Trader Joe's — Restaurant in Castro Valley

I usually patronize this TJs, since I reside in CV. More often than not, they provide really good service, really good products and good buys. But I had an experience today that really surprised me.

Eggs have been a hot commodity for the past 90-120 days. With the end of an avian flu, market prices for eggs have been going up during this timeline. Some places were/are selling a dozen of large eggs for over $9. Not TJs. For the most part, their prices have been fairly stable during this whole ordeal. I have been buying a dozen of eggs here because during this timeline because TJs has been way below market value, compared to other stores. Today, I went to get my dozen (which is usually $3.29 for a dozen). It was scanned/rang up at the register at $3.99 for that same dozen. The checker asked an employee to double check the pricing. I watched him, as he went to the back of the store to the egg carton bin to "check pricing" and came back confirming $3.99. I KNOW what I SAW, so I asked him "what the $3.29 sign was for"? No answer, only that my eggs were $3.99.

I put my paid for eggs in my car and returned to the egg carton area and low and behold, the $3.29 shelf sticker, was removed.

Edit: more egg-news. Visited today (early afternoon) and found out TJs CV were out of eggs (saw sign which said you couldn't buy more than 2-doz.). When I asked one of their workers she told me eggs would be in again tomorrow/Easter Sunday(?). But you're not open that day, I asked. She just mumbled something and walked away. So, I drove to the San Ramon TJ's store and they had plenty of eggs and no purchase restrictions. I don't know who buys products for the CV store but this isn't the 1st time they ran out of something B4 a holiday. I've been noticing over time, this buyer (CV store) isn't as good as the one who buys for San Ramon. I should just shop at TJs in San Ramon? They usually are well stocked just B4 a holidays (and the rest of the time too)....

The place And the people who work there are nice, but the parking and the people who go there are terrible.

Maybe try early in the morning. Bring some bags if you can, so you don't have to try to navigate a cart around the overcrowded store full of entitled jerks. This is my second time going there, and each experience has been terrible due to the people who shop there. From the parking lot to the inside, shoppers act like they are the only people there. They will cut in front of you and run into you, without saying please, thank you, sorry, and excuse me. At best you get an apprehensive look. If you say something ('you didn't us standing here'- another person and I were standing in line to get some samples, and this lady just cuts in front of everybody can't take the samples without even looking around-this happened a few times, eventually I just walked away), folks look at you like you're a monster.

PS. You probably shouldn't put a sample station right in the already constricted walkway. People are stopping and waiting for a sample like they're the only person who matters. While people who are just trying to shop are waiting for them to move out of the way.

TLDR: The level of entitlement is simply off the charts, people forget their manners, how to drive, and how to be a decent human being, which is crazy because the workers are so kind to the point of being obsequious. If you can't get there in the morning, try...

Trader Joes as a company is a great place to shop for both groceries and products. For the most part their employees are friendly, helpful, they go out their way to help.

I don't particularly shop at this location often, only because parking can and has been a pain, its location is not so convenient, it can be difficult to get in and out of and this store is much smaller, so the number of customers who are allowed in is a lot less, which makes the line outside longer.

There have been times, where customers including myself have been harassed, by customers trying to find a place to park, strangely, at times there has been an unsafe feeling.

There have been times where Ive received dirty looks and/or glares from customers in the store, in line waiting to go in, and even some store employees. Which I tried to ignore, it wasn't worth it to me to get any employees in trouble, by reporting them, it doesn't help anyone when maybe the employee was having a bad day/moment. And besides I know the damage that can be done, by reporting them.

There are even employees who "think" it's okay to mock customers, I've watched them. And it's sad how poorly these employees act.

Not sure why any other customer would glare at me, for just needing to buy groceries or have food to eat. Seems like a pretty basic common need for everyone who requires food to energize...