Kroger — Local services in Violet Township

We live closer to the Kroger on Gener Rd., but we started coming to this one due to customer services issues with that one. At first things were much better, but over the last year things have really gone down hill with this Kroger.

As an example, today I went to pickup medicine. Despite my wife calling them yesterday and today and being told it was ready, one of the medicines wasn't ready. Gavin, the pharmacy tech, replied that is wasn't him my wife talked to (upon coming home, my wife is pretty sure it was him she talked to earlier today). I'm not sure how you say a medicine is ready when its not, but people are human, mistakes will happen. My problem is Gavin's response of it wasn't me when I said we've had a history of problems like this. I wait a half hour while they get the medicine ready, and then they only gave me one of two medicines. The second medicine is a life critical medicine; Gavin's response was I don't remember you wanting two medicines. Again, Human make mistakes, but in this case not giving a life critical medicine is a big deal, you need to realize that, and then learn from it.

Unfortunately, this has been typical of the pharmacy over the last year. I tried getting a diabetes medicine refilled and they needed five days. On the day it was supposed to be ready, I called and they said it was ready. I tried to pick it up and they promised it would be ready the next day. The next day I go in and try to pick it up and it still not ready. At this point, I am out; I ask them to transfer it to some one that has it and instead they promise to deliver it the next day. It does get delivered the next day, but the guy needs a check which they never mentioned and he forgot to get my drivers license number. When the pharmacy calls, I say hello, and literally the lady says "I need you drivers license number". So I tried explaining I'm not just providing it and she needs to do things like identify herself, explain why, and then I'll call them back. After the "HOld on" she goes on a rant and hangs up on me. I call back and try explaining the issue but the Pharmacist (female; refused to provide a name) just said we need your drivers license number and she didn't understand the problem despite me saying its the way you go about it. Eventually I try the store manager, corporate, etc. and none see the issue.

I go into the store and all I say at the pharmacy window is, "I'm the person with the deliver issue" and they said the cost, I paid cash, and they hand me my check and a receipt listing my name and my medicine. They never identified me etc. Those procedures are not in line with HIPPA, but I couldn't get anyone at the pharmacy or corporate to care.

I could give more examples or more details, but the bottom line is I always say to judge a company by the way they handle a problem; if you do business with a company long enough, something will happen. Kroger employees like to cuss me out, hang up on me, and they don't even understand there...

FIRST FOR THOSE WHO MY NOT READ ALL THIS LET ME START HERE. The gas station will tell you your money will automatically go back on your card but that may NOT be the case. If you go up to the cashier and use your card you have to go back up to get a refund (guaranteed if you have direct express which is given by SSDI). So for those of you on SSI be careful because they will lie and say it automatically goes back. This is for every Kroger I been to not just Pickerington. There is also times I have two back to back gas purchases which I have never done as I only ever owned one vehicle at a time. I have prepaid up to $100 dollars when my tank does not even hold $60 (with gas points of course). Point is be aware and get bank statements.

To my problem with Kroger in Pickerington Ohio on hill Rd. I was told by one of the people that stand there while you do their job "you have to many items in your cart, other customers are complaining about carts like yours." "You will have to go to another lane". After the initial shock and embarrassment wore off I was pissed. I went around the corner to the other self checkouts and proceeded to check out. Then while I am telling the first person "I am a customer too and I don't care what others think". (She played stupid like she couldn't hear) then a second person with nothing to do came up like she heard the whole conversation. She lied and said the first woman was respectful and did nothing wrong. Of course she seen I was recording the incident so lied for her buddy. There is a lot more there but, I got some on video and all on audio so I'm done complaining for now just waiting for corporate but I doubt they do anything.

Anyway, if you want us customers to go to a certain lane then shut down the self checkouts all together. Until then I will go to the self checkout I LIKE AND DO YOUR JOB FOR YOU.

The saddest part was when I was walking out. There were literally five "workers" standing around talking about the incident that just took place. Again jump on a regular register instead of stand around ... problem solved

Edit: I was able to post pictures of a few bank statements. Again my vehicle does not even hold $60. the receipt is from today. (That's just a few statements not all). Also when you go back up make sure you get your gas receipt if you don't go back you will lose your money. Lastly what you actually pumped is what will be taken off your card when you call it. If it says whatever your "prepaid" amount was you won't get it back.

(The double highlighted ones are the days I was supposed to get gas twice...

So, I grew up in this area and lived here for many years. I still do now. In fact, I remember when Pepe's Play Place was in Kroger in the 90's; the kids play area where they watched kids while parents shopped. I remember the pre-COVID era too, where you could go to the grocery store for an emergency in the middle of the night. Between 1990-2010 your store was amazing! Need medicine for your child? Feminine hygiene products? Work 2nd or 3rd shift? No problem... but, all good things come to an end I guess even in the grocery store world. You really come to appreciate those things. Furniture/home goods, paper bags, child care, stickers, familiar faces of long time workers. Kroger has lost a lot of great employees over the years too where you no one stays working here long enough to see familiar faces. You used to have so many that were long haulers, and never would have left if not for poor changes in your store in recent years. The unfair circumstances for forcing vaccines on your employees was shocking to hear about also. I really have been missing decent hours of operation for a long time most of all. Now, you have to go to other chains for 24 hour stores. Closing here at 11pm... in Pickerington? Prices are through the roof too. I'll be here willing and waiting for those old days again because I'd take all of that stuff over a fancy looking, bigger store. It sure does really stink with these kinds of hours for a grocery store that for decades had such great food, great prices, and reasonable/flexible hours. Times are changing and not for the better in these instances. Kroger, at least go to 1am.... What is the point in having your fuel center only open and then closing the grocery also?? And only can get gas until 11:30 or 12am at the latest?? Will it ever go back to how it used...