Metro

Posted in: Forums > Food & Drink • 18 posts • Newest

• • spunz
    September 4, 2010
    18 posts
  • Hi all,

    a friend told me about Metro and them having decent cheese. But they seem to have some membership thing going. Anyone knows more about it ?

    Thanks

• • Smillz
    September 4, 2010
    27 posts
  • Metro does have a membership program, but you need not have a card to shop there. When you walk in, just tell them "Mei you ka". They will let you right in. At the check out, they will ask you again. Just say "Mei you ka" again, and they will scan a universal card number they keep at the register, or ask someone behind you in line to use theirs. Never had any problems doing it this way.

    Happy shopping!

• • Greginchina
    September 4, 2010
    239 posts
  • If you're after cheese its a good idea to get a group of people together as metro mostly sells large quantities suitable for catering, unless you are really cheesy and can eat a whole kilo before it goes bad.

• • no way
    September 4, 2010
    104 posts
  • wicker basket near metro had cheese last time i was there.
    paul's if they're still in business.
    c4 carries cheese.
    and the trust-mart (hao you duo) has some (although
    their 'mozzarella' is just plain evil).

• • Bernie
    September 4, 2010
    100 posts
  • Why not get a membership card?

    Tell them you have a translation business (anything). Perhaps, produce a business card from your computer. It's they that need your business as a customer.

• • Ouyang
    September 4, 2010
    118 posts
  • After you've gone their once you can just show/use the receipt next time. The first time I went someone just gave me their old receipt.

• • Danmairen
    September 5, 2010
    427 posts
  • I go to Metro about every 3-4 months to buy a big hunk-O-cheese that I then cut into smaller pieces at home to stuff in the freezer. Granted the texture suffers slightly but if you wrap the cheese tightly and slowly freeze it and later thaw it in the fridge it's bearable. They sell the big chunks in 3-4 kilo sizes and usually at prices ranging from 180 for the (Argentinian) Mozarella up to 250 for the Gouda and the Emmenthaler. Never been an Emmenthaler fan so I haven't tried that one but the Mozarella is good -although as most Mozarellas a bit bland - for almost anything, especially cooking pasta, pizza or sandwiches. The Gouda has more flavour and is worth trying as well. I can also recommend the spread cheese (12-15 kuai for 140 grams), especially the President brand.

    Most foreign language schools have a membership so if you work for one you can probably pick up the number from your dos or boss. If not you can -as Smillz said- just ask another customer to lend you his card for a second, it's usually not a problem. On the other hand the universal card number he mentioned isn't a viable option anymore. Before I picked up a more permanently usable number I tried that 2 or 3 times and it didn't work.

• • spunz
    September 7, 2010
    18 posts
  • thank guys, great help as usual

    guess that some day I have to pay all you guys a beer

• • DanTheMan
    September 7, 2010
    235 posts
  • Why not just rock up to the service desk next to the Metro entrance with your foreign passport in hand and get a card? It's free and fast and the card will work in Metros across China.

• • Sikaote
    September 7, 2010
    8 posts
  • I had a membership card in Changsha. All I did was show them my passport and they gave me a card on the spot in 5 minutes. It was free and I didn't have to explain anything.

• • -14x-
    September 9, 2010
    15 posts
  • I just went there today and tried to get a card with my passport and they said I must have a proof that I run a business... otherwise no chance. Did it work with anyone else recently with the foreign passport?

• • debaser
    September 9, 2010
    120 posts
  • they asked me for some official business certificates too so now i just go with the 'mei you ka' option. never been a problem getting a card number from the next person in line. although, last week the chinese guy behind me at the check out was also shopping without a card and they refused to serve him or allow him to use another person's card even though i'd just done exactly that. maybe they'll be clamping down on that soon too...

• • bucko
    September 11, 2010
    246 posts
  • This is very strange. Metro policy has always been to give memberships to foreigners. Don't need a business. That is only for Chinese members.
    I would ask to see the manager and get the story straight.

• • aiyaryarr
    December 23, 2010
    109 posts
  • With construction of new buildings seemingly on every block throughout the city and massive excavations everywhere for the new subway system, Kunming is a very dusty city regardless of indoors or out!

    On my first trip to Metro about 3 months ago, I was very happy to see so much Western or foreign types of food available – items that are either hard to find or unavailable even in Hong Kong. But I was also very surprised to find the freshly baked goods racks at Metro were completely not covered vertically on all 4 sides. Thus, leaving the baked goods from the top to bottom (only inches off of the floor) shelves exposed to flying insects, unspecified airborne contaminants and dust mixed with bacteria from sputum commonly found everywhere and contamination from traffic in and out of improperly sanitized toilet facilities in the city. Consequently, all walking traffic and floor sweepings within Metro's will kick up a dust storm with such particles measurable in microns that the naked eyes cannot see, but will land and stick on all ready-to-eat as well as uncooked food through the supermarket.

    On my second trip, I talked to one of the freshly baked goods staff on this unhealthy practice of exposing the finished baked goods and requested that they promptly implement an effective protective practice for all uncovered ready-to-eat food. I was dismayed to find on my third trip to Metro that all racks were still uncovered as usual. I then proceeded to the office at Metro and requested a man wearing a shirt and tie to visit with me and review the freshly baked goods department's unhealthy practice. On my fourth visit to Metro, I was somewhat glad to see that my persistence was not completely in vain. The racks were flimsily covered with "cling wrap" on 3 of 4 sides, leaving 1 side still completely un-protected from top to bottom. Why can't Metro copy other more responsible and conscientious food vendors by installing custom fitted removable transparent panels on 3 sides (to facilitate daily cleaning) and hinged plastic doors on 1 side with long tongs provided for ready sales access?

    I can't help but think if the food visible to the public is unprotected as described above, I cannot imagine what goes on hidden from the customers' view in all other preparation area of Metro. Therefore, I have decided not to buy any freshly baked items from Metro. I hope someone from the German company's headquarters reads this post and realizes such lack of attention to details and resultant improper practice will inevitably affect Metro's international image and reputation!

• • jpowers
    December 23, 2010
    6 posts
  • We made it to Metro a little over a month ago and didn't have much time for shopping but it's seems like a good source for Western foods... we had our passports and password (cited above) ready and they were not needed. Also, as for the freshly baked goods being exposed... we bought a couple "pizza" type breads to devour since we were on our bikes and wanted a quick fix and I was concerned with things being uncovered as well. Glad to hear they have made some minor changes. I breathe and inhale too many pollutants everyday as it is...

• • Danmairen
    December 23, 2010
    427 posts
  • " was dismayed to find on my third trip to Metro that all racks were still uncovered as usual."

    I'm guessing dismayed yes, surprised no.

• • laotou
    December 23, 2010
    620 posts
  • aiyaryarr
    If you want the German office to read it - send it to their head office directly - I seriously doubt they surf local websites. Just copy/paste to their corporate office contacts page - but NOT the chinese metro site - as nothing will happen if you try to escalate it here.

• • aiyaryarr
    December 26, 2010
    109 posts
  • Oh yeah, I made anther trip to Metro on Christmas Day and was rudely reminded that a huge "makeshift" low counter (adjacent to the partially cling wrap covered racks) with bread spread out in a single layer was always and still is completely uncovered and exposed to dust, pollutants, everyone coughs & sneezes! It is a disrespectful and callous display of the management's attitude towards the "hands" (us the customers) that feed these arrogant Metro people!

    A question to the local Metro management people: Do you care or know anything about basic food safety and would you eat the unprotected food yourselves or feed it to your own family members?

    A question to the Metro parent company management: Do you think your management techniques and supervision are responsible and effective?

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