Food Basics — Local services in Ontario

I recently visited the store for the first time. As you enter, you see the familiar theme of green, aisle layout and pricing. For reference I’m going to compare to the old store at the Frontenac mall. Everything is shiny and new. It’s Loblaws without the absurd pricing. Parking was more cramped than it used to be . The one human cashier had to pause mid-customer to receive a stack of papers from a supervisor. Read these she said. I thought that could’ve waited. There was one truly negative moment: as I made my way through the pastry section, I asked an employee if I might speak to the person who orders product. That’s me she said. I asked my question, and the answer was no we cannot get that. Fine, I understood. Then, just to say something, I said I knew where I could get the tart I wanted . That I would stop by…(for the life of me I could not think of the name NO FRILLS) “ the store that says they won’t be beat, I think they have a banana on their sign”. She interrupted and said, “ don’t say it, don’t say the name of the store where gross people shop”. Then no frills popped into my head and as I was about to say it, she repeated “ No, do not say that store where gross people shop”. I think she was trying to show store loyalty. She didn’t snarl it or anything; I think she was trying to be amusing. Still, as I left the store, I thought about my 90-year-old parents who do shop at no-frills. I left more than a bit irked. Everyone knows that feeling of thinking of the perfect comeback about a half hour too late. I’m not sure you’re supposed to leave a grocery store after spending $250, wishing you had thought of the...

While it is clean and has a great selection, my main reason for the 1 star rating is because of the staff not bagging groceries. They do not even offer. This happens even when there is no line up. This is difficult for someone with an invisible disability/injury involving the upper body who have difficulty bagging the groceries themselves. Other grocery stores are able to offer bagging without slowing down service. For able-bodied people it may not seem like a big deal, but when you have limited strength, coordination or functioning and/or chronic pain in your upper body, having to bag your own groceries, especially if you feel rushed with people behind you, can be extremely difficult. I will not be shopping regularly at Food Basics solely because of this and I would kindly request that this store policy be changed to be more inclusive and accessible by offering bagging unless people opt to bag their...

We were camping at Rideau Acres campground, since Food Basics was just down the road we decided to get our groceries there. I picked up a netted package with 3 pkgs of bacon in it for $14.97, upon checking out I glanced at the the cash register screen. I saw the bacon on the screen came up at $44, brought it to the cashier's attention telling him it said $14.97 in the cooler. He said yes you have 3 pkgs in the netted bag, I put it through 3 times for 3 pkgs. Excuse Me?? I told him I didn't want it then. Wow, pretty expensive bacon at $15 a single pkg. Wonder how many others have been screwed over without knowing it. Always watch when your purchases are being rung up. I always do and will...