Vons — Local services in Santa Monica

Edit 1-20-23. This Vons is closing and is running a 10-90% sale on all items in store from the beginning of January to the 26th of January. The first visit towards the beginning of January had plenty of items but a few areas had limited inventory. The 2nd visit was roughly a week later and more stuff was gone. Slowly the store was clearing out. The 3rd and last visit was around the 20th. Majority of the store was cleared. A couple of the staff claimed the staff took most of inventory. But ended up looking around and saw that they had large pallets with huge boxes with most items throughout the store to send to other nearby stores. The promotion states that the store is 10-90% off until inventory is completely gone. NOT take 50% or more of the inventory to other stores because you don't want to either mark prices down further or stay open until the 26th. Cleary false advertising.

Just another basic grocery store. Their inventory of items and food is limited or out of stock often (been going on well before 2020). Some items are randomly placed or are placed in a totally different isle. Quite a few staff members are nice and helpful. A couple are pretty clueless and/or rude. Most of the security lately has been decent. Homeless and theft are very common. Security and staff does the best they can do but the uneducated politicians and people just let it happen.

Pros: has some locking sliding doors on a few different isles (good idea for those items). Large parking lot.

Cons: Some isles that needs the locking cabinets doesn’t have them. Limited or out of stock on many items. Sometimes people will park in the lot and leave to other locations (should have patrol or extra 2-4 staff for lot duties and either tell people to park elsewhere or actually use the tow services). Homeless and the nutcases are often here and often causes a scene in the store and/or...

One morning, I decided to stop by this Vons to get a couple of beers (it was that kind of morning). After shopping, I noticed a traveling couple sitting outside (they had also just finished shopping.) I had spoken with them on the way in. They seemed interesting; so, i decided to stop a chat for a while (it was that kind of morning).

As I walked toward my car, i noticed a manager lady talking to the security guard and pointing at the couple. She was saying that she didn't think the "image" of the (admittedly scruffy) couple was good for her store.

Instead of merely asking the couple to move along, the security guard called the Santa Monica Police and told the dispatcher that some homeless people were "scaring away customers."

I was outraged!

I decided to stick around and speak to the officers when they arrived. The officers questioned the two as well as another homeless lady who happened to be nearby. Then they questioned me.

I told them exactly what happened, explained that all of us were customers, and I offered that, in fact the homeless werent scaring away customers, it was actually the manager who was scaring away customers by calling the police on them merely for the crime of existing.

The officers agreed with me, and crisis was averted.

I certainly hope that this isnt the image that Vons wishes to portray... and I might add that the manager lady must have weighed over 250 pounds... not exactly a healthy weight... Is that the image of Vons Santa Monica?

What a joke!

From then on, I only shop at Vons Santa Monica if there is nowhere else open.

They do have a wide selection, including many organic and specialty items, so i grudgingly give them 2 stars. best to avoid...

I was harassed 3 times on different dates by the Grocery manager near closing time. The worst of the 3 was when there were about 10 mins left tile close. I knew what I wanted and I am a fast shopper. He and some other workers started talking about me before I even got close to them. I tried to ignore them. But when I got close enough, the Grocery manager (6' Latino) told me with a sneer on his face and anger in his voice that If I "didn't go to the cashier now, that I would not be checked out of the store. " I just looked at him in shock. Where was the customer service? Even one of his workers said: "Calmate Cabrone..." as even he knew this guy was getting out of control. So, he starts in again (grocery manager) and repeats what he just said but in diff terms- still with anger. So, I said back: "Well then, if I get to the front and there is no checker, then I'll just put my groceries on the floor and leave."

Horrid customer service. Store managers that I have known in the past and worked for would have fired this guy on the spot if they witnessed how he acted. It's really a shame that customers service is going down the...