Albertsons-Sav-On

Despite the challenge of its location — this store is clean and the staff is very friendly and helpful.
However, the crown jewel is the bakery. They are incredibly artistic and always around. If you have custom items, they’ll pull off the task with flair, panache and enthusiasm. Even more so, if they’re out of their signature items, they’ll immediately crank out some more deliciousness on request — topping it off with a smile. Great job bakery team!

This review is for the bakery. I wanted the best cake/​cupcakes for my sons first birthday. I researched all around Vancouver and Portland and health food stores wanted $ 3+per cupcake (vanilla/​chocolate only) Larsen’s charges $ 35/​smallest cake. More importantly no one would do a special yet simple order request to put bananas in the filling. Besides that Larsen’s banana cupcakes were dry and they do not do fillings, plus the frosting was sloppy when we were shopping around. I called Safeway, they were even more limited in choices, no personalization. It seemed the bakeries were becoming factory conveyor belts of take what we make or make it yourself. Costco included, like Costco but the cakes left me wanting something more special-​a lot more, very generic, and don’t even think about ordering cupcakes, nada.
Last minute I panicked, I called Albertson’s near my home, Amanda answered and was so great helping to answer all my finicky questions. Not only could they do exactly what I wanted, a white cake, bavarian/​banana filling with non-​dairy not-​overly sweet icing, they personalized the message on top and the handwriting in frosting was beautiful-​and the piping was flawless! When I picked up our celebration cake and matching cupcakes I had tears in my eyes, they were picture perfect! They were the centerpiece of our party, what a wonderful memory. Guests kept eating the cake and wanting more, it was yummy. What’s crazy is the cost $ 13 for a double layer filled cake and about $ 8 for a dozen perfectly adorable cupcakes! Amazing deal!
I want to thank Amanda and the talented bakery staff at Albertson’s for being so accommodating with our special cake requests, it made our party more special and beautiful and delicious! For all future birthdays I know exactly who to call!

SELF CHECK-​OUT STATIONS:
(The Silver Bullet of Pricing Integrity)
Self check-​out stations enable you to scan in your own grocery items, and confirm each price, in real time, «before» you move onto the next item.
The best thing about a self check-​out station, is you control the «pace». Whenever you dispute a price, just pause, and call the cashier to your station, to have them either correct the price, or remove the item. Then you scan in the remaining items from your shopping basket.
You pay the machine only «after» you have confirmed each price, and omitted any disputed items. Without ever being rushed.
Customer service is available if you request it, but it’s not mandatory, and rarely needed. As with ATM’s, the more you use self check-​out stations, the more you like them.
Many people wait in line for a station, if necessary, rather than be served immediately by a cashier. And the line moves along quickly, because it feeds 4 – 8 self check-​out stations, all monitored by one super-​cashier.
CONVENTIONAL CHECK-​OUT LANES:
The cashier’s job at a «conventional» check-​out lane, is to scan in your items quickly. Their «pace» is so fast, that verifying each price is tough enough, even at stores with plain pricing.
SHOPPING-​CARDS «TIED» TO PRICES:
But when stores «tie» a shopping-​card to their prices — at a conventional check-​out lane, it’s impossible for you to verify each price. Because of the extra details stuffed into the same amount of time. You must now consider their inflated «regular» price, then make sure that a so-​called discount even took effect, let alone for the correct amount — all before the next item zips by.
In the quandary, you can’t help but miss some details. And when you «misinterpret» items «tied» to a shopping-​card, most ring up at unexpectedly higher prices. You are denied any time to decipher the complex receipt — until «after» you’ve been pressured into paying, and are moving into the crowded exit area. At that point, they ridiculously offer to carry out even small bags — under the guise of customer service, this policy is a polite way of saying, get out. But after leaving the store, food items can’t be returned. So you’re stuck with them, at the higher prices you were manipulated into paying.
REFUND DETERRENTS:
But if you prevail, and catch disputes before leaving the store, to add insult to injury, your punishment is to wait in the customer «service» line. To grovel for an adjustment, on items you would never have chosen at the deceptive prices. Finally, after you’ve jumped through their hoops, a frowning supervisor slaps some coins into your hand — for more manipulation.
To avoid such tactics, patronize grocery stores with self check-​out stations — the Achilles heel of fraud.
INDUCED «MISTAKES»:
These examples describe how customers are fraudulently manipulated into choosing «mistaken» items, often in cahoots with a shopping-​card:
1) Sale signs prominently located near inapplicable, but confusingly similar, higher priced items — outrageously, with no sale items in sight.
2) Sale signs put up before, or removed after the effective dates.
3) Missing or ambiguous small print on a sign.
4) No WARNING if you exceed a quantity limit.
5) When a cashier typo enters your phone number, you pay full price for everything, with no WARNING.
INTENTIONAL FRAUD:
Have you ever pointed out a bogus price sign, even gotten a refund, returned a day later, but to find the sign still there? Ever wonder how many others fell for the same «mistake», with no price adjustment? If you asked that supervisor, why a known bogus sign is still there, with no correction on day three, it can’t be passed off as an oversight.
Observe these situations enough times, and intentional fraud becomes obvious, with employees corrupted into participating. Sadly, fraud is their job.
And when numerous stores in a chain engage in organized fraud, It’s a conspiracy.
FRAUD JUSTIFICATION — ONE LINERS:
1) «Everybody else does it» — This is criminal logic. It’s an admission.
2) «Read the sign, stupid» — Just because they tricked you into selecting fraudulently priced items, does not entitle them to demand immediate payment, without verification, or to scorn you.
SUPERMARKET RECOMMENDATIONS:
BEST: Patronize stores with self check-​out stations; Kroger owned (Fred Meyer, QFC, and others). And some Albertsons.
EXCELLENT: Shop at stores with plain pricing, and no shopping-​cards; SuperValue owned Save-​A-​Lot, employee owned WinCo, and Walmart.
WORST: Reject grocery stores that «tie» prices to shopping-​cards, but have no self check-​out stations;
WHISTLE-​BLOWER HARASSMENT:
When I ceased this whistle-​blowing in Q4−2007, my daily harassment ended. Months later I resumed, and so did the harassment.
It’s an abuse of power when law enforcement resources are «used» to harass a whistle-​blower. They ought to go after crooked grocery chains, and their paid harassers, not be a source of aid to their illegal activities.