Safeway

Worst grocery store in America? Yes, in my experience, which is unfortunate as its the closest to me but like many of the other reviewers I travel a few extra miles for my main grocery buying. I have also swore never to return only to go back in because it’s so darn close. However 100% of the time there is an issue. Yes the store is dated and selection is limited but what gets me is the ever present long lines, the horrendous customer service and the grimy feel of the place. I honestly feel this Safeway may be a psychological experiment to see what’s the floor of terrible of customer service people are willing to put up with.
One of many examples, young cashier asks how many bagels in my bag, tell him six, so far so good, but then he not only counts them, he takes them out of the bag and places them on the counter while he counts each one, and there were of course six, I was like dude I wanted to eat these but not now they have been lying on the nasty counter.
15 times something similar has happened. No more, gas is cheap, and there are many more options out there.

Customer service 5 stars.
Selection/​Prices 3 stars.
Although this is one of the closest grocery stores for me, I only come here for a few items. I do not do the majority of my food shopping here since I can get better prices elsewhere.
The bread and bakery items are super fresh, great bagels, rolls and sweet treats that they bake on site. Very polite staff and excellent customer service. Well organized store. I know where everything is so I am in and out. I totally like the different flavored seltzer water they sell by Safeway Refresh brand. The Grapefruit, Mandarin Orange, Lemon, and Mixed Berry are my top favorites. One case of 12 cans for $ 3. Not bad. Safeway brand yogurt is pretty good too when its on sale. You can get meat on sale with pretty good prices as well.
The produce section is sorta a let down. Sometimes they’re out of bananas, or the potatoes look like they’re on their last leg, or broccoli is soft not firm, or cucumber are over priced and sort of soft too. Stuff like that. I can’t rely upon a fresh assortment of vegetables at reasonable prices would be my main issue with this Safeway. I like a good selection of veggies, but I don’t want to pay an arm and leg for them. So, I end up going to H Mart, Aldie’s and Trader Joes. If the broccoli is looking so-​so, I will check the frozen veggies and buy that instead.

This place is in need of a store upgrade. It is a smaller size safeway and not what I am use to. The selection is decent but was missing some size age in the produce area.
I didn’t have any problems with the casher except he was slow. This happens at all Safeways it seems. It really isn’t that hard to be a cashier. I can say this because I have been one before.

They don’t always have what I need (I had to ask someone to look in the back for MILK). The worst part about this store is customer service. Usually, I just deal with bad service and move on. But, it is awful enough and consistent enough that I had to give only one star. Sadly, it is less than a mile away from me, so I will probably be back.

The main problem of this place is the customer service and cashier. Melisa was the cashier who scanned my items and my interaction with her involved not a single word. She didn’t ask for my membership ID as well as the total price of my items. I was so close from saying «are you mute or something?» I know this might be rude on my part, but in my perspective, because of the silent treatment that she gave me, I think it is far reasonable to ask whether she really is a mute or just grumpy /​rude. Safeway just lost a regular costomer and this regular will never be back until the management can actually hire descent people who actuallly cares to work there.

This is probably the worst grocery store I’ve been to in a while. It looks like they haven’t updated anything since the 90s. The selection is very limited and the prices are way higher than Giant which is only a mile away. The cashier brushed me off when I said I didn’t have a Safeway card. You’re supposed to swipe yours for me or offer to help me sign up for one so I can get the sale prices, duh.

I love the people at this Safeway but the lines to check out are always a complete disaster. I’ve never seen a store so deficient in this area.
And I just got turned away from the express lane for having 16 items. Wait an extra 15 minutes for one item? I’ll pass.
This store is so close and the staff is so nice but I think that was my last trip. It’s worth an extra 5 minutes drive to skip the average 15 minute checkout.

This is a convenient place to shop. It’s a smaller store, so you don’t have to walk all around forever to find your items. Granted, there is room for improvement, the managers have always been so kind. They will special order items as you need them and the pharmacy cannot be beat. They’ve gone out of their way to assist when we received some Rx’s that required special preparation requirements.

Terrible. Not uncommon to see expired produce on the shelves. Ive known people who have found… parts…in some of their pre-​prepared deli chicken products. Regardless of day or time there are two cashiers open. There is always a wait. Their prices are usually competitive with upscale, organic groceries.
This place has been here as long as i have and its never received a facelift inside or out.
To top it all off, once you get your overpriced, potentially rotten, low quality groceries to the checkout you’re greeted… but thats too strong a word… you’re accosted by a cashier who doesnt acknowledge you, make eye contact, say hello or bid you a good day.
Each Time i go here i swear to myself, «never again». Unfortunately its just too convenient in a pinch. Ugh.

The posters who gave this store one or two stores are probably right, but I want to pitch in on the positive side.
I think corporate Safeway is really letting this store down – as well as its customers. Compared to the one in nearby Burke, this place looks like a dollar store with food. But…
It has your basics. Its bakery is pretty good. I share the complaints about the deli. (There’s a deli?) And the prices are right.
But the thing I’m on most about is the management. I really believe they’re trying to run a good store, despite obvious limitations in terms of staffing and facilities. That Safeway in Burke is just a few miles away. But I’ll go to my local one, thank you very much.

I happened to shop at a Safeway in Burke. Wow! Why don’t they give Ffx City the nice displays, same wide selections, more options???

Between the Wegmans, Walgreens, and CVS for pharmacy/​grocery/​convenience stores competing. Safeway is, and has always been the low on the bottom.
Let me tell you three experiences that would completely blow your mind.
1) I used to live in Woodbridge. There are Safeways that litter throughout that area that are 24/​7, and compete with the other ²⁴⁄₇ grocery stores like the 7/11’s, and Walmarts. So excuse me for being oblivious, for knocking in at 6:00 AM, to which your times were also scrapped, most likely being replaced. So don’t open the door rudely and say, «what the hell do you want! We’re closed, you dumb @#$%, now #%$! off!» Like really? You could’ve just said we’re closed, instead of cursing me out for a mistake I’ve made… I wanted to report her to the manager, but I was late for my morning shift, and honestly if people like her work there, then why would it even matter? Nothing would’ve changed regardless of my statement. There’s a reason people like them work there, simply cause the management doesn’t care, or doesn’t want to pay extra for qualified individuals who are seeking to do their job well through compensation.
2) Is this a strip club, or a bar/​lounge? Why are two cashiers always open, but there are 5 – 6 unopened ones? Did people decide that Safeway is the worst place to work at? Cue the irony at the first statement up above. The lines feel like I’m waiting in a club, or a bar/​lounge… At one time I went to pick up milk, chips, cigarettes and napkins. I timed my phone as an alarm clock, from 6:41 PM, and left at 7:29. I mean if your understaffed, I totally understand. But then it blows my mind, because there are 2 managers on the floor, most likely supervising the cashiers, and counting money from the drawer. But if your cashiers are booked up, and busy with long lines. Wouldn’t it benefit everyone by helping out? Not to mention one manager screamed at a cashier, because she had made a simple mistake.
3) This store has the simple basic necessities, but their overpriced, and rarely do any of their products look fresh…
Stay away from this horrible store. You’re better off safe on your way avoiding Safeway.

Started up my smoker, and swung by to grab some ribs for dinner. Problem is, they had no ribs in their case. Further, they had no one on staff who could cut more ribs? Can’t see any reason to go back here.

Their selection is limited. There are never more than 2 checkers open. I go here sometimes, just because it’s close, but I always regret it. It always takes forever to check out. The people are nice, but the trouble is too much. Go to Wegmans, instead!

I go to this Safeway often because it’s close, and the gas rewards program is ok. The produce prices are decent, selection about what you’d expect…
But the deli/​seafood section is just irritating to get service at. Typically the person staffing it will be as far back as possible, looking unapproachable, or possibly just not at their station at all. Earlier tonight I wanted some shrimp from the seafood station, but there was nobody there. I asked the woman in the deli (literally 20 feet away from seafood) if she could help. Her answer was «go to the frozen section and get it there.» So I got pre-​wrapped shrimp, return home to find they were spoiled, had to take them back for a refund. Very irritating.
I’m going to be charitable and assume this «no deli workers in the seafood section» is some union rule, or safety regulation, or corporate policy, and not just the workers being lazy. But it’s really, really annoying. I wonder how much food spoils that people wanted, but couldn’t find some Safeway staff member to go behind the counter and weigh it out for them?
On the plus side, the manager was very nice and highly efficient about refunding my money for the shrimp, which was appreciated. But here I am, 30 minutes of travel time wasted, with no shrimp…

Price gougers. Price of soda tripled the day before Super Bowl. Cashier was slow.

No, I don’t believe in reviewing chains unless I have a standout experience with them. I went into this Safeway for a bottled water and some trail mix, and came out 45 minutes later because this place is «organized» in the most irrational manner. The aisles are labled according to meal of the day. There’s a breakfast aisle. A lunch/​dinner aisle. WTF? Where’s the «in-​between meals» aisle for trail mix? Guess where I finally found it? In the ALCOHOLIC BEVERAGES aisle!