Giant Eagle Supermarket — Local services in North Ridgeville

I try to avoid coming to Giant Eagle for anything but items I can't get elsewhere - which, thankfully, isn't much. Prices on all their items aren't particularly competitive - The new "perks" program simulates a better bargain with the ability to use redeemed points on a grocery bill discount, but when you do the math, what you actually get back per dollar throughout the perks accrual and redemption process is only a few cents on the dollar. Factoring in the higher prices easily offsets the meager difference the points program makes. To be fair though, they do occasionally have weekly sale items which are worth checking out.

Another lousy fact about this location, is that their customer service counter shuts down two hours before the store itself closes. So if you arrive in the evening and have any special needs (returns included) - you are out of luck.

The last time I came here for a product (which I had bought there many times before), they had stopped carrying it. I found another retailer for the item and now make a point to visit them for the specialties. The only reason I come to Giant Eagle now is for the gift cards, which I buy to accumulate "perks" for free gas.

The new "perks+" program is slightly different than the old program, but in a nutshell... nothing has really changed from the "earn free gas" perspective - it still takes $50 worth of purchases to get $.10 in fuel discounts, which can be redeemed on up to 30 gallons of gas. To maximize the rewards, I always redeem my discounts when filling up from a nearly empty tank with some gas cans, to use the full 30 gallons of discounted fuel.

When doing the math, the perks net the equivalent of getting 6% off the price of the gift cards ($100 of purchases earns $.20 off of up to 30 gallons - or $6 in fuel discounts - if you don't use the full 30 gallons, the total discount goes down). When using a rewards credit card to buy the gift cards, that just compounds, especially since many rewards credit cards have a higher rewards yield at grocery stores or gas stations (where you can buy the gift cards). So that adds another couple percent; getting gift cards here is like getting an 8% discount on the face value of the gift card. So as you can see, hard to give that up - so long as that program continues, anyway. And that is why I keep coming...

This morning I went back to GE (again) for being overcharged for my purchase. In the pass i've received a full refund (even if I bought two items) Today I took a picture of the item priced at 2 for six because I was charged 3.99 each. She tapped her register and handed me a dollar. I mentioned that usually the purchased is a total refund. (Which she has processed for me in previous weeks) so she handed me the dollar and refunded me on one item. Which she tells me is policy (if it is then what I saying that's not what I have experienced before) I guess I'm getting tired of always having to check my receipt. In a survey I did yesterday I mentioned how three of the coolers at the end of the aisle have no prices, I checked today thinking they would update overnight but they didn't. I did get a chuckle at the the cooler at the end of the aisle across from the milk with a big red sign "clearance marked", so i checked and yes items on the right side of the cooler were marked but no prices on items on the left side. 😐 I could go on on items going from 2 for 7 and the next day they are 5.99 a piece. What goes up 2.49 an item in one day? I have always try to support the local store but it's getting hard to do. Trust me when I say I get no pleasure on being...

At the end of an interaction the Saturday AM before Memorial Day, I told Cameron, the customer service representative, that I was going to take my business elsewhere. He shrugged and replied "go ahead." I was loyal to Giant Eagle and this location in particular until that exact moment.

I called to let management know what happened. They did not ask for my name or phone number to follow up with me. I do hope the people who work in produce, the bakery, deli, and meat counter who know me and my children by site (due to our shopping frequency) and are always pleasant, helpful, and personable are able to maintain their livelihoods as Giant Eagle loses loyal customers due to inept and rude customer service.

Unrelated, the cakes are extremely overpriced and not all that tasty (though the bakery staff are outstanding). Costco is the best place to go for...