Grocery Outlet — Local services in Bellevue

Incompetence and negligence. This review has been about two years coming, so this isn't a spur of the moment knee-jerk reaction to poor service. It is to known that this store has terrible management and a high turn-over rate of sub-par employees. The clerks routinely obstruct the isles with hand-trucks and floor-jacks to stock and move items. These actions are dangerous and intrusive and should be performed late at night, or early before opening; NOT when customers are walking the isles!

The checkers are incompetent and slow with poor reasoning and lack of basic register/checker customs and I mean ALL of the checkers! None of them are good and even the replacements over the last 2 years have been well below average. For example,

-No scanning and bagging. This is grocery checking 101. They scan and then set the item down on their counter until they are clogged at the register. This is a fools errand and makes no sense to double an employees workload and extend the time a customer has to wait. Scan and bag, very simple and effective!

-Failure to call for back-up and waiting for lines to grow into the isles, this happens constantly. There should not be any more than 4 people waiting at one register before backup is called. The checkers are oblivious and pay no attention and with customers (like me) telling them to do their job and call in help.

-Failure of back-up cashiers to understand their purpose for example: A back-up cashier's job is to alleviate the pressure on the primary cashier as quick as possible. This means pulling customers out of the congested line with the smallest number of items and who can be moved quickly out the door, it is NOT intended to help who is next in line, PERIOD! it's about moving the line with efficiently.

What does this boil down to? Bad management, poor hiring, and horrible training. I'm starting to think the grocery outlet isn't just an outlet for grocery items, but also an outlet for workers who couldn't hack-it at core retail stores. I will never go here again, I gave it two years of chances because the prices were good, but my time is worth more to me than a few extra cents of savings....

I don't believe in perfection. But the store is well stocked. I am a reader, so if I can't find something at a glance. I start reading the labels for the empty items. If what I want is empty, and I ask, they will go get me some the produce folks are very accommodating. Meat and seafood are very attentive. And sort of old fashioned deli style in their approach the customer service/care. The deli looks impressive, but the several times I've been there, they are woefully, understaffed, sharing the work betwixt the cold/hot deli, and bakery distribution. The customer service desk is smart and understands delegation very well. I'd like to say, I appreciate being supportively trained on how they manage their staff deficits, with the customers needs. And from what I've seen, it's an original 'Kroger' feel. Kroger being recognized as the originally recognized 'grocery' store. In the US. Times/where you are/ who and what challenges change. But seems like at this QFC, they are trying to bring back employee/customer care. In alignment with Crossroads Bellevue, WA community focus. QFC- North end of the mall, Bellevue Mini City Hall- South end. With ready to go food. Weekly live entertainment. DOL, library, activities, Farmer's Market, and a park nearby. And all of this a purposeful walking activity for a day trip to the area. Including parking your car at places like Eastgate P&R and being taken to Crossroads Mall. Among places to eat, different kinds of shopping, etc. But for locals, and because I come from this same 'small town', 'planned community' (or pic your own adjective here) QFC at Crossroads Mall. Is the anchor for all of the other services I have mentioned/discovered here. And it keeps me walking, and riding the bus. Well Done QFC...

They sell quality, well-known brands, including high-end organic food. Unlike other stores that markup product and then put it on "sale", everything here truly is discounted. The selection is small, but they usually have at least one brand of everything. It's not the prettiest store and has a run-down feel, maybe because of the floors and lighting, but it is kept clean and the shelves are organized. The produce is hit or miss on freshness. There are great deals to be had here, but always check to see if the expiration dates fit your needs, since some of these products are cheap because they are close to sell by date.

The staff is pleasant and friendly, and while they don't reach out to customers, they have always been cheerful about helping me when I've asked for it. My only complaint about that is that a few months ago there was a cashier that asked to hold my bags from another store while I shopped. It was embarrassing and I was not comfortable leaving my possessions in his hands. This Grocery Outlet is across the street from the Crossroads Mall and a bus station hub, so not everyone that comes here has brought a car and many have already done some shopping at the mall when they stop by. They are going to have shopping bags. I used to shop here four times a week, but after that it became too much hassle to go to the mall, walk all the way home to drop off my bags, then walk back to the store, so I just stopped going. He's gone now and I feel comfortable shopping again! Please don't treat your customers like criminals. I doubt it prevents real shoplifting and it drives away...