Comments for sursumcorda.salemsattic.com/post/my-rocky-relationship-with-penzeys-spices

Comment #3013

2020-01-03T23:49:13Z

This post has collected a very large amount of spam. In such cases I usually disable commenting, but I've left it open because of the discussion. Now, however, I think we've said what's going to be said and are just rehashing old ground—and the comments are getting nastier. The one above I let stand because it was only directed at me, but others have been more generally nasty and the only alternative to denying individual comments is to close them altogether. I think it's time.

Comment #3012

2019-12-31T23:14:30Z

I think Nancy puts well why Penzey's fans love him. "Speaking truth to power" is something mankind has always needed, even if it comes from a court jester.

The trouble with Penzey, as far as I can tell, is that he only gives the appearance of speaking truth to power. I doubt, for instance, that he has Donald Trump's ear when he sends out his newsletters.

For half his customer base, his mailings meet with cheering—no doubt Nancy is encouraged by someone finally "saying it like it is." (Sounds an awful lot like what Trump's base likes about Trump.)

For the other half, Penzey is speaking accusations to the powerless. Do you wonder what their reaction might be, Nancy? Do you wonder why they aren't already changing their minds en masse?

When was the last time Sean Hannity and his ilk "spoke truth to power" and changed your mind?

I'm discouraged to see how often and how quickly disagreement on issues and even presuppositions leads to accusations of evil intentions. Would that we could distinguish between intent and outcome and hold lightly the motives we believe to have discerned in the other!

Comment #3011

2019-12-29T12:33:46Z

Nancy, I know you are just fishing for some defense from Sursumcorda, but I feel I have to defend her because she, of all people, is one of the least hypocritical Christians that I know. She is gracious to people she disagrees with, even though she obviously does not hesitate to express her opinions. I maintain that you are unjust in accusing her. However, I do appreciate that your comment is not language-offensive. You will note that she approved it at moderation, which is a supporting point to my second sentence above.

Comment #3010

2019-12-29T00:34:11Z

Because of Penzey’s courage to speak truth to power, it became my “go-to” gift this year. It’s pretty ridiculous or you to say that closing a brick and mortar store that was not cutting a profit is “hypocritical “—I think we know who the hypocrite (specifically the Christian hypocrite) is, Mr. or Ms. Sursumcorda

Comment #3009

2019-12-19T11:41:47Z

I agree, Theresa. I am sad for Bill Penzey, who had such a great inheritance, and who, I believe, started out with a good heart and good intentions, but who is following a dark and foolish road. A wise friend once told me, "Once you become known primarily by what you are against instead of what you are for, you have lost your way." A lesson I try to apply to my writings, albeit with indifferent success.

Comment #3008

2019-12-19T09:07:17Z

I love The Spice House....and Savory Spice...as alternatives to the unbearable narcissism of Penzeys at this point. I used to go to the Cincinnati store but moved to a place with no store so bought by mail order....until 2016. Bill says he's all about kindness...unless you don't agree with him. He says he wants his fellow CEO's to stand up and declare themselves....but like his customers....only if they agree with him. The hypocrisy makes me gag.

Comment #3007

2019-12-01T03:53:35Z

Hi Everyone, I had the audacity to send an email to Bill. It appears I ruffled his feathers a bit, because he send me a return email. Well, we are having a heated discussion over his treatment of conservatives who are his customers. He is definitely full of himself. He appears to feel that he is above us poor lovely conservatives. I hate giving up my spices... I have been a loyal customer for15 years. But I will not stand by and be part of the silent majority. Even if he does not

Answer your email, I think we should start bombarding him with emails, speak your mind, don’t let men like him bully you. When we allow people to make the kind of comments he makes about conservatives and people of faith, trust me he can not handle as nooner who goes not have his mindset. As they say, silence gives consent.

Comment #3006

2019-11-23T17:36:29Z

Thank you for giving me an alternative to Penzeys (The Spice House). I had been a customer for many, many years and I am tired of being told I am a terrible person by someone who does not know me (and who has been a loyal customer). I still love their spices but it not worth it anymore. I am willing to give The Spice House a try...I don't hold them being related to Bill Penzey and I don't care who they voted for as long as they have good product, good prices and NO POLITICS involved.

Comment #3005

2019-11-20T02:09:25Z

Wonderful store, spices, and snappy comments about the craziness in government!

Comment #3004

2019-11-13T11:51:19Z

That would be a waste of good spices, as well as painful, Vicky. I'm using my stock of Penzeys spices with thanksgiving for their high quality, and for what the company used to be and I hope will be someday in the future. However, I do confess a small feeling of satisfaction when I use up a jar I don't intend to replace. I'm quite happy with the Spice House now.

Comment #3003

2019-11-13T03:24:04Z

Although I feel like dumping the whole lot down the drain, maybe this recipe would work: Stick a kabob skewer in me, coat with all the remaining spices..I'm done!

Comment #3002

2019-10-16T13:25:56Z

Politics do not belong in business. I have been a customer for 15 years. Not anymore. I found another company and have just made my first purchase. Dont preach love and kindness if you can't live it. Hypocritical describes your actions.

Comment #3001

2019-10-14T12:58:11Z

Possibly, Stephan. But they often include free items, and this is the first time I've seen one without a $0.00 price. Maybe they have a new accounting system, but I'm betting on the tax benefit.

Comment #3000

2019-10-13T20:27:12Z

The comments had me look at your sticker question again. While I don't know why they chose $6.95 as a good price for a sticker that's clearly not worth more than a 1/4 cup jar of orange peel, I have a guess as to why they don't just invoice it as $0.00.

Our ERP system does not allow an item to be ordered or billed if its price is set at $0.00. If Penzeys's ERP follows the same philosophy, it would have been impossible for the company to include the sticker on the packing slip for $0.00. They could have left it off the packing slip, but that would have likely led to most boxes being packed without the stickers. Hence the workaround: bill it, so it gets packed and the sticker stock can be monitored, then back it out, so the price is right.

Again, why $6.95... perhaps they can deduct the total sticker cost from their taxes, because it's for a get-out-the-vote cause, or maybe they sourced it carbon-compensated from an artisanal sticker craftsman.

Comment #2999

2019-10-13T13:15:04Z

Christina, I understand the impulse, having myself avoided the Nestlé company's products for decades. (When I could, that is—they're everywhere.) My cynical side, however, tells me that such boycotts deprive me of good products, feed my self-righteous tendencies, and don't discourage the company.

On the other hand, if I hadn't tried to avoid Nestlé, I might never have discovered how good Ghirardelli and Guittard chocolate is, and that Publix's Chocolate Trinity ice cream is far better than Edy's Double Fudge Brownie. I may think Penzeys' policies are hypocritical, but I've never denied that their spices are wonderful.

Comment #2998

2019-10-13T13:01:11Z

That's the kind of story I like to hear, Kathy. Sometimes I think small businesses are our best hope for civility in society: they know their livelihood depends on making their customers feel welcome, and get lots of practice being nice even when they don't feel like it.

Comment #2997

2019-10-13T07:48:14Z

I agree with Diane Villafane. No chick fil a, hobby lobby,land o lakes or papa johns's for me. Penzey's, keep up the good work!

Comment #2996

2019-10-12T17:21:43Z

When Hillary Clinton was running for Senate in New York State, there was a small local restaurant in the Syracuse area that announced "the Clintons are not welcome at our restaurant." I was pleased when a similar place in Oswego announced "EVERYONE is welcome at our restaurant."

Comment #2995

2019-10-11T17:44:58Z

This little post seems to be generating more comments than usual. That's good, I think, but it means I need to be a little clearer about blog standards.

Discussion is great, differing points of view are interesting, dissension is fine. Profanity and vituperation are not. Whatever part of the political spectrum you count as your own neighborhood, insulting and abusive language does not help your cause. Why give your opponent the opportunity to congratulate himself on his assessment of your character?

I apologize to anyone who posts a comment that doesn't make it intact through the moderation process. We value your opinion, just not the particular way you chose to express it.

Comment #2994

2019-10-11T14:02:33Z

I beg your pardon, Elsie, but this blog is pretty fussy about language, so I've censored a small part of your comment.

I agree that choosing not to shop where we feel bullied and unwelcome by the shopkeeper just makes sense. However, I don't think that "loud and nasty" is an effective strategy: they will only see it as confirmation of their low opinion of those who disagree with them.

Comment #2993

2019-10-11T12:18:37Z

I am also on Florida and used to patronize Penzey’s. I love The Greek Spice Mix, but I don’t love it that much. Bill is a bully along the lines of the owners of Ravelry, the knitting group which did the same thing, on there, rolled left in droves. They gave no warning to their vendors who lost tons of income. I shop at The Spice House now. If I vote the sticker I would have written in on the bottom for Trump#2020 and mailed it back with a note that said [section deleted]. I’ve had enough of these liberal bullies and won’t be silent any more. At 66, I won’t allow them to call me a racist, bully me, or try to destroy my country any more. We can’t be the silent majority anymore. It’s time to be as loud and nasty as they are and hit them where it hurts, in their pocketbooks.

Comment #2992

2019-10-08T14:09:22Z

I'm actually rather impressed that Bill Penzey's business has not gone under. What other company can afford to be so abusive to half its customer base? If they really lost the business of all Republicans, Conservatives, and conservative Democrats, I suspect they would be hurting, big time. But most of us try to keep our politics and our shopping separate. Still, the only business they've had from me for years has been during super sales, and now that I've found The Spice House, it will be little to none.

Comment #2991

2019-10-08T13:18:15Z

I quit using Penzeys spices soon after the last election. Bill Penzey apparently didn't and doesn't care or appreciate all his customers. He actually said he didn't need Republicans as customers. As a wise business owner, I would think you would need all customers. I, as well, enjoyed the spices, but I also choose to be a customer only and not have political (or any other) views thrown at me. I found other sources iif sources for less money.

Comment #2990

2019-09-09T19:04:34Z

Thanks for your comments, Sunflower and Sandy. I'm sorry to hear that the Jacksonville store has closed—I think Bill Penzey just doesn't like Florida.

Check out my post about The Spice House, where you can find Penzey-quality spices with no politics!

Comment #2989

2019-09-09T18:11:45Z

I quit going because of the email propaganda. I live in Jacksonville. FYI - the store here is now closed.

Comment #2988

2019-09-09T17:53:50Z

No longer purchasing from Penzey's. Bill has gone over the edge with his rants and political opinions, etc. Just not able to spend $$ in the stores anymore, cannot support the bad behavior and generalization on others who do not share his viewpoints and more. I am truly spice saddened!!!

I choose JOY over being basted and bashed while creating savory or sweet food for others.

Hope he can find JOY amidst his hot mess of a kitchen.

Comment #2987

2019-02-23T23:50:45Z

No politics, but an ad for the Spice House did appear on Facebook the next time I checked in....

Comment #2986

2019-02-23T23:03:40Z

Wow! I was going to respond that I'm not looking for a new spice source, but am more often making do with grocery store spices. But then I followed the link. Spices from the original Penzeys (Bill Penzey's sister, who inherited the business from their father), without the side order of vituperation!

Comment #2985

2019-02-23T22:06:22Z

Here's an article that echoes your sentiment, with the option of a different purveyor of fine spices: https://www.theamericanconservative.com/dreher/bill-penzey-spices-trump/

Comment #2984

2019-02-12T12:44:00Z

Note that it was not Penzeys' politics that sent me over the edge, but their failure to abide by their own stated principles.

Comment #2983

2019-02-12T12:09:50Z

When I buy Ben and Jerry's ice cream, which I hardly ever do—see last week's sermon—it's because they have an excellent product (especially Cherry Garcia!). Or at least they used to; I wouldn't know now, because I've hardly patronized them at all since they sold out.

Seriously? You'd buy from Penzeys sight unseen just because I think they're hypocritical? What makes you think we'll agree on spice quality? Maybe it's more like music than politics. :) But by all means, find out for yourself, here's the link. I particularly recommend Tuscan Sunset, Ruth Ann's Muskego Ave Chicken/Fish Seasoning, Chili 9000, and their Fajita Seasoning. It's also a great place to get rarer spices, such as true (Ceylon) cinnamon, granulated shallots, and spices/blends for cuisines of many different cultures. Their double strength vanilla is absolutely awesome, but has been absolutely unaffordable for years. Their almond extract is the best I've found so far, so when they offer a good sale I treat myself. Enjoy!

Comment #2982

2019-02-12T11:25:57Z

I don't spend my money at businesses that oppose LGBT rights or health insurance coverage of birth control for their employees, and I make it a point to patronize Nike, and Ben and Jerry's Ice Cream for supporting the Black Lives Matter cause and Colin Kaepernick. It's time for me to buy some spices from Penzeys!