Safeway
reviews and complaints

Earlier this week, I was in the bathroom of the Safeway on SE Hawthorne Blvd in Portland OR, when I witnessed an employee use the facilities then not wash his hands, return to his station at the deli and immediately begin serving food, without washing there either. I complained to the nearest employee and assumed that the matter had been resolved. Then today, on friday, again I was using the bathroom (it's on my way home) and the same thing happened, this time the employee went straight into the back room. I don't usually shop at safeway because of things like manipulative shelving and product placing, pricing that rivals New Seasons and non-existent to horrible customer service, and always assumed if one was masochistic enough to do so then it was on them, but this is a public health hazard. I did not report the second bathroom incident because when I left the bathroom to search out an employee, I heard the manger speaking to another employee on the next aisle over, describing my attire and saying that I was stealing. Of course I was not and walked right up to that manger on the way out the store, made eye contact but she made no motion toward me. Since a complaint will be answered at that store by attempting to shame me in front of customers rather than address the issue, I'll seek other ways of redressing it. I am thoroughly disgusted at the corporate culture that fosters and allows this type of customer resenting behavior to thrive, and will bring to attention as loudly as I am able these egregious offenses.

Hello my name is teresa lenk im from tacoma wa. I was playing the safeway monopoly game i pulled 5 rare game peices one for the million dollars and i had two of the same peices for the 35, 000 vehicle of choice and i had two game peices both were of the same one which was for the 10, 000 family getaway the game peices were 8Z07G, 8C91A, and 9B07A i was playing the board game and also the online game one day i was scanning my codes and a message came up saying my account was suspended i dont know why that happend the only thing i could think of was because i got my peices mixed up after i allready scanned them and i might have scanned them twice not knowing which ones were scanned and which ones werent scanned thi was about two weeks before the game was over and it was a couple days before they stopped giving out tickets so i pretty much figured it was to late so i gave up since i never thought i would get my account un suspended. Before the game ended but a few days before the game ended my account came back opened cause i complained to enough people in customer servicewhere it was turned on but when i went to get my board it was gone i dont know where it went to i swear this was the worse time of my life i was so ancious about all the rare game peices i had i couldnt believe out of what little chance you have to get one rare game and i pulled 5 five rare game peices why would the all mighty let me get 5 rare game peices and then end up with nothing i put my rare game peices on let go.com i put them on offer up i put them on winzilly.com i put them on google i do believe and i do believe i put them on craigslist also trying to find the other game peices to win this was before my game board was missing and then i recieved a message from someone who had the other winning peice for the million and now i dont have the board and the reason was because i gave up after receiving the message that my account was suspended. I know that the game ended but i needed you to know hoping maybe ther was something you could do for me and i thought it might be good in your favor to show people tthat it is possible to get a rare ticket in fact that its possible to get five rare game peices

Today I used your pharmacy for the first time in many years. It was a disheartening experience to say the least. I turned in my prescription around 4pm. They were very kind, but they did mention that they were running behind and told me to return in 30-40 minutes. No big deal. I then purchased 45$ worth of dinner from your deli, ran some errands, fed my family, returning around 6pm. By this time it was a completely new crew and what appeared to be a different pharmacist. I handed the cashier my ID and stated my name for pick up. The cashier was kind, but couldnt find my prescription. I gave her a description of whom I dropped it with and what they said about running behind. The cashier then stated
"Oh yes, it has been one of those kind of days" going on to say that it "was a really bad day back there" motioning towards the back and the pharmacist. After a couple of minutes another tech came out and shoved a cut down version of the prescription I had dropped off earlier. I didnt notice, but apparently my prescription had a fill date for tommorow on it. As I stated I clearly didn't realize it and was confused, but more then the confusion, I was fairly appalled by the bratty way she shoved it in my face. The way the tech explained it, she seemed very annoyed with me. She was abrupt and seemed as if she thought I was trying to get away with something. That way she shoved it at me and spoke was enough to be upset with, but I did my best to be cordial and decided not to mention that she was being very inconsiderate and rude. I then inquired what time the pharmacy opened in the morning. She said 9am. I then asked if I could pick up my prescription then and she snickered and said, no. As if I was asking a crazy question. She seemed annoyed that I would inquire about it being done then. She then said to not expect it until 11am at the earliest. Maybe later! I found this odd, since if I dropped it by at 9am it would most likely be done earlier. Again, I said nothing about her snotty attitude, or the timing. She then went on to say that they had very important morning duties. Prescriptions that had to be done daily and mine was way down on their list. I wanted to say, shouldn't mine be important as well? Again, I didnt say anything, but said thank you and left to finish more shopping. This was my second trip that day and 4th for this week already, since Sunday. I am in your store 2-10 times a week on average and spend thousands monthly. I certainly don't think that makes me more import than anyone else. I do mention it because this is the first time I have ever felt humiliated by your associates.
I then realized I needed something else from your pharmacy/meds area. I looked for a few minutes, but couldnt find what I needed. Several employees were running around, but no one offered to help. Which isn't typical. They are normally great and always offer help. I finally went to the pharmacy counter and the cashier kindly tried to help me. She didnt know the answer so she politely asked, what appeared to be the pharmacist for help. I couldn't hear exactly, but the tail end was "give me a minute I'm in the middle of something!". It was in a very rude, very annoyed and snippy manor. I felt bad for the cashier, because she was only trying to help me. I waited for a couple more minutes, and then said to the cashier, not the pharmacist, that I didn't need a consult, if she could direct me to the area she thought it might be. Thinking I was being considerate to take care of it myself and honestly I didnt want to have interaction with this angry pharmacist. To my horror, the pharmacist yelled very loudly and very snotty, from all the way back in the pill area "if you would just give me a minute I'll help you!" This was directed at me. Honestly, I was dumbfounded. I hadnt even spoke to her at all, had, had no interaction with her. Why would she feel the need to yell at me? I dont yell at people I know, let alone people I don't know. I felt like this women was my angry, annoyed parent reprimanding me. As if I had been bothering her with a long list of demands. It was mind blowing and extremely humiliating. I am not normally an emotional person, but I have to say, I was almost in tears from the shock and embarrassment of the way she yelled at me. She waited another minute or two, while I stood there and then acted exasperated. She seemed to toss down whatever she was working on and walked over to the counter where I was waiting. At that point my daughter walked up. Shockingly, she changed her attitude completly. She then tells me sickenly sweet that Safeway doesnt carry what I inquired about. I said, "thank you Beth" and walked away. I couldnt even address her behavior directly. I didnt feel it was even appropriate at that point. So now I ask myself. Isnt that strange. Did she think I didnt hear how she yelled at the cashier? Did she not realize that she yelled at me in front of everyone? Why didn't she just tell the cashier you didnt carry the product? Why did she make me wait, only to say no you don't have it? Did she realize she had caused an embarrassing scene? Did she see the tears I was holding back, so then decided to act kind? Who knows, but it was far beyond a bad day, a bad moment or bad customer service. It was passive aggressive harrasment of her employee and a very loyal customer. I know it is just a customer's opinion, but I believe this person needs to be watched. I cant imagine that this is a singular experience. She seemed very comfortable with taking out her anger, or to use your cashiers words, her "bad day" on her employees and her customers. Her poor attitude clearly rubbed off on her tech that thought it was good cudtomer service to shove my prescription in my face. Her manors only seemed to changed when she noticed she had hurt and upset me. Sad.

Today at approximately 12:30 pm, I was at the Sweet Home, OR Safeway where I overheard a conversation between an unhappy customer and a customer service associate, Kelly. The customer walked up to the service desk and addressed Kelly and said, "For what you did to Adam, I hope you're happy with yourself", and she replied, "What did I do?" the customer then replied, "Really?", and walked away. It was done in front of customers as well as employees. I would like to know if indeed this Kelly is responsible for the fact that Mr. Lindner is no longer employed with this company. If so, then you let go of one of the best managers I've ever had the pleasure of having been involved with. He has on more than one occasion assisted me with discrepancies and even went so far as to offer assistance when it didn't appear to be convenient, IE-the store was extremely busy and his presence was needed elsewhere . In my opinion, you kept a worthless employee and let go of an asset. He represented your company much better than this Kelly does.

Date of incident: 06/10/2017
Time: 11:05pm
Client # 0536
Store Location: Alameda Southshore Shopping Center

My husband and I shopped for several items tonight. We forgot our bags so when we checked out we put all the items in the cart. When we departed the store the shopping cart wheel locked at the exit door. There was an employee outside arranging carts and we asked him why the cart locked. He said he didn't know but would help us transfer our items to another cart. My husband said no he would go and get the car and we would put the items into the trunk at the exit door. While I was waiting for him I tried to push the cart closer to the walkway and the security guard approached me and asked me what was I doing and what was going on? I stated that the cart wheel locked and my husband went to get the car so that we could load the groceries. The security guard without saying anything else grabbed the cart and attempted to drag it back into the store. I asked him why he was doing that and he responded by asking me if I had been to the check out and paid for my groceries. I assured him that I did and showed him the receipt. He continued to try and drag the cart into the store and yelling for employees to come out for assistance. My husband came with the car and got out and asked the guard what was going on and the guard said that he did not know and had just went on his rounds. My husband stated that we already paid for the groceries and that he shops at the store almost everyday. The guard continued to yell for employees to come outside. A young man came outside without identifying himself and took our receipt and began looking it over. He shook his head and laughed. He gave it back to me and asked what was the problem. I stated that he should ask the guard since he was the one causing a scene and attempting to drag the cart into the store. I asked for the managers name and he said that he was the manager. I then asked for his name and he reluctantly said his name was Nestor. He refused to give his last name and walked away back into the store. He continued to laugh and smirk the entire time. He did not wear a nametag or anything identifying him as an employee. The behavior of the security guard and store manager was unprofessional and we were treated like criminals. We did not do anything that warranted this behavior.

On countless occasions prior to work at approximately [protected] I have entered the Tillamook Safeway, grabbed less than 6 items and found that the one check stand open will have at minimum 6 or more people waiting in line; for what is often a 15+ min. wait in order to check out. There are never any other capable (able to check) employees within the vicinity and when a back-up checker (or a '3 is a crowd' call is made) others rarely arrive. I have now walked out of the store following a 15+ minute wait in line on 4 of my last 7 trips, often having 5 or more people still ahead of me. This evening, the only checker was a newly trained woman, she was ringing up the same order for 13 minutes while 11 people waited to check out. I prefer Safeway to any other store; although the recent trips are a huge discouragement in continuing to shop there. I comprehend running a skeleton crew, but this type of service is hard to 'deal' with.

I use Vons delivery and they state that you must be home to receive the groceries. You pick a delivery window, which I did but they came an hour early. Recently I placed an order and wanted to add to an order. I called them for help because my screen did not say "edit" and they were so rude and nasty to me. I asked to speak to a supervisor and the supervisor was also rude. I will not be using them any longer

Safeway Hollister has bad customer service, the store is always out of stock, unclean, and the lines are always long! I recently was called A "B" word by an associate, while walking down same aisle as him. Luis the associate was uncautious for customers and rudely hit me with store merchandise as he was fixing gestures! I nicely and calmly told him "EXSCUSE ME, " as I walked by and blurted out "b****", as I passed! Not only that I coudnt speak to a manager..no where to be found! I called store, still unavailable! I really hope corporate handles matter affectively! Never had poor service in this matter in a store I spend lots of time and money on

Hello,

Let me first start off by saying I am a loyal Safeway deli customer. I absolutely love your sandwiches. Tonight however, I was highly disgusted by the way my Sandwiches were prepared for my spouse and I. We both crave your sandwiches and convince our friends that your sandwiches are the best/made with care, but my sandwich was prepared with no love. My bread on my sandwich was burnt and my bacon was raw! My spouse actually threw up her sandwich. We both had raw bacon and couldn't even bare to look at our sandwich, let alone take a bite. I have attached some pictures of my sandwich. I am not usually the one to complain, but this was our favorite sandwich and we felt sick to our stomach after tonight. We are so sad :(.

Many times the price is marked wrong, and instead of the cashier being able to handle it you are referred to the customer service desk. Yesterday I went the for some hamburger buns & bananas & looked around. The hair brushes were on a buy one get one free for $7.99 and at the bottom of the sale ticket it said individual unit price $4.00. The buns were also on sale. I checked out and noticed the buns did not come up on sale & the lady said I needed my club card, which she entered in. The I was asked to insert my credit card & did so but protested the price. It had gone thru. I was charged $ 7.99 for one brush & told the lady that it was a buy one get one free or $ 4.00 for one. She said she couldn't do anything about it that I had to go to the customer service desk for them to straighten it out. The desk was empty of course & they called a young man to assist me. He came & said he didn't know how to do that & would have to call for Melonie. After about a 5 min wait as she was tied up with another matter, Melonie came. I explained the problem & that I needed a credit. She said she would have to take the brush back and check that out. She came back and said that it was a buy one get one free & she saw nothing about getting one for $ 4.00 & asked me if I wanted to get another one. I told her no, I didn't want two brushes & just to cancel my whole order. The last time I went into that store I had to go thru this same thing with the exception of getting the proper price after going thru all this crap. After getting my refund, I went back and pulled the sticker off the display & showed her that at the bottom it clearly says unit price is $ 4.00 not $ 7.99 and I did not appreciate being called a lair in front of the other customers. She told me she didn't call me a lair & I said, when you go back & do a price check & tell me in front of everyone that it didn't say any such thing, you are calling me a lair.

Bought Asian supreme meal last night from fresh food counter. Only food I ate last night.
Have spent past few hours this morning with very bad sickness and diarhea, with all the food coming out.
Not necessarily after a refund but it would be worth checking the store - clearly something was not right with the food.
bought it May 21 at 18.16. Cashier was Patrick.

I am from the UK working here for 7 weeks so it is hard to contact me!
my email: [protected]@gmail.com

Thank you.
[name removed]

I was shopping this morning a little before noon at store 1631 in Vallejo at the Glen cove shopping center. I witnessed the two customers in front of me how rudely and unprofessional the check or treated them. First customer that was various items with a Safeway card that was not registering the sale prices. The customer asked the young lady to check and she refused and said no there must be something wrong with your card go to customer service if you have an issue. The very next customer paid and asked for $20 cashback he clearly asked very nicely if he could have change for that 20. And the young lady again stated back very rudely and professionally "no sir I can't do that I'm very busy but there's a bank over there you can go over there and ask them. " it's my turn I'm thinking how is she going to treat me. And now that I'm not close to this person I see that she's dressed very unprofessionally she's not dressed in the usual uniforms or colors that they wear at that store. I see that her name tag says Amanda/Vallejo on it. I also see that her hair is styled up in a bun. Hair is like a dirty blonde but her bun was so messy and uncombed it look like she had slept in it not just one day maybe a few days. Sometimes the safe and put Safeway employees were shirt was particular khaki colors are black this girl was a little bit on the heavy side and she was wearing like a blue and white shirt with no sleeves and you could steal her I hate to be mean but her fat hanging out in the rolls were bulging in her belly. As my things are being rung up I was watching the screen it clearly was not registering my card I had mentioned it not once but two or three times to her she completely ignored me and finished all of my products and bag them. I said her excuse me I've been talking to you but you've clearly been ignoring me and the customer behind me said yes she has been talking to you and you're not paying any attention to it all. So I mentioned to her a few things like why the items was clearly a dollar off today and she said the same thing that she did to not put that second customer in front of me she said if you have any problem with your card it's probably not working. Then she stated I'm not gonna check it I'm too busy if you have an issue with your card walk over to customer service so they can help you. I thought to myself this girl is very unprofessional she's dressed so sloppy maybe she got up late and she just didn't want to be there today but I clearly had to report how she not only treated me but two of the customers that I witnessed and how she completely ignored me even speaking to her. I did go to customer service and they check the items and they reimburse me the difference which was around $12 or so. I'm not say anything to them about her because I was very upset and frankly just want to get the hell out of there. So I came home and looked up on the Internet for email and a phone number and thought I would take care of it this way so her superiors or whoever the district manager was or the corporate office in Pleasanton California could deal with this person. Yes I will shop there again because I do love the store and I do love the majority of the employees but this person clearly did not want to be there today and again she was dressed so unprofessional so sloppy and her rudeness just used out of her mouth.

I have been shopping at Safeway for years and never actually had any problems, but recently I received the worst customer service ever and that changed attitude towards them.
When I checked my check I saw that some prices were different from the ones I saw on shelves, and when I asked cashier what was going on she replied rudely. She said that was impossible and said that I interrupting her work! I asked her to come along and check but she refused and even threatened me with security!
Then I went to the security guy and asked him to call the store manager, but he claimed that manager wasn't there that day. I came back next morning and received the same reply. I will not shop there again!

I went into Safeway to do some shopping and decided that I would come back after I did some other errands so being a good customer wanted to return the shopping cart out front and come after I did my walk and other errands. The cart jammed to a stop and I jammed up against it.

I did come back and told the girl at the check out counter who was a little rude until she thought about it and a I did complain to lady at the front entry in what looked like some kind of office. She did ask me if I wanted to see a Manager and at the time I was in a hurry to pick up my Husband but I will go back today.

My right foot and leg was bothering me after the incident but I thought it would go away and it got worse .

When the cart jammed to a stop and the bells went off no one came up to me a told me what was going or your Store Policy about the carts. And then the woman I talked to at the front entry said I should probably go back to aisle 11 with my cart and the come back thru door. Then I was just made and hurting and just left the cart near the front entry.
Injury occurred 5/5/2017 at new store on Ignacio across from Whole Foods.

Narcissus Cosgrove
598 Cesar Court
Walnut Creek, CA 94598

[protected]

I walked into the mens restrooms on May 4th around 6pm and noticed a foul urine smell and the sink flooding along with a very wet sticky floor which I'm sure wasn't water. This is not the first time their restroom has been in this condition which is very unsanitary and unsafe for anyone to walk into seeing that it is their public restroom. A lot of the times the fan inside does not work and the door does not lock and even off the hinges. I do not see how a company like Safeway would allow such a thing to happen. Kids can walk in there and get sick because the urine smell is so bad! I hope this never happens again and they get the attention they deserve!

Safeway has serious issues with incorrect prices ringing up at the register, including weekly flyer prices, digital coupons and 'just for u' prices. Though the customer service reps are generally accommodating, I get very tired of having to visit customer service each and every time I shop at Safeway in an attempt to recoup money for the prices I SHOULD have been charged. Also, the problem seems to occur at ALL the Safeway's I visit, as there are several in my area. On my last visit, I was charged $72 for approximately $25 worth of groceries. The time before that, I was charged $70 for approximately $50 worth of groceries. I'd say 90% of the time I'm overcharged for my purchases. It's getting to the point where I won't shop at Safeway anymore, as it's not worth the hassle.

5-1-2017
I seldom do this but I know I should have done this 8 years ago. I moved here 9 years ago after going to the Lincoln City’s Safeway I could not take the rudeness any longer. I now make it a point not to go into the store not even to use the pharmacist (who as I remember is nice). The manager seems to be the worst of them. I heard he had left and was still reluctant because of the problems I still hear about. I am in a lot of clubs or do presentation to a lot of clubs and I hear about problems. Even when I go to the Verizon store next to Safeway I hear tourists coming out of Safeway say they are glad they do not have to shop there. I know a lot of business come from tourists and weekenders who only need to deal with your employees once or occasionally.

Just so you know my experience I was a manager and district manager for Thrifty Drug and a General Manager for Fred Meyer. I always welcomed complaints so I could verify by surprise visits. Every store could use refinement.

Today I decided to try again because I heard the old manager had left. I went there to get a money order and found the same rudeness I had experienced the past. I waited until I remembered the service counter would be open. There was a customer at the counter and he was not being treated very nice but ignored it also made excuse for it. She commented that people never read the signs on the counter though I do not think anyone could miss the four signs on the counter saying please go to the cashiers for you needs. I saw this and asked a Jennifer M if the cashier could sell Money Orders. She said no and was not happy about it. Then I asked if they gave out numbers for getting service I was serious not being rude. She just said no. Then I started to hear all about the problems she had books to do and no help and so on. She said she was hoping that it would be better when you put back in the self- service registers. With the rudeness, I saw in my short stay from overhearing a couple of cashiers while standing waiting this at least would be a way around it.
I finally told Jennifer M that I had heard the manager had left and she told me he left but they brought him back. I was hoping with the new manager the problems in the store would be less. I did notice a lot of new people working there and so I called a couple of people who I know had worked there and one who still does and was told about how they were and are being treated by management. No wonder there is a high turnover in the store.

I am volunteer with lots of community events and clubs in Lincoln City and have heard from more than a few people with the same feelings also how Safeway’s here is not very community minded. Even from a city commissioner or two. They allow Girl Scouts (even from out of town) to sell Girl Scout cookies (I did hear that there is a contract with them so they must) but they do not let the high school the Boy Scouts, Church groups, Cub Scouts to raise money in front of their store I know some go around and go by a close store in the mall. Safeway’s does not participate in the community they want the support from it is good for you they have the tourist’s here.

At some point you help your employees, customers and community and consider this matter. I know how poorly I was treated a long time ago by this manager. I tried again after time and (I thought) the manager leaving and it is still a customer service nightmare which I believe starts in management. I will still drive 26 miles than go back in that store.

Safeway at 4970 S. Alma School Rd in Chandler Az 85248
I've finally gone to the media since my neighborhood Safeway continues to have issues with expired food. I've had 8 instances in about 1 1/2 years. Twice the issue was baby food expired by a couple months. I've spoken with store management several times and the DM on 3 occasions. Here a list of what I have found to be significantly expired:
2x baby food - yogurt and pouches (months expired)
Roll cookie dough (2 months expired)
Turkey jerky (6 months expired)
High end cheeses (3 months expired)
Salsa (1 year expired!)
10 packages of turkey lunch meet (weeks expired)
Cap'n Crunch cereal (3 month expired)

My observation is that no one overly cares. Inventory management is grocery 101 and this store continues to fail. I cannot trust the food. I drive well out of my way to shop at Fry's or Basha's and have never found expired products in their stores.

I went to Safeway today in North Seattle on 15th Street. When I arrived there were no carts available. The store was not busy and the carts were all in the parking lot. The produce section looked like a disaster area. The bagged salad I wanted, 2/3rds were already expired or expired the next day and ALL WERE FULL PRICED. you didn't have 2 other items I needed. After I paid, I asked for the manager. After 2 calls for him by staff, someone had to go get him. I introduced myself and went into all the problems. He offered no explanation, no empathy, no nothing. After getting nowhere, I started to walk away and told him I'd contact corporate, since he didn't seem to care. He yelled after me, "Be sure to tell them you put your hand in my face!" In a manner than was incindiary and provacative, attempting to get me to argue with him, while I'm 25 feet away. I'm not sure if you have video there, but I certainly didn't put my hand anywhere near his face, as I was standing at least 2 feet away when we spoke. This store is an absolute mess, filthy, and your staff degrading. You should be ashamed that you have staff that are disrespectful and don't care at all about how their store is presented. I'm appalled and absolutely disgusted!

I have been a customer at Safeway for well over 30 years. In the last 6 months I have been over charged repeatedly.
Yesterday I went to Safeway, bought my groceries. When I got home I went over my receipt. I bought 1 cucumber. I was charged for 13 cucumbers! I did go back to get my money back. The lady there did give me my money, but she told me, "No biggie, it happens all the time. It is our new system."
Seriously?! I am disabled and on a fixed low income. And no, I don't get food stamps, so money is seriously tight. I can only afford 1 tank of gas each month. Having to go back to the store each time costs me gas money, time, and pain. I try to check my receipt before I leave, but when I am in pain all I want to do is get home.
The cucumber was on sale for $1.00. I got charged $13.00. This is unacceptable.