The Green Apple Health Foods

We used to shop here. Not anymore! I have a small natural food company with quite a few customers in The Villages. Since The Green Apple is the only natural food store around and I already have clientele, I thought they would be perfect for our supplement product. I sent the owner free samples and she liked it enough to take me up on our introductory offer of a free case to sell. (This is common practice in the industry to get on the shelves, called "free fill" or "buy in") We placed The Green Apple on the "store finder" of our website and did a bit of marketing them as a new retail outlet. I then received a call from a frustrated customer who said she was in the store looking for our product and was told they have it in back, but not on the shelves yet. I called to follow up again (they had ignored my previous calls, but I figured they were just busy). This time, I was told they decided not to carry it. I reminded them we shipped the product they ordered free, on good faith they would stock it on their shelves for customers to buy. Since they decided not to stock it, I said someone would come in to pick up the product (it is valuable). They told me they gave it all away and no one liked it, which is quite doubtful. I don't know what possessed them to do that but, it was very rude. We are a small family business and have never been taken advantage of like this before, especially not by another small business. We completely upheld our end of the deal and now feel scammed by The Green Apple. Ethical business practices are very important to me. I am saddened by The Green Apple's actions. Note re Green Apple's reply: We provided samples to Green Apple well before they agreed to the "free fill". These were two separate transactions. The free case was given after Green Apple had already tried the initial samples and agreed to sell the product in their store. The free case was provided with the clear understanding that it was for the store to stock and sell at an introductory sale price, and to use as a smoothie additive in their smoothie bar. The product never made it on to the shelf, contrary to the agreement. The reason the "single customer" on the phone did not buy the product was because Green Apple would not sell it to her. The sales clerk told the customer that the product was "in the back" and "not for sale". She tried to buy it in the store but ended up ordering it online. I've been in this industry for 18 years and this is the first time I have seen a store do what Green Apple did. While it may have been a simple misunderstanding, all communication was fine until Green Apple received a considerable quantity of "free" product and then completely dropped all communication, dodging our calls and emails. We only got them on the phone when a customer called our toll free number from her cell phone and put the store manager on the line. We definitely felt taken advantage of and absolutely will not "come in and try some fresh healthy smoothies." The smoothies are good but this sales pitch at the end of the reply is just absurd.
1 8 years ago (13-03-2018)

Prices could be better. I will order online from now on and save 30% . Note: If you’re closing the café prior to the store closing there should be a sign notifying customers of that, because realistically it’s not closing at the time on your store hours listed If closing early to clean it. I could save the drive.
3 9 years ago (04-11-2017)

I had a chicken salad wrap and a smoothie. Everything was excellent.
5 9 years ago (23-01-2018)

Best selection of low carb foods. I shop there on a week.
5 9 years ago (20-12-2017)

The smoothies are awesome. If you're vegan this is the spot to eat. Always good soup available in addition to wraps and sandwiches.
5 10 years ago (08-03-2017)