Wegmans — Attraction in Manalapan Township

Cavernous and really, it borders on too much. Where is the tram, and they need themepark-like parking signs and "You are here" type maps around the store, to find your way around. It wasn't until my SECOND visit that I actually found the meat department, which is pretty absurd when you think about it. Also, there's an entire SECOND FLOOR with balconies for taking in a hot bar meal or sandwich, like you're overlooking a market from a table in your fantasy apartment. For the enormity of the place and the endless aisles (and the store in Princeton may actually be even larger, with a "warehouse" component with bulk items taking even more aisles than the format her in Manalapan), there are pockets of the most mundane, commonly available grocery items that are INEXPLICABLY NOT SOLD HERE -- for example, the Cracker Barrel brand of cheese. I looked and looked, and finally asked a clerk, and "Nope, we no longer sell that." What? I can go to Shop-Rite or Acme or Stop-Drop-and-Shop (but NOT Save!), and I can find those products in all those stores, but not the 3/5 mile long Wegmans? That's really bizarre. And they will be out of stock on such staples as their own house brands of organic yogurt, which I actually will make a special trip and endure the sheer size of this store just to find -- yet 50% of the time, my flavors (exotics, I know, like ...STRAWBERRY or BLUEBERRY, imagine!) are just not on the shelf. Fortunately, and recognizing the sheer size of the place, placed strategically are emergency flare guns, so you can summon the most friendly of staff to ask them ... actually, none of that exists. You're on your own, having hiked the equivalent of a half-marathon from your car, only to discover they don't have Cracker Barrel brand cheese or even their own house brand of organic yogurt. Meanwhile, your 8 year-old has wandered a foot away from your side, only to be plowed over by some of the most oblivious, rude (not the word I really want, but it fits) other shoppers you'll ever encounter, who won't think twice about pinning a child underneath their shopping cart as they make a break for the bulk, candy-by-the ounce aisle under the iconic Wegmans train set that is suspended running on a hanging track in the rear-center of the store. Checkout is hit or miss -- the staff is very professional and moves quickly to get customers through lines, but as with everything else at this store, you need to hunt to find an open register, and you pass register after register that is not open. I like that they take Apple Pay and the convenience of several sizes of shopping carts, so if you need a small "double basket" cart, well, they have 1,000 of them. Another pet peeve here: They have their own Cooking/Menu magazine -- which IS NOT complimentary. You have to BUY it, something that is probably full of syndicated articles already published somewhere else, and which should be free to the loyal customer. Finally, I have to congratulate the grocers on the enormity of the fresh vegetable department, which has many varieties of organics (which should be at the front entrance, by the way, as they have higher margins it would make sense) and the pre-packaged and hot food varieties. Its also the only store I've found in NJ where I can readily get pre-marinated, pre-packaged organic chicken and even...

A’JeeKaurSingh Experience at Wegmans. I happened to be a Vegan. Yet, on this particular day Parwinder wanted to surprise me with something special from the Wegmans Florist. We met a wonderful gentlemen in the foyer that worked outside returning carts. Might I add he had a pleasant work attitude. As we entered the Florist, The woman didn't seem to be helpful at all. I almost said forget it. Parwinder was determined to pick out something special. I kept my composure when I found how I was being treated, not pleasant. Then all of a sudden Parwinder fell knocking the vases over spilling water all over. I kept calm in aiding Parwinder up from the Sunflowers. Parwinder felt embarrassed and excused himself to the restroom leaving me to decide. So, as I again was quite perturb at the Florist of how poorly she conducted business toward me as a customer. I knew what I wanted, yet I had to become Stern by TELLING her exactly how I wanted my arrangement done. She then stated “I Am On Lunch" OF course the entire time I was apologetic for the vases spilling over. In my Experience I have dealt with many Florist shops and I would never purchase from Wegmans. After all the commotion and overhearing how she spoke to the other co-workers about the vases spilling. I then received a pleasant visit from there Supervisor advising if a phone call needed to be made, because Parwinder knocked the flower pots down. I reassured the Supervisor that everything was fine and there was no need to call outside authorities. I will add and say I was treated with the respect by the Supervisor. In my experience with the cashiers. I have been treated with kindness by Sarah and any register I’ve checked out. Not, that it's the end of the World but WHY Wegmans don’t carry BRAWNY paper towels. Well, this is one product I choose not to improvise. If its not BRAWNY, then A’JeeKaurSingh does not want it. Leaving out the Florist as an overall the customer service is helpful and on point. Thank you for allowing us to shop with you. A'JeeKaurSingh...

Wegmans was once amongst the best markets to shop at. Sadly, it now has fallen to the bottom of the pile.

To be fair, the quality of its stock is very good, prices are also very fair, and personnel are friendly and courteous. This is generally true of the competition also.

Where Wegman's stumbles terribly is its inability to reliably carry the same items, its inability to keep shelves adequately stocked (eg it is common to find some shelves empty for days), and worst of all, its horrible habit of constantly reorganizing items in the store moving them from one place to another. The last item leaves the customer wondering (an wandering) to where the purchased just a few days ago now lives? None of this simplifies grocery shopping.

Raising any of these issues with the store personnel usually brings a understanding sigh and comment they are consequences of mandates from corporate. Maybe so. But it all points to a poor management; regardless if the fault lies locally or with the corporate parent, the customer suffers. For a store where customer satisfaction was once a priority, somewhere Wegmans lost its way.

These issues are progressively getting worse. For this customer, who has been shopping at Wegmans for 30 yrs, first in upstate NY where is was the locally-owned grocery, to now here in NJ, the persistent decline is a sad observation. It is now easier to shop elsewhere.... I would love to see Wegmans get its act together. For that to happen will take some adjustment at the top. At the moment, it seems oblivious...