Benton Brothers Fine Cheese — Local services in Vancouver

To start off, I’ve been here on many occasions and have always been impressed with the selection, quality and service this shop offers. Most recently, I came by to pick up a packaged cheese and preserves from the grab and go area. I proceeded to wait in line to pay for about 15 mins while another customer was being helped by 2 staff members to process a return. I have no problem waiting and just stood there patiently. Once this was finished both staff members walked away and just left me standing at the counter while they began to help other customers. When one of them returned to the till he told me he would be ringing through another customer before me who had ordered some deli cheese. I informed him that I had been waiting before that customer even arrived, and just wanted to pay for my goods to be on my way. The staff member proceeded to argue with me stating that it doesn’t matter when I arrived he was in the middle of helping another customer. I found his demeanour to be extremely rude and argumentative. When I was finally helped he continued to argue his point and blame me for the whole incident. I was left extremely embarrassed, upset and disappointed over this interaction. I’m hoping that it was just an off day :( Or perhaps next time I’ll be helped by a more...

I've bought cheese from this store at least once a month for over a year but today we received terrible service from a man wearing glasses and a cap.

We requested recommendations for 3-4 cheese and he said he would cut a few pieces for us to try which we took to mean sample. There must've been a misunderstanding because without any explanations or confirmations for sizes, he returned with 4 cut and wrapped wedges of cheeses and curtly asked us if we wanted anything else. We were confused as every other time we have visited, the staff would describe the cheese and ask for confirmation before cutting anything. We explained the misunderstanding but he responded with an annoyed tone that these were the cheeses he would recommend and asked if we wanted them or not. He also started blaming us for the misunderstanding and while it's possible we misheard him, trying to rudely force a cheese purchase on to your customer seems like a strange way of conducting business. We were interested in maybe 1 out of the 4 so we decided not to purchase the cheese and he rolled his eyes, seemingly uninterested in providing any further service. Being treated this rudely, we will take our...

I have to admit, I feel extremely lucky to be able to shop weekly for cheese especially at Benton given that the prices are not cheap and that it’s located on Granville island. Their cheese is probably one of the best which is what keeps me coming back. With that being said, I am very put off by the fact that when you go to pay with a card you are prompted to tip. Now don’t get me wrong I am totally in for tipping as I’ve worked in the restaurant industry myself, however, what I don’t understand is tipping at a grocery store. Granville island is a public market for groceries and since when is it a thing to tip grocery stores? Someone please help me understand. Not only are you being prompted to tip but when I didn’t leave a tip for the clerk I felt an energy shift and as though they were upset I didn’t tip. I’m sorry but for how much the cheese costs here I hope the owners are paying their staff a reasonable wage where they don’t have to be dependent on or...