Dear Abby >> The grocery store a mile from our house has recently gone through a major expansion and upgrade. I have shopped there my entire life. The store has two points of ingress and egress. I have always entered through the door most convenient for me. If what I need is on the east side of the store, I enter and exit via the closest door.

Since the expansion and upgrade, they now allow shoppers to enter only through one door and exit through the other. They will soon install gates to prevent shoppers from using the “wrong” door. I have an injury and will be having surgery soon. Walking through the entire store to pick up a couple of items located near the “exit only” door can be difficult. I am sure elderly patrons feel the same way.

I know the store is counting on spontaneous purchases by doing this, but it’s extremely non-customer-friendly. The quality of customer service can make or break a business. Without customers, a business will fail. Please send a message to grocery stores to change their methods.

— Angry Loyal Shopper in Ohio

Dear Shopper >> I’ll try, but I’m pessimistic that the message will be heeded. I know many shoppers experience the same aggravation that you are feeling. The supermarket in my city has branches in different neighborhoods. At my branch, the management got the bright idea that completely rearranging the store would generate more sales, forcing customers to weave through aisles looking for items that were once easy to find. I don’t know how it has worked out for them because I now shop at a different store. If you have that option, take it.

Contact Dear Abby at www.DearAbby.com or P.O. Box 69440, Los Angeles, CA 90069.