Giant Eagle Supermarket — Local services in Stow

Disappointing Self-Checkout Experience at Giant Eagles

I recently had the displeasure of using Giant Eagles' self-checkout system, and I must say that my experience was far from satisfactory. In today's fast-paced world, where efficient and user-friendly systems are the norm in modern grocery stores like Meijer, WalMart, or ALDI, Giant Eagles' self-checkout system feels like a major step backwards.

First and foremost, the lack of employees at the checkouts was incredibly disappointing. As a customer, I expect a certain level of assistance and availability of staff when I shop, especially in case I encounter any issues. Unfortunately, Giant Eagles failed to meet this expectation, leaving me feeling frustrated and neglected.

Comparing the self-checkout system at Giant Eagles to those at other grocery stores highlights just how poor their system truly is. The user interface is cumbersome and outdated, making even the simplest of tasks feel like a chore. In contrast, the self-checkout systems at Meijer, WalMart, and ALDI are streamlined and efficient, allowing customers to complete their transactions quickly and with minimal effort.

One of the most glaring issues with the Giant Eagles self-checkout system is the scale's sensitivity. Groceries must be placed precisely on the scale, and even the slightest deviation causes errors and delays. This becomes particularly challenging when the scale area is too small to accommodate all the items being purchased, forcing customers to shuffle and rearrange their groceries continuously.

A potential fix for this issue would be to implement a larger scale area, allowing customers to set their groceries to the side while still being weighed. This would not only help prevent errors but also make the self-checkout process significantly smoother and more efficient.

The self-checkout system at Giant Eagles is in desperate need of an upgrade. The lack of employees, the outdated user interface, and the sensitive scale are all contributing factors to an overwhelmingly poor shopping experience. By taking cues from their competitors and investing in improvements, Giant Eagles could significantly enhance customer satisfaction and ensure a more pleasant and efficient shopping...

Update: I reduced my rating for GE from 5 to 3 based on my recent experience. Some of the newer people at customer service were super rude. It happened several times to me. And the store associates were not helpful either. One time I was standing in front of the customer service desk waiting for about 5 minutes with nobody coming to help while several employees were standing beside a checkout lane doing nothing but chatting. I ended up just leaving without solving the problem. They open more cashier check-out lanes than Meijer, which is great! Checking out at GE is much faster than at Meijer. It once was our favorite grocery store. We used to shop there a lot. It was 24/7 but now it closes at 11 pm. Customer service is above average. Store associates are nice overall but some are not so friendly. Products are fresh usually. Only once they had some expired milk on the shelf. I told them and they replaced them immediately. I never saw it again. A little pricey but the place is clean. Not as big as Market District and does not have so many options as Market District either.

But the prices are pretty similar compared to the Meijer nearby, which is a new, 24/7 store. Although Meijer has reward cards and store coupons, Giant Eagle's gas perks generally save you more. However, they usually open 2 cashier checkouts. They normally open the third one only when they see two super long waiting lines. They have 4 small self-checkouts but only 1 big self-check-out. If you buy a lot of groceries, then you have to use the only big self-checkout, which can get very long too. Meijer normally has at least 4 cashier checkouts open and Meijer has more small self-checkouts. I always feel I spend more time checking out at Gaint Eagle than at Meijer, which is very annoying, especially on the weekend.

Now this Giant Eagle has Scan, Pay & Go. Very convenient and efficient. This is much better than Meijer's Scan, Pay & Go. At Meijer, the cashier will still come to you and scan your items one by one again and use a hand scanner to confirm your purchase, which wastes more time than the normal self check out, at least in...

This particular location immediately catches your attention from the moment you walk in: the layout of the store differs from most Giant Eagle stores. However, it quickly becomes apparent that their layout is a refreshing step in the right direction! As you begin your shopping adventure, you find yourself intuitively navigating through the departments, aisle by aisle, until you reach the frozen goods section at the end (I told ya it was intuitive). A cut down a major aisle leads shoppers to an open and easy-to-use check out area complete with both self checkout and regular checkout stations along with an easily distinguishable customer service counter. You can expect a rather large parking lot as well, offering plenty of handicapped designations, trash receptacles, and cart corrales. The overall tone from employees leaves little more to be desired, as I was frequently greeted, offered help, and given sound instruction when prompted... all without feeling I had burdened anyone. Whether it be a grocery list of items or a quick stop, this is a great location for...