Safeway

This Safeway is the worst!!! The line are always super long and just a couple checkers. I always have to ask them to call more checker and usually get a bit of attitude. Go up the hill they never have long line and are very friendly.

Travis the store manager (or whatever his manager title is) overcharged me for an item and also charged me for an item I never purchased. He refused to provide me a receipt saying that I would have to wait twenty minutes for him to help other customers.
Extremely unprofessional.

Usually the people on the floor are helpful but there is certainly evidence of «infighting» at this store. On multiple occasions I have witnessed a dismissive attitude on the part of checkers, clear, verbal, from checkstand to checkstand denigration of fellow employees, as well as outright unkind behavior toward visitors from other countries. I saw a checker Elisa, make incorrect change, (3 cents to be exact, admittedly not much, but that’s not the problem,) and when the customer drew attention to the mistake, the checker said, «oh what, so you want 3 cents?» and offered a «not-​very-​nice» look before dismissing the lady. I decided to write this one up, as I hadn’t for any of the last occurrences, because I find it ABSOLUTELY unacceptable to treat people that way. This is consistent with a few of the «ladies» up front.

I stop in here late at night sometimes when I need to buy a quick dinner.
The lines at this hour are terrible, sometimes they only have one cashier and 10+ customers.
When I’ve come in the daytime, the employees are somber. I’ve seen the manager or supervisor (a large woman with dark hair) reprimanding employees in front of customers– really unprofessional. From her tone of voice, I would have thought she were speaking to animals.
The parking lot is WILD. the layout is confusing and the people drive like maniacs. Just be careful during the daytime.

⁵⁄₃₁ Tuesday 11:10pm. Yes it’s late but got back from vacation and no dog food. Poor pooch. Will run to Safeway pick up dog food and some bread and eggs.
Oh I should of got a cart I’m trying to carry too much stuff.
Lots of employees stocking.
Good evening sir. May I get you a shopping cart? Remember when it was like this?
Instead. I see a couple carts. Looks like clerks maybe using but no items. Me politely «may I use on of these carts?»
Short hispanic dark curly hair woman nods negative very with disapproval.
Me — really I’m a customer paying money and you going no to give me an attitude about using a cart?
Her response «if I go to a grocery store I get my own cart.»
Wow I tell her it sucks to hate your job.
And I think if I go to work I be sure to help customers that pay my check.
Fortunately there is a trader joes up the way and a lucky across the street.
There are too many choices to get food. With a low return on food you’d think you’d compete for customers. Easy to return when customer service exists. Won’t go back here if I’m treated with hostility.
I wish I could give negative stars,
We don’t have an employment problem we have an employee problem.

The Castro Valley Safeway is relatively large but the parking lot configuration is rather unusual, as one Unilocaler pointed out. Seems like there ought to be more parking considering how this place can get busy and it’s also right off two main streets and I-​580 nearby
Other than that, just your typical groceries and departments that you should expect to find at any other Safeway location. Self-​checkout lanes are always a big plus if you don’t want to deal with the cashiers.

I’ve been going to this Safeway location for quite some time now. Been living in CV for over 8 years.
There have been changes. I’d like to say depending on the day/​time you go– you’ll see which crew works well together. The last few months, I’ve noticed that their younger employees are lazy. I’ve heard from other customers that some of these kids don’t like to work or their rude, or Safeway is under staffed.
I would like to say one evening, I came in from working a 14 hour shift from the hospital. Beyond exhausted, but it was a must to pick up items from the store. I’ve noticed a new checker, Michael. He had the shortest line and no wonder. Michael was getting customers checked out quickly, and was polite at the same time. I’ve continued to go to Michael’s line going forward. Noticed that even under pressure or dealing with rude customers — he continues to handle the situation in a professional manner. See Michael in the evenings– check stand 8 or 10.
On another note, most items are not stocked by evening time. Best time to go would be in the am.
Rated one star because most staff– mostly the young ones make it a difficult one.

Strangest grocery store trip of my life. First off, I could not help but notice how odd the parking lot configuration is which is an instant turn-​off. I only needed a handful of things so I braved the parking maze, and the last minute Mother’s Day shoppers.
Inside I grabbed a few incidentals that are uncommon at the less conventional stores I usually frequent, and I swiftly made my way toward the front part of the store. On my way to the check out stands I had to detour to the ladies’ room so I parked my cart nearby. When I returned to the spot where I left my selections my cart was gone. There was no trace of it anywhere. Half annoyed, I grabbed the closest employee and asked for his assistance. As I detailed my dilemma to him I clarified that my own shopping bag was in the missing cart. After he listened to me he went off to inquire on my behalf.
He returned looking more baffled than when he ventured over to the customer service desk. Next thing I know he turns back to likely grab some more efficient support when low and behold a manager passes by and instructs him to have another employee page someone else. «Luckily» this third person knows exactly what he’s talking about, yet despite this good fortune everything except my bag has supposedly been sent back to stock. Why you might ask? Well, first because the cart had perishables, second the cart became the focal point of an attempted «caper». Apparently while I was temporarily absent someone attempted to steal the cart, and had to be approached not once but twice for trying to shoplift this irresistible shopping cart. After gaining all this not so helpful info no one seemed to know what happened to the grocery items I actually needed so rather than wasting more time I simply ditched the whole effort and returned to my vehicle and the dreaded parking lot. I’d rather not shop among the thieves.

Just got back from here 4÷20÷16 @ 11pm. Among other things in honor of the green day holiday i grabbed a curried quinoa salad with a use by date of ⁴⁄₂₃ so it was fresh. Ive been going here for years for midnight donut runs and have seen some interesting things including a drunk guy chugging alcohol very close to my donut department. Tonight was too early for any excitement but as i approached check out there were 5 or 6 ppl in line and no self check out for refuge. I was pleased when another checker opened and things then moved quickly.

If you like long lines, this is the place for you! The lines are always at least 10 deep! Sometimes longer. My favorite part is there is a 3’s a crowd sign hanging above the registers, but I guess 3 isn’t a crowd here. Also the prices are fair one some things, but out of control on others. $ 2 for a lemon, yep they have that, $ 2 for an avocado, you got it! Overall I go here because its the closest one to my house, but I try to avoid going here if at all possible.

Pretty decent as Safeways go. I’ve probably had my better experiences grocery shopping here even before the remodel. Cashiers are friendly and the store usually has what I’m looking for. It’s great for late night food runs or early morning snacks for work. I avoid like the plague coming here at 5 PM because it’s mobbed with shoppers. Otherwise, easy place to get what one needs for the week or a single meal.

Line’s are horrible, 10 plus people in each line… What happend to 3’s a crowd???

This Safeway is a fav, I ran in yesterday and needed some last minute Valentine’s Day items and one of the stock guys, josh, was able to assist me in a timely manner and said you’re welcome instead of no problem.
Very professional, always clean I just love this store !

I was in line once and witnessed «Flo» (the shift manager) talking to an elderly lady about her charges. The customer was trying to confirm that she got the sale price. The manager had a major attitude and kept giving her the same answer over and over and the customer didn’t understand what she was saying. Frankly I didn’t either. The so called manager was the rudest nastiest person! She treated this or little lady with so much condescending attitude like I’ve never witnessed before. I hope she’s been fired.
Also I’ve seen flies in the donut case 4 times. I’ve reported it 3 times. The last time I reported it the lady have me a blank look and said yeah we’ll look into that. Nothing has been done.
It’s fine to shop here, just don’t eat the donuts and don’t talk to Flo whatever you do!

I personally love this Safeway. I don’t know why, but people in Castro Valley are so friendly.
I can sit in the starbucks seating area, eating Safeway food and enjoy the area. I feel safe, and I feel relaxed. The food is mediocre (terrible sushi dont ever get it). But I love Safeway– especially this one.

Buyer beware. I have had on going issues with this Safeway in the past several months. The sale «Everyday» price doesn’t show up at the check out. Since it’s hard to catch these items while your unloading your cart I have to check my receipt at the end and that’s when I notice I didn’t get the sale price.
Then I have to wait to get my refund. This happens every single time I go in this store. I called corporate to make them aware of it but it’s not getting fixed.
So just check your receipt and make sure your not over paying for a sale item.

These 5 stars go to a wonderful employee at Safeway, her name was Bari.
This passed Monday, I went in to get artichoke sandwich. Did I mention she did 6 orders! My family and I did hog up the line but Bari was very patient with us and gave us great customer service. Even tho she was beginning to get a hot flash which she told us, she did not crack under pressure. Not only did she have a long line at the deli, it was labor day holiday and her co-​partner left for break while she was attending our massive orders she still was very funny and friendly. She made our sandwiches with a lot of love that day.
I really hope management see’s this post because Bari does deserve a recognition of some sort. She was awesome! Hope she’s there for the next time I crave a artichoke sandwich.

I honestly don’t know how this place has 3 stars. How can people want to shop somewhere, let alone get their food from somewhere that has bathrooms so filthy you could get a staff infection?! Do people actually let their children sit on those toilets? I went in tonight to get eggs. Just eggs at 12 am and there is only one cashier open… Seems like 10 people stocking but the line went almost 7 isles down to produce. Did anyone come help by opening another checkout?! No! I sat I line for over 10 mins. Don’t they have the «threes a crowd!?»
I won’t be shopping here anymore. Next time I’ll just go get breakfast in the morning. And Safeway management if you’re reading this… Why don’t you get a cleaning crew to clean those bathrooms?! If that’s what your bathrooms look like I wonder what your meat/​deli/​seafood departments look like!

I travel from the Southern tip of Oakland to Castro Valley because I’m not a fan of San Leandro Safeways.
I just went here today and there was every pumpkin imaginable — adorable tiger baby pumpkins, fairytales and oz pumpkins, the standard orange variety, and a ton of cool gourds to hang out on your fireplace mantle.
For a Safeway they have an excellent yogurt selection. My favorite is Noosa, from Australia — usually on sale for $ 2 and some cents, and incredibly rich and delicious. Highly recommend it over any other blah dessert made in house you can find a few aisles over (although it’s worth mentioning if you do venture that way, pick up a loaf of Greenlee’s cinnamon bread or the salted caramel brownie brittle).
Employees are normal and nice, more than you can ask for at the average grocery store. Oh, and it turns out they have a wine specialist if you need some suggestions.

Huge selection of products! Not always the best prices like any other Safeway, but you pay for the convenience!
Needed a couple more things for my weekend camping at Lake Chabot. Got what I needed and got out.
Busy intersection.