Jewel-Osco

This was a first for me at a grocery store… this is regarding the Jewel Osco on Kurchoff Road in Palentine IL.
Went there this AFTERNOON to find some great cupcakes that this location usually makes… but when I asked the young lady working in the bakery for assistance she kind of grossed my husband and I out. She had been scratching her face to the point of making some acne bleed… then she continued to wipe her face smearing the blood on her hand and on her face. Even though she knew she was bleeding ON HER HANDS she still handled the packaged baked goods. No gloves used… not that it would have mattered in this situation.
JEWEL MANAGEMENT… YOUR ASSOCIATES ARE SUPPOSED TO BE TRAINED ON WHAT THEY ARE N-​O-​T SUPPOSED TO DO WHEN WORKING IN THE FOOD DEPARTMENTS. HYGIENE AND PROPER FOOD HANDLING IS VERY IMPORTANT. NEEDLESS TO SAY OSHA AND THE HEALTH DEPARTMENT WOULD BE ALL OVER YOU DUE TO BBP HEALTH ISSUES CAUSED BY INCIDENTS LIKE THESE.
Note…this was one individual… but if this is casually allowed what are the rest doing? (What I mean is… that they are not supposed to handle their faces or hair when handling food for the public)
It will be a while before we have our appetite back and in being comfortable shopping at this location again.
Train your people right … that is food for public consumption for God’s sake.

Honestly just a terrible store and Jewel wonders why they are going down the drain compared to Marianos. Just terrible service, ¾ of the time I am there, customers are bagging, literally bagging their WHOLE order. I always seem to have to bag too. Also I’ve seen people get turned away who are 21 but have not gone to the DMV yet to renew license and they shoo them away like pig. It says their DOB and their renewel date, I THINK you can sell them beer… I haven’t shopped here and will not for a long time.
Whole Foods, Marianos are just much nicer and way better employees.

Unfortunately this Jewel location needs to do a better job training their employees. I don’t think the employees understand what rotating products mean. Their produce area is beyond horrific. We’ve expired products left on their display, when it should’ve been removed 1 – 2 weeks ago. Majority of their employees are high school or college employees. Their professionalism are beyond being fixed.
The meat department should receive training how to rotate product. We have found old meat (gray) in the coolers numerous times.
We travel to Meijers in Rolling Meadows despite the distance. Jewel can learn a thing or two from that location.

Worst store ever. Laziest employees and horrible service. Wish this store would close so something good could go in our neighborhood.

I have been coming here for many years. Lately I have ventured out to Target, Wal-​Mart & Mejier or Mariano’s. It wasn’t till I ventured to these other places that I realized Jewel’s selection isn’t that great & the prices are higher. Certain microwavable food can be a dollor or more expensive each. They don’t have as many sauces as Meijers & their food isn’t always the freshest.
Over the years I have had a few experiences where I have bought milk only to get home & realize that it expired that day or the next day. I have also bought meat here that wasn’t that fresh either.
Lastly I have had many experiences where the staff was either rude or just didn’t seemed that interested to help me but at the same time I have had even more experiences where the staff was very friendly & helped me find what I was looking for or helped me if I forgot my Jewel Preferred Card at check out.
The place isn’t bad but there are places with better prices & more options.

The only reason I still go here is because it is so close to my home. Now that I shop other stores, i.e., Target, Walmart, Euro Fresh, Caputo, Whole Foods and now Marianos, I see how much more expensive and limited Jewel is for providing my shopping needs. It wasn’t until Marianos in Arlington Heights opened that I am now really comparing prices. The produce appears fresher and much cheaper than Jewel. I pay $ 1.99 per bag of Fresh Express Salad greens at Marianos and now $ 2.99 at Jewel. That is only one example of many.
The person who works the Meat/​Seafood counter at Jewel should not be in that position. He is not friendly nor is he helpful. He was very put out when I asked him to help me put 2 pieces of pork roast together to make 3 pounds. He is not service oriented and should not be dealing with customers!
Numerous times I’ve asked for Jewel to try and locate specific items for me, told someone would order them and call me. Three different occassions and I had to keep following up with them. Each time I gave up and went elsewhere for product.
Jewel will have to keep up with their competition in order to survive in our area. I know a lot of people who live near this Jewel, but shop at Euro Fresh. With Marianos opening in Palatine next year, Jewel will really be hurting if they don”t change things.