H-E-B — Local services in Austin

Dear Mr. Butt,

I guess this is partly on me. I made the wild assumption that a grocery store that sells small, individual items by the thousands surely would have plastic bags for customers to use, free of charge...like every other normal store does. Honest mistake. So, you can imagine my bewilderment when I went to make my purchases in your store at Wells Branch & FM 1825 in Pflugerville and the cashier told me that the plastic bags (otherwise called "grocery bags" in most of the rest of the country) were only for fresh meat.

The cashier dutifully informed me that if I wanted any bags to transport my many, many individual items from your store to my home, I'd have to pay for your custom printed, branded, extra special, thick, opaque, "reusable" bag. You know the kind. The extra thick ones that people bring back with them into your clean store the next time, carrying along all the lice, fleas and bedbugs that flocked to the bags while they are kicked around the house and used as toys for the kids and pets. So... that was a hard pass from me.

2018 was a crazy year, wasn’t it? Toys “R” Us went away, along with the Apple AirPort, Klout (this review would not have helped your Klout score!), and…wait…there was one other thing…oh yeah! The plastic bag ban in Texas! Golly, what a time! What. A. Time!

I look forward to the day (hopefully soon) that we can sit around, reminisce, and have a good ol' laugh about it. "Whew! That was wild! Remember when we thought it actually made a difference at all in the world?! It took us a while, but thankfully those manic thoughts are gone because, gosh whizz, how silly we looked then! Everyone else had them. We were just way off in left field with our finger up our nose. Facing the fence. And our team is up to bat!"

Until then, I'm off to go fork over my lunch money to Wal-M….the Arkansas Mafia. Word on the street is that they are running around fast and loose with bags for their customers... for free! I don't know how they do it, but I'm going to take advantage of it while the gettin's good! Giving away bags all willy-nilly like that, surely that'll bankrupt them before fall comes!

It's 2025. Get bags in your...

On 11/29/24, in absence of Florist MGR I asked for a discount on a halfway dead ZZ plant from staff . She advised me her MGR was gone but went on to say she didn’t know why the plant was $35 on sale but it was the lowest price point since retail price was $50. She explains they paid $45 and already on sale at $35 but was unsure if sale was slashed for the season or because dying state! Therefore, I asked her could she mark additional price off? She said I would need to come back in the morning speak her manager because that’s out her scope. I asked since she couldn’t determine , would she mind calling Store MGR since I was already there? She was no problem! What I didn’t realize is instead of her just getting MGR and keeping the same energy of she can’t decide and it’s out of her scope- instead, I over hear her walking up advocating to Store MGR; Cody that it was already discounted price point and shouldn’t be further marked. I was in disbelief. Why waste our time pretending you don’t know anything and it’s outside your pay grade and not able to make decisions as MGR on fight hard behind my back to let the plant which was literally halfway dead stay dying on counter? Cody might as well had been a regular associate. He had no opinion, or authority! He lied they couldn’t further discount like associate said because they couldn’t make a profit and it was lowest it could go. What a weak leader who can’t asses a moving situation to make an informed decision. When I called him out to contradict he was willing to allow plant to die completely or sale to anyone but me( because no one took it during Thanksgiving Season) he said well that’s the way it is. Some people can see other people anticipating to get something and for pure spite would rather it die than go to the likes of you. So what retail value was $50, the plant is halfway dead. That’s a very non business decision that the unprofessional store MGR made just following an associate instead building a loyal customer. Sad...

On Saturday 11/17/2018 I came into this HEB on what seemed to be the absolute worst day of my life. My 4 month old son has been in & out of the Doctor office & hospital all week & after a flat tire causing me to have to wait on the side of the road for a fix with my very sick son & 3 year old niece, I had to quickly find the closest HEB I could to buy my son some formula as he was out. I got into the store with a 3 year old by my side & my baby boy on my hip and as I’m in line waiting to check out my son throws up, ALL OVER ME & in the check out line. After getting it cleaned I scanned my things & when I went to pay for it ($42) my card DECLINED & the cashier said the pin was wrong. After trying over & over to buy my baby’s formula my card locked me out & right as I felt my eyes fill with tears & my heart sink to my stomach, here comes the check out manager, Sandra. She explained that my card had locked for 24hrs and I wasn’t going to be able to purchase my items. She grabbed my bag, looked inside & said “ oh no. We aren’t going to let your baby go without.” & she paid for my formula. I was so overwhelmed by her kindness I was speechless. I told her thank you & when I got to my car & got the kids loaded, I just sat there and cried. Her kindness & compassion changed my whole week for the better. Right when I felt my whole world crashing down on me, she showed me kindness like I’ve never seen before. I live in Georgetown but I will be going to this HEB from now on. Wonderful customer service and amazing people. Thank...