Spar International
reviews and complaints

2 hours ago I went and bought roti at spar the square in Boksburg, when I got home I saw that the roti was off. I took it back and informed the manager about that he still had the nerve to tell me that it's not his fault instead of apologizing. This was not even the first time, 3 months ago I bought wors at the same spar it was expired. I took it back immediately and funny thing is they knew exactly that the wors was expired because they told me to go to the butcher. The guy at the butcher's reply was "oh is it that wors". Not to mention the time I bought rolls that was full of washing powder you could actually smell and taste it. How can they still sell something on the shelf they know is off?

I went to Spar Eastway center, Silverton about 15 min ago and was so disgusted by the service I got from the manager and the assistant/cashier they had put the price of 250ml cream as 7.99 on the shelf when I got to the till these items were prices 21.99 each. I told the cashier this was different from what I had seen on the shelf she must go and check... She went to check and confirmed this is the price came back and said I should go speak to the assistant manager ...he went to the aisle out of good faith and trust I did not follow hinm as i was carrying and infant and it was a distance where the product was. This guy took about 15 min to check the price I then followed him as I felt he is wasting my time walked up to him and as I approached he walked away so he went printed the correct price and then changed it on the shelf ...I then requested a refund as I refuse to give my money to a dishonest business he practically threw the money at me and his manager was there to see this . I then asked the manger for a complaint number I can call as I was not happy with the service ...guess what he gave me the incorrect number. We will never buy anything from Spar ever again pathetic service and dishonest and disrespectful staff.

Date: 11/09/2017 @ 19h54
Branch: Holdens KWIKSPAR, Florida Road, Morningside, Durban

On the date stated above, I went to the shop. To my surprise, the door was manned by one of the employees and I was not allowed access into the shop. I contended that it was not 20h00 (closing time) yet and therefore I expected to be allowed into the shop. The employee refused stating that he had been given strict instructions by Barrie (store manager) not to let anyone in. I asked him to call Barrie as I could not believe that a manager could give such an instruction. I was told that he was busy with cash-up. I insisted that I needed to talk to him. Finally he came. He was in a rush and did not seem to have time to listen. I asked him the reason for an early closure of the shop, and he arrogantly told me that he closed as and when he sees fit. He uses his discretion. I was taken aback by such a statement. He then left me there standing with the employee. My expectation is that I should have been allowed into the shop as it was before the closing time. I also expected to be treated with courtesy by the manager. I reported the matter via voicemail on the customer care line @ 20h04. On 13/09/2017 @ 07:44, I received a call from a Spar call agent, and I gave her details of my complaint. She promised that the matter would be investigated and I would receive feedback within 3 days. It is 7 days later, and no feedback has been received. When talking to other people regarding my experience, I have gathered that this is common in that shop. The manager closes earlier and is arrogant about it.

15 September 2017
[protected]

I was shopping at lakeside spar in Richards Bay, while walking I shirked my ankle and broke shoe. I told the assistant about it and she just laughed, she then called the Manager and all he could say he was sorry, I am very upset because there is no signage to warn customers. This is a brand new shoe of me that is broken.

Very Upset Customer

Credit card payments has two payment facilities, staight and budget. I told the cashier to place my payment on the budget facility. She processed the payment and gave me the slip I had to sign. I asked her again if she did place it on budget and she agreed. I asked her the term she placed it on because she did not ask me. Then she told me about how speedpoints are not the same. I told her there is no way the budget facility chooses the term you want, the speedpoint has to ask, thats the whole point of using the budget facility. She proceeded telling me that speedpoints are not the same. When I got my sms notification, the payment went through the staright facility. It was a huge problem for me and I was inconvenienced and now I am overdrawn cause there was not enough money to pay from my straight.

To whom it may concern:

I have purchased the above mentioned products from Spar franchises.

5xspar bacon from Waterloo on 02/09/2017, 2x bacon fry and 1x chicken fry from the Phoenix store on the 30/08/2017.

This morning when I opened a pack of bacon, fried it which to my surprise it tasted unpleasant however it only expires on the 20/09/2017.

As I customer I went into the Phoenix store and explained my dissatisfaction, a female store manager/ supervisor would not understand my concern about the product. I always shop at Spar. As you can see from the proof of purchase which I have attached. It is very sad to know that management has no customer service skills, you have taken many awards for your store. Is this the kind of service you deliver. The female manager did tell me about your 24 hour perishable policy. When we as customers purchase food items we trust the shelf life and expiry date which is then consumed in that space but can we consume our monthly perishables in 24 hours?
This policy is unethical, it is impossible to consume all perishable items in 24 hours.

The store in Phoenix did also not want to entertain me with any items purchased from the Watloo Store and insisted that are a franchise and do not have to assist me with exchanging items purchased from any other SPAR.

Again this is an absolute unfair practice as a consumer I want to be able to shop at any SPAR store and expect to get the same service and quality but unfortunately SPAR franchise owners are not willing.

I have requested their decision in writing but the employee was not willing to give me anything in writing.

Regards
Mrs R Sing
[protected]/56
email: [protected]@gmail.com

These are my experiences with the Spar in Graskop, Mpumalanga. Time and time again their shelves run short of their specials. This time it is Nescafe Classic coffee advertised for R59, 99( as seen on TV), it's been a week now. I am told that it is a problem of Nescafe South Africa, not being able to deliver, which i do not believe. This happens far too many times at this store. I am hoping this problem will be addressed and solved.

Many thanks,
Cameron Kirrane
Tel: [protected]

The big spar in Cape Town cape quarter always have an issue wth the advertised special offers !
Spar is one of my favorite shops especially the special offers which are advertised in our local news paper . When ever I want these offers this spar which is huge ! Does not display the specials wth a sign and when u get to the till u have to demand the special price which now takes about ten min to sort out !😡😡😡this is totally unacceptable and wrong as the spar add covers all local spars and why does this huge spar have an issue wth the specials and a customer gv to fight just to get them . Today was the bananas ad R9.99 spar charges R15.99 then ten min later you hv to give ur personal details this is junk ! Last time the same story wth cheddar cheese on special ad R69 charged way more . If one does not bring the advert Frm paper wth often they won't give you the advertised price . I have a good mind to report this to consumer council .

Toward the beginning of July 2017 I purchase a pack of chicken thighs and drum sticks.

On arriving home I put the chicken into the freezer for later use. When I wanted to cook the chicken and found that it tasted terrible and the texture of the meat was awful.

On the 28 July 2017 I sent an email to the store asking them to please investigate the problem and let me know.

No reply. So I again wrote on the 03 August 2017 reminding them of my complaint. No reply. For both emails I can see that they have read them and have chosen to ignore them.

To be so arrogant as to ignore your customers makes one wonder if they are just in the business to make money without any care or concern about the customer.

I would be interested in finding out what they have to say about themselves.

Thank you
Leslye

The spar priory in malpas is poorly run by incompetent people who forces their employees to work 10 hour shifts with no break. It is disgusting working standards with no training, or any notice for shift changes. There are no breaks whatsoever and are still expected to put on that happy cheery smile yet customers were still complaining about the managers! Store should be shut.

They don't give out receipt's. You have to ask for a receipt. They double charge you when you're not paying attention. Iv asked for a receipt on this occasion, today 11/7/17. As I felt they had done this to me. Because I was sent away from the till to look for an item I asked about that I couldn't find. And I heard the till go a few times too many, I thought... Plus I have been told about this scam or trick that they do by other people before. So I asked for my receipt... To which u get a horrible look and some attitude in the tone of their voice. Iv had it before. Just for asking for a receipt. Its very embarrassing, and on this occasion I had been over charged for juice a plastic bag and something that comes under as 'chilled' for a pound. I bought a sandwich, under chilled, which is there but that's for â£2.09 which is correct. I noticed this on receipt and goes back and waited in the que and said quietly, this list doesn't add up. I went over the list with her. To which her response is can I ask u something? See if you're gonny come in here gonny no tell me how to do my job! I said I wasn't I just wanted my money back. She replied that I have a [censor]ing attitude and I am telling her how to do her job. I'm not your swearing at me and telling me I have an attitude I just wanted my money back, I said. She had admitted she'd made a mistake but I was still in the wrong, somehow.. Her dad, the owner, then came over to me and said no hold on a second she is aloud to sware at you all she wants. 'but its not ok for the customer to do that to yous though right? I responed. There is a que in the store and I just want to go home. Embarrassed enough as it is I still just want to leave. I ask for my money again, as in "can I just have my money back".. Her dad, owner. Starts to push me with his finger while swearing at me. I now have them both at me. He's blocking my bags on the counter. Which i'd previously payed for, I only came back to the till to go threw my bags or reciet with me and get my money back. (Theres a que waiting behind me.) its extremely intimidating. Even when I said "can you not do that, push me like that". He continued to, while swaring. Telling me they are aloud to do so. That they are aloud to sware and push on customers... Are they? Are they allowed to sware at customers? Are they aloud to put there hands on you like that, man to woman, whose not moved an inch, yet he's pushing on me with his finger swearing at me? How can that be aloud?. He said give her her money so she can go. (To his daughter on the till) (The server). But he was still blocking my bags. I said can I have my bags? He picks them up walks to the door, I thought he was going to fling the lot of them. He didn't he dumped them in the baskets at the exit doors. So I took them and left... Don't get me wrong out side I told him you don't give out receipts and you rip people off then treat them like a criminal. Iv came home and doubted humanity so much! It made me question a lot of things. Ok I have other stuff going on but that was like a last straw. Its took me a long time to where I can write this. Calmly. I was so so upset kept crying when I got home and feeling like there is really no hope. People are making me question life this I did not what I need. I just think that they should be careful who they are bullying because someone might be same as me having bad day or times an stuff, and not be as strong as me right now or mentally aware enough to not do something stupid over a shop keeper and his daughter degrading them like this, an actually take their life because people keep proving themselves to be selfish horrible people. Please answer this. Surely that's not right their behavior? What can I do here? This can't be right?

Good Day. I have just been to the Kloof spar and behind the meat counter one of the ladies was sleeping while slicing up the ham. This is unprofessional and I'm sure a safety violation.
A good idea would be to train your employees again about health and safety and that they need to take their job seriously and they aren't there to sleep but to work as that is what they are being paid for. Not to sleep!

Good day

I am doing a CHARITY on Saturday and tried to order the bread for the homeless from your store.

Between Judith; Jacob and your manager Sam I received the absolute worst service ever.

Sam as a manager shouted at me before listening to my dilemma and spoke to me as if I am dumb explaining full and half.

He then told me that he is rude yes and I should have spoken to Simon {who used to assist me at Vorna Valley by the way and all the customers miss}

Sam has no people skills or integrity.

Your store needs to see to clients first. Im in retail and the way he spoke to me is no way to speak to any client.

Thank you

Yesterday I went to my spar in banana as their pamphlet said that they had specials. The signs at the food items said it was on special. It took me having to fight with two managers regarding 5 items that did not have the special price but rather double the price. 45 minutes later it was sorted with everyone staring at me. What has really made me mad is the fact that when I got home I had missed a few items that were on special.

It seems as if spar advertises falsely and it is one big scam because most of the items were still at the regular price.

Just been to Spar at Gandhi Square, JHB. Bought and paid for my stuff. The cashier gave me my change but did not give me the receipt. The security guard at the door asked for my receipt I told him the cashier did not give me one but I can fetch it. In front of everybody he told me I stole it. Called me a poes and took the stuff. In full view of everyone. Workers and customers. I eventually got my stuff and left only to realise that R1 was missing from the change he had taken and put in his pocket. i went back. spoke to the manager and demanded my R1 back. She gave it. On leaving the shop, he followed me to the corner and threatened me with physical violence. Telling me he'll kill me. If this is the kind of customer service that Spar gives us clients then I feel it best to find an alternative place to shop. I will send this complaint on to every media platform available so people can know what to expect when you go into a Spar to buy something. You will die or be physically abused.

Sunday 7 May 2017, I visited Spar at China mall in midrand. As I approached the door I saw it closed so I took out my phone to check the time so I could decide where to go, where they are still open and its 15:59 while looking at my phone I hear this man say "Its not yet 4!" as I hear him say this the doors opened so I proceeded to walk in to the shop after him, this white big male proceeds to run in to buy what he wants but then I am stopped. So I'm a young female short, small figure and most important BLACK and guess what thats the only reason I got stopped. I arrived at the same time as the guy but he was I allowed to get in and I wasn't what made him "so special". So at the door this male security guard starts pushing me saying I should go out, so I him tell to stop pushing me and then asked for the manager. Him and the two other securities (woman) that are there then start shouting saying "I won't go in, they want to knock off and I shouldn't waste their time." While this is going on the male security guard keeps pushing me. At this point I am getting really mad and start shouting "leave me alone, don't touch me. Why are you letting this white guy go through but I can't just because I am black." The shouting and pushing continued I then threatened to call the police thats when the guy stopped pushing me but the shouting continued as I am waiting, that white male comes out holding what ever he was going to buy in peace. So finally the manager appears and asks whats going on I then explain what had transpired then he says I should go in and get what I want. Now at this point I'm FURIOUS, so I pick up a bottle of wine and shout you disrespecting me just because I am black yet you treat white like they are superior and you have a f**** nerve to touch me  my owe husband doesn't push me then I go out shopping to get abused NXA! I then went to the till where the lady scanned the wine and she then said oops its Sunday she forgot its to late to sell alcohol. I tried to calm myself down and started crying so I said mxm I forgot its fine so she gave me tissues and she calls this other manager who saw me walking in and shouting so she asked me him to cancel the transaction so he said its fine to her and  swiped his card then I was able to swipe my card and pay for the wine. I think this was to hopefully help calm me down and forget what happened. After paying I asked for the manager I was shown the office there I found both of them manager. The manager came out where I proceeded to ask for the names of the security guards he then said to me he doesn't know their names since he is not their manager and this was a security issue, what baffles me is that he feels this does not concern him a women being abused at your store where you are the manager, at that time it made me realise he didn't even apologize none of them did,   the security might be out sourced but remember I'm still a Spar customer. So one security guard came and started to plead with me not to complain and ask for forgives for what had happened he then said this to me which ticked me off "We are all African, we are brother and sister" so now my blackness matters because you realised you messed with the wrong black girl, a black girl who knows her rights and how speak up for herself a black girl who is tired of being treated like white people are superior to her by her own people because they fear and respect white people. Unfortunately I feel equal and feel I need to be treated the same. It happens every where I see it all the time just that the physical part just pushed me over the edge.
The names I managed to get:
Security guards
Kabuya, Manda, Zenande

Manager
Mike

Dear Sir/Madam
On 3 March 2017 I bought groceries at Knysna Spar, Knysna Mall ( contact : [protected]). Amount was R810.78. The purchase was declined. I went to the ATM and saw that the money went off my bank account. I went to Standard Bank and they confirmed that the money went off my bank account and also gave me a bank statement.

I went back to Knysna Spar and spoke to the financial Manager, Sue. She told me they cant refund my money as they don't see it on their system. I went back to the bank and they send Sue an e-mail. Knysna Spar refuse to give my money back even after I gave them the letter from the bank aswell as my bank statement.

I'm a single mom with to minor children who are starving this easter because of this incident.

This is an urgent matter as I depend on that money for food for me and my children.

Regards
Thula

Complaint;

I bought the above product, when I was eating this product I noticed that the berries had mould covering them and the strawberries were not fresh, . B y the time I noticed this, I had already eaten some of them and felt ill after I ate this product. I went into to the store where I bought this product and was told I would be given a refund, I refused the refund as my complaint was regarding the concerns for my health and the trust in your organisation to provide product which meet basic health and safety standards.

Yesterday I went to trial room and left my purse there.When I realised that i contacted with their manager.I wanted to see CCTV footage so that I can get who took it but they denied to do so and informed me that I could not see the CCTV footage and they monitored it but found nothing and advised me to be careful.I admit my carelessness but they are having a very disappointing security system.

I have experienced the most embarrassing act of racism in one of the kwik spar stores is western cape tyger valley. When a white lady instructed a manager by the name of Kobus Van Wyk that I be removed from the store because she doesn't know what I want there. It is so disturbing that even after more than 20 years of freedom in south Africa ww still experiencing racism from such big corporate.