Donelan's Supermarket — Local services in Wayland

I can't believe some of the comments people have made about this store; that "prices are high", "aisles are small", and "can never compete with the big stores". Hello people!! This is not a Super Walmart!! It IS a small grocery chain built on quality and exceptional customer service, so comparing these two is like comparing apples and oranges.

The staff is excellent!! If there are more than 3 people in any line, rest assured another will be opened to accommodate. How many times have you EVER seen that in a large grocery chain like Stop & Shop? If you can't find something, rest assured there is an employee on the sales floor willing to help you! How many times have you seen that in Wal-Mart? Typically, the only way I can get help in Walmart is to grab a ladder!! I only know this because I used to work there. Hint, hint, it works! The mere fact that Donelan's schedules enough employees to assist customers is huge in my book. Too many large chains believe that sales volume dictates customer service when clearly it should be the other way around. You don't build business by cutting back on customer satisfaction or by making your employees run ragged to the point of not caring anymore.

I ordered delivery for the first time ever due to illness and my inability to drive temporarily. I couldn't be more pleased!! I got my groceries same day and 5 minutes BEFORE the expected time! The quality of the products were a concern when I placed my order, fearing that I would be given substandard quality because I wasn't able to pick things out myself. However, once I received my groceries my fears were put to rest. The driver even offered to carry the groceries into the kitchen for me once she heard I couldn't walk very well. She was so nice!!

One last thing, the prices are comparable with those at places like Roche Bros. and considering the ease and accuracy of shopping at Donelan's, I will continue to shop there because I think it's money...

I wasn't impressed with the deli department this (Saturday) morning when I went in at 8:00 am. (What happened?)

I understand that people are working to get the store up and running but your customers make your business run. (Pasta salad nor cold fish on ice will ever give you a review of any kind.) To treat customers as they are inconveniencing you so do you can back to other tasks of filling containers is never a good idea.

Note to management: maybe have two people attending the deli counter...one to only service customers and the other to get product out. Especially with new hires... please check in with personalities of people you hire.... personality is really important. First thing in the morning...kind of important to want people to come into your store to shop...I think. It sort of lends itself to how the rest will run on both sides.

This is the first bad experience I have had at Donelan's and we have been customers for...

Update a month later: i see significant improvements. Updated my rating up by one star. Keep up the desire to improve. 1. Always dusty. 2. Food prices are higher than at Whole Foods 3. Service has been getting worse over the years. Specifically, 2 days ago - only one register was open and 7 people stood in line. I walked up to the customer service. The manager was in his personal phone. I walked back to the end of the line. In a few minutes he opened the register. When I asked him why is it that only one register is one with so many people on line, he responded “ that’s how this are here”. I am surprised that this store is in business.

Recently, I stopped by “brothers” in Weston, also another privately owned store. Both stores are similar. Everything was clean and organized there. I think it’s a management issue.

Finally, there is a lot of trash in the parking lot that is blowing over into the woods...