Giant Food — Local services in Arlington

Great supermarket; however, the Pharmacist that was on duty tonight, Friday, Sept 24, at 7:35 pm, was extremely rude, very impolite, and couldn't care less to solve a customer's problem.

I had a 7:45 pm appointment for my Covid-19 booster shot. I even received a reminder email around 6:30 pm. I was there a little bit earlier, at 7:35 so she wouldn't have to wait for me. She was on her cell phone when I arrived and she kept talking, sitting in her station, for 35 more minutes. She finally hung up at 8:25, and she approached me. She said that she hadn't printed out my appointment yet and that she couldn't do it at that time because she needed to finish other things. When confronted with the email reminder as well as my confirmation number for the appointment, she responded that "her system takes anyone who asks for an appointment without discrimination for the type of vaccine needed". I said that is not what I am disputing, but just that I have one of those appointments, and that it was for 7:45, and that I was there to get the 3rd shot. She said that she was busy, needed to print out the confirmation first and that she couldn't do that then, so I should come back the next day. When I said that the appointment should be honored and also brought up the fact she was on the phone for at least 35 minutes chatting, she simply ignored me, left me talking alone,and turned her back to take care of another customer. I said, very calmly, that she was being impolite, but she didn't even reply, like if I didn't exist. She kept talking to the other customer behind me and completely ignored me to the point of not even looking at me while I was trying to talk to her. No solution was offered but, instead of that, total disregard for a loyal customer that as of today will stop shopping at that Giant...

This store is great for those trying to grocery shop without a car - by walking, biking, or taking public transit.

Biking: There are a bunch of standard "staple" bike racks on the 9th St sidewalk, convenient to the front door. There are also several covered bike racks inside the parking garage, accessible by going down the pedestrian ramp and then turning right into the garage across from the grocery store's front door. 9th St is a designated bike boulevard, and the surrounding neighborhood streets in Penrose are generally quiet and safe as well. The bikeshare station, while not as convenient as it used to be, is still less than 2 blocks away.

Walking: The front entrance is easily-accessible and doesn't require walking across a parking lot. The sidewalks in the area are generally in good shape, and you can easily cross Columbia Pike at Barton Street.

Transit: Sadly there's no bus shelter or bench at Columbia Pike and Barton bus stop, though eventually this stop should get a Transit Station, and the 16M comes every 8 minutes!

Our favorite part of shopping at Giant is the "Scan It!" technology that lets you scan your groceries as you go. This allows you to pack directly into your panniers (if biking) or your backpack (if walking) to make sure they're packed efficiently and to prevent buying more than you can...

Was just in the store watched? The shift leader store manager walk past an empty customer service desk doesn't stand there to help any of his employees. What has the nerve to tell me a couple months back? A customer to stop speaking to his employees when his employees are one of the reasons I come into the store because they are kind constantly. Switching people around when they get good at something doesn't help the store manage better. And also don't speak to customers if they're speaking to your employees, you shouldn't accuse them of distracting your employees either. Your employee could be making a bigger sale. Or? Be getting ready to prep for a catering order. You never know what's going on. Especially for a customer who's been here since before this giant got rebuilt. Has been spending money here for years on end but me as a manager if I walked by an empty customer service desk and look right at it. And then look around the area to see all of my other employees busy. I would have at least stopped and stood there to help out the next...