Stater Bros. Markets — Local services in Chino

I've been going to Stater Bros for three decades, while living in three different houses. Often I would be driving past other supermarkets to get there - they consistently had better prices, selection (both quality and variety), and top notch staff.

This has been changing over the past couple of years, starting with their remodel / redesign of their locations. I don't know if all stores were changed, but my current main store in Chino certainly has, and many friends and family report similar about theirs.

Many of these changes seemed designed to combat shoplifting, but they have made shopping here more inconvenient as well. For starters, they removed one of the entrance/exits. This creates a busy and chaotic zone where people and carts are trying to get in and out at the same time. Children are hard to avoid with shopping carts, and if there was ever an emergency event in the store I can almost guarantee that someone is going to get seriously hurt at this man trap.

Speaking of carts, they put locking wheels on their carts that activate once the cart gets beyond an invisible barrier, making it much more difficult to steal it, which is awesome. It's a shame that the stupid things lock up randomly in the middle of the parking lot, though. You really don't appreciate how fast normal walking speed is until the cart you are pushing stops without working and you slam your shin into the horizontal 1/4" metal rod that's at the back of one of these carts. I had a livid bruise for weeks. I've seen people almost get to their cars before it locked up, and they had to carry their bags from the cart to the car in a few trips, leaving the cart in the middle of the parking lot aisle, or get really frustrated and grab and hurl it like a wrestler in the Main Event. Complaints to any of the staff, from the runners to the managers, have had zero results about this.

They changed the checkout lanes, adding these two stupid "mini lanes" that don't have a conveyor belt. So you get to stand there with a full cart until the person in front of you has finished paying for everything, then you can start handing your items to the cashier one at a time to be scanned.

... The cashier has plenty of time to do this now, since apparently they no longer feel the need to load your groceries into the bags/cart for you. Tonight, the cashier just piled it all up at the end of the station, and watched me use the payment system then load my own groceries. Meanwhile, the line behind me standing around having their time wasted, since this was the ONLY checkout stand open. Which brings me to...

The interesting decision to have two sushi chefs AND two fruit preparers (carvers?) on staff throughout the day, and at the same time generally having 2/3 of the checkout lanes closed. So we're standing here 4-5 deep in line, then a space for traffic, then the rest of the line continuing up whatever food aisle is directly across from that checkout lane (which may or may not have a conveyor belt to help speed things up). I don't know how profitable cutting fruit for people is, but getting people checked out and freeing up space in the store and cars from the parking lot would be a large added value for the customers.

Lastly, it is pretty apparent that these changes weren't free. I understand that food inflation has been high for the past few years. However, the relative prices have changed. Stater Bros. used to have a superior shopping experience with prices that competed against the bargain stores. Now? Honestly, I've been going to Albertsons lately for everything except for soda or alcohol (Albertsons soda prices are insane). The prices are generally better overall than Stater Bros, and the quality and selection is absolutely better.

It's a stupid thing to be sad about, but after all these years, I miss "Low-priced leader in my...

May 4th 2022.

I just entered to ;purchase a few item and some of them were from the Digital Deals. When I arrived to Cashier Daylene, her and the bagging associate where chatting along about work issues. That was fine with me but it kept Daylene unfocus on my purchasing needs. i attempted in putting my membership phone number to receive the digital coupon offers but it looked like she overlooked on accepting it on her monitor. I noticed until i got home that the deals were not deducted to my total. I am not going back for a dollar. Stater Bros need their associate cashiers focused not gossiping. Thank you

New entry regarding Stater Bros Associates. You need the younger associates to atop wearing their iPhone and Android watches. They tend to cater to those instead of their customer needs. Also, you need more cashiers on the floor. It's becoming very disappointing when I have to decide if I would like to wait in line to patronize the store or go somewhere else. Every thing is great ...especially the meat dept. The two young associates for tge last two days were attentive to my needs.Thank you and be safe out there.

Honestly, the deli should be removed for several reasons. 1. You never can find associates...they are busy xgating it up in the back where u cannot see them. 2. Buying chicken is unbelievable. There is never enough or the type of chicken is not available..like baked and you have to wait about 15 to 25 minutes for them to make more or they direct you to the endcap where the whole chicken is on display. 3. Not having the items to make a sandwich. The meat for a italiano sub.. Not all the meets are there or the " fresh baked Artesano bread" to even make the sandwich. Its the foundation of the sandwich. I propose just increase the meat. Or seafood department... Thank you and be safe out there.

Management sucks...they need reliable people to help this store cone to its past hayday...I miss the convenience and the superb Customer Service and fresh products and Meat Department Service....Now it's okay...but needs some fine tuning...what do you plan to do?!

The continued never ending problems at Stater Bros. The new young cashier does not belong cashiering. She allowed the fast lane line get as long as an aisle. Her customer transaction ratio is too slow. maybe she can work in the meat department ...the place that supposedly uses fresh bread to make sandwiches when it's from strife shelf product ?" Francisco's Bread". Maybe the BBB should be contacted for their false advertisement. Manager needs to fix or shoot me Ana discount text at this moment. Thank you and be safe out there.

Today...10/21/2020....I purchased the short rib flanked @ $7.99/lb. When I arrived home and began BBQing I noticed the ribs had more fat than meat. I was very disappointed. These ribs where marinated and you would expect the butcher to remove the bat. I believe I paid about $10 in just fat and u purchased more than 4 lbs. Very disappointed today at States Bros Meat Dept.😠😠😠

When I'm shopping at Stater Bros I take a glance yo see which employees are working. The reason is the more distinguished and experience associates have great customer service and are friendly to all your shopping need...but when I see the younger associates...they are working but missing the customer service part....all they do is talk about other associates and about partying and what beer they want to buy....they should be focusing more to the customer and less socializing with each other. I try to go in the mornings more that a when I see better customer service...maybe they need some guidance from a professional associate. I actually had started going more to the Stater on...

EDIT: Service got better for a while, and I did not see the rude lady anymore. All was well, but someone must've made a change in the meat department. All of the steaks are cut so thin these days. It's very disappointing. The last 2 times I bought asada, marinated or unmarinated... the meat had a distinct taste, like it was old. I've stopped buying meat there. The quality is just not the same all around. Funding fruits that aren't bruised or blemishes is a task as well.

This is my local Stater Bros. I shop here a lot. Everyone is nice and helpful, except for a lady in the meat department.

I usually go in and ask whomever is behind the counter to give me the biggest thickest bone in ribeyes they see. I am serious about my steaks! And they all understand the assignment except for one lady that apparently can't be bothered to do her job and provide good customer service.

Each time she tells me "they're all the same". Tonight I got her again, asked for what I always ask, looked at my daughter and said "she better not say that they're all the same"... and sure enough, that's what she said with an added "they cut them the same"... to which I replied "they are not all the same". I didn't hear it but my daughter said she laughed while saying "yes they are" under her breath.

I proceeded to pick out 3 steaks. Then she asked me if I had asked for 2 or 3. 😒 Then she packed up 3. Another guy came behind her asking if this was hers... a steak that she had left on the side, which was one of the ones that had picked out. I decided to leave well enough alone and just walk with whatever 3rd one she had picked.

Well low and behold, she picked a steak that IS NOT THE SAME!! Annoyed is an understatement. Adding pictures for reference.

I will be asking for somebody else if I ever get her at the counter again. Someone that actually cares about happy...