Lotusâs IOI City Mall is a serviceable hypermarket with decent options, but itâs overshadowed by the superior AEON within the same mall. Crowds, dated carts, and a less refined layout hold it back. 3/5 â fine in a pinch, but not the first choice.
Full Review: Lotusâs at IOI City Mall is a curious case of âgood, but not great.â Itâs a perfectly functional hypermarket, and for many shoppers, it serves its purpose well enough. Youâll find the essentials, fresh produce, household staples, and a generally familiar shopping experience. But in a mall that also houses **AEONâa cleaner, better-designed, and more thoughtfully laid-out hypermarketâLotusâs inevitably suffers in comparison.
Letâs start with the positives: convenience. If youâre already in the mall and need to grab groceries quickly, Lotusâs will get the job done. It carries a solid variety of items, and from my visits, it seems to be popular with localsâif the constant foot traffic is any indication. That said, popularity cuts both ways: the crowds are heavier here, and for someone like me, who prefers a more relaxed shopping environment, this becomes a drawback.
Another sticking point is the shopping environment itself. While AEON feels bright, modern, and well-organized, Lotusâs feels a bit dated. The carts wobble and squeak, the layout feels less intuitive, and the overall vibe doesnât exude the same polish. Itâs not unpleasant, but when thereâs a direct comparison within the same building, the shortcomings are harder to ignore.
Ultimately, Lotusâs isnât a bad optionâitâs a decent hypermarket and absolutely fine if youâre in a rush or simply loyal to the brand. But if you have the time and freedom of choice, AEON is the superior destination for groceries within IOI City Mall.
Final Verdict: 3/5 Lotusâs does its job, but in a mall with stronger competition right next door, it feels more like the backup plan than the...
   Read moreNot sure what's with the staff at Tesco IOI City Mall, but why do the staff look so grumpy and depressed? I get this feeling they hate working there. I bought some ginger, and proceeded to get it weighed. The staff stuck on the price tag without first sealing the bag. So I gently reminded him that he needed to tie up the bag and not leave the bag open after he had price tagged it. He rolled his eyes at me!! Seriously, I could be totally dishonest and put more ginger into that open plastic bag! I thought only one glum staff to tolerate. I proceeded to the cashier counter as the self-service checkout was full. Yet again, all glum, no eye contact, no smile either. All she said to me was, "plastic bag?" I think queueing at the self check out is less depressing. Seriously, supermarket business is highly competitive with very low margins. Counter staff must be trained to know how to pack, and what to say, not look like they're doing me a favour. Saying, "Thank you for shopping with us" won't kill you. Other supermarket chains have staff trained to include how much they have taken from us, and how much change is due. That's basic retail checkout 101. Seriously, Tesco, you're an international company. You need to train your staff properly. It's really below par service. If you're experiencing high staff turnover, perhaps you need to find out why they are so unhappy because this is definitely a...
   Read moreDear Lotusâs IOI City Mall Management,
I am writing to express my dissatisfaction regarding an incident that occurred at your store on Saturday, 8 November. (Around 4-5pm)
Upon entering the store through the sensor gates, I realized there were no basket trolleys (the ones that do not require coin) available inside. They were instead placed after the sensors but before the entry barricade, which is confusing and inconvenient for customers.
When I tried to step back out briefly to take one of these basket trolleys, the security guard stopped me and insisted that I go all the way around through the crowded cashier area just to take one and re-enter through the barricade. This instruction made little sense and caused unnecessary inconvenience.
When I attempted to explain the situation, the guard responded rudely and used a stern tone, which I found uncalled for and disrespectful. A simple understanding of the situation would have avoided this unpleasant experience.
I hope the management will review both the placement of the basket trolleys and the attitude of the security personnel, ensuring that customers are treated courteously and that the store layout supports a smoother shopping experience.
Thank you for your attention to this matter. I look forward to your response and to seeing improvements made for a better...
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