Safeway

This is my local Safeway. I only go to it when I desperately need something. I’ve never waited less than 15 minutes in the checkout line.

This safeway is terrible.
Poor staffing on registers, the worst deli counter experience imaginable. They can’t even count… i order .75lbs of cheese… i am given .4 without explanation and moved on to the next customer… i still needed turkey! What the heck!
The upside, the rest of the store always seems well stocked.

This place is so poorly managed. I’m writing this review while standing in an express checkout line that looks like it will take me at least twenty minutes to overcome. This is not an uncommon occurrence, hence why I try to only shop here in the middle of the night.
If you are not a vampire or are busy, I would recommend another location if possible.
At the moment there are ³⁄₇ checkout lines that are unmanned, which is usually the obvious reason for the disastrous traffic jam that forms in the front of this store between the hours of noon and 9pm.
The staff are all actually pretty nice but they are definitely getting set up for failure by the people up top.
TLDR: horrendously understaffed at all hours of the day. Bring reading material unless you enjoy side eying tabloids for thirty minutes.

This is the only Safeway that I know of that carries extra large avocados! They are just right so you don’t have to wait for it to get ripe.
So I only shop here when I’m visiting my parents. This used to be my go to grocery store, I wasn’t afraid to shop here back in the days. But recently, I was scared for my life when I decided to pop in for some avocados! There where weird people standing outside the store, smokers and people bumping loud music in their car. I’m not against it by all means, just caught my attention and I feel a tad bit out of place.
I’m still coming back for XL avocados haha!

It’s a hot mess here…
There is a PCC and QFC nearby. I highly recommend you to try those places first.

Employees here always have the worst attitude. My wife asked for a divider to separate our groceries with the person in front of us and all he did was give us the dirtiest look ever. The fuck is wrong with my wife asking for a divider?

Do not use this Pharmacy! Every single time I come here when I get to the counter counter they tell me that they don’t have my prescription or that they can’t fill my prescription for some reason. They are never helpful about the process of fixing whatever issue happened they just shrug and then walk away from the counter and leave it all up to me. Often the issue is that even though my doctor’s office has sent the prescription to them, for some reason they can’t seem to find it in their computer. I have repeatedly had to make my doctors office call them on the phone while I stand at the counter. Once they have my prescription they will tell you to wait 20 minutes but they don’t give you any indication of when your prescription is ready and you then have to wait in a long line go up to the front and hopefully it will be ready for you. I live down the street from this pharmacy but I will be going to a pharmacy further away from home in order to get better customer service. If you don’t mind doing a lot of extra work and perhaps having to come to the pharmacy two or three times in order to get your prescription then this is the place for you.

Chronically understaffed, cluttered, and not very clean. Be ready to wait in line if you have a life because I can’t shop at 7 am or 9 pm.
The long-​term staff are very good but the rest walk around aimlessly. I worked many years in management for a non-​discount big box retailer and I would have been fired if my store looked like this and employees were so blasé.
There have been cobwebs on the lights above the self-​checkout for weeks. The self-​check itself is a joke. It’s poorly laid out with the scanners back to back so that when there’s a line, it’s hard to see when one is open and others can walk right up and take one. Most of the time there is nobody manning the area because they are doing other things or trying to manage the other cashiers who seem clueless. More than once, I’ve waited 10 – 15 minutes with the red light flashing because it couldn’t sense my canvas bags. That’s a regular occurrence. I used to train cashiers. I’m fast at the register, but I always end up waiting.
The «freshly baked bread» is absolutely dreadful. It’s all just soft white bread. I bought focaccia the other day and tossed it after trying one piece.
I used the restroom once. Never again. It was filthy. Truck stops are cleaner. I was gagging and used the cart wipes after I left.
The front entrance is also dirty and it smells around the shopping carts.
The store is HUGE. But the selection is comparatively terrible. I went three times over a month to buy marscapone and they finally got some in. I bought limes for a taco party last winter and when I got them home, realized they were are rock hard and had no juice. A friend who works in high-​end restaurants said it’s likely the limes had frozen at some point.
The final straw was yesterday. I’ve attempted to purchase a bottle of vodka on two previous occasions in the last week. Once I waited at the cabinets and no one came. The next time I waited in the customer service counter line and they started helping people from both ends, leaving me standing there. I tried one last time yesterday. I pressed the ‘help’ button at the cabinets. The new guy from self-​check came over and told me I had to go wait in the self-​check line first. I explained that I would check out there. He wouldn’t budge. In the time it took to come over and refuse to help, he could have gotten my bottle and had it ready for me when I reached the register. So he wanted me to wait in line then hold up everyone else while he and I walked back to the liquor cabinets to get what I needed. Pretty stupid system if you ask me.
The only reason I go here is that it’s a 7 minute walk or 3 minute drive. From now on, I’ll drive to QFC. Yes, there’s a bank and a Starbucks. That’s all this place has going for it. Obviously this dump rakes in the profits which is why the corporation overlooks the many shortcomings.
10÷7÷15
I made the mistake of going back because I just needed a few things as I was in a hurry. Because I had a gift card, I used the checkout instead of the self-​check. I don’t notice at first it was the same person who ‘helped’ me with the alcohol non-​purchase previously. I’ve never seen anyone so slow at the register. It took 20 minutes and I was third in line. I don’t know what transactions were happening but when people handed him cash, he didn’t know how to count money without spreading it out on the check stand. He mangled my gift card when he tried to validate it. Twice he handed me the card and greeting card which I handed back. I don’t want to carry them in the rain! He struggled bagging and I finally just put the cards in the bag, reached over and grabbed it. After I left I realized he never gave me my receipts.
It’s my own fault for going back.
I’m sure he’s a nice guy but he shouldn’t be dealing with customers and he sure as hell shouldn’t be on the register. Let him run a department and stock shelves.

Where I always grocery shop! I think that they’ve always got everything I need in stock, and that they put up with a lot in the best way possible. Everyone from the pharmacy to the check out line is really friendly.

This Safeway is the WORST! always long lines and check out is super slow! There’s always a delay for something. I waited 20min in the checkout line and there was only one person a head of me!

I hope you have time to wait in line, because you will, every time. Doesn’t matter when you go, doesn’t matter what day it is, doesn’t matter if the express lanes are open, doesn’t matter if the self check is open. You will WAIT.

Honestly I’ve been coming here for years! Best times to go to this safeway location is early mornings before 7AM or after 7PM. Anywhere between then you will run into lines. Holidsy shopping is a nightmare so don’t procrastinate and then complain! Tsk tsk do your shopping early on holidays you won’t be sorry. I’ve waited 1 hour in line before it was before Christmas eve! Save yourself and do it early.
Lots of selection of produce especially with organic pesticide free produce, lots of gluten free options, & ethnic cultured foods. They have a bakery, pharmacy deli and flower & balloon stand. Located inside are a convenient Starbucks shop & Chase Bank.
Don’t forget to use your safeway card and rewards for coupons. Next door is Ross dress for less store. Parking is challenging if you go during peak hours so go after the rush hour and busy times!

Slowest customer service. Employee lied when I asked if there was someone else to help with the extraordinarily long line. I asked to speak with the manager and she said the employee refuses to ask for help and she would get to helping right away. It took her another 10 minutes to get to the counter. Total we waited 30 minutes to exchange one thing. Go to QFC.
When she finally did help us she did it with such attitude I wanted to walk out.

This is a solid Safeway location! The selection is good – you can find quality produce most of the time, and the organic produce is well priced and usually on sale. There is also a huge personal health/​hygiene/​cosmetics section with tons of sales… better priced than even Target sometimes.
What I love the most is the Just for U savings that I get through the app! I load all my coupons, and I have saved anywhere from 20%-100%. Yes, that is true! With the combination of store sales and Just for U savings as well as any manufacturer coupons that come with my receipts, I barely shop anywhere else now for American groceries (except when I feel bougie, then I will head to PCC).
I experience good customer service 99% of the time; the cashiers are usually super friendly and helpful. Returns have been easy and quick as well. There are about 6 self checkout spots, which I appreciate on those busy evenings.
The main con is the location of course. It is right on Rainier Ave near 20 pot shops so you might get a contact high – well, that might be a pro for some of you.

This Safeway makes me sad. And confused. And angry. If you want something that’s not an everyday, generic brand staple item, they’ll probably be out of it. Shelves look disorganized and unkempt, and the wine/​beer selection is overpriced.
Safeway generally seems to suffer from a Walmart-​like mindset, cutting headcount and compensation to keep costs down. Reap what you sow, mis amigos!
Seattleites: if you’re ever in LA, come check out my restaurant, Dolce.

Worst Safeway I have ever been to! We recently moved to the area and have to run there at all times of the day. There are always lines that are way too long than they should be as the cashiers are very slow. I have been there where the cashier was on her cell phone text messaging! They need better management there! We were there tonight to grab a cold drink on the way home and check out took forever because the person in front of us decided that he didn’t want something. It took over 5 mins for the person with the over ride password to get there! And then the cashier ran out of $ 1’s, called for the manager, only to have the her say in front of the now 8 people deep line that she couldn’t help. WTF!
Dear Safeway Corporate: train your team better! And hire better management to look after your store!

been going there for a while now. it’s pretty much got everything you would want from a mid to upper-​mid-​tier grocery store.
but one aspect of their shoppers reward plan that has really, really, really bothered me for a long, long, long time is that my name would get printed on the receipts. i don’t need my name on my receipts. i want to be able to recycle it and not worry about identity theft. i want to recycle it without having to rip my name off the slip. so i finally got around to calling the toll free number to customer service:
877.723.3929
and asked to stop printing my name on the receipts. i was fully prepared to hear them say «sorry dude. that’s what we do and you’re stuck with this „feature“»
and i was so pleasantly shocked.
they can do it. you just have to ask for it.
i can’t wait to NOT see my name on the next receipt i get from them!

Today is the first day of Seattle’s new plastic bag ban.
I can deal with a plastic bag ban because it has been that way in Portland for some time now. However, the Seattle City Council in their infinite «wisdom» decided that not only were they going to ban plastic bags, they were also going to charge 5¢ per paper bag. Yes, yes, I get that it is great to bring your own bag to the store in obeisance to Mother Earth (and the Seattle City Council, because they know best).
But say, what if you are out and about, and didn’t know when you left home that you were going to need to shop — so you don’t have a reusable bag on your person. Can I still get a bag at the store?
Tough sh*t says Safeway, if you are using the self-​checkout.
I came here today, and there were no bags available at the self-​checkout stations… of any kind. The exception was when there was an employee manning the self-​check aisles — and then — you could go up and ask, please sir, may I have a bag. However, if you want a paper bag, it won’t have handles. (Note to Safeway: consult with New Seasons, Whole Foods and Fred Meyer; they have bags with handles). And Safeway’s «eco» green bag is the size of a purse. Real practical. If the attendant is not available, you are out of luck. No bag for you.
Since I only returned to this Safeway in the past couple years because they put back in the self-​checkout — now that getting a suitable bag for my groceries is such a hassle — I’m done shopping here.
In this brave new world that we live, I’ve learned that to survive, I must buy my booze and groceries in Portland for trips to Seattle.

Honestly, how do you rank Safeway low?
1. There’s a Chase Bank, and there’s Starbucks inside.
2. Produce is good quality, just like any other Safeway.
3. Self check outs are finally here. Yay!!!
4. Nice officer to monitor.
5. Friendly and FAST workers
6. Seafood dept has the NICEST workers ever!
And it’s close to Little Caesar’s, Ross, Radio Shack, and seriously across the street from other places like Kicks and Tees.
enjoy!

This Safeway is far from my favorite but there are some stellar things inside.
1. Deli Chinese Food– for whatever reason, the Chinese food here rocks much more than a Safeway would normally, I hear rumours of an authentic Chinese chef that works here but nothing has been confirmed, I just know that I like the food if it’s fresh. If it’s not, I pass.
2. Bag Boys– I did the unthinkable and left my purse in the cart, the wonderful cart-​wrangling bag boy took it and safely delivered it to Customer Service. I love him. Seriously. A million stars for him
3. Checkers– Normally, I have had super friendly, funny and a few times MEGA hot checkers here.
What I don’t like:
1. The Bakery– Both in selection and attitude, this bakery department is majorly lacking — 10 negative stars for them and their inability to call until the morning of a cake pick up to tell me they don’t have the correct parts to make the cake we ordered. Luckily, this wasn’t for a birthday but a special treat that could be rescheduled when the parts were available at another Safeway. Also negative stars for having to ask for a cookie and being grumpily given one if at all. And even more negative stars that they are often not well stocked and finding someone back there can be impossible.
2. Being Harassed In Front of the Store– they allow many different groups to gather and harrass me in front of the store, to which I say: no thank you.