Atkins Farms Country Market — Attraction in Amherst

Used to live closer to them , years ago, and stopped by at least once weekly, for bakery, salad, bar, hot soup,deli prepared items. In the past 6 weeks, now much farther away, I've wanted one prepared dinner they make, and apple cider. I've personally been 3 times. There is a wonderful woman who manages the DELI, named IZZIE, and she offered to bring the dinners to me & include small cider for me to purchase. Then, when I decided to make the drive , and am unable to walk into the market, parking in a disability space, she was away; and I was told if I want to purchase anything else, like cider, because someone would have to walk the 20 steps to pick up the cider, or add one of the small boxes of almonds, or what they add near the register, I would be charged 15% of the order. So I ended up paying $50. for 3 of the DELI dinners, 1 cider, and 3 very small boxes of roasted nuts.Their charge that time, for someone to add to the DELI dinners & their offer to bring it to the Disability space directly in front of their entrance-- over $8.(15%) "Upper management" then gave a directive that if I ever wanted to shop "groceries" ( I'd hardly call that a grocery run.It's take out, which, if it's gonna cost 15% of the order, I could get INSTACART for a FLAT FEE per month that is about the same charge for one pick up like that which they would bring to my door for an entire month membership.) I've scanned the YELP reviews, of which there are many 1 star, and also GOOGLE 1-star reviews with complaints about customer service problems, cleaning issues, with pics of what people are writing about, and too many about customers getting sick from what they ordered. I have never gotten sick from this one dinner, but it does symbolically sicken me that the UPPER MANAGEMENT , once they established they are getting my business over a period of 5 weeks, told the good DELI manager I'd have to register with a "grocery shopping service " they contract with, for literally THREE TAKE OUT DINNERS to pick up & pay an outlandish fee.I have volunteers who pick up my Stop & Shop grocery orders monthly ( this was just a special treat from Atkins that turned into me being treated by UPPER MANAGEMENT" like I'm not giving THEM my business.). Shopping a large Stop & Shop for their CURBSIDE PICKUP, can easily be for 25 -35 items and take their staff 30 minutes and a lot of walking through aisles, with someone bringing out 5 bags to one of my volunteer's's car. They charge a flat fee of $4. !!!!! And ATKINS charged 15% . Guess they're all in on their Tariff plan. If they really want to charge that much, they should suggest it be paid to IZZIE for your superior Customer Service. Now that I 've read the negative reviews about customers getting sick from food they buy at ATKINS DELI,the pies being inedible when they used to be great over 6 years ago, having their orders messed up, seeing unclean conditions, some even mentioning roaches, I am in no way motivated to return. I will not give my business to the UPPER MANAGEMENT who treats ANY disabled customer like this.If you find yourself already going there for there "niche" item, like APPLE CIDER, find another stand, there are many if you can drive somewhere else.The name of the manager who DOES CARE about CUSTOMER SERVICE, is IZZIE.But, if UPPER MANAGEMENT finds out she provides actual Customer Service--- she gets in trouble !!!!! Moral of the story is--- Don't give your business to owners who ...

This was my first trip to the Atkins market, I was very much looking forward to shop there and become a repeat customer. Unfortunately, I had extremely negative experience today that I feel obligated to share with you all.

I have encountered the worst customer service I ever experience in any supermarket, and certainly didn't not expect it from Atkins, that is clearly positioned as an upscale market with a mission to "exceed customers' expectations".

At the self checkout, I was ambushed by the check out 'assistant' Sandy (or Cindy) who literally grabbed a cucumber out of my hand, after I scanned it, and started looking it up by a number, lecturing me very rudely that 'cucumbers should not be scanned but need to be looked up by a number.' She was extremely combative and rude that was rather shocking and unexpected, especially as there was a scanning label on a cucumber, how are the customers supposed to know that those labels should not be used?

After the cucumber experience, I went to the bakery to get a cup of coffee, entered the dining room area, the check out girl saw me (there was no one there), she said nothing, I proceeded to look for a paper cup for a coffee, which I couldn't locate and so, I went to the checkout where I saw paper cups behind her register, safely tucked away. She started checking out a gentleman to the right of me... as he is struggling to pay for quite some time (his card was not working) she turns to me and says something to effect that 'this wouldn't have happened if you went to the correct side of the line' (to the right of the gentleman), she continues 'I will serve you this time but the line starts on the right side...' yet again, I was really taken back (more like in complete disbelief) by the unexpected and unwarranted aggression and rudeness (especially, as I wasn't blocking anything or anyone) plus there was no one else there... and why not tell the customer right away where the line starts as they come to the checkout, instead of ignoring the customer for a few minutes? She then tells me that I shouldn't have waited on line for a cup of coffee to go (but yet, there were no cups by the coffee) and proceeds to charge me almost $6 for 1 small coffee. I questioned if that's the correct cost and.. she apparently 'made an error and charged me for 2 coffee's', without any apologies, she refunded me the extra $3, I went to get the coffee, try it and... it's pretty much cold. I approached her asking for a refund and she told me that she can't give the refund (but only 2 mins ago refunded the wrongly charged extra $3) and that I need to go to the front checkout for a refund. She also have not given me any receipts.

Needless to say, this was my first and, surely, a very last visit to the Atkins market. What was supposed to be a lovely day to a beautiful market on my day off work, ended up being extremely disappointing and upsetting experience all due to the poorly trained, rude and unmotivated employees who hate their customers (and probably their jobs as well).

I have not encountered such rude (miserable?) unprofessional employees who absolutely take no pride in their work, cheat you on a price, openly lecture for their own shortcomings and, don't care to even pretend to be civil to...

I became ill on Wednesday September 13th. I was unsure what was going on as I did not eat anything from my standard self-prepared diet throughout the week. That’s when it dawned on me that I tried a new dressing the evening before, purchased from Atkin Farms. When I pulled the dressing, I realized it expired on August 11th. I knew I had not purchased it that long ago, in fact it turned out that I purchased it well after it expired....ugghhh.

I contacted the store and spoke with Steve. I explained to him what happened and asked if the store manager could contact me. It was a pleasant call. Steve advised that a store manager would call me tomorrow.

Not even a few minutes later, I got a call from MaryEllen from grocery, this was not a pleasant call, and I am not sure why she was so unpleasant with me.

MaryEllen was aggressive, cutting me off, and it felt as if she believed I was doing something improper or downright dishonest. At the beginning of the call, she asked how I was doing and when I replied not well, she said good and then went directly into her needing a receipt, which I already explained to Steve I did not have (and I apologize for not having it, but I normally don’t save receipts for salad dressing, which is all I purchased that day). I said to MaryEllen that Steve said he just needed the date I purchased and the last 4 digits of the card I used, which I am working on. She said slowly "Nooooo?". After having enough of her odd behavior, which honestly felt like she was focused on covering herself, instead of caring for a customer, or even appreciating the fact that reporting this will prevent others from getting ill… after having enough of her, I stated that I am not feeling well, that I have a day trip planned tomorrow that I may have to re-plan, and that I no longer wish to continue the call with her. I rather await the Store Manager. I also reminded her that I was the one ill and remain ill and did not need further injury from her treatment of me.

Unfortunately, it did not end there, she began asking me which manager I wanted a call from, I said the Manager of the store, and what felt like to me to be quite antagonizing, she kept asking me which one, I said whoever was the leading store manager. It made my stomach turn to go to Atkin's website to only see one store manager listed.

I really feel MaryEllen’s behavior was completely unwarranted and turned a warranted report and inquiry into a hostile experience.

A few days later I spoke with the only Store Manager listed Gregg, Gregg was provided proof and said they would refund the money...the money has yet to be refunded.

What was also alarming was, that was all they offered...a refund...no apology for making me ill for days, for plans ruined, no offer of a gift card or coupon to make good on what was done to me via the dressing and then again via MaryEllen, no care at all.

This store does not care about their customers. Please make sure to check dates on all your food, because if they can sell it and get a way with it they will. They are also overly priced compared to their competitors, and they clearly only care about their pockets.

I will not...