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SAFEWAY!! Your Customer Service Constitutes Harassment!!!    Back to the homepage
Views: 11711 Report
As a frequent acquirer of various goods at your so-called SAFEWAY establishments and Club Card holder in good standing, I have composed this missive to express my outrage at the atrocious customer service it has been my misfortune to experience at your stores. Said customer service, quite possibly, constitutes harassment as defined in section 527.6. of the California Code of Civil Procedure...... Specifically, I refer to the practice of your employees, who are obviously coerced by your management arm, tracking my movements througout the store, asking, at irregular intervals, and I quote: Are you finding everything ok? I may be harassed in this way anywhere between six (6) to ten (X) times during any given shopping venture at your stores......This psychological assault is furthermore escalated by your poor choice of ambient music which is criminally devoid of any and all songs by Dexys Midnight Runners and is peppered with subliminal messages, delivered by a deceptively cheery female announcer, luring me to various parts of the establishment with promises of superior, reasonably priced Safeway goods, where, inevitably, another employee awaits to ask if I, Zac Birnbaum, and finding everything ok, sir thereby repeating this sick cycle of customer service abuse...These blatant offenses have caused me incalculable pain and suffering for which I demand to be compensated in the form of (1) vouchers which shall be redeemable at your establishments for any and all goods, including alcoholic beverages; (2) your inclusion of songs from the album TOO-TYE-AY in your in store playlists and (3) your assurance that all customer service representatives remain at least 10 (ten) feet away from unless I choose to first engage them.....I hope we can come to a fair settlement in this matter and that escalation will not be necessary....Sincerely, Z. BIRNBAUM

About this poster:
Club Card holder in good standing.
Posted by: Z_Birnbaum (male, late-30s) (Posted 10/10/05)

Resource Links: Free (relevant links only)
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Responses (41)
dragonflie (6/20): Safeway never has that many employees on a one time. (report)
Crazyonyou (3/7): Actuly I work for safeway and let me assure you not one employee gives a Crap about you at all....ITS OUR JOB! to ask you those retarded questions, I dont care if your finding everything ok, i dont care about your day, I dont care about how your doing..Its my job to ask, so next time you go to safeway dont look lost or make eye contact, thats the only reason theyll ask you or "Harass" you. if you dont like it, shop else ware, what a hard consept... Obviously lots of people like the "Hi, Are you finding everything ok?" attention cause we get so many sales even though are grocerys are $$$. So uhh F off A hole, oh and have a nice Day :) (report)
Crazyonyou (3/7): Actuly, I work for safeway and let me assure you not one employee gives a Crap about you at all....ITS OUR JOB! to ask you those retarded questions, I dont care if your finding everything ok, i dont care about your day, I dont care about how your doing..Its my job to ask, so next time you go to safeway dont look lost or make eye contact, thats the only reason theyll ask you or "Harass" you. if you dont like it, shop else ware, what a hard consept... Obviously lots of people like the "Hi, Are you finding everything ok?" attention cause we get so many sales even though are grocerys are $$$. So uhh F off A hole, oh and have a nice Day :) (report)
Crazyonyou (3/7): Oh and one other thing, obviously your just freakin retarded, did you go to safeway all by yourself? Or did you have to take the little yellow bus you freakin idiot!! Let me assure you when stupid idiots such as your self leave our store odds are 80% of the people working there are talking about you dumb @ss. So why do you shop there? Ware high priced and we pretty much have to wipe our customers @ss's all day long even though we hate each and every one of you and let me assure you that smile on our face is Fake just like the cheery voice you here when you come and go. Your truly pathetic if you honestly think anyone gives a crap about you, this isn't just about you, this is about all the dumb customers that think just like you, if you don't like how we "HAVE" to act go some ware else you goofy bastard ok? (report)
Anonymous (4/16): Give me a break! This is just another excuse for a low life like you to scam good corporations like Safeway out of money. Please grow up and get over yourself! (report)
Anonymous (5/14): Vouchers for alcohol? You let the cat out of the bag on that one. Maybe if you spent your time in aa meetings instead of listening to your inner dialog might you get a clue. Probably you fit a profile of shoplifters and these people are really loss prevention experts foiling your alcoholic shoplifting tendancies. As another poster said, Take the short bus back to the rock you came out from under so store employee's can TALK about you for a giggle. P.S. you drive your cart funny. (report)
TuNnL (6/1): <b>Obviously, the person who wrote this is being sarcastic. Quite frankly, the only departments I know of that ask you if you are finding everything okay, are the produce and grocery departments. Theres rarely more than three people on the floor in either department at a time. The lions share of Safeway employees are ofcourse, the cashiers and baggers... and obviously those workers are more concerned with keeping the lines moving then whether they can show you what aisle the eggs are on.</b> (report)
Elfis (9/20): I am Also a Safeway employee, and we don't really give a crap if your finding everything alright. In fact, when I ask a customer "Are you finding everything you need today?" I pray inside they say yes so I can get back to my department and do my work for the day and not have to spend hours trying to explain to you we don't carry scuba gear and that a sporting goods store might be a better choice. Sadly If that customer happens ato be a mystery shopper *insert dramatic music here* I get yelled at berated and otherwise punished for not asking you enough times. The fact of the matter is we a REQUIRED to hit "attributes" with each and every customer. 1. Greet (in a friendly manner making eye contact) 2. Anticipate the customers needs (thats the "are you finding everything you need" part) 3. Take to Item (If you say where are the frozen peas I have to say "On aisle 16 sir, would you like me to show you?" ) 4. Parting comment (I have to say something other than "Thanks." like "Have a good one.") In outside departments (i.e Bakery, Deli etc.) You also have to hit "Sample" that is if you ask "Hows that pasta salad? Is it oily?" I have to say "would you like a sample?" Furthermore, I have to get "product knowledge" on that one by saying "Our pasta salad is make with real olive oil," THEN "would you like to try a sample?" you thin YOU'RE getting harassed look at US!!! ANNNND we have to look professional, and the department has to be clean, displays fresh and appealing.. blah blah blah!! and we have to spend 6 hours saying "are you finding everything ok sir?" WITH A SMILE I MIGHT ADD!! Your lucky we don't just pummel your ass with a can of corn and hold you hostage with our box knives until you agree to go away, and never come back! (report)
fightingtofu (9/24): youre kind of retarded. being asked if youre finding things is a sign of GOOD customer service, and they follow you around because you probably look like the kind of person that would steal something. (report)
Anonymous (10/27): I think you are just out to get something. Safeway personnel ask you if they can help you with anything as a courtousy to you the customer. They can play whatever music they want and I doubt that they have any hidden messages. If you don't like thier service shop elseware.I enjoy shopping at safeway and the courtesy they have . (report)
Anonymous (11/20): I have had those days, but now I just deal with it because there is no reason to get upset at the little kid doing his/her job! I just hope they don't get punished if they miss someone with these mystery shopper. I have to admit it is a little much! I would rather we ask them. There is always someone around. It's just not real when they are robotic like that..it's not from the heart! Yes, they should say Hi How are you! or something and that's it.. then we make the move! (report)
Anonymous (1/5): To the person above this post. Go. To. Hell. The only reason we work at Safeway, or as we employees call it, "Slaveway" (because we act like f-ing slaves to you customers) is so we can pay for our education and get the hell out of there. We have to act all nice so we don't get chewed out by management and lose our job. You people don't understand how much we hate our jobs. The constant string of stupid questions (where is the bread?), the constant harassment of managment, and the overall enviroment. We just want to make our tuition payments and get a real job. And yeah most of us cannot quit because the pay is good, and maybe finding another job is out of the question. So screw you. You probably pay for everything in your childs life so you won't understand when we say we want to be independent. I hope you go into Safeway and you get your ass harassed by every employee imaginable. Also I hope your spoiled children come to you when they are 40 asking for rent because they thought mommy and daddy would give them money for the rest of thier lives because they were taught only losers work. To the person who posted this rant....I hate it when we have to bug you, but please understand that we get into so much trouble if we don't do it. Just go with it. We just want to make some cash and get through school...unlike some people who are going to have thier parents pay for everything... (report)
Anonymous (3/20): I work for Safeway and let me tell ya we don't like to do some of the things we do but we do them cause we are required. They take polls to determine what customers like in service and that is what they require from us. Do you all think we like to struggle attempting to say peoples last names? Do you think we like to stop in the middle of our work to say "Hello, are you finding everything ok?" NO we don't! One thing I would love to do is go to some of my customers jobs and treat them how they treat us and see how they appreciate it. We are doing our jobs just like alot of our customers do thier jobs. As for parting comment "Have a great day" I would love to say "don't let the door hit ya!" But you are our customers and we have to do our job and treat the customers right so we can get paid. (report)
Avenger (4/21): So... you're complaining about something like the store's ambient music, and you're griping about employees doing their job? Either you have nothing better do do with your pitiful life, or you're complaining because you're trying to shoplift and can't when employees are around all the time. Just go shop/steal somewhere else, genius. Ever heard of the free market? (report)
Anonymous (5/26): So Z. Birnbaum, why shop there? Why would you want free coupons or vouchers to use at Safeway when you find the environment intolerable? I think you are devoid of logic, not Safeway. As the previous person pointed out, the customer service protocal that you find so offensive is a part of the Safeway corporate culture and is required by employees. Why not shop at someplace with your IPOD in your ears and where you bag your own groceries? Further...why not just stay out of grocery stores altogether and start growing your own produce, squeezing your own juice, baking your own bread and butchering your own meat? Then nobody will assault you by asking you if you are finding everything "o.k." (report)
Anonymous (7/4): Apparently this poster was making a joke. Some of you people just need to take a chill pill. On the other hand, dissing Safeway employees for doing what they do to get a paycheck is uncouth. I do work at Safeway. Have been for almost three years now, which puts me in the new contract. Yes, it sucks, but hey, what can you do?...vote for a better one, duh! Anyway, for someone to complain about how we do our service...geez, either fill out a comment card available at every checkstand, or call 1-877-SAFEWAY and complain there. We don't hide it from you...in fact, it has been at the bottom of your receipts since forever and a half ago. Yes, I do not like having to G.A.T. every customer, but I can't really quit. I am going to college and can't afford to look for a job in today's hurting economy that pays as much as I make now. And to oldgrandma who posted on 2/23...I know my store like the back of my hand. If I can't find something you need, and there is actually a hole in the shelf, I would be happy to help you order it through our warehouse. Or you could go to safeway.com and shop there. I have never been called snide or submissive, and so far I have six all-yes shops in a row. I am just glad there are still nice people who shop with us so we don't have to deal with insignificant nose-lifters such as yourself. And btw, the music you hear plays at all main stores, not just safeway...its the same woman too...I have shopped at krogers too and its the same stuff. (report)
Anonymous (8/19): it is our JOB, and some of us actully like doing it and enjoy the customers...so, for thoes who dont...suck off (report)
Anonymous (9/26): I am A Safeway Employee and I think safeway SUXass it is the most retarded store or company ever and has the most annoying customers who are complaining and whinning all the time--geez if you dont like shopping here no one really wants u here-so jus fuck off!!!!!!!!!!1 (report)
Anonymous (12/2): I'm a safeway manager. It is true that we beat it into our employee's heads that they need to do their service. With the way the economy is today, if they don't, we would all be out of a job. It's a tough business with WAL*MART, Fry's, Albertsons and all the other retail/grocery store's out there. If we don't bring up the level of service, what's to stop the customers from shopping at our competitors?? We have the best service in the business and it keeps people coming back to us. We don't like arrogant people that would rather suck (()====> than appreciate hard working employees. We are only trying to make your life a little more enjoyable by creating a friendly environment for you to shop in. If you work for Safeway and you don't like to give "superior customer service" then you need to find a new job. We go out of our way to make every customer happy. I had a customer come in and read a tag above a product and think it was for the product below. He wanted it for the price on the tag above. The tag was for $12.99 and the product cost $54.99. This is an example of a customer trying to take advantage of our customer service policies. He, along with others are simply trying to get something for nothing by using our customer service against us.. because most of the time, they win. It is our customer service policy to give a product for free if it is mislabeled. He contacted corporate when he was denied the product for free(obviously it wasn't mislabeled, he was just misunderstood.) They instructed me to give him $100 out of my own pocket to make him "just go away".. This is an example of the lengths we will go through, just for you. Practically jumping through flaming rings of fire to keep people from getting upset. Is this bad customer service? Is it? Now.. Would you like any help out with that today, Mr. Birnbaum? Thank you for shopping at Safeway and have a WONDERFUL day =) (report)
unread (12/18): Safeway is amazing its my favirt stor and people need to stop lieing (report)
Anonymous (12/20): First, I'm disappointed to hear that some of the employees are phonies who aren't really nice, but are just pretending to be, as I really appreciated being asked if I found everything ok. Mostly because I can't always find the stuff I need especially when in a rush to be somewhere. In any case, this is an excellent service, and I am sure more often than not, they help alot of people find the stuff they need just by asking them if they need help. Where I live, Safeway is the only store who's employees take the time out from whatever they are doing to acknowledge that you bothered to go to their store, and that is what keeps me going back there more than any other grocer in town. Keep up the awesome job Safeway, though not everyone may appreciate this simple service, alot of us DO. (report)
unicorns4cher (1/7): As a Safeway employee, I am quite often upset with management , but I believe in customer service and I am honestly a friendly person who is concerned for the customers shopping experience. Every employee from corp. down to the courtesy clerk want to do the right thing (except for those few)they just get lost in saving money and making money. The problem is they base a lot of their policy's on false information provided by others that want to look good. Too bad they cant look to their employees that are working hard to do a good job the right way. (report)
kep1985 (1/9): Thank you!!! Sadly I work at safeway because in the town I work there is nothing else worth even trying because its all tourist. I agree, that it is harrassment, and they say that cutomers like it. NOT you prove my point thank you (report)
kozik_karrie (1/31): I got treated so shit today at one of Safeway on SunnySide in Oregon. The customers service to be honesty, totally just sucks she told that I was a bitch and I think that was un call for to be honesty, I will NEVER shop there again kiss my ass good bye, They need to prove themselves to be a better customer service people please grow up! The lady was a jerk to me, I never been treated in life, the grocery weren't never find and I got change for them and they told that I couldn't come back for the grocery that I paid for I telling myself Shit. I'm pissed off at Safeway they can go to HELL. I'm not happy with no body there, I work for them for 8 year in Sedro Woolley and to be honesty, it a a little shit too, much! (report)
Anonymous (7/12): I am a Safeway manager and I think that this person is an asshole. Yeah, truth be told we hatge asking you all those questions but its something that has to be done.....period! I think the way that we have to kiss ass all day is quite sickening and it IS phoney. I hate, and I repeat hate having to ask you for donations every other month and dispise having to listen to you gripe about not having something that you ABSOLUTELY need. Most of you just wanna 'nickel and dime' us outta whatever u can get. Stop stealing and maybe you could stop being so paranoid MISTER! (report)
tech (11/2): I work at Safeway And they are nasty!!! (report)
hatshepsut (12/11): dragonflie (12/11) I suggest you see a psychoanalyst as soon as possible. Or, shop at Rayley's and go totally nuts! Your paranoia..not Safeway's policies seems to be your problem. (report)
Anonymous (2/18): z. birnbaum is everything that i wrong with america and should be deported to antartica. you want them to play your music and give you vouchers for alcohol because they dont do things your way?? go fuck yourself you worthless fat fuck (report)
Anonymous (2/24): I agree with Birnbaum. Thanks to the person that posted the tip about secret shoppers not working after 8pm. I will try and do my shopping then. You all have to realize that this so-called customer service was put into place by a bunch of lawyers for huge corporations in the late 1990's. They passed a law defining "customer service." This allows big corporations to follow the customer service guidelines without giving any real customer service, which may cost them money and take up too much valuable time. Next time you call India for tech support it is the same thing. Or when you call a cell phone company for customer service. It is NOT real customer service, but a way for the corporation to look good, having passed all the precepts of the customer service law. I have worked for these companies as a customer service agent on the telephone. I quit because I could not stand being a robot. So there is no use for you all to bash each other about when large corporations running the world are to blame, not single citizens. (report)
Anonymous (7/12): I work at safeway. And all I think when I'm working is how much I DON'T want to be working. I understand that it's annoying that we have to ask you, but guess what? We HAVE to. So don't blame us, you dickless spineless douche. Blame management. K? We're just trying to make a goddamn living. (report)
Anonymous (9/24): We have foreign students who stay with us while they attend classes or special conferences here in California. I have taken these students with me when I grocery shop at Safeway and other stores. These students are invariably surprised and a little puzzeled when store employees greet them, ask if they have found items they were looking for and thank customers by name as they leave the checkstand. They ask me "Why do they do that? They don't know me!" I'm just glad that they leave those stores with a positive impression of how Americans behave. It may seem an irritating factor to some folks but I would not want that courtesy to change whether it is heartfelt or not. (report)
Anonymous (10/21): I work at Safeway... I care. Genuinely. But obvious Troll is Obvious. (report)
Anonymous (11/4): I'm a checker for Safeway and every day I deal with the fuck heads who bitch cause i doing my job ask them how there doing...is it really that big of a deal to go along with the program? You customers bitch because were doing our job believe me we don't give a shit how you are doing if your finding everything ok...who gives a shit? It's a pay check go along with the program and stop bitching cause the music sucks, we ask you how your doing, the sales. Look bottom line is we are working for a pay check just like you unless your a fuck head on unemployment not doin shit cause you don't have too. (report)
peaceandquiet (11/4): I do not wish to hear about special pricing on feminine hygiene products over the PA system while food shopping. I do not want to hear any music, and I do not want to be asked repeatedly if I want to contribute to some special charity before I can pay for my groceries. (report)
Anonymous (2/4): I like my local Safeway. I consider myself a loyal (but not to the point of stupidity) patron, and I've been one for seven years, based on this store's performance. I don't go to Albertson's or Fry's after experiencing Safeway because Safeway's customer-service standard is so much higher than the others' --I'm sort of spoiled. I'm sorry that some employees think it blows, but that's for Safeway's Personnel dept. to handle, or these employees can find another job. It is, after all, a free country. At the customer level, my experience with Safeway has been outstanding. Oh, and for the occasional Safeway employee who clearly is NOT happy working there? I know who you are ... it's written all over your face. (report)
XxChristinexX (2/8): Im not understanding why there is a problem with people coming up to you asking if your finding everything okay. The duty of the job is to make sure everyone is doing well in the store and making sure there are no problems. And like most stores it is their job and they are trained to ask that to everyone they see to also assure there is no shoplifting and that the customer knows that the store employees are watching. So I disagree with this comment completely. (report)
Anonymous (3/10): I only shop at Safeway when forced to but it isn't because of the staff. They are, for the most part, nice people doing their jobs. While I am not fond of being asked if I am finding what I need, I like being able to get directions to items that seem misplaced. Having said that, I must add that Safeway is 30% (0r m0re) higher priced than the chain that I prefer (TJ"S) and has a terrible variety. Soy sauce is a good example. Kikkoman is black salted water compared to good asian soysauce and costs more than twice as much. House brand stuff dominates many stores, my favorite included, but Safeway's house brand products are not good quality. ex. their milk is Not Rbst free. As for our alcoholic shopper. You guys are giving him the wrong reviews. He is just looking for good press and maybe a free ride to his favorite watering hole. One last thought; By shopping at huge irresponsible corporate stores, we promote off shore growers and manufacturers without the benefit of at least saving some money. Every time you open your wallet to pay for something, you are casting a vote for the quality of life that you want and its the one vote that everyone pays attention to. Sorry to hear that us customers are just a butt for your jokes by the way. (report)
Anonymous (4/30): I work at Safeway and believe it or not I actually LOVE my job! I'm a checker, and I also work in the Floral department and at the Customer Service Booth. I ALWAYS have a NATURAL, SINCERE smile on my face (probably because I love what I do) and I love the customers (only a few have been nasty and mean.) It saddens me to see all of these negative posts from others (including Safeway employees). The world is a sad, sad place right now so it pains me to see people upset over EXCELLENT customer service! Really? If that's the only complaint you have consider yourself blessed (people are losing their homes and all you can complain about is customer service at Safeway?) How truly sad that is. (report)
Crutchleyheather90 (6/13): Hahaha! I love this! I just called my "manager" at Safeway and quit without a two weeks notice or anything. Boyyyy was he pissed. He slammed the phone down on me in mid-sentence. excuse me for getting a better job that offers 30-40 hours s week, while you only give me 9 (who can live off that?). The policies are definitely harassment. Worst company to ever work for. I'm so happy to not be a slave anymore! (report)
Anonymous (10/11): I work at safeway and 1. We aren't tracking you, we are honestly trying to help 2. it is a way to discourage shoplifting, it's harder to shoplift from a place where the employees are friendly and might recognize you (report)
oopsIdidITagain (4/5): sounds like theres a little more to this... maybe its u and not them. Your a big boy now and your in a world where no one cares about you. Including me do us all a favor to end your pain and suffering its called a 9mm. Click Click BOOM problem solved (report)
Responses (44)
Jimbo (10/11): But maybe no one from Safeway reads HolyShnikes! What then? I say ESCALATE!! (report)
Lovltn848 (11/2): I am a Safeway employee and I would like to say that we HAVE to do that. We have a program called secret shoppers and we get our asses chewed if we get a bad score. The shoppers look for things like that-greet, anticipate, take to item, parting comment-so we really have no choice unless we want to lose our job. (report)
steenteam (1/30): I think if you have a grievance you should be more professional! You sound like a whining little fool!!! Your posting proves that Safeway certainly gives the BEST customer service in the food industry! I am a checker at Safeway and try my best to make the food shopping a pleasant experience. You are being extremely childish!!!!!!! (report)
oldgrandma (2/23): You are right on...the only problem is...if you really need something the little fools don't know what the hell it is or where the hell it is. I'm now an EX safeway shopper. By the way, if you dare let them know what you think of their lack of stock you WON'T find a SMILE on their faces then...They are more than happy to be snide and dismissive!!!!! (report)
rescent (6/26): Safeway uses personal information from their stupid card to send you junk mail and junk e-mail - their cards quickly demagnetize so you do not get the gasoline savings promised. Just try to file a compliant - there is no 'customer service' link on their website, and the store employees are trained to say "have a nice day" instead of answering your questions. Another EX Safeway shopper as of today 6/26/07. (report)
mutantegg911 (7/5): I am Employee, My manager is a dick. I just got dinged for not making eye contact to a stupid secret shopper. People should just ask if they need help, we are there when ever we need them. Im going into to work today and i will probly get yelled at for failing and i am only 16. Safeway managment is corrupt. (report)
SafewayRocks (3/20): Wow, such anger for safeway! Yeah, I work there too, and I have earned $100 for 10 100% Shops.. And I love being friendly.. Its not everyone elses fault that you arent as nice. Maybe you tried getting hired on and didnt make the cut.. haha (report)
Anonymous (4/15): Your a fucking idiot (report)
Anonymous (5/23): i too work for safeway (or as i like to say, slaveway) and yes they force us to harass you because we like to overprice our stuff and can't compete on that level with anyone else, so some asshole decided to make "service" a priority. SUre it may be good for people with Alzheimer's, but otherwise i think if you are able then please shop somewhere else. we don't like asking you if everything is fine and you don't like hearing it but we can't stop so it's best if you shop somewhere else (report)
GREENWALRUS (7/3): I'm a meat cutter that jobs for safeway. If I say NO to a customer, I get put on a NO HIRE LIST and get lockout of work through the union. IT IS HARASSMENT. SAFEWAY WOULD BREAK THE LAW TO GET SALES. ALL THERE MANAGEMENT THINK OF IS A BIGER BONUS. (report)
GREENWALRUS (7/3): P.S. IT CALLED A SELF SERVICE COUNTER FOR A REASON. THEY DON'T GIVE US THE LABOR TO KISS UP TO YOU CUSTOMER'S. GET IT OUT OF THE COUNTER OR GO SHOP ELSE WERE. WE PUT UP WITH ENOUGH CRAP. (report)
Anonymous (7/18): I tottally agree. Safeway employees are a bunch of overpaid lazy tards who basically do the same job as mcdonalds employees yet get paid a lot more because they have a union contract. Yet every four years they cry that they are sooooooo underpaid ... DON'T BELIEVE THE HYPE CASHIERS MAKE 23 AN HOUR which is like way more then anyplace else for the same job. Also never shop after 8 pm because then customer service just flies out the window because by union contract secret shoppers can't arrive after 8 p.m. Also if you receive bad customer service at a Safeway Don't complain to the manager as they will do nothing Instead go to the website and inform Safeway themselves as the corporation cares more about how the customer is treated then the employees. I could go on and on as I used 2 work at safeway yet quit when I graduated school. The french bread at night is not fresh and the food in the deli is undercooked so it will last longer on the sales floor as are the donuts. The prices go up twice a year because the employees get raises twice a year and that is why safeway is so exspensive and I no longer shop there but I shop at whole foods. Yes its costly but at least at whole foods you get honesty and quality (report)
GREENWALRUS (7/23): YEARS AGO WE WOULD VEST OUR PENSIONS AT 10 YEAR. THEN SOMEONE LET IT SLIP THAT WE CAN VEST AT 5 YEARS. SAFEWAY AND THE UNION (UFCW) BASE THERE FUNDING THAT MOST PEOPLE WOULD NOT STAY 10 YEARS. SO THEY SHORTED AND MISSED MANAGE THE PENSION. NOW THEY CAN'T KEEP THE PROMISE OF RETIREMENT HEALTH PLAN . SO THEY HARASS THE WORKER'S WITH MISTERY SHOPPERS AND BRING BACK THE RETIRED MEAT BUTCHERS SO THEY DON'T HAVE TO WORK THE YOUNGER BUTCHER'S. PUT LOCK OUT LETTERS ON THEM SO THEY CAN'T GET DISPATCH. HUMM ISN'T THAT RACKETEERING. SO TO KEEP PENSION COSTS DOWN THEY PUSH WORKER'S OUT. (report)
GREENWALRUS (7/23): YEARS AGO WE WOULD VEST OUR PENSIONS AT 10 YEAR. THEN SOMEONE LET IT SLIP THAT WE CAN VEST AT 5 YEARS. AND THE UNION BASE THERE FUNDING THAT MOST PEOPLE WOULD NOT STAY 10 YEARS. SO THEY SHORTED AND MISSED MANAGE THE PENSION. NOW THEY CAN'T KEEP THE PROMISE OF RETIREMENT HEALTH PLAN . SO THEY HARASS THE WORKER'S WITH MASTERY SHOPPERS AND BRING BACK THE RETIRED MEAT BUTCHERS SO THEY DON'T HAVE TO WORK THE YOUNGER BUTCHER'S. PUT LOCK OUT LETTERS ON THEM SO THEY CAN'T GET DISPATCH. HUMM ISN'T THAT RACKETEERING. SO TO KEEP PENSION COSTS DOWN THEY PUSH WORKER'S OUT. (report)
lillylangtree (8/3): I agree, the managers are corporate pig puppets. My uncle was a Safeway District Manager and began a lifelong career at Safeway in the 40's through the 80's. Honesty, customer service and employee morale was most important. Now the most important is "the customer", not job performance and the managers are the first to tell the employees this. They have secret shoppers and that is all that matters to the store managers, not hard work. As a customer I feel raped by their condescending attitude toward me. "How are you"? Are you finding everything you need, would you like cheese with your bread, or salami, are you doing something fun today. I am sick of their phony double-speak language. They pay their employees below low wages and their required to pay monthly union fees without any benefits. They are constantly finding new ways to screw their employees and families out of benefits. I quit shopping at Safeway because of their phony attitudes towards their customers as deep in my heart I know they could truly care less about me, period. Stop the bull Safeway, the public is not that stupid! (I hope) PS: My husband works at Safeway (report)
Anonymous (8/19): I am also a safeway employee..I unerstand that some customers dont like it, but it is important, and I dont understand why all you SAFEWAY employees are telling everybody to shop elsewhere, when it were not for them you would not get a check...I think you all need to find a new job, somewhere the people like being treated like shit and it dont matter!you guys suck! I hope I never go to your store. (report)
Anonymous (11/21): idiots why dont u try working at safeway instead of complainging at the hard work we do for rude people like u (report)
Anonymous (12/1): i'll bet you didn't know that the apples on the tables are 13 months old??? or that meat has the nasty habit of being left sitting out when it should be kept cold... there are many things that grocers do that would make you give up eating forever. (report)
unicorns4cher (1/7): I think Safeway is just out to make money , but I believe in customer service and I am honestly a friendly person who is concerned for the customers shopping experience. Every employee from corp. down to the courtesy clerk want to do the right thing (except for those few)they just get lost in saving money and making money. The problem is they base a lot of their policy's on false information provided by others that want to look good. Too bad they cant look to their employees that are working hard to do a good job the right way. (report)
Anonymous (1/7): Seems Mr BirnBaum is a professional at complaining about "much to do about nothing." Mr. Birnbaum is a "Club Card holder in good standing". To shop at Safeway is a pleasure....I believe Safeway does sell pacifiers, some are made like delicious sweeties, you ought to buy it sometime Mr.Birnhaum it may put a smile on your face. (report)
Anonymous (1/9): I was shopping at a safeway deli. But the worker spoke no English. to my surprise the union has a clause in there contract that worker's can't speak out about illegal aliens ,Since Safeway has a contract with the federal government, food stamp. They are required to verification of legal states. Shame on safeway and the U.F.C.W. (report)
Bunny (2/13): Yeeeeeeeeeeaaaaaaaaaah! Eventho I work at Safeway I totally agree with you. What's the point? I hate having someone I don't know asking me absent-mindedly how I'm doing today with or without a cheesy smile. Sorry for being anti-social, but Safeway is PHONY! I never feel like anybody actually cares about anything. The customers just wanna shop and get the hell out or they just wanna squeeze something out of you poor employees. The employees just wanna get paid and then get the hell out. The managers just want all employees to do not get paid and not get the hell out, then maybe they could find a real job, like CEO or something... (report)
Anonymous (4/4): you are fortunate - when I ask directions at a poorly organized store, they don't even know where to tell me to look for something, let alone help me find it. (report)
Anonymous (5/5): I was shopping the San Rafael B st. Safeway. With the large amount of Hispanic worker's, many that speak little or no english. Just 100 yards up the street is a soup kitchen for the poor there has to be a non working American that they could give a job to. But no. they tell those person's to go online and fill out a Internet application. So that they can screen them out of hiring. But the non American's can get a paper application, give fake information and get hired just to get super cheep labor. PLEASE BOYCOTT SAFEWAY (report)
Anonymous (5/21): I really hate Safeway, but you are such a whiner complaining about minutiae... that I would choose to side with the lesser of two evils. (report)
Anonymous (6/6): it's called strategy my friend. If you don't like it then don't shop there. How stupid can you be!? (report)
barajasone3 (9/9): so this blows because i work there and dumbass muthafuckers like yourself are always complaining for stupid ass shit and all you are doing is trying to find a reason to try to get free shit. and its my fuckin job to ask you annoying shit that i dont wanna tell you. so go fuck yourself tryin to get free liqour (report)
Njo (10/14): I could care less what music that is played in Safeway, but, however, I do agree with Z. Birnbaum with regards to the constant, perpetual harrassment that's dressed in the form of custmer service. I have had bag boys follow me around and "chat me up" after asking if I'm finding everything o.k. I'm nice and politly say, "I'm fine", and that seems to be an invitation for them to follow me around, stare at me, continually talk to me even though any one with any common sense and an ounce of knowledge regarding body language, that I am not in any need of help. If I need help, I ask. Which brings me to my other point. I stood at the end of eisle 11 (Mid Valley - Carmel Valley, CA) and waited for the manager, which I'd had a cashier page, for 20 MINUTES! Finally I told the cashier that I would be walking around and to have the mng find me. They're were not that many people in the store, this location is very small, so I could easily be found. By the time I got to the meat counter, I had the meat guy, whom I know on a casual basis, locate the "manager" for me. Her name was Linda. She didn't introduce herself, I just made sure I read her name tag. She was short, curt, rude, and gave me the feeling that she couldn't be bothered with my simple inquiry. She began to walk away as I was in the middle of my question regarding an option to an item I was looking for. she rolled her eyes, turned to me and said "Ma'am, I told you, we don't have any!" I will, from now on, make the extra 4-5 mi. drive to the Save-Mart, where Richard, the grocery manager, understands the true sense of local economy and service to the customer and the ideal of creating repeat business. I really hope this eml reaches the regional/corporate manager and that this issue is addressed. I will be in touch directly to the Safeway Corporation about this particular individual. So this will NOT end here. N.Guthrie (report)
tech (11/2): Yes Bad management they don't care about the employees just the greed!!! (report)
etherize (2/9): Just made my last trip to Safeway. From now on it's Raley's for me. (Even though Raley's smells bad, at least I don't feel assaulted when I walk in there.) During a 10 minute trip to Safeway's flower department, I was greeted no fewer than 5 times by three employees, all of whom asked me if I needed help. Do I LOOK THAT HELPLESS?! Even when I just TOLD YOU I DIDN'T NEED HELP? One woman clearly hates her job; she is so aggressive and unpleasant, even while greeting and asking if I need help, that she seems downright hostile. I left the store shaking today, and I won't be back. (report)
Anonymous (2/11): You know, it would be nice if this company appreciated hard work and good service, but it's all about what the mystery shopper says about you. Now if I get shopped once in 2 months and they say I missed a name, how does that indicate I am a bad employee?-- But if you get a bad shop like that, nothing else matters, you are a dog to them!!!! (report)
Anonymous (2/11): You are nothing to Safeway unless you get a good shop period. If they want happy employees, they need to stop harassing employees over their shops which don't indicate much at all. (report)
Anonymous (5/16): Some people are paranoid freaks who get alarmed and think that the staff is out to get them. But if everyone felt that way, Safeway would be out of business by now. Stop whining and shop somewhere else. When will people learn that the most you have a right to do is shop somewhere else? Corporations only pretend to care about you because they want your money. (report)
ashaz01 (7/28): I worked in many departments at Safeway for 7 years. Any decent person who has a job wants to do well and Safeway employees are graded based off their secret shops. Yeah, it sucked when the 1 customer out of a 100 that I walked by in any given day and didn't say hi to, even though they weren't looking at me, turned out to be a secret shopper. This turned me into a robot, absently saying "hi" to every breathing thing I passed. Outside of work I did the same thing. If anyone asked me a question, I added an unnatural "hi" before every response. The other side of the coin is the customers that 3 years later are friends and business associates are an important part of my life. When I wasn't walking through the aisles I was able to be natural with the people I met and I really cared for them. They brought me cookies, and slow cookers and cried with me over a deli coffee (before Starbucks came into the store) when a spouse died of old age. One customer that I have know for 10 years just mentioned adding me to his will. I had two jobs at Safeway, one was to satisfy corporates need for good shops, and the other was to make my customers feel at home in the place that I spent 9 hours of my day. I cared but probably not about you Z Birnbaum. I probably thought you were an asshole and I bet that the employees there have a nickname for you behind your back. Twelve bucks an hour isn't enough to babysit overgrown children, such as yourself, for the 20 mins that they are sniveling, and whining in the store. Shop somewhere else, or shop after 8 or do the world a favor and grown your own veggies. Maybe a healthier diet will dislodge whatever crawled up your ass. (report)
NOTSAFE (9/15): Safeway has this program in place for one reason. TO SKIP OUT ON INCENTIVE BONUSES. They set the goal super high, then implement the service program, knowing that many will not hit their goals. Then they tweek, and adjust the expectations every year to make it even harder to hit. This, together with a "secret shopper" that has 2 weeks training results in many dept. managers NOT hitting their goal for what Safeway Corp. says is acceptable customer service. Look through all of the bologna people! THis is about how Safeway can screw over it's established employees by creating a system which is very, very difficult to overcome. They know that the program is way over the top. It's too much. People want good prices and good, fresh food. THey want to get in, and out fast. If help is needed, then yes, they want help. Nobody wants to be harassed. They know this. The whole thing is a perfectly designed scheme by Safeway to save them BIG $$$. They are setting themselves (the employees) up to fail on purpose. There are also documents that show the company has manipulated criteria at times which sends out mixed signals to the employees. THis also adds to the whole mess, creating grey areas in what is expected. There is certainly a lawsuit waiting to happen here. They are undermining the whole program for a reason. Money. There are people paying attention to this, and when the time comes, they will be ready to testify against them. I look forward to the day that Safeway is required to pay retro bonuses to all the dept. managers that have been taken advantage of. We are talking billions. (report)
Anonymous (11/4): I'm a Safeway employee and maybe you should pull your heads out of your $#**% and realize we do what management tells us! Just like any other job do what the boss says it's a paycheck. When I ask you how your doin if your finding everything ok...think I give a shit? It's so I can pay my bills just like anyone else so go with the program and stop your bitching..oh and some of the old timers make round 20-23 bucks an hour not us young checkers especially on the new contract it's not all of us, believe me just like with any job we don't have much say do as were told didn't ask for the union so do us a favor stop bitching and go with the program (report)
peejeekisser (11/28): HELLO PEOPLE!? Is everyone here out of their mind? This is obviously a joke. I knew something was wrong when author called himself a "Club Card holder in good standing," as if it was a credit card. This comment is absurd, and a terrible try at humor. It is, however, a very successful troll. (report)
Anonymous (4/10): I agree, I work at safeway(vons in particular) and it sticks that we have to say all that stuff, I can't stand the music either and honestly we are treated like crap by the management and the customers, the reason we are so quick to dismiss you people who are so quick to push us away is because you treat us horribly even when we are trying to be helpful. We are paid minimum wage with no benefits as courtesy clerks and when we miss something on our 'secret shop' (another BS practice by Safeway) we get reprimanded, if you have a problem with it please tell our corporate headquarters because we hate it too. The music, the rules, the constant nagging, it's terrible and there's nothing we can do about it without losing our jobs. Our Union doesn't do anything but put us on strikes, making us lose more money, rather then fixing our problems. We are underpaid, overworked, and under-appreciated. Next time you think you're being harrassed by us, remember, you are only stuck there for as long as you wish to be, we are stuck there for anywhere from 3-9 hours anywhere from 0-6 days a week. If you think you are being harassed, think about the mental trama of dealing with it 6 days a week for 3 months straight as I have been. Try to consider the people who you are putting down, we don't have any control. (report)
Anonymous (4/19): Sorry I'd we don't follow you around and harass you every second we will be fired. OR WORSE... humiliated and punished by cut in hours so we can starve but have no option to find another job out if this he'll hole! (report)
Anonymous (6/1): i love this.. i just quit my slaveway job and this is exactly how i feel about the secret shopper bs. You know they actually have an elite program now where if you spend enough money on a regular basis, when you check out it automatically buzzes the manager on his blackberry and they come bag ur groceries and tell u all about it. except of course they dont tell you they are stalking you because ou spend a bumch of money there (report)
ccjb (6/2): I worked at safeway. it is our job to ask if you are finding everything ok. would you rather us ignore you???? if we do not pay attention to the customer and greet, anticipate, and take to the item, we get in huge trouble! what if every safeway employee came to your work and gave you BS!!! wait you probably don't even have a job!!! get over it it's not harrassment it's our job. if you don't like it go somewhere else where the people aren't even half as nice and don't give a shit if you are having trouble finding something! HAVE A GREAT DAY!!! (report)
AntiSafeway (7/22): Safeway needs to burn. Several employees get away with theft, and stealiong hurs. Yet, customers have no help on the floor, and are left to bugging departments for help. Fuck, Safeway. (report)
AntiSafeway (7/22): Safeway needs to burn. Several employees get away with theft, and stealing hours. Yet, customers have no help on the floor, and are left to bugging departments for help. Fuck, Safeway. Customers need to have support, and the employees need to have more back-up from management. (fixed) (report)
patriot777 (9/19): HOLY SHRIKES! I'VE BEEN BRAINWASHED! THEY LITTERALLY CONVINVED ME TO DO JUST WHAT HE SAID! (report)

Other posts by Z_Birnbaum:
AOL's STRONG ARM TACTICS!
50 CENT!! YOU DARE THREATEN ME WITH BODILY HARM???!

 
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