Big Y — Local services in West Hartford

Worst experience ever! Went there for a simple propane exchange. First of all I'm a first responder, working extended hours during this COVID19 pandemic. As a courtesy to first responders stores like Trader Joe's, Stop & Shop etc. would let you enter without waiting in long line and if I told them I just needed a quick propane exchange and I wasn't doing any grocery shopping I'm sure some accommodations would have been made. It wasn't the case with Big Y on Bishops Corner in West Hartford. So I waited in line just like everyone else and upon entering the store I approached the girl at the customer service desk who had zero customers waiting in line, zero! She was too busy talking to another employee so when I finally decided to interrupt her and inquired about propane exchange she sent me to one of the registers with 10+ people waiting in each line with shopping carts full of groceries. She could have easily done it right there at the CS desk. So I waited in line again... Soon I realized that I will be late to my 12-hr shift so I asked the lady at the Self Checkout isle if I could purchase propane there. She replied with a surprised look on her face "Why didn't you go to the customer service desk?" I told her that I was sent away from the CS desk at which point she and the girl at CS desk exchanged some words and dirty looks. After listening to their back and forth non-sense I couldn't hide my frustration any longer so I told her "This is your store, all I need is propane exchange. Please figure it out!" As I was paying for propane at the CS desk the girl kept trash talking which was very unprofessional. At least the gentleman who came outside to exchange my propane tank was very nice and professional. I can't say the same about the other Big Y employees whom I dealt with today, including the kid at the entrance who was on his cell phone the entire time. I shop at that store all the time because of the convenient location close to home, but after this experience I don't see myself coming back. I wonder when was the last time they took ethics class. Store management should seriously...

If you’re reading the reviews of a grocery store, it’s probably not because you’re curious what you can buy there. More than likely, you’re here reading this review because you heard your friend saying something about it or maybe you’re searching for relatable experiences to help make yourself feel better.

Either way, this Big Y helped me remember another grocery store I didn’t like either. Piggy Wiggly. iykyk

Before this review slides any further downhill, allow me to share the good. 1. The food. Big Y has some good food, especially the prepared foods in the deli. Pizza is always tasty and I’m looking forward to trying the dinner plates I picked up. 2. The service. Big shout out to Natalie who helped me check out. She alerted me that you get a free 20 oz Coke when you buy two pizza slices. She was even so kind to grab one out of the cooler for me while I was in line. Super cool Natalie!!! Thank you 👍 3. My little red dog named Chuggy. He’s been the best boy since 2019 and I am thankful for every moment I have with him.

Otherwise, the store is bigger on the outside than it is on the inside and it appears the store is overstocked. There is a major choke point where the fresh eggs are and it is akin to approaching a round-a-bout where no one knows what to do.

There also seems to be two distinct parts of the store. There is a part that has been gentrified with higher than normal property taxes and well keep easements. And then there’s the part where you might get your catalytic converter stolen. Hint: it starts at egg round-a-bout.

Bottom line: the food is good and Natalie at the check out is awesome 🤩. The general condition of the store reminds me of a dirty floored Piggly Wiggly where you’ll meet your future...

If you're wondering, the Y in Big Y is short for "Y would anyone ever shop here?"

I've lived in all over New England and the Mid-Atlantic and I have yet to find a grocery store as poorly managed as Big Y. Everything that could be wrong with a grocery store is wrong at Big Y. The food (if they haven't run out of it and failed to restock it) is not only not fresh, but frequently moldy or rotten, especially the produce. The prices of many items are often either missing or incorrect. Sometimes, things have been put in the wrong area completely, so you have to figure out which price tag goes to which product so you don't get surprised at the checkout. But that's ok, because you'll have plenty of time to examine your items during your wait in the long lines, since Big Y appears to be chronically understaffed and the cashiers, while friendly, appear to have more interest in talking to each other across the lanes than say, bagging your groceries. Luckily, you will be able to occupy yourself during your wait by dodging other carts, because the aforementioned long lines spill into a high traffic area.

Like I said, I've been in a lot of stores all over the Northeast. You'd be hard pressed to find one as bad as Big Y. I have yet to find one this bad in West Hartford, the state of Connecticut, or indeed, the entire Northeast region. I am giving it two stars because they have a good location, which is, I am pretty sure, the only reason they are able to make any money whatsoever given that they run their store like a circus. If you have any other grocery store that is convenient to you, I highly suggest...