WinCo Foods — Attraction in Missoula

Shopped at Missoula WINCO today, 1-8-2023, as I do every week. Thankfully, for the most part I’ve had a positive experience at this store since it opened. However, today was the exception. Every time I enter the check out line I make a point of gaining the employees name and ask them (by name) “how are you today? I do this because I appreciate the work they do and I tell them so on my way out. I believe this is common among my generation. Today was different. As I entered the line, I noticed the checker’s name but, it was an uncommon name and I was unfamiliar with the spelling. I greeted the checker like I’ve done many times in the past. I said by name, “how is your day today?” In a confrontational tone and so everyone in line could hear, he responded “well I don’t know, that’s not my name”. He’s reaction was so unexpected that I immediately apologized for my misstep. Instead of excepting my apology, he looked straight at me and didn’t respond at all. I was completely astonished at this point and so I said nothing more, took my groceries and left. While driving home all I could feel was disappointed because I knew this would be a cloud over the rest of my day. I wondered why a person would act this way. Clearly much younger than me, perhaps all he saw was a senior citizen whom he believed was of no consequence.

Normally I would let this go but, after reading some of the reviews associated with this store I noticed several others who have had similar experiences regarding employees. So rather than hide behind my review I called the local manager in order to bring this to his attention. While the manager seemed concerned, he refused to provide his name. After explaining my experience, I told him that I would continue to shop there because I have to watch every dime. But, I believed it was his responsibility to ensure his employees appreciate their customers. Therefore, I assured him I would write and honest and thorough review for every time I bring my business to his store from now on. I realize I’m just one of 10’S of thousands of customers. But, to put it in a different perspective, if you (WINCO) extended your hand to me in greeting and I reached out and slapped it away, how would you...

My family has shopped here since they opened the Missoula location. We have never really had any problems.

Well my husband came with me this week and we were trying to use my WIC. When we entered the store we noticed I forgot my phone in the vehicle and so we went off the slips of paper by product stating whether they are covered by WIC. Most items are repetitive so I know them off the top of my head on what I have bought in the past.

Come to find out there were items not being covered by WIC. As I stated previously, they have signage stating that it's a WIC product.

Fast forward to checking out. There was $6.83(or close too) that was not covered. At this time for my husband and I, we LITERALLY didn't have $1 on our person. So paying for the remainder was not going to happen. They couldn't tell us what it was without going through some major process of returning one item and seeing if it was it or not. We had our 4yr old toddler and our 20M old with us. So that process was not going to work for us. The manager was so confused and seemed like she didn't know what to do.

So we left everything right there and walked out after they returned everything to my WIC card. Definitely will not being trying to get my future WIC benefits there. It's not always a convenient to have my phone on my person to scan everything. So seeing the signs are a big help, until they are inaccurate and cause a back up at check out.

Hit or miss on whether you are gonna have...

On multiple occasions the food I've got from the deli has been rancid and inedible. Today, I noticed from several feet away that several of the meats in the display case were spoiled just by the severe discoloration. As I got closer I was assaulted by a putrid stench. If a deli employee can't tell the difference between good and spoiled products, they should probably find another more suitable profession. For example, the sliced roast beef should be brown on the outside and pinkish to red in the center, Not gray and greenish. Should also note that packaged items I bought on more than one occasion were spoiled and past their expiration dates. Besides these grievous health code violations, be prepared to wait an unnecessarily long time for service at the deli or meat counter, ( I gave up on the bakery after being ignored for 20 minutes),and then have to wait for a half hour or more in the checkout line. Then you will have to go back to return the spoiled items, wasting more of your valuable time. If you have lots of free time and like standing around in lines forever, this is the store for you. If you seek quality products,and efficiency of service, perhaps not. If you shop there, always check your receipt, especially if you buy multiples of the same item.( I've been charged for 4 items when I only got two, and charged for 5 when I...