Woolworths Three Kings — Attraction in Puketāpapa

It is common for this place to have substandard fruit and veges, and staff resistant to dealing with it.. Example 1: About a week ago I bought 6 Mexican mangos. (Last year these were fantastic!) They were cheap, so I assumed they were a loss leader. I chose relatively firm ones (without being the hardest), expecting to wait for them to ripen. As they ripened over the next week , I cut them open to eat. The flesh had brown areas - see photo - and this made the fruit taste foul. Only 1 of the 6 was edible, and only just. I returned them. Staff were highly resistant to refunding. It took forever, and about 5 staff members, to be refunded $2.50. What a waste of time! They said they'd had no other complaints. Of course not! Most people just cannot be bothered! They said I should write to head office. Why should I have to do Countdown's quality control, without being paid? They presumptuously said I was not storing them right. (I stored them in a cool kitchen until they were slightly soft - ready to eat. How else?) I think these fruit either had a disease or have been cool-stored inappropriately and this has made them go bad.

Example 2: Avocados. Even if you choose hard ones in the shop, that could not have been damaged by customers squeezing them, it is almost normal for the avocado, by the time it is ripened at home, to have dark, inedible patches in the flesh. At the price the flesh should be blemish free. I have an avocado tree, same Hass variety. To get an avocado to this state I would have to store it, hard, in the fridge for weeks before I take it out and allow it to ripen. Countdown should not be doing this. It wrecks the fruit! Another possibility is that the fruit have a disease - anthracnose. If so, they should not be marketed. The assistant tried to tell me i must be storing the avocados inappropriately. How would he know that???! (LIke everybody else, I store them on a shelf or bench until they are soft enough to eat. Hmm. I NEVER have this trouble with the ones I grow myself. He is making stuff up, and some customers might believe him. Grr! I would encourage all buyers to take their substandard avocados, or photos of them, back to the shop, to encourage Countdown to stop selling such substandard produce.

Example 3: Today the courgettes are covered in lines where I guess they have tumbled around in a crate with hard edges, or similar. at least the celery was not...

Woolworths Three Kings, situated at 532 Mount Albert Road, is a modest yet dependable supermarket that caters to the daily needs of the local community. Open from 7 am to 10 pm, it offers extended hours that suit early risers, late shoppers, and busy families alike. The store may not be large, but it’s efficiently laid out, making it easy to find your way around even during peak times. Inside, the shelves are generally well stocked with all the basics—fresh fruit and vegetables, a reliable selection of meat and frozen goods, pantry staples, and a small but decent bakery section. The produce is usually fresh, and while the range might not rival bigger stores, it’s more than enough for most household shopping.

The staff at Woolworths Three Kings are frequently mentioned in customer reviews for being friendly and helpful, especially around the self-checkout areas where they’re quick to assist when needed. Their positive attitude helps create a welcoming atmosphere that keeps many regulars coming back. However, the store does face a few persistent issues. Parking can be limited, and many shoppers have noted that baskets are often hard to find, forcing people to juggle their groceries awkwardly. The exterior of the store and surrounding area can also feel a bit run-down, with comments about overflowing bins and the presence of people loitering outside, which can put some customers off—especially during quieter hours.

Despite these minor drawbacks, Woolworths Three Kings serves its purpose well. It may not have the bells and whistles of a flagship supermarket, but its central location, practical layout, reliable stock, and approachable staff make it a valuable shopping spot for locals. Whether you’re popping in for a few ingredients on the way home or doing a full weekly shop, it offers the kind of convenience and familiarity that’s appreciated in a...

Yesterday I was shopping for a countdown online for my guest dinner last night. The delivery run was scheduled for 1.30 - 4. and I was so busy the whole day, cleaning my house, waited until deliver my order from countdown to get ready my dinner for 12 guest s,But the Packing department misplaced my items from the 1 pm delivery run, I was so frustrated, because I was running out of time to cook dinner for my guests, I did Talked to Three kings countdown as that was their mistake, The person did answer my call replied me saying that earliest i can get my items By 6 Pm, which make me so upset , and I did ask if I can have a chat with Store Manager , I had the nicest person helping me. I think Her name is Jane or James , She did apologise and was the nicest manager I have ever seen In my entire life, she made me calm first. She then proceeds to arrange my delivery earliest as possible, Well, she dropped my grocery at my address, I was so pleased, such an amazing Manager, it seems it is something she just does for her customers, it is not a store policy. she is beyond great customer service, taking pride in your work. I plan on calling the call centre manager to leave a good feedback to her service, I’m sure they will think I’m just another customer with a compliment but really, I just want to call and say what a thoughtful employee they have, and I hope it makes her day. and she made my day yesterday, She is just BEST...