Raley's — Local services in Turlock

06/05/2024 I used to give this grocery store 5 stars. I grew up going to this grocery store. I loved going here. There was good product, shelves full, nice employees always willing to help and super cheerful. Always asked me how my day was going and asking to make sure I found everything okay.

Now here’s the deal. This place isn’t what it used to be. I went last week and saw a group of high school kids walk right out the front door with a bottle of alcohol they didn’t pay for after someone yelled at them to get out. I felt so sick. Everyone who works so hard to earn money to pay for groceries and this kid just steals. That makes me so sick.

Now this week I go and the checkout lady is young. And she literally flung my strawberries onto the belt and it opened the container and they almost flew out. She didn’t apologize, she didn’t try to fix it. She just flung it around. Excuse me but I don’t like my fruit or veggies bruised. I pick them out with great thought. When I grabbed my receipt from her I debated if I should say anything but it really bothered me and I figured I would regret it if I didn’t say anything. So I looked at her and I said, “next time maybe be more careful with the strawberries. You almost lost them all.” She just ignored me and started checking the next person. She didn’t smile. Didn’t talk to me. Didn’t apologize. This grocery store has become the worst grocery store. I get this experience a lot with all the new young cashiers. Why is it so hard to be nice. Or considerate. Or just a little more thoughtful. I was so disgusted I almost wanted to ask for a manager but I was exhausted after working all day I just wanted to go home. So I left. But I may not go back to that store. I’m going to find another grocery store that is more considerate and has better cashiers.

So if you’ve read all this, please go to another grocery store. Don’t give them your money.

And to the girl cashier I hope you learn to be...

As this was my very first time setting foot in a Raleys let alone my first time to one of their pharmacies. I am (to put it in very clean words) disgusted. I chose to come to this pharmacy since it is close to my home, in a fairly nice area and Raleys is somewhat mid-upper end in this town. I'd assume a clean, respectable but not elitist pharmacy to match the store as well. Wrong, I was very much insulted. My prescription was refused with these exact words from the pharmacist. "We are somewhat running low on this medication. I will have to reject your Rx since we will need to keep our reserves for our loyal customers". Are...you....kidding...me!?!? Raleys, you need to get this in check. Do you smell what Amazon is cooking at Wholefoods? Are you seeing the dismantling of grocery chains nation wide but also so much more near here? Walmart and Target and now even Amazon are invading the grocery space. No amount of baggers, customer service (or lack thereof) or so called "loyalty" is going to replace cost, friendly and inviting manners and inclusiveness. To be told flat out because I dont shop here that I'm being rejected a service. That's an oxymoronic thing to say and do. Since if I cant make my very first purchase on my very first visit, regardless of what the item in question is then I can never become a "loyal, regular" customer. Guess what? My money....its got the same value at anyone of the dozen or so other pharmacies in town. Now knowing your take on people I'll go ahead and throw my money at your competition. Good job letting your 90-120k per year employee just push one more customer away. Not to mention the word-of-mouth I'll be spreading of my experience...

DONUTS 2 JAN 2018

No resolutions. No cares.  Celebrating eight wonderful years of marriage (lotsa kids) with my wife.  I was up early before everyone so I went Han Solo to this establishment to get donuts.  Alone, with time to reflect I got to take a breath.  Raising three children is THE most challenging task on this Planet.  24/7 OPS.  I could write a review about parenting as well but let's stick to Raley's.

Back to breathing.  Reflecting.  I had come along way in my life.  The store was rich with age...meaning a small retirement gang had taken over the cafe.  I was about 20 years too early to go swap war stories with that flock.  (I will throw down on a crossword puzzle!)

I passed by the glorious display case of pastries.  There was an older gentlemen mulling over it.  Visually "hogging" the options I grabbed a box of donut holes and moved on. Remembering this was my 'me time' I turned and thought "my wife deserves the best".  I swooped back around, front wheels screeching, caught on a penny of course! How does that happen?!  And there the man was.  I took the wax paper used to grab the donuts.  He looked a bit confused.  Did he not know how to bag the donuts? He turned to me...his face lit up with a smile and said "I've been married 40 years and just decided to stop in here for my walk. Donuts or muffins?"

I'll admit I was tense.  Grocery shopping is an in and out experience for me.  It has to be with three kids.  I began to converse with the gentlemen and the connection over marriage, donuts, donut holes, and the exchange of a smile can only be...