Tops Friendly Markets — Local services in Town of Gates

Just had the rudest most unprofessional experience trying to buy 2 live lobsters. To start, no one was in the section, I stood there for ten minutes before I asked the nearest employee who frustratedly said she doesn’t work back there and grudgingly called for assistance. When a lady did show up to help me, she acted like it was a pain to get me a lobster. I tried to request specific lobsters and she told me it was impossible because they move too fast, I said, okay, well they taste different based on size and how active they are, she said “they’re all active they’re fresh” (we live in upstate ny, the freshest seafood isn’t always that fresh) and that they’re all around a lb-lb and a 1/3. Then she grumbled when she pulled out a lobster and I said I didn’t want that one. I’ve never once bought live lobsters and not been able to select which one, why would you have a tank visible to customers if they can’t choose their lobster. I’m spending $20 a lb on it, I should be allowed to choose my lobster, I wouldn’t buy a $20 a lb steak if I couldn’t look at it first. Extremely frustrating, and if I could have gotten a lobster anywhere else I would’ve turned around and walked out. They’re not goldfish, they’re not fast, she should be able to grab a specific lobster if she’s going to work in that section. Get your hand in there, I don’t care what you need to do to get it, but definitely not be overtly frustrated with a customer and continually disagree with me about wanting something that would be normal in any other seafood section. Seafood section policy should be reviewed by the store, and maybe employee attitude, as it didn’t feel like a very friendly market to have the employee be actively mean and...

Not from the area. I'm an otr truck driver so I go everywhere. The prices are very expensive here for many things (especially the bakery dept) but it is NY so that's to be expected. I did try the fresh hot pizza they make in the back. NY pizza does have a reputation for being very good but this is a supermarket. What intrigued me was the price of a large pepperoni pizza cost almost $23! For that I figured it must be excellent pizza so I tried a slice for $3. Well I was very disappointed to say the least. The breading seemed prefabricated. The sauce was lacking flavor. The cheese seemed ok but they added way too much and the pepperoni was regular pepperoni. Considering you can buy an excellent larger pizza from Whole Foods for $12, $15 with one topping (still $12 one topping on Fridays) this was excessively overpriced for a very mediocre pizza. Mind you I grew up eating pizza from the five boroughs of NY so I know a thing or two about good pizza. Realistically for what you're getting this should be priced at $11.99 max for a plain large and $13.99 for a one topping. Just mho. If gas station quality pizza is your thing and you don't mind overpaying this...

I usually don't shopped at this Tops location, while shopping I seen a display of a hanging egg chair. I went back a few weeks later 07/29/25 to see if it was still there, it was so I purchased it. I have the best customer service experience ever. Holly, who I think is a manager was outstanding, I told her I wanted to purchase the display, I didn't want to put it together, she made sure to get me assistance, in order to get the chair in my car. Along, comes Jay who was amazing as well. Jay, unscrewed the bar in order to get the chair in my car, he made sure that I had all the screws required to put the bar back together. Both of their, attitudes we amazing not once did they made me fell like I was not important and what they were doing was a pleasure to assist me. Both Holly and Jay stayed with me until I pulled off with my chair!! HOLLY and JAY are the best and deserve to be rewarded for outstanding customer service, they went above and beyond job expectations. I'm sure they have helped others as well. Because of HOLLY and JAY, I will continue to shop at the Gates Location. KUDOS!!! to...