail order spice companies I have heard good things about, but I have bever been less than very, very pleased with what I received!
Some one mentioned their curry--wowzee, open a jar of Maharajah,mmmmm,awwwww!
I have used their Tandoori forever, my first meal in Kathmandu was Tandoori Chicken, Lo and behold, it tasted familiar.
Don't mess with Penzey's, I got people! Kidding!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Nan
post #11 of 16
2/7/08 at 9:11pm
Can we get back on topic? Penzey's sent you a light package, what did you do? Did you contact their customer service? This thread is about Penzey's, not yours or anyone else's knowledge about spices, but the weight on the package. It's most likely the package was filled by a machine and if that is the case, most likely Penzey's would love your feedback too prevent further errors. I have had positive experiences with them, and I probably live closer to a shop than most people, about 3 blocks, and if you have a chance visit one. It's great to be able to smell each of their products. :lips:
post #12 of 16
2/7/08 at 11:13pm
I agree with what dledmo says. You need to contact them. Everyone else has given them a pretty good rap - give them the opportunity to correct it.

Yes, you would seem to have gotten the bad end of the deal, but if you don't report it, they can't correct it.

I live far far away from any Penzey's, but basic logic says let them know, and see what they come up with, from a consumer standpoint.
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post #13 of 16
2/8/08 at 9:15am
OK now that's settled let's get back on topic.
post #14 of 16
2/8/08 at 10:24am
Uh, what was the question again?
post #15 of 16
2/8/08 at 5:44pm
There appear to be two issues here:

1. Penzey's sent the wrong amount of chilis.
I DO have a precise kitchen scale, and have never found the weight of any of my herbs and spices from Penzey's to be anything other than accurate. So I agree with the others that this was probably just an honest error. They--like anyone else--deserve the chance to rectify it.

2. A local market offered a better price on the same product.
If you can get a product that is of the same quality for less money and without having to send for it, of course that would be preferable.
And since you've written in a later post that you did a taste test and found no difference, that would confirm it.

Personally I've found that the products I order from Penzey's not only are superior to anything I can get locally, they are, in fact, cheaper. But I've never tried their Ancho chilis.
Emily

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post #16 of 16
2/8/08 at 6:59pm
That reminds me. I love their ancho chili powder! I use it in my chili and in my rib rub. :lips:

mmmmm,
dan

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