Albertsons

Staff here are poorly trained and can appear indifferent and it doesn’t help that cashiers can sometimes be in short supply. Store itself has limited selection versus others in area. No bakery in the store is a major disappointment. Prices can be competitve. Lots of parking.

Today I had a horrifying experience at Albertson’s (7127 Hollister Avenue, Goleta CA 93 117) with cashier Alex G.
Upon checking out, we handed over 4 coupons to the cashier for 4 of the items that we wanted to purchase. The cashier would not take all four of our coupons and said that we could only use one coupon. We insisted that we were able to use 1 coupon per item purchased as indicated on the coupon and since we were purchasing 4 of these items, we should be able to use 4 coupons. He refused to let us use all 4 coupons regardless.
Alex G insisted that we move aside to «think» about whether we still wanted to purchase these items or not while he helped the next customer.
We again, told him that we were able to use all 4 coupons and suggested that he try scanning the coupon to see if they would go through. If the coupon was indeed valid then it should be able to scan. In response, Alex rudely stated «it’s not about scanning the coupon, it’s about reading, R-​E-​A-​D-​I-​N-​G» and he went on to say in a slow voice, imitating a robot, as if we could not understand «onnneee couponnnn perrr purrrchaseee». He then went on to proudly say that he was the manager and that he was not going to let us use our coupons.
I am in complete shock that he would talk to us the way he did. Regardless of whether we use or not use our coupons, he should not have behaved or speak the way that he did to us. He unnecessarily went out of his way to embarrass us and talk down to us in front of the customers in line behind us.
Alex G, manager or not, had a poor attitude, was rude and most especially condescending. His behavior is utterly unacceptable and I will not be shopping at this location again so long as he is employed there.
I have contacted Albertson’s customer service.

The Self-​Checkout stations are way too micromanaged, honestly they should just get rid of them. I don’t entirely blame the staff for this, plenty of people get confused and take too long with the self-​checkout. Like seriously, they would be faster if they had a clerk help. But for others who prefer self-checkout…I hate being bugged.
Beer/​alcohol selection is actually really good here. That’s got to be a good thing for some people. Lot’s of craft beer, I’ve noticed that Albertsons in general is very good about that.
Produce is hit or miss. Last time I was here I noticed some janky fruit but Albertsons is usually better than this.

The only thing I don’t like about this store is how inconsistently stocked it is. For example, I bought a particular brand of feta cheese one week and it wasn’t there the next week. When I went again, it was there. This has happened a couple of times with the cheese and my favorite cranberry juice. When buying Yoplait Greek Yogurt, I can never be sure the flavors I like will be there because sometimes there are an abundance of flavors and sometimes there are only like four.
But, other than that issue, I have no complaints. It’s mildly annoying sometimes but it’s tolerable, especially since they’re a busy store.
I’ve never had any issues with the employees, by the way.

The employee at the self checkout micromanaged my entire transaction, though I never asked for help. I was buying one onion with a credit card and did not need help. He walked over to me after I told him I was fine, and he continued to tell me what to do, which is not appreciated in the slightest and made me uncomfortable. I go to the self checkout because I don’t want to interact with an employee.
After I bought my onion I remembered I also needed raisins, but decided to just get out of there as soon as possible.

So I noticed that this place didn’t get good reviews. I’m not sure what store others were at but as far as Albertsons goes this is by far one of the best I have ever shopped at. Is it Whole Foods or a local organic market? No but for a box grocery store they try hard at this place. They offer an entire organic isle and a decent selection of Organics in their produce department.

Last time I ever attend albertsons!!! Do not confuse the fact that they have great prices and everything is there for your convenience but the service is awful. I am so disappointed with the people who run this place. I have an albertsons at my hometown and they treated me so nicely and were always so helpful. This albertsons have rude sassy employees. Specifically the «manager» Teresa was astonishingly rude.
I had ran into some friends at the store and was buying some beer. They stood in line behind me with their own groceries! We were talking in line when Teresa began smirking at me saying she needed everyone’s ID because we were «clearly» together. I was appalled because I felt as if she basically was suggesting that I would buy minors alcohol!!! That is a huge accusation to be making and I hope someone speaks to this woman about this because I have never been denied buying a couple of beers for simply speaking and conversing with other people…
When I asked to speak to a manager she put her hand in my face and laughed at me and said she was the manager. I then asked if I could simply speak to someone above her and she denied me the request. I went back in alone to buy my beers and saw a different manager that was clearly above her! Rude and lieing??? What kind of place iS this. Don’t waste your time here!!! It’s not worth the stress and rudeness you have to deal with here. Thank you Teresa for ruining my night

This is the second time I’ve come here to buy vegan hotdogs. Both times I had to look all the way in the back to find ones that aren’t expired. Seriously? It’s not even a day or two, it’s usually a month or two. One time I even gave a few of the expired packets to customer service and the guy gave me attitude about it. So irritated by this.

Best chicken in that part of town

This is for the boba place located inside albertsons. This place is amazing!!! The freshest boba in Santa Barbara. I love their coffee one. The workers are really nice. You can even get a drink on your way in to grocery shopping and get a refill before you leave!!!

Joshua in the meat department is the hidden gem of this place.
Great service, knowledgeable about his meat, and always a great mood.
I’ve been coming here for over a year now and I actually drive further to shop here.
–Also; with a business model that’s clearly being impacted by the Trader Joes next door having a good live butcher really is your best asset.

It’s kind of expensive compared to other Albertsons, but that’s probably because it’s near a college town. I love their baked goods, they have nice cakes, and well stocked selection of deli, fruits, and veggies.
One thing that annoys me is they charge like nearly $ 50 bucks for 750ml of Grey Goose, but at Bev Mo is like $ 28.00, that a huge mark up, jeez. I could understand like $ 5 bucks more but almost twice as much is robbery. Yeah so I dont buy it there. But other than that, I love the convenience of it. oh yeah, one thing to note is if you sprain your ankle and you call them, the staff will tell you they have Ace bandages, well they lied. They don’t.

LOOOOOOOOOOONG lines! Seriously! They have only one cashier working late at night when the place is full and they close the self checkout. Seriously? I’m not waiting in that line to get second-​rate groceries and pesticide-​ridden produce. Sorry.

really RUDE! GRUMPY! old lady giving free samples… and he bagger was telling me his life story from dating to getting divorce less than 3 min… did not need to know…

Most of the Albertson’s stores in this area are very small and this place isn’t an exception. That said, you can find a decent selection… but some specialty items are going to be hard to find.
The biggest advice I can give you about this store is to come in the morning or early afternoon on a weekday. The late afternoon/​evening hours and weekends are bombarded by a combination of college students and locals. So you can imagine the scene: 50 students buying 5 items or less and a few families with carts fully chock-​a-​block. This makes for some intense lines and I would avoid it at all costs.
They do a good job of keeping checkers and baggers at the registers, but the store is so small that each register could be open with 5 – 6 people or more in queue.
Self checkout is nice and fast because they have 4 kiosks. Do not use the self checkout if you have a bunch of vegetables or bakery items. It defeats the purpose of quick because you are not as fast as the employees at entering all of those codes.
Take your cart back. The parking lot is so small that the distance to the front of the store is likely closer than any cart return point.
Bring your own bags… it is a bit ridiculous to not consider where they end up: in a landfill or that space between your refrigerator and the wall where they remain forever.

Why only 3 stars?
Well, as I know it’s a grocery store… food has gotten expensive! Why pay $ 3 for something when I can get the same thing at the 99 cent store. No really, 99 cent store! I first went there, and then came here, and was really surprised that people would pay extra… Broke college students need that extra cash.
I only come here when the sales are good aka $ 1 or depending on the item, I’ll splurge $ 5 for bacon or for a whole chicken, yes whole chicken.
Lastly, because this place is so close to UCSB, expect everyone in your group to show ID for alcohol, or else you are not getting it. There used to be a store next door that lost their liquor license because people were buying alcohol for the underaged, and thus they went out of business, so Albersons started cracking down. Unless, of course, you split your group up and act like you are not together.

Two words: WING BAR!
Every time I am in the area, I make it a point to go to the Albertsons for the quick, easy, hot meal of the hot wings. Don’t get me wrong, the wings aren’t the freshest or the greatest, but its a damn WING BAR! they offer a lot of different flavors, which is also a plus. There are also other «grab-​n-​go» options (ie Salads, Entres, sushi, frozen yogurt). So if I’m in the mood for something else, its great to be at a one-​stop-​shop.
The prices for groceries are also reasonable, and the staff are always there to help.

Why the heck are people so hating on the grocery store? It’s a store, it’s clean, it’s full of food, a sushi restaurant, and liquor/​wine/​beer. It’s a chain grocery store, obviously not the fantastic sunday/​Thursday market or costco or a mom and pop shop.
But it’s got quick self checkout, very nice people at the meat counter who helped me get a turkey and a duck, and friendly cashiers. It does what it has to, which is provide groceries for its local neighborhood with minimal fuss. Once the self-​checkout machine overcharged me (it didn’t read that the pork was on sale 2 for 1), so the attendant just gave both to me for free.
Big bike rack.
Redbox.
BofA atm.
Large wine selection.
Coinstar.
Sushi restaurant?! These are all extras.
And Reuben S., yes, when you go to a store to buy alcohol and you’re with someone who looks like they’re 14 – 20, they’re gonna get carded. And if they aren’t of age, you can’t buy the alcohol. Otherwise the store is basically giving alcohol to a minor, which is a big ol’ fine in CA.

The store is clean, the selection is comparable to other conventional grocery stores, and there is a redbox. That’s pretty much where the positive ends. I usually do my shopping in Costco and the wonderful Goleta farmer’s market, but occasionally I go to Albertson’s when they have a good deal on something particular.
I am not exaggerating when I say I only being to this store a few times and almost every single time I have to go to the customer service desk for a price adjustment. Albertson has a complicated rewards program. There are catalina bucks, special coupons when your total purchase is above $ 10, and limited number of double coupons during weekends. I am sure the overcharges were honest mistakes given the complicated store policy. On the other hand, the customer service desk seemed to be manned by a group of smart asses who are not only unapologetic of these mistakes, but also make you feel like you are the one who is wrong and the only reason they are giving you a price adjustment is so that they don’t have to listen and understand your explanations. The occasional deals can not make up for the hassle and condescension.

You know this is the closest grocery store chain near IV and there’s always crowded lines at night when everyone is trying to buy their booze and food.
I think their prices are jacked up high knowing that college students are going to end up shopping here.
Only thing good is that they are just conveniently located near IV, provides a Redbox and Bank of America atm.
Also, when purchasing alcohol, all your friends, family members and acquaintances in your group need to show their IDs at the register.