Safeway

It is 8:45 pm. One cashier on duty. Line of 8 people in line. Took 15 minutes of waiting and asking for the manager THREE TIMES (!!!) to get service. If had done nothing, would have been 30 minute line.

I’m so confused by how poorly this particular Safeway is run. The location is great, the surrounding stores are of decent quality and serve a demographic that you’d think a chain like Safeway would want to cater to (given the competition posed by Harris Teeter and Wegman’s) … BUT …
The checkout lines are ridiculous. Never more than two cashiers, sometimes only one, no matter how many people are waiting. I’ve had to wait nearly half an hour several times.
Stock is inconsistent, and often blatantly missing or under stocked.
Selection is limited — even compared to other nearby Safeway locations. What’s up with that?
Prices seem to be higher here, again, even when compared to nearby Safeway locations. How does that work?
I stop by this store when I’m at Sumner Place strictly out of convenience (hate having to drive to multiple locations) but if I really don’t need something I don’t go in even to browse.

The selection and all that is fine. My big complaint is that there are NEVER enough people working the checkout lines on weekends. They have a captive audience with the parents of all the kids who are in karate, ballet, etc nearby, and they seem to be using that fact to under-​serve their customers.
The people who do work the checkout lines are very nice, but they seem overworked and under supported. It would be great if management would pay a little more to give them – and their child-​juggling customers – some needed help.

This safeway is awful. The only reason I’ve been going here is that it’s the closest pharmacy for me but I’ve reached my last straw. Yesterday, June 14, I bought 2 packages of bacon. I went to open one for dinner and discovered it expires April 4. 2.5 months on the counter expired and never removed. The second package expired last week. So, I head back to Safeway today to return the bacon and complain. The cashier didn’t even apologize. He stated, «I’d say I was surprised but this happens all of the time. It’s a shame for the store.» I then asked to speak to a manager. No apology again. She seemed completely unphased. I’d be mortified if this happened in my store.
Every time I’m there the staff are over worked and complaining: Usually about some sort of race issue. It seems like such a hostile place. For such a great location, I hope they close and get replaced with a grocery store with better management. Im officially taking my business elsewhere even if its a longer drive. Id probably spend that time in line at Safeway anyway. Come on Wegmans or Harris Teeter!

No leadership, unreasonably long lines, and way understaffed. Decent prices for the area and better meats & flowers than Westbard Giant. Expect to wait in line a minimum of 6 – 10 minutes, even in the express lane. Such a shame given the great location.

As a safeway shopper of many years before I moved to Bethesda I am appalled by this store. While close to my home I try and go elsewhere. Today I needed one item and stopped in at 5:15 PM on a weekday. Yet again I was treated poorly by the rude staff and found checkout lines far beyond reasonable. The staffing is inadequate and the service level is really poor. While the store is clean and has a pharmacy and bank and dry cleaners — it hardly meets the minimum standard of safeway quality. This was my fourth bad experience. My checker today had a name badge that said manager and he said he was doing the best he can. One bad trip, I cut them some slack. But four — that is a pattern of poor quality leadership. I gladly spend more to drive farther to take care of my family’s grocery needs. If i could give no stars I would. Avoid it if you can. Go to Giant at west bard.

I work in the building, so visit this store at least 5 times per week, at various times of day. There are NEVER enough checkers, always long lines, most of the time no express line open, and no self-​checkout. I often spend 10 minutes just waiting to buy one soda.

I come here, sometimes, because it’s convenient, otherwise I would not. It’s dirty and the staff is rude. I would give it zero stars if I could.

I completely agree with Ashley J. — one star is too generous. I’ve been «going» to this Safeway for 20+ years. I «go» in when I need to pick up prescriptions (the pharmacy is excellent)…then I «go» out and drive to the Giant on Westbard. If for some reason I am forced to shop there, I examine all produce very carefully for mold, I check expiration dates on everything else (just today I found all the containers of potato salad expired 3 days ago), and I never, EVER buy meat.
Message for Safeway management: You really should be ashamed to own a store like this.

Slow checkout, normally only a couple lanes open. Choose the time you go wisely. Grocery selection is good

Great out of the way grocery store. Love Crystal one of the checkers.

OMG! If I could give this place zero stars then I would.
Okay so I only went here when I thought I was going to starve to death and it was my only option. These are only a few reasons why this is the worst grocery I have EVER been to…
1. The lines are always long and there is usually only one or two cashiers-​half the time you cant find anyone to help you
2. They are out of stock of many items or never have what I am looking for
3. Outrageously overpriced!
4. I was trying to find a certain juice and asked for help. After wandering around for what seemed an eternity-​I found someone to help me and found out that the juice was expired. What made it worse was that they put it back on the shelf.
5. Poor quality of food on multiple occasions-​one occasion I bought strawberries and they were rotten on the bottom.
Ughh. this is just awful. Stay away from here as if it was the plague.

I’m not sure what has happened to this Safeway – my guess is that the mall is now fully occupied and the Safeway has not caught up to the fact they are getting more traffic.
I’m here twice a week. No matter the day, the store is always a mess: Shelves rummaged, things out of stock, etc.
An exception is the fruit-​veg area: I always seem to find what I need and it is in order.
An earlier review mentioned eggs and milk as a problem and that has been my experience too. We buy a ½ gallon of milk once a week, but they are often out of stock on what we need.
My main issue is the shelves. The stock is never pushed up and filled in so it’s hard to find specific items. Case in point is the dry pasta. Looking for a specific box of fucilli is like exploring a dump bin at at TJ Maxx. I posted a few photos – this is typical in that it is everyday. This also applies to most of the popular canned and dry goods.
I feel as though most of the staff are helpful and care – some are outstanding. The disconnect seems to be between the process Safeway uses to order and the overall responsibility to keep goods ship-​shape on the shelves.
I have called the 800 number for Safeway customer service and alerted them – nothing seems to have changed.

This may be the worst major suburban grocery store in America. I had to cobble a dozen eggs together by rummaging through six boxes of various sizes; bought a gallon of skim milk (no smaller sizes) as they were completely out of 1 per cent; produce is awful; selection of all products is minimal. Regardless of how early I try there is never a WSJ. Unlike other posts, I have had no issues with checkout people (the customer service booth is seldom manned however). Thank goodness there’s a 7 – 11 (7 – 11!) a few miles away with milk, eggs and papers.

This Safeway is open early, so I’m always able to stop by on my way to work/​class to get breakfast or lunch for later. The store is also very conveniently located. There is a cashier there who I refer to as the «super happy lady». She is awesome! I love going through her checkout line. She is always super friendly and talks to me like she knows me. One time it was cold outside and my nose was a little runny, and she offered me a paper towel to wipe my nose. The rest of the staff is very friendly as well. I can usually find on sale items, and they have the best tomato basil soup. This is by far my favorite Safeway to shop at.

Sunday; I found the staff extremely friendly and useful. I got all what I wanted at a good price and easily. First time here.

This Safeway is pretty nice. It is super clean. The produce is fresh. It has a bank and a dry cleaner inside it too.
I’ve been coming to this Safeway while dog/​house sitting and it is organized so well that I have no problem finding exactly what I want. Their selection of frozen entrees is huge.
It is located in a posh shopping center not too far from Glen Echo so every time I’ve come in here there has been smokin’ hot firemen from the Glen Echo Volunteer Fire Station shopping here. Need I say more?