BILLA

There are not enough words to express what I experienced at this place.
I was standing in line to check out, and this cashier lady was already staring me down. Here we go. Then it was my turn and I proceeded, came to find out I had to weigh produce items myself to buy them. She was telling me in Czech that I couldn’t buy my banana in a rude way (my guess)…whatever, I just wanna buy the rest of my shopping items.
I signed for my credit card transaction and she was yelling at me for my signature. I’m guessing that she is saying that what I wrote is not to the exact of what she sees on the back of my card. She swiped my credit card again, and she again canceled the transaction. Then for the third time, she swiped again, and a gentleman next in line kindly started translating what she was saying to me. I signed to the EXACT and then she asked me for my ID. Well she came to find out of course it was me. Then she told me AGAIN the credit card was declined, and she refused to give me the stuff. Lady I know it is not my credit card company declining my shopping, it is YOU that is canceling my order.
I got frustrated and saw no solution against this lady so I walked away with no dinner for the night. The gentleman told me that she said that all the transactions were canceled and he said not to worry. Well guess what, she of coursed charged me for the third time without giving me the stuff, basically saying that I am a credit card fraud.
She didn’t like me to begin with (the reason was so clear) and she knew exactly what she was doing. She charged me and gave me no stuff… she is the credit card fraud. I called my bank and got the money back but this was the worst experience I had on my Europe trip. This Czech lady was so rude and wrong, and she pretty much ruined Czech for me.
P.S There was another foreigner getting upset trying to check out in another lane and overheard that the cashier was trying to short change the traveler.

I didn’t know what Billa was until we entered the space and saw that is was a supermarket. We couldn’t tell right away from the street entrance on V. Celnici until we walked in. This Billa is so convenient especially if you are staying at the Hilton Old Town or Marriott. They have a large variety of deli goods and meats, produce, dairy products, bread and typical grocery aisles (chips, candies, sweets, toiletries, etc). Great place to pick up snacks to munch in the hotel. I also bought a few bars of chocolates to bring home for the family. They have a machine that squeezes fresh orange juice on the spot! Look for it in the produce section.
The cashiers are fast and you can bag your own purchases. There’s also a small pharmacie and florist in the hall.

One of the nicer Billas I have been in. Probably due to the location, right at Namesti Republiky. It is clean, easy to navigate, although not the best selection, still pretty decent. The checkers move fast and have been some of the politest I have seen in Prague grocery stories. I will be heading back when I am in the area.