M J.
Yelp
I find the staff here not friendly and they choose to not speak English even when you ask for their help. They choose to not speak English so they can talk about you in front of you (including the upper management), which is just terrible customer service. Also, considering English is the primary language in the United States of America they should probably make it the language they speak around customers. This should not be a surprise as language barriers exist and is to occur more especially when the staff chooses to not speak the primary language, ENGLISH. The issue with not speaking the primary language becomes not only a language barrier but a lost in translation for communication. To not implement this to your staff is causing a disservice not only to your staff and company, but to your customers. Additionally, the staff constantly chooses not to help you and even avoid you or try to make you think you're wrong when you're literally repeating to them word for word what they told you a week or so ago. They are just completely rude and I feel like why continue to spend money in a place filled with terrible customer service when you're literally helping them get paid to do their job. To top it off, I bought a drink here opened the cap to only find the seal that is placed inside was already open. Is this what they are selling these days already opened drinks?! Idk, there's so many issues with this place. Like why don't they use an input of phone numbers in the machines for the savings card like other stores. Why do they always deactivate your savings card(check your receipts)? Why is it always disorganized (check the prices on your receipts and compare to price stated on shelf)? Why are the prices not clear and difficult to distinguish from another (there is no space between prices)? Why do the workers here choose not to speak English when the population in the area is mixed. Why does the staff lack the diversity in all areas of this store? This store doesn't enforce staff to speak English and as a result has caused the staff to treat the place as if they were just back in their native country. The lack of diversity in staff is why the language spoken here is not English. I literally watched A COUPLE, years ago tell them they don't speak the language they are speaking, "can you speak English?" and they continued to speak in their native tongue. This has been going on for years with little to no change in how they interact with customers. I still remember when one of their staff was hired (years ago) and she admitted to not speaking English. Years later, she still does not speak English. Also, again, why do they have opened drinks sold on shelf?! I also found plenty of broken eggs being sold (check eggs before buying). You should check before buying anything here or maybe just go else where because their customer service is not worth stressing simple things that are offered in other supermarkets that do speak English. They have a couple of great supermarkets/small business grocery stores in the area that's friendlier and the prices are actually more affordable. Do not buy produce/drinks here unless you want to risk getting ill or paying more than you should since their prices are congested so you don't know what goes with what. Shop around in the area and if you must go here, check everything but I highly recommend not buying all your groceries here unless you want to pay more than you planned.
Ways foodtown can improve:
1. Require staff to speak primary language, English. If they want to speak their native tongue that should be done outside of their workplace as it's really inappropriate and causes a lost in translation. Also, they should be helpful and preferably kind.
2. Stop trying to sell too many things you can't fit in your small narrow shelves. Your store is not an amazon warehouse nor is it the size of Costco. It's small, accept it. Provide the best and most sold items if you're trying to figure out how to cut down.
3. Make ALL your prices CLEAR. The elderly and all ages shop here, no one should have a hard time trying to figure out which goes with what item. Stop making the shelves congested.
4. Do your best to check what you're selling, expiration dates, outdated prices, outdated deals, broken eggs, old produce, and OPENED drinks(one should not have to come home and find it was open).