Safeway Customer Service Issues

On November 19, my initial curbside pickup order (#[redacted]5) at Safeway in Bend, Oregon went smoothly. Despite a flower item being out of stock, the staff was helpful in finding a suitable substitute. This positive experience led to another order (#[redacted]2) on December 2 at a different Safeway location in Bend due to a pharmacy visit. However, issues arose with this order. I couldn't add a forgotten item, faced significant delays, and key items were missing upon pickup at 9 p.m. The lack of communication and over six-hour delay disrupted our plans, causing frustration. While I understand challenges during the pandemic, the contrasting experiences at Safeway locations have made me hesitant to use their curbside service in the future. Tawna Fenske in Bend, OR can be reached at [redacted] or [redacted].

I am curious why our local Safeway in town is continuously understocked with many empty shelves. Basic items are frequently unavailable, pushing us to shop at the nearby King Soopers, which we strongly dislike. A lot of people we know share the same frustration. We have been loyal Safeway shoppers to support the store, but the lack of stock is becoming unbearable. Is it a management or delivery problem? We are puzzled because competitors seem to have no trouble staying stocked. This ongoing issue is incredibly frustrating. We have resorted to visiting a Safeway in another town, unsure if they face the same problem or if it's just ours. Please provide some insights into why this issue persists. It seems illogical to us and gives the impression that Safeway is aiming to go out of business. Thank you, Kathy S., hoping to remain a valued customer in Windsor, CO [redacted].

I am a frequent customer at your store, visiting daily, and I have experienced harassment from your staff and security. Every time I visit, I am followed around, which is unacceptable. I feel profiled based on my appearance, making me uncomfortable and ruining my experience. I work hard for my money and will take my business elsewhere if this behavior continues. It's unprofessional and lacks integrity within your team and company. I would appreciate it if you could address this issue; otherwise, I will file more complaints to prevent others from experiencing this harassment. The specific location is [redacted] East Capital Expressway in San Jose, CA.

Unfortunately, my recent customer service experience at the store was extremely unpleasant. I approached a staff member for assistance with correcting my Just for U account connected to my phone number. The staff member made multiple errors with the corrections and seemed dismissive of my concerns. When I inquired about the refund amount, the staff member and their coworker displayed unprofessional behavior by discussing other customers negatively and providing incorrect change. This led to confrontational interactions where I was spoken to rudely and ultimately asked to leave the store. The way I was treated was disrespectful and unwarranted, leaving me shocked and upset. I hope this issue can be addressed to prevent such mistreatment of customers in the future.

I recently visited the Safeway on Snell & Branham Ave in San Jose, California. While using the self-serve cashier, I accidentally left behind over $40 in cash. Despite speaking with Victor, the store manager, nothing was done to resolve the situation. As a loyal Safeway customer for over 40 years, I have always considered it my go-to store. However, the lack of assistance regarding my lost money has left me disappointed. I'm a school teacher living paycheck to paycheck and was hopeful for a refund. As a result of this experience, Safeway has now become my last choice for shopping. I will be exploring other options like Trader Joe's, Sprouts, and Whole Foods before considering Safeway again. It's disheartening to have to switch after being a dedicated customer for so long. Sincerely, Judy I. Jones.

I participated in the Monopoly game provided by your store. Initially hesitant, I grew to enjoy it. However, it seems the prizes offered may not always be available as indicated. Some instant wins are not usable in-store and require online submission, which is not truly instant. This puts employees in a difficult position and can be frustrating for customers. It may seem like a ploy to entice more purchases. If Safeway's prices and quality are similar to competitors, why should I continue to shop there? As a long-time Safeway customer, it's disheartening to bring up these concerns.

Dear Safeway, I am writing to propose a switch from plastic to paper bags at your store. I am deeply committed to reducing litter in my community, and plastic bags are a major contributor to this issue due to their long decomposition time of up to [redacted] years. Living in Fairfax, Virginia, I have observed numerous white plastic bags littering the area near your Safeway branch, diminishing the community's aesthetic appeal. The impact of these plastic bags on our environment is significant, which is why I am advocating for the change to environmentally-friendly paper bags. Paper bags decompose within two to six weeks, offering a much more sustainable option. While I acknowledge that littering is not the store's responsibility, transitioning to paper bags can greatly mitigate its effects. I am interested to know what initiatives Safeway is undertaking to support the environment. Thank you for considering this proposal. If possible, please respond to me via email at [redacted] Sincerely, P.L.

I am disappointed with the inconsistency at my local Safeway in Aztec, NM. The weekly ad sale items are frequently not available, including basic items like fresh cherries, London broil, applesauce cups, and cases of water. This has been an ongoing issue for at least ten years, making it frustrating as I rely on my children to drive me for shopping. It seems the specials may only be stocked for a limited time after the ad is released. I have observed that the Farmington store usually has the advertised specials in stock, unlike the Aztec store where morale appears low. While the checkers are friendly, other employees seem indifferent. I hope Safeway addresses these ongoing issues, as I would prefer to continue shopping in my local store, but I may have to consider alternatives if the situation does not improve.

Dear Safeway Store Management, I wanted to bring to your attention an unfortunate encounter I had with a cashier named Bernadeen at Store #[redacted] in Cloverly, MD on 6/24/21 at 9:46 a.m. Bernadeen's behavior was extremely unprofessional and caused me distress during my visit. As a loyal customer, I expect better treatment, especially as a senior who sometimes needs assistance at the checkout. Bernadeen's impatience and rudeness were uncalled for, and I was taken aback by her attitude. I left the store feeling upset and unheard. I hope this situation can be addressed promptly, either through further training for Bernadeen or by taking appropriate action. Thank you for your attention to this matter. Sincerely, Mary L.

In the past 3 to 4 months, I have encountered recurring issues with the pharmacy. Today, 7/4, I contacted them to schedule a pick up for my prescription, as advised by an employee on 6/30. Unfortunately, when I called, the pharmacist was rude and questioned my medication usage, insisting I couldn't collect it before 7/6, the date on the script. Due to my reliance on cabs for transportation, this rigid policy will result in extra costs and inconvenience for me. If the pharmacy has updated their pickup rules, they should inform customers beforehand to avoid these situations. The pharmacist in question lacks a friendly attitude and professionalism in customer interactions. Regrettably, I do not recall the individual's name, just noting an accent and recent hire status. I've always been courteous to the staff but will consider transferring my business to another store that values customer service and offers more flexibility. After a decade of loyalty to Safeway for my consistent prescriptions, I am disappointed by these recent experiences and am now exploring other options.

I reside in Belmont, CA near the Safeway store on Ralston and El Camino Real. As a family man with a wife and our 13-year-old daughter, Safeway has always been our preferred shopping destination. However, there has been an issue with one of the assistant managers named Tabitha. She consistently follows me around the store and instructs employees to do the same, making me feel like I am being suspected of stealing. Despite my efforts to show my innocence by leaving receipts and engaging in conversations with Tabitha, the situation has not improved. I have never engaged in any wrongful behavior at any Safeway store, and this treatment is unwarranted. If this matter is not addressed promptly, I may have to escalate it to the Bay Area news media due to the discomfort it is causing me. I hope for a swift resolution so that I can continue being a loyal customer at Safeway.

I have encountered these issues on multiple occasions and have brought them to the attention of management each time, but unfortunately, no action has been taken to address the problems. 1) Employee smoking: I have witnessed Safeway employees smoking within 25 feet of entry/exit points, which violates state law. One specific incident involved a meat cutter smoking near the doors and not washing his hands afterward. Another employee was smoking near the entry/exit doors, creating a continuous disturbance. 2) Strong employee odors: On several instances, employees, including two individuals multiple times, wore an overwhelming amount of perfume or aftershave. The strong scents made me feel unwell, causing me to seek assistance to complete my purchases. To make matters worse, a member of management ridiculed me for my discomfort near the heavily scented employee.

I recently visited the Stayton Oregon store and encountered an issue with using digital coupons. I accidentally entered the wrong phone number when trying to redeem my coupons. The cashier was unable to confirm if the number was correct but it still went through. When I asked if she could scan the app QR code after entering the phone number, she mentioned it was not possible. Unfortunately, due to a long line, I couldn't cancel my order to re-enter the correct information and ended up missing out on saving $10-15. It was frustrating that the system couldn't accommodate a change in the phone number input.

Hello, I bought a Safeway fitted electric underblanket (model no SF Queen) from Clicks. Less than 2 months later, the electrical cord on the right side stopped working. I tried using the left detachable cord and it heated the bed. Unfortunately, we lost the receipt and Clicks no longer accepts proof of purchase through the club card due to recent events. I inquired about purchasing loose cords but was given a spare cord by the store. It worked for about a month before failing. Now, the left cord has also stopped working. We trusted Safeway for its quality, and we are disappointed by this experience as it seems there is an issue with the blanket itself causing the cords to fail. We would appreciate any assistance you can provide in resolving this matter.

I arrived at Safeway in Dallas, Oregon, at 5:30 p.m. on Saturday, August 28th. I needed gas and my prescription, which I had been without for three days since I was out of town. I first went to the gas pump and handed the clerk cash. He walked slowly across the parking lot to pay inside and then back. When I commented on his pace, he replied that it was as fast as he wanted to go. He was a short man with dark hair and an earring. Upon heading to the pharmacy with five people ahead of me, I noticed it was almost closing time at 6 p.m. When I reached the counter, my prescription was missing. Knowing they were about to close, I requested just three pills to last until Monday, but the pharmacist refused as he was leaving in 5 minutes. I appreciate Safeway's concern for my health but the experience caused me stress. Despite liking the main pharmacist, incidents like these might lead me to shop elsewhere.

I recently purchased the 3 for $12 mix and match fresh fruit deal at the Sandy Ave Safeway in Portland, Oregon. Unfortunately, upon arriving home, I discovered that all the fruit was rotten. The strawberry and berry mix was completely spoiled and emitted a foul smell. The watermelon, despite being packaged yesterday, was mushy and had a bad taste. The cantaloupe, dated for today, had a terrible odor that even attracted pests. I only noticed after purchase that the strawberries were expiring today, as the others seemed fresh. Although I admit this oversight, it's concerning that the store is selling expired and spoiled produce. Furthermore, I realized I was charged full price despite being a loyal member for many years. I tried contacting the store for a refund, but after 43 minutes on hold, they disconnected the call. Is this the standard conduct for Safeway/Albertsons, especially during a pandemic? I have photos documenting the issue.

Hello, my name is Vincent Carrera, and I reside in Aspen Hill, Silver Spring, MD [redacted]. I frequently shop at the Safeway in Rockville, MD, located off Bauer Drive and Route 28. Recently, especially after the store remodel, I have encountered multiple issues with check-out prices not reflecting sale items or discounts. This morning, on September 16 around 7:30 a.m., at checkout lane number one, I experienced a problem with being charged the regular price for Swiss Dotson and Watson deli product instead of the sale price of $8.99. The cashier seemed flustered and was dismissive when I questioned the mistake. This is not an isolated incident as I often face challenges with obtaining advertised sale prices or personalized discounts, necessitating me to show proof from the store app on my phone. I have also encountered troubles at the deli counter where my requested half-pound turns into more, causing frustration. While most interactions have been frustrating, I must highlight Howard, a pleasant cashier at times, who brightens my shopping experience with his positive attitude. The store manager appears disinterested and perhaps nearing retirement, as I have observed a lack of engagement in resolving customer issues. I hope for better customer service experiences in the future at the Bauer Drive and Route 28 Safeway location. Sincerely, Vinnie.

I possess a Safeway Club Card, number [redacted] [redacted], which I obtained prior to [redacted]. Throughout my husband's military service, we traveled extensively, residing in various countries where Safeway stores were not accessible. After settling in Florida post-retirement in [redacted], I used my card at Safeway until the local stores closed. Between [redacted] and [redacted], during visits to my children in Oregon and Washington, I utilized the card sporadically. In [redacted], while employed at Olympic National Park, I frequently shopped at Safeway in Aberdeen, Washington, earning fuel rewards. Despite primarily shopping at the commissary, I still use Safeway for specific items. Recently, while in Idaho, I noticed a lack of rewards on my Club Card when purchasing fuel at Safeway, prompting my query about the missing rewards. I am trying to determine the whereabouts of my accumulated rewards. Thank you, Alice D. Ledee.

I am a senior citizen who is new to using the Safeway digital app to find sale items. Today was my first time using it. I got confused and needed help at the self-checkout. The lady there was rude and said she didn't have time to assist me. I asked her to at least show me how to start, but she refused again. I was on an electric cart. I then approached one of the cashiers for help. They did assist me, but they scanned my items before I could verify them. When I mentioned this, they asked which items had discounts. I couldn't recall all of them and just paid the bill. I left the store in tears due to their lack of caring and impatience. I suggest they show more patience with older customers who are not familiar with these new technologies and may miss out on sale items. Thank you.

I recently purchased gas at Safeway Gas station in Monument, Colorado, and experienced an issue with a pending charge on my card. Although I only purchased $52.04 worth of gas, there was initially a $75 pending charge, which has not been removed. This has caused a discrepancy of $[redacted].04 on my account. Due to this prolonged pending charge, I have incurred returned check fees from my bank and utility company. I urge Safeway to release the $75 pending charge promptly. Additionally, I expect reimbursement of the $60 in fees I have accrued. While I understand pending charges are common, I have already been charged the actual amount for my gas purchase, and the pending charge should have been removed. Your assistance in resolving this matter would be greatly appreciated.