Unacceptable service at food4less. BE CAREFUL OF YOUR PRODUCE

I went to the food4less store at 271 S Bolingbrook Dr, Bolingbrook, IL 60440 on Tuesday November 5 and purchased $151.14 in groceries including a large amount of produce. On November 6th, 2013 I was cooking dinner for my family and while I was cutting the cabbage up I noticed a lot of green slimy balls towards the heart of it under the first two leaves. I put it aside as I would not want to eat this or feed it to my family not knowing what it is. I cut my second head of cabbage up and put it in the pot to cook. Once I began to throw all of the scraps and everything away I went to grab the damaged cabbage and saw a 3 inch slug, alive, crawling in and around it. The slimy balls were the slug’s larvae. After throwing my meal away from this infestation I called the store, asked for a manager, and spoke to David. I informed him of this situation and advised to take the cabbage off the shelves. I also told him I was not comfortable with the food I purchased in produce because of what I just witnessed. He then said that because it is grown in a farm I should know that they go through quality testing. I expressed that I understand that but when a customer calls to complain it should be handled properly and effectively. He said he would take it off the shelves. I asked does he want to see the produce or pictures and he said “no I will not go through the technicalities with you, how about this? You can come up here and I will refund you for your entire trip”. I advised him that I do not have my receipt because I have always trusted them that I wouldn’t ever need one or be in this issue but I do have bank statements. He said “ don’t worry just bring them in and we will take care of it.” I asked if he would be there tomorrow and he said no but to ask for Donovan and he would tell him the issue. I went back to the store the next day November 7th, and spoke to Evelyn asking for a manager, I told her I spoke to David and was there for my refund that was promised. She asked for the receipt and I told her I had my loyalty card that it was on and my bank statement and that David said that would suffice. She looked at me like she was appalled and said “you think we are going to refund $150”. I then again said, YES, this is what your manager David told me yesterday. She then said that no one was available and I asked where I could get one, she said in a meeting, then I asked for how long and she said 30 minutes. I waited in the parking lot from 4:15-4:45, came back in and asked for Donovan again. He had David, whom I spoke to the day before on the phone. He then said “how are you young lady, I just told my associate we would need that produce and your receipt to give you a refund” I said “that is not the conversation we had yesterday, I told you I did not have my receipt and I do have my card and bank statements. He then said “we have to have that produce to scan it in and I can refund you for your produce” I responded “ I was told yesterday after I asked you if you wanted the pictures or the produce you said no, to come in, and you will give me a refund for my entire trip” he then proceeded to say that he NEVER said this and he needed the produce to “scan in, and write a letter to the farm”. I told him It was I threw it in the garbage yesterday after I was assured I would not need it also bringing up the point of not wanting to keep slugs or larvae in my house. He said if I wanted my refund I would have to get it and bring it back. I then said “okay, I will talk to whoever I need to in order to get this resolved.” He said “okay” and hung up the phone.  I feel that this situation was handled wrong on more than one level. When I first called I was assured that they would handle the situation and in David’s words “It’s not about technicalities, it is how we handle complaints as a store” I went in to the store and was completely disregarded, and brushed off, then the promises that were made to me, were not only taken, back but denied. I then called the customer service number and spoke to a lady names Mia. She offered me 100 loyalty points to give me 10 cents off my next gasoline trip. She contacted the store and told me they told her what I said was true and she then told them to give me my refund for the cabbage when I come in. I not only lost my dinner that evening but also had to throw away all produce I bought, carrots, honeydew, cantaloupe, cabbage, and potatoes as it is kept in the same drawer and could have been affected as well causing a worse problem if consumed. I am very grateful Mia actually apologized about the issue and offered assistance, unlike any single person in the store. But I honestly feel as a consumer and a business owner this is not a way to do business, or run a store. If it were my customer I would have honored my word and stuck to my first promise of the full refund. I did not ask for this, it was offered. In my opinion it was offered to just hush me up, and that is unacceptable to me.