Giant Eagle Prepared Foods

I write a food blog. One of these happened at your store: Getting a hard time from the last customer doesn’t justify taking it out on the next customer. I had several issues in grocery stores recently. I can understand some people being freaked out by our situations, but I believe some of these people have not had adequate training. At one store, I accidentally came in the wrong door. As a result, I didn’t realize it, and couldn’t immediately find the shopping carts. I flagged an employee that set me straight. He then pushed an empty cart right past me, adding it to the ones outside. He easily could have offered me the cart, but didn’t, and actually seemed offended when I called out; “Thanks for your help”. I asked a woman at the customer service counter if he was a manager. She kind of smiled and told me he wasn’t, but offered no other information. At a different grocery, I got in line to check out. The cashier told me to back up. She didn’t ask, didn’t add ‘please’, just told me to back up. The guy in front of me was standing in the center of the conveyer belt, rather than moving to the end where you would normally pay. I was pushing a shopping cart, so there was a considerable amount of space between us. When I mentioned this, she yelled out that I was supposed to be 6 feet away. I wasn’t on top of the guy, and with a 4-foot cart between us, I was probably at least the proper distance from him. Besides, if she had requested he move past the register, where the card reader and shelf are where you would commonly pay, I would have had the room to begin putting my groceries on the belt, since the guy in front of me had already been rung up. She never said a word to the man, with the exception of complaining about my encroaching on his space. The cashier in the next lane just smiled and waved me over. I checked out without incident. I know a few people at this store, and while I was waiting for my ride, I mentioned the confrontation to the woman up front at customer service. She attributed it to fear on the part of the cashier. She did apologize for the incident. The offending cashier just gave me some looks for the rest of the time I was inside the store. Since she was wearing a mask, I couldn’t read her face, but her eyes certainly weren’t kind. At another store, I finally remembered something. I had gotten a small discount a few weeks ago for bringing my own bags to the store. The 3 bags were ones I had gotten from a heatlh care rep and a home show. They were good bags, kind of heavy duty compared with regular store plastic bags. When I used them previously, the cashier showed me approval, telling me that the stores were trying to cut down on the paper and plastic bags. At this store, I got a nasty look when I pulled my bags out for the cashier. She asked if I wanted my plastic bags put into my cloth ones. I said that however she wanted to do it was fine. She gave me another look of distain, explaining that we weren’t supposed to bring bags from home. I tried to explain that just a few weeks ago, the stores and even the news were promoting the use of these bags. She informed me that bags from home might be contaminated and we weren’t supposed to be using them. 3 stores, 3 confrontations.

Just got home from another unpleasant experience. First, items were not stocked. I was using my perks so I wanted to stock up and I couldn't. I had a coupon for the spend $120, save $10. I usually don't spend that much but planned on it for the $10 and the perks discount. Becuase items were not stocked, I didn't make the $120. I asked abut an item. we are out we will have it tomorrow. Not helping me tonight! Get to the checkout and there are only two open for large purchases. Long lines at both. A worker was at the register next to me; I caught her eye and wanted to come to that line; she said this register isn't opening. Then the lady in my line who just checked out was having the cashier review items on her receipt, further backing things up. Two minutes after I was told the next register wasn't opening, boom it was open. And the guy behind me cut me off to be first at that register! I could have had my items on the belt ready to go, but now I'm waiting again! How long have you been in business? (I know because I have lived nearby since that store opened.) How can you not anticipate supply and demand for products, and not know how to schedule enough workers? Tomorrow I have to go out and buy what I could not buy tonight. I will NOT be in Giant Eagle. Maybe I will like the alternative better and won't be back to your store!

Good selection of popular food and drink items.