K-Mart

I don’t live close to a K-​Mart and also don’t drive, so I’ve mostly ordered groceries for delivery (through
), which worked fine the first few times I ordered from them. However, I will no longer be patronizing this business after this most recent experience, which was absolutely horrendous.
This time I submitted an order for about GBP 50 worth of groceries, which is typically delivered the next day, and specifically requested on the order form for the delivery to be made after 4pm (so that I could be home to accept the delivery). However, several days pass without delivery or contact from their end, so after about a week I try both calling and emailing them (at the address on their website:
) to no avail.
Finally, I get a text message from their end (presumably from the delivery guy) asking (at 11am) if they can make the delivery that day (at 4pm). I respond that that won’t be possible, but the following day will be OK. They respond that they’re not sure what their schedule will be like then so they’ll contact me again later.
The next day, they text me (at 11am) asking if they can deliver within the next couple of hours (at 1pm; keep in mind that I specifically requested delivery after 4pm on my order form). I respond that I work during the week so that time won’t be possible, and that (for this reason) I requested delivery after 4pm. They respond that there is no evening delivery (which is false, since they delivered at least 4 previous orders for me during the evening) and proceed to tell me that the delay in delivery is my fault because they keep calling me and not getting through (also false; worth noting, too, that despite these alleged multiple calls they’ve left zero voicemails).
Here are the last two text messages they sent me, verbatim (from number +44 7 919 277 573, FYI):
— Korean (in Revised Romanization): [gandanhan baesongeul we geureokge mot batneunji gunggeumhamnida. bujaejung jeonhwaga gereokge manheundaedo we jeonhwa hantong an haessneunjido ihaega an doemnida.]
— English translation: ‘I wonder why you’re so unable to receive a simple delivery. I really can’t understand why you didn’t call back a number from which you received so many missed calls.’
(Note: There are no missed calls. Also, even if there were, who calls back random numbers they don’t recognize?)
— Korean: [dasineun sikijimaseyo. dasi sikimyeon nimeun gaesseuregiga doeneungeonika. (sic)]
— English translation: ‘Don’t order from us again. If you order from us again, you’re dog sh*t.‘
I kid you not. This business is off its rocker (or at least the delivery guy is…).
Anyway, even though it’s a bit less convenient and more expensive I think I’ll be getting my Korean groceries from the Centre Point Food Store in Bloomsbury. They are nice over there and don’t call you ‘dog sh*t’. :)

I’ve been using Seoul Plaza up the road but decided to give Kmart a chance yesterday. Smaller shop, but still a decent size, and a good selection. Was happy to see they sell Cass beer and ice cream! I’ve only had scoops of ice cream from Korean places before, never ice cream on a stick. I tried two: one chocolate, one red bean. Both divine!
Also have a great variety of sauces. You’ll be there a while if you decide to visit!
Inside the shop is a street stall sort of setup, serving bento lunches, kimbap (vegetarian options), korean BBQ chicken, etc. Samples available! I’m not sure how often the staff lineup rotates but the girl who was there when I visited was very happy to help me pick out a lunch meal. Despite being in the same building though, this stall is apparently a different business. BE WARNED: while Kmart does accept debit cards, the food stall does not. The food is delicious though and there are a few cashpoints nearby.
The warm steamed buns they have rotating at the checkout are delicious, but cheaper at Seoul Plaza, especially if you buy a chilled pack of 4. Seoul also has shrimp& tofu flavour.
I’ll still go to Seoul to pick up some things, but I see myself becoming a regular at Kmart too. Pay it a visit, it’s a great store.

It’s called K-​Mart like the one-​stop shop I know from the US, but it’s an asian grocery store! They carry chinese, korean, thai, etc (don’t want to leave anyone out and I can’t remember all the places they listed on the front window)
There’s a huge selection of those famously creative asian beverages, fresh produce, baked goods, freshly prepared sushi (they deliver for free), frozen foods, sauces, and packaged snackfoods.
It’s true I couldn’t read everything on the packaging and I probably looked as out of place as I felt, but the people running the place were really nice and didn’t laugh at my strange variety of purchases.
Great selection for a relatively small grocery store.