Woolworths Ponsonby — Attraction in Waitematā

SIgh. What to say about Countdown Ponsonby. As a worker in a nearby office, this is by far my closest option for picking up affordable food, drinks and snacks.

Countdown opened to great fanfare about four years ago, and it truly did have its fingers on the pulse of the East end of Ponsonby road, where Barkers-clad Account Managers mix awkwardly with Dr Martens-wearing student radio hosts. I appreciate the many innovations trialed at this particular store, I really do. I can see they've gone the extra mile to meet every possible demand of well-off millennials (which I guess I am one of). Unfortunately, they've gone a bit beyond that extra mile, to the point where it's more like an extra parsec.

The prime example of this stares you in the face the moment you walk in the door. In the most prime location you could put it is the expected massive drinks fridge. "Fantastic" I say out loud, walking towards it with high expectations. I have in my mind wonderful images of the types of drinks fridges you might see at New World Victoria Park, packed with every type of sugar and caffeine-laden beverage that a low-willpower person such as myself depends on. I'm talking Coke. Pepsi. Dr Pepper. Diet Dr Pepper. Monster. Iced Coffee. Mountain Dew. Blue V. Rockstar Guava. Milkis. Bacchus D. Irn Bru. You know, the type of stuff you can pour down your throat before yelling at people over the internet while playing Call of Duty. But no.

Countdown Ponsonby have deemed me and the legions of normal, rational people like me, NOT to be their target market. That is because, my friends, the main drinks fridge at Countdown Ponsonby is stocked SOLELY with Kombucha. That's right. ONLY Kombucha. The drink that 9 out of 10 New Zealanders agree tastes like the unknown liquid that collects at the bottom of your rubbish bin after forgetting to put it out for two weeks.

Now I love the excesses of capitalism, don't get me wrong, but perhaps filling the ENTIRE fridge with around 43 varieties of Kombucha is not the best use of the shelf space? Is this some kind of grand statement that I never got the memo on? Is Countdown really so determined to not make money that they refuse to stock 96% of the entire chilled beverage market in their primary drinks fridge? It baffles the mind. In fact, it insults. I am insulted.

To add injury to that insult, there are in fact three (3) additional drinks fridges to be found (excluding the health foods aisle which admittedly contains a wide variety of milk-adjacent drinks, albeit many of which are nut and/or bean based), however, they are truly pitiful, lukewarm, biased towards Coca-cola Amatil products, and overpriced to boot.

I am truly enraged at the state of the beverage selection at Countdown Ponsonby, and you should be too. I demand better. Countdown, you sicken me. You sicken...

Woolworths Ponsonby, located on Williamson Avenue near Ponsonby Road in Grey Lynn, is a modern and well-equipped supermarket that caters to the needs of an inner-city community. Open daily from 7 am to 10 pm, it offers flexible hours for shoppers and the added convenience of underground parking and easy access to public transport. The store’s layout is spacious and clean, with wide aisles and clearly marked sections for fresh produce, meat, frozen goods, bakery items, and pantry staples. An in-store pharmacy adds to the convenience, making it a one-stop shop for both groceries and health essentials.

The quality of fresh produce at Woolworths Ponsonby is regularly praised, and the store features a good selection of organic, gluten-free, and specialty items to suit a variety of dietary needs. The wine and beer section is also notably well stocked, appealing to the tastes of the local area. Many customers speak highly of the friendly and helpful staff, who are often quick to offer assistance or help at the checkouts. The store also includes Scan & Go technology, which allows for a more efficient and self-directed shopping experience.

While prices on some items, especially fresh produce, are occasionally noted as being higher than average, most shoppers find the overall quality and convenience worth it. There can also be the occasional issue with certain products selling out quickly, but restocking is generally prompt. Overall, Woolworths Ponsonby stands out as a polished and dependable supermarket, offering high-quality service, good variety, and a clean, pleasant atmosphere that fits well with its central...

I never recommend anyone to do online order in this countdown. Today I ordered in morning for pickup. But things changed when suddenly I felt sick in afternoon. So I called and requested them can I pick my order at 3pm. Lady from online department who talked to me on phone said yes you can come now and picked up your order but when I went there, the girl who work on customer service talked to me very rude and said you cannot pick your order now and said you have to wait until 5pm. I requested them please can you call that lady who spoke to me on phone and said to come at 3 but she refused. then a Indian guy come and both start blaming me why you come now and said either wait until 5pm for your order or you can go home and come later but we cannot give you your order right now. I requested them I’m sick and I need to go to my home because I live in Paptoetoe and wouldn’t be able to come as Doctor recommended me to rest. I told to them why you wasted my time if you can’t give my order but suddenly he start screaming on me. He said I was with that lady when you spoke to her on phone and phone was on speaker she recommended you to come 5pm but she never said that. Totally unacceptable and rude behaviour. I don’t know why countdown hire such...