Stop & Shop — Local services in Vernon

I choose to shop at this store because I trade off the high prices for the convenience, as it's just down the road from where I live. I also choose to use self scan and self checkout, and I'm writing this review because of how frustrated I am with the system, as well as the customer service at this store when dealing with self service.

As a former grocery chain employee for over a decade long stint, everywhere from cashier to hiring management and working multiple departments, I really get the struggle. I can't say I'm as disappointed in the staff as I am disappointed in the company itself, because I know the customers aren't the only ones probably getting screwed over. I will say whoever is in charge of making the decision of how self service works in this location needs to figure this out, and I shouldn't be the one needing to offer a kernel of common sense to solve these issues, but I'm probably calling the store manager soon, if I can even get a hold of them.

Not for the first time, I went in today to no hand scanners, which I get it, first come first serve, it happens. I've been told by an employee AND the message on the screen - just use your mobile app to scan! So I do. It's a stressful trip to grocery shop no matter what, especially with the prices and how busy it can get in there - it's hard enough making decisions when the store barely has space to step aside and scan an item without someone, staff included, running you over. Either way, I reach the end of my trip and go to self checkout, scan the barcode on my phone and get audited. Random security measure, that's fine. But you know what's not fine? Standing there with multiple customers with blinking lights, no staff member to be found, and then when they show up, they tell me to GO GET THE SCANNER that I wasn't able to get in the first place so THEY can do their audit. And the reason we don't have a stationed scanner for this situation at the kiosk is...?

I know things are rough, I know it's understaffed, I know it's impacting everyone... but how am I responsible for someone else's job and why am I always met with a condescending tone like I'm inconveniencing them? It's not just one person, and the bigger issue is how it's run. "You need to go get a scanner"... don't you think I'd have one IF THERE WAS ONE? If this is going to be the issue, put up an out of order sign then or something! Don't tell me when I'm telling you I'm not responsible for that that, "Well, I shouldn't be leaving my post to do this" or "Well it's Sunday, so it's going to be busy and they're going to be in use". And what would've happened if there WAS NO SCANNER, like when I walked in? Does someone actually do the job then, or do I need to go hunt them down as well? Are you joking?

So, if I don't for some reason get a hold of someone, and you're in charge of responding to this: could you please just put a hand scanner at the self checkout for the staff to use, so they always have one if someone uses the product you invite them to use or because THERE ARE NO SCANNERS? I get that I have to be audited, I get that I have to put my number in. But why are we doing it like this??? And why am I being belittled for it?? This...

Though the prices are a little expensive, this place is never been too bad until today. I was purchasing a lime and a lemon each for $.59. They’re not sold by weight. I put them each in the same bag because I’m environmentally conscious and like to help the earth I don’t see why it would be such a bad thing to put a Very tiny Lime and a very tiny lemon in the same bag. We got to the self check out and I tried to purchase them. I did the lime first. I put it on the counter. The self checkout lady stormed over and proceeded to yell at me about how they Are two different fruits she proceeded to tell me how they were two different fruits. She would not stop saying that they were two different fruits. She said she was gonna have to redo the whole thing. She ripped open my bag and dumped both fruits still yelling about how they were two different fruits. I worked in a supermarket for three years so I knew how to work a self check out machine she added the lime even though it was already there. Only to remove it again she said oh that’s the lime and I said yeah that’s why I was confused by what you were doing and she said well they’re two different fruits so we don’t wanna mess up inventory I knew what I was going to do and , it would’ve been much easier than whatever she was doing. She removes the lime, then add the lemon still talking about how They’re two different fruits and yelling at me. She rolls her eyes and walk away. This is the worst we’ve ever had to deal with a self checkout worker. And isn’t it weird that we Have to buy a bag to put my stuff into conserve the Earth yet I Have to my two fruits that are the same price in a different bag. It’s a lemon and a lime for crying out loud. We hope this is not the future of...

My Mom and I have been going to this Stop & Shop regularly for many years, and before today, it usually went fine. Our last time shopping there, however, was a very negative experience and one we will NEVER put ourselves through again. All the regular registers were closed, so we were forced to use the self-checkout, which really ticked us both off. I don't work at Stop & Shop; why should I be expected to do their job scanning and bagging my own groceries!? Of course, the machine itself is beyond glitched and starts freaking out when I try to do even the simplest thing; an employee had to be called over about three separate times because the machine is useless. I actually lost one of my items during all the chaos and confusion, and that isn't even the worst part about our trip. Before we went to go pay, Mom asked two women who work there a question; they looked directly at us, and then just decided to walk off while Mom was talking, making a snide remark under their breath as they left. Never in my 31 years of life have I witnessed such rudeness. I don't tolerate people treating me or my mother with such disrespect, which is why we will NEVER shop at this Stop & Shop again. So goodbye, good luck, and good riddance; I'm taking my business elsewhere from now on. I'd give this place zero (0)...