Bathurst Village Market — Local services in Toronto

I just had a terrible customer service experience today in this store. I went to buy marble cheese because I ran out of stock at home and this store is the closest to where I live, like 5mins away. When I went inside, there was a lady with short hair(I forgot her name; maybe she’s in her late 50s-mid/late 60s) told me to get a number and so I did. My number was #31 and they were now serving #29. I went to the cheese side since I need to buy some and there was a lady in front of me that she was serving. After she served that lady, she walked away and went to the meat side so I followed her. I looked at the # they were serving and it was already #34. I probably missed it or just didn’t here them calling #31 because there were like 5people in the meat area and all of them were speaking Russian, and all other 3 associates were busy serving them. I was the only asian customer at that area speaking english coz I don’t know how to speak their language. So I told the lady who was just at the cheese area that I’m #31 and I just need a marble cheese. She looked at me with her two arms wide up and said “I don’t know” like she was annoyed or angry that I approached her. I let it slide and told her that I just need a marble cheese. She didn’t say anything while walking towards the cheese side, took the block of marble cheese and asked “slices”? I said “no slices please, just a cut of 200 grams”. She held up the block of marble cheese and asked “this much?” So I said “I need only 200 grams please”. She put down the cheese and lifted her arms wide up and said “I don’t know”. Again, I said “only 200 grams please” and I get the same response from her, arms lifted wide up and “I don’t know”. Now, I told her that I only need 200 grams because it’s $2.19 per 100g on the label and they have a weighing scale to see if the cheese is already 200g. I still get the same reaponse arms wide up and “I don’t know” like she’s angry. She held up the block of cheese again and asked me “this much”? At this point, I honestly don’t know what to say to her now because she seems angry serving me. I just told her that slice is fine so I can go. I honestly felt like she doesn’t want to serve me because I’m asian and don’t know their language. I find it very rude that her response was always arms wide up and says “i don’t know” and the angry look on her face. Just because I am not Russian and don’t speak their language, I am still a customer that needs to be served with good customer service. She should have tried atleast talk to me nicely in english because not all customers speaks Russian language, and this is definitely not Russia, this is Canada, a multi cultural country. The store should not labeled their cheese products with prices in grams because the associate don’t know how to sell it in grams even if the weighing scale was just right in front of her on top of the cheese shelve. I hope the management should teach ‘em to not be racial/ethnic bias. Afterall, everyone is a customer who needs to be treated fairly despite their color, ethnicity...

As non Russian speaking customers, my husband and I were discriminated against and treated horribly. We were made to feel like we did not belong. And all we wanted to do was shop.

The deli counter staff made it very difficult for us to be served. The cheese counter person flat out refused to serve me until I confirmed with another store worker that the cheese counter was in fact open until 9pm - meanwhile, the lady at the cheese counter said they were closed. This was just after 8pm. She ended up making me feel like she was doing me a favour by serving me. I have never encountered such ill-mannered customer service in my life.

The unprofessionalism is far too much. I am shocked the workers get away with such behaviour towards their customers.

We spent a good amount of money in your store, yet we were made to feel incredibly unwelcome. Your staff treated us like garbage. Your staff clearly do not appreciate outsiders coming into your store to financially support you. Your staff made this more than clear to us.

If you do not speak Russian, do not spend your money here. They will make you feel uncomfortable and will treat you disrespectfully. They don’t care if they insult you.

I genuinely left there feeling so unbelievably embarrassed.

It’s a complete shame because I was originally excited to explore this grocery store. My husband and I really like the deli, bakery options and imported goods, but the staff that work here have made it very clear to us that we are simply not welcome.

Even the lady at the checkout was unbelievably rude to us. She had a miserable look on her face and refused any sort of eye contact.

It was a disgustingly gross experience to say the least.

If I could give zero...

Not a fan of reviews, let alone of negatives. But today I decided it's worth it. I am not a regular customer of the Bathurst Village Market store. However today, I was driving by, and dropped into the store on the run, and in a hurry. Imagine, just for two jars of Red Caviar, that I used to buy (exactly the same brand) in another local stores. Btw, of superior quality and attractive price. When opened one of the jars at home, I was very disappointed by unpleasant look of the product, which lost its solid consistency. These broken oily beads of caviar that lost their integrity and floating in the liquid, having super salty smell of non-freshness. A caviar soup, the one could only take it with a spoon.... The expiry date was approaching its end. I placed another jar in a portable fridge, and drove back to the store. I can speculate it might have been an owner, or a manager, standing at one of the cash registers. When she learned I was there to return, she reacted as I were to rob the store! I complained that I didn't like the quality of the product. I would never take this poor quality product even for free! The owner (or manager), was arguing the quality, and eventually found a defense - a COVID non-return policy. Dear owner, it is not about COVID, it is about non-satisfactory quality of the product sold! If I were you, and I were interested in new customers, I would have chosen to lose, instead of making to lose my new customer! I left the jar on the counter at the cash register, and suggested to sell it one more time! And you know what? Provided that the cashiers did not wear masks, don't...