Natural Grocers — Local services in Portland

TLDR: Natural Grocers is illegally denying doing bottle return because they hate poor people.

I went to the Natural Grocers location on Powell and Cesar E Chavez today to use the bottle return and was denied. While there was signage out front saying that there are no bottle returns today due to a lack of the proper bags, which is not a legal reason to accept returns. So I entered the store to make that known. I was then told by Andrew that they aren’t accepting returns due to a lack of space, which is also not a legal reason to deny bottle returns. After some combativeness, he eventually returned with boxes for me to place my returns in, but then went on a political tirade about how he’s voting for a republican governor because he wants the bottle return law reversed. Once I returned with my cans organized in the boxes, I was then told by another employee that they won’t accept them because they are out of one dollar bills. I informed her that I was told by another employee that they would accept them. Then she proceeded to ignore me and even looked over at me with such disdain, I was so shocked. I didn’t know that trying to recycle bottles and cans was such a disgusting act. So then I was told by Andrew that I need to go wait in line, ok fine even though there was no one in line… then I’m told again by the woman that they don’t have one dollar bills. So I responded, “well I have $5 worth, so you can just give me a $5 bill.” Eventually another employee helps me out, though she seems to need the approval of someone higher up. She asks one person, he says he doesn’t want to get involved. So she calls over the original woman who reminds me they are out of singles, and that for consistency sake they can’t be doing my bottle returns because they have already denied people and can’t be making an exception for me. Eventually I get my $5.20 for my bottle returns and leave.

Due to the fact that I was given 3 different reasons(two of which are not even legal) for denying bottle returns, I have deduced that this location is denying bottle returns because they don’t want people without houses to be in the store doing returns. Again, this is illegal, not to mention immoral.

I was treated so disrespectfully as a young, white woman who has housing that I cannot imagine the tone and treatment that houseless people receive. I am disgusted by the actions and attitudes of your employees especially Andrew, and the woman who approved my bottle...

I came in to get change for a $100 bill i recieved from a store nearby just hours before. (Even showed them the receipt from that store once I realized what was going on). They treated me like I was a criminal right away. The inexperienced clerk called a manager over where he then made a huge scene in front of everyone. Even though the pen test passed. He told me sorry we don't make change. So I grabbed a candy and he tells me the water mark looks off. Disgusted I left and went to Safeway and got treated better by far. I will Never shop here again. I get that this is a high crime area but you don't treat everyone like a criminal. The manager at the very least should have had more class than this. Especially at a high end grocery store. I wouldn't have given them any stars had it let me.

I've been reading the reviews and the owner mostly ignores the complaints and praises the people who compliment his store. So are you not interested in the people or practices that will ultimately catch up with you and shut you down? Shouldn't you try to fix your short comings? Like fix the bathrooms, add an another associate to the floor, teach them simple customer service expectations? I'm shocked. I wish I could have edited my review with a better grade and praising resolution but unfortunately I was ignored and disgusted at all the similar reviews as mine so I decided to again bring this to your attention Margaret and Phillip. Fix your short comings instead of lining...

No one is allowed to use the bathrooms. They are there, but inaccessible to customers. It is an odd experience to regularly shop at a place, to give them literally hundreds of dollars a month for food, and to not be allowed to use the bathroom while I'm there. It seems really really selfish of them. It IS really selfish of them. I mean, I assume they do not wish to allocate resources towards keeping the bathrooms clean/safe so they just keep them closed. How can they not have the money for that when they charge so much for their food AND underpay their staff? Greed, it's just greed.

The produce is so sad: wilted, old, lacking vitality.

The lights are so bright.

On certain days they are out of so many things.

One of the cashiers yells NEXT CUSTOMER which makes me jump and is triggering.

One of the cashiers did not believe that my client had placed a special order. He just would not listen to me or take me seriously. (He just couldn't find it).

There's not enough space on the register to put your bags and only a few of the cashiers will bag for you. It's unclear whether or not it is part of their job or yours.

The parking lot has giant raised bumps in it that make it extremely hard to push your shopping cart over it.

The good parts: there are some super kind cashiers, like Margaret and a few others. They are so good at being...