Safeway

BEWARE! DO NOT USE YOUR CREDIT CARD AT THE GAS PUMP! Safeway has a policy of charging every credit card used at their gas station $ 125, no matter how much gas you pump. I pumped $ 25.16 and my card was charged $ 125. When I called ot get to the bottom of the overchard, the attendant told me that they charge everyone this. I asked to speak to the store manager, who would only tell me that her name is Searr (refused to give me her full name). She confirmed that Safeway charges every customer $ 125, then after a few days, refunds the difference. I told her this was illegal, since I was putting a deposit down on goods and services and she said, «this is the way it’s always been done.»

Expensive! I can do without the polished concrete floors and track lighting in lieu of produce at a reasonable price.

Only shop there in the evening (last call for hooch y’all) and I know they have a nickname for me since i rarely buy more the one item (here comes THAT wine guy). But i don’t mind although I’m 46 and forget my license sometimes (in my truck). Night time shopping is the best. Only 1 or 2 lanes open, boxes in the isles to fake like O.J. in the Hertz commercial and no damned long lines. Oh yeah you can choose a parking spot and cart, instead of the dark sketchy spot in the corner and the 3-​wheeled wonder. And unless it’s a ball diamond, I stay away from dirty or unkempt places.

Okay prices went up for things that always sold for less in bulk.
I previously made a review raving about the prices here so too bad.
Good reviews don’t always equal post-​treatment/​basic respect to customers.
Reevaluate your snotty bunch selves.

can i like and also dislike?
Big store. Has a bakery with good baked goods… also a plus for me.
Starbucks located in the front with a dirty dirty eating area! should be avoided unless you really have no where else to eat or charge your phone.
The tables and sitting area is sooo dirty. As if no one ever comes around to wipe them!
I love safeway hot soups but this safeway only carries small and large bowls for some weird reason. (i always get the medium bowl) also no crackers and no napkins. And I was there in the morning… cmon people!
Other than that, it’s not a bad store.
The workers dont seem to hate their jobs either.
Just avoid their sitting/​eating area.

I’m very happy with the above and beyond customer service I received today. Cezar delivered my wife’s and I food on time and was beyond helpful. I’d recommend using the alameda delivery service any day of the week!

This review is for Tim Ha in customer service. This guy is awesome and is the perfect example of customer service! He was so courteous and accommodating to my two kids and couldn’t believe how he went so above and beyond our expectation! Really expected to hear so sorry you’re SOL but what we got was complete opposite! My hope in mankind has been restored!

Safeway’s logic eludes me.
while requiring 6 bottles to be purchased of all beers, steel reserve is available @1.79 and various Oaktown brews were showcasted for individual sale. (too ticked off then to consider it.)
brew: santa cruz organic juices @1.99
–haven’t drank these in decades. good stuff!
on draught:
–cape cod kette chips 3 oz/3.79
costco has a promo, 30 ounces for under $ 6!
–lots of microbrews to choose from if one is willing to buy 6 to get a good deal.

Sam in the floral department was terrific! She was patient, kind and knowledgable. Sam made the process of buying gerber daisies easy. She was so polite and friendly to deal with (and the order was old school — over the phone!)
Great job! Wonderful customer service! Thanks Safeway!

I have loved using this Safeway over other ones. Most of the reasons are likely due to it still being new and clean.
Pros
1) Easy parking
2) Clean carts (I despise dirty carts)
3) I have yet to experience a long line
4) Not as crowded as others (I’m sure this will change)
5) Convenient locations
6) Has a Starbucks
Cons
1) Seems to have less of a selection than other stores
2) Produce section feels jammed and small. Once the crowds do start coming here, this area will be awful
3) The people running the Starbucks always seem to chit chatting and gossiping with one another. I don’t need stellar customer service, but a little more would be nice.

Always a long line here no matter what time of day it is. When it’s early, there’s only one cashier who doesn’t call for additional cashiers when there’s a line forming. During crowded times, lines are a mess. Whenever I shop here, it seems like every employee purposely tries to avoid eye contact. I would much rather shop at Trader Joe’s or Target, but had to stop by here for donuts. Food is usually all out, but luckily produce looked good but donuts were mediocre and had very few selection (I went around 7:00 AM).
Being a former employee of a Safeway back in high school, I know for a fact that they would hire pretty much anyone here. Most employees are in a grumpy mood, probably for getting paid too little, and the good ones often leave.

I just had an unfriendly experience at the new Alameda Safeway on Willie Stargell so much so that I found it appropriate to post it here. Went in to get a few items for a Phở dish we are preparing tonight and needed bean sprouts and thinly sliced beef.
This is where the break-​down occurred. Asking for assistance for bean sprouts from «the lady» in the produce department behind the highly stacked boxes on the cart, was not pleasant, in fact it sucked. She must have been having a bad day.
Moving on… I went to the meat counter for thinly sliced beef. I was not sure what cut was preferred but wanted to take advantage of a Safeway publicized beef on sale. Jame and Kenny had a «field day» with making the process of getting thinly sliced beef impossible. At the end of the day Kenny ended up slicing the meat without using gloves, out of disrespect. I actually recorded it on my phone. I purchased the meat only to see if the process would be allowed. It was.
I will be speaking with the Store manager this evening to see what issues are going on and why meat can be sliced, packaged, and sold without using proper meat handling procedures and techniques.

This just opened and I am so happy. The location is so convenient.
The store is large, clean and has so many products to choose from. There is a large deli area with many pre-​prepared foods, deli counter, olive bar.
There is a bakery.
A Starbucks.
Huge produce area.
The staff was friendly, although the checker basically ignored me and had her own conversation. Not what I expected on a grand opening.
Parking was great. There was plenty although this will most likely change when all of the other new businesses open up in the center.
So happy there’s a grocery store near me now!

Compared to other Safeway stores that I’ve visited;this one is pretty decent, they have a huge store with tons of items, plenty of staff members to assist customers, and a few pretty good in house services (my favorites are the Starbucks stand and the prepared foods area). My only complaint about this place are some of the over priced items that they carry (I’ve found cheaper hummus, orange juice, and yogurt at Whole Foods;all same brand).

I give this location a mediocre review based on their understaffed crew, which makes standing in line longer than necessary or playing the «I bet check-​stand #5 has less people than #7 does but only to find out it does not and lose your chance at the shorter line at #7 gamble» a not-​so-​optimal choice to shop there. I do, however, appreciate this location’s cleanliness, deals, and courteously friendly staff. Safeway should really get with it and start treating their employees better. This will make for a win-​win situation.

Biggest Safeway in Alameda but always is crowded. They have the most supplies, fruits, meats, and things here compared to the bay farm location. But the lines are always long so I always use the self checkout. Good deals and good selections. The parking is kind of crazy too at times so watch out for cars and people.

This review is for the deli counter. I have vacillated between Safeway and Nob Hill deli counters in Alameda. I wrote a review of the Nob Hill Chinese food part of the deli counter– the manager who worked there was unkempt and wasn’t using gloves — it was unsanitary to say the least– however this was only at the Chinese part of the counter and since my review he has started to use gloves — hurray!
I digress — suffice to say that this review is for Safeway but in comparison to Nob Hill — which has excellent people and product. I used to go to Safeway for their roast beef — which is pretty damn good. Now with regard to the rest — I find the deli counter lacking in a variety of salamis which Nob Hill has a excellent selection from Salami to Felino to Finnociona. Safeway — nada — nothing– nope — not here. In addition I have purchased cheese form both stores and Safeway again is lacking in the cheese department– not variety just quality. Safeway sliced American, gouda, swiss… etc is just lousy. It’s almost seems old. Dry and breaks apart easy. Nob Hill has great selection and awesome fresh cheese. In addition their selection of salads, side dishes is just lame. Their counter is one fifth the size of Nob Hill and what they do have truly lacks in quality.
I recently and was completely disappointed. A Deli is an American standard. Safeway is a big store and should have a A1 deli but I think it is more of a B or C3 deli. Save your dollars and your gut and go to Nob Hill, you’ll be much happier.

It’s Safeway. It’s a newer store and clean, it’s got food and everything you would expect.
Except people!
You can never find anyone to help you, and regardless how many people are there, the lines are always backed up. 100 people in line, and they have 2 checkers. Want to go through the self-​checkout hell? Sure, just don’t have any beer or alcohol with you, and don’t try and ask the helper there, that super tattooed bitch will bite your head off.
This Safeway is seriously one of the drawbacks of living in Alameda…

4 Stars, but I had to take away one for the crazy queues:
–They FINALLY have a worthy organic section.
–I spied a LOCAL produce section too.
–All of the fruits & veggies in my basket were from the US, I wasn’t trying, rare, no Mex
–They have Asian veg!!! Whoa!!! Fuzzy melon, gai lan, not just bok choy
–Competitive prices with other organics on the island
–Pretty jovial employees and they hire developmentally disabled
–Organized and fully stocked with FRESH stuff, no mold or squishiness here
Got a FULL bag of produce for $ 42!!! Not bad. Even the cashier was surprised at my purchases, she had to ask me to identify a few. Safeway you’ve come a long way, proud of you.
Best time to go: during lunch on a Saturday, when the hoards are stuffing their faces.

I’m a transplant to the area, and I was a fan of Kroger back east for big box, one stop shopping. I’m no spendthrift but I buy cheap generic or private label brands when it makes sense (staples and pantry items) and splurge where it counts (quality produce, etc).
So, this afternoon I found myself, nestled amongst the floating amorphous masses, trying to figure out:
Why the fsck the cheese and milk products are where they are.
Why the smattering of bacon is so picked over.
Why the meat and seafood section smells simultaneously like bleach but week old fermenting meat goop.
Why a bottle of brand-​name salad dressing was $ 5, with only 4 varieties of reasonably private-​label Safeway dressing.
Why the entire store, while modern, was an absolute mess.
This place made me love Trader Joe’s for not only its selection (shocking) but its quality (not shocking) and *better* prices (even more shocking) on many goods. Totally bewildering. At least Kroger back east had an expansive organic produce and meat selection, was relatively clean, had private label or generic alternatives to nearly every product, and not jammed full of aisles so close together you couldn’t walk between them.