H-E-B — Local services in San Marcos

I want to emphasize at the outset that this one star pertains to a specific experience and not to the overall experience of shopping at the East Hopkins HEB, although some of the negative aspects are chronic problems with the location.

This week's weekly ad advertised "but HEB spiral ham, get Riverside turkey under 12lbs for free" however when I went to store on Thursday there were neither coupons nor Riverside turkeys. I spend several minutes looking for the Riverside turkeys, I only found a bin with HEB turkeys. I asked TWO people with the deli department where the free turkeys were, they both pointed me out to the bin with the HEB turkeys. So I picked up the ham and the turkey and went to the register, and explained to the checker what was up, and he had someone go and look for for the coupon and the Riverside turkey and no one found either, and so they then moved to a different register so as to not hold up the line while the supervisor consulted with a manager, who had to take my phone with the weekly ad (as apparently even management does not have a master printed copy for themselves?) and show it to the manager, who then declined to make a substitution. No raincheck was offered, but the supervisor did suggest I check back in a few days. I did not get mad at the supervisor, it was not his fault, but I found all this highly annoying for a few reasons.

In the DECADES now that I have been shopping at this HEB location, time and time again they FAIL to have one of the on-ad specials in stock and/or with the coupon available to redeem. Although weekly specials START on Wednesday, they don't have either the stock or the coupon until Friday or Saturday. NO, I don't want to "come back and check", I only want to go to the grocery store once a week. Why is it that HEB, which on the whole anticipated in advance of the federal government itself, supply chain issues arising from COVID, and adjusted itself remarkably, cannot, at least at this location, ever get their stuff together about weekly ad availability?

I regularly have lots of my time wasted looking for specials that aren't yet arranged, and this day in particular, it made me run late, late for work, in which case HEB "savings" aren't 'saving' me anything.

I am also curious why a 12lb Riverside turkey is valued at $15 whereas a 12lb HEB turkey is valued at $50. Are the Riverside turkeys deficient? Do they feed the HEB turkeys gold? I know this differential is why they were unwilling to make a substitution, but I don't understand what the difference is. Maybe I missed something.

Like sometimes another thing that wastes my time is not all the inventory is clearly marked for price, especially in produce. In one particular instance, the price of their romaine lettuce was different from the price listed in the produce aisle. FOR YEARS. I kid you not. I repeatedly informed them, they never fixed the issue until, I assume, the price of lettuce went up again, and they finally changed the sign to be consistent with the scan.

And as long as I'm at it, why is it that New Braunfels and Kyle have HEB Plus and San Marcos does not? East Hopkins is nearly always absurdly overcrowded.

Does HEB think it can get away with slack inventory standards because they have the grocery monopoly (as I would hardly call Wal-Mart competition)...

I had a frustrating experience getting a money order today. After a six-hour drive with my dog and all my belongings, I arrived at Walmart at 5:41 PM. There were two people ahead of me, and the employee, Emily C., was checking out someone, she was very slow and had an attitude. It took her 18 minutes to process two money orders and a lottery ticket. My checkout receipt showed 6:00 PM, meaning I waited 18 minutes for just three transactions.

Her name tag said she’s been here for 5 years but she was checking people out like it was her first day. When I asked if another register could be opened, Emily said no. Others in the regular grocery checkout lines were leaving faster than those of us in the money order line. I can in with my phone on 4% and it died before I even got to the checkout line.

When I finally reached the counter, I asked for a $700 money order and the manager’s name. Emily caught an attitude and refused to check me out. I originally was just gonna call the manager and tell and tell him about my experience and about having 2 people at a money order area instead of one when it gets like that. I wasn’t gonna name drop her or complain about her until she caught an attitude the moment I asked for her managers name and refused to check me out. She also made statements like “I’m not going to check you out, or you should’ve gotten here earlier” she told me I’m not going to check you out and she can call a manager, I responded I don’t have time I can call tomorrow. She states I’m not going to check you out then. So I tell her to call a manager bc someone is going to do it. You already holding up a line behind me you want to waste more people’s time. She also seemed like she wanted to argue and waste more of my time. I definitely didn’t have time because I was already in a rush.

The manager, Josh, came over but just stared at me and didn't help. I told him I don’t have time to talk to him because I’m in a rush I can call later today or tomorrow . Eventually, Emily processed my money order while continuing trying to argue. I just kept saying I don’t have time just do your job.

I called another manager, Kristen, at 7 PM to report the situation. She acknowledged the issue and promised to speak with Emily and report the situation to Josh. As someone who works in retail, I understand being short-staffed, but taking 20 minutes for four money orders and being rude when you’ve proven that you’re incompetent is unacceptable in any customer facing role.

I just moved down here, and this was my first experience in HEB San Marcos so I definitely didn’t have a...

Where do I start with this unconcerned management run store.

For one, this and the other downtown location aren't sufficient to serve the ever expanding San Marcos population. Due to this inconvenience of minimal grocery shopping locations. The entire city of San Marcos has to enter a parking lot crammed with a wrap around the lot line of cars waiting for curbside pickup.

If you somehow manage to get a parking spot to do shopping. The curbside shoppers are always rude and in the way of shoppers whilst also in little groups gossiping. It's always the female staff just talking in front of products others need to get to.

The gossiping doesn't stop at the grocery selection. Had a blonde female cashier last week that literally held her conversation. With the bagging coworker. Making the checkout process horrendously slow. Watched a manager just ignoring the issue while counting money.

The tortillas in the bakery are ALWAYS out of stock by 7-8pm. The bakery manager is aware of the problem. Which stems from a couple taco vendors coming in to buy large quantities to make their tacos. These businesses that need product will still get the stock. Regardless of item limitations. They bring multiple family members to buy what they would need.

So the problem of having tortillas for shoppers that get their shopping done later in the evening. Continues to plague this location consistently. The inability to recognize the need for more workers goes unaddressed for months.

Otherwise the tortilla problem wouldn't be an ongoing issue.

Then when you're done shopping the store and unable to obtain what you set out to buy. Since this H.E.B never has it stocked. With management that can't be bothered to address issues.

Be ready to bag all your own items. For whatever reason the baggers at this location are a rare commodity. Feel free to shop here and see for yourself. I consistently see teller/bagging management staring off into phones. Instead of chipping in or keeping talkative easily distracted coworkers on task by reminding them they're at work.

Whatever lax managing approach this location has been going down the last few months. Made the shopping experience horrendous.

District management needs to do a month long evaluation to take all my complaints into account. This store is getting...