Safeway Sells Canadian Operations to Sobey's

[Yamer]

I know this is somewhat off-topic, but after reading a few comments in this thread I'm just puzzled at people's aversion to Superstore. It is really where I do 90% of my grocery shopping, and the experience has never been near as atrocious as I've heard some (on this board and elsewhere) describe. Prices are comparable or better than anywhere else, they always seem to have stock (unlike Walmart), include an overly-acceptable variety (as well as a respectable house-brand), are rarely suffocatingly busy, and still have self-check out tills. My only knock would be that sometimes they have some pretty sub-par produce, but for the most part it's on par with other major retailers.

Sobeys: Usually clean and bright, good produce, but more expensive.
Safeway: Confined and pricey. Great deli/fresh-made counter and the bakery isn't too shabby.
Save-On: Take out a mortgage to shop here. Also rather confined.
No Frills: Good prices, completely unappealing environment and limited selection.
Walmart: Usually great prices...but crowded with people, rarely have stock, food always tastes off/stale (like it wasn't transported and stored properly), disgusting house-brand (great value my ass).

I'll take a trip to Superstore over any of these any day of the week.

[Ducay]

Honestly, your veiws of each chain depend on what location you shop at.

Bowness/16th Ave Safeway =/= Aspen Safeway.

Just like my terrible Strathcona Sobey's is totally different to other Sobey's locations.

But overally, Superstore is the worst because you cannot get produce there. Why make 2 trips to different stores when I can go to Safeway/Coop and spend $10 more on a trip and get actual fresh produce instead of picked over baby bok choy. Somehow that's all that store ever has lots of.

[ranchlandsselling]

nm

[calgarygeologist]

Originally Posted by Yamer

Sobeys: Usually clean and bright, good produce, but more expensive.
Safeway: Confined and pricey. Great deli/fresh-made counter and the bakery isn't too shabby.
Save-On: Take out a mortgage to shop here. Also rather confined.
No Frills: Good prices, completely unappealing environment and limited selection.
Walmart: Usually great prices...but crowded with people, rarely have stock, food always tastes off/stale (like it wasn't transported and stored properly), disgusting house-brand (great value my ass).

I'll take a trip to Superstore over any of these any day of the week.

Superstore isn't too bad but I almost never go there (only when I need some Asian food supplies.) I've only been to two Superstores in the last couple years (Deerfoot Meadows and Country Hills/Sarcee) and the stores are always packed with people and the parking lot is madness. What should be a quick in and out trip (3 or 4 minutes tops) usually takes 10 to 15.

I've only been to Sobey's once (the Lakeview store) and I was not impressed. I don't even know where a Sobey's is near my place now (Varsity.)

Coop is my go to grocery store. I've basically been shopping at Coop all my life as my parents always shopped there.

[I-Hate-Hulse]

Superstore pretty much only services the suburbs. I used to drive out to one all the time but quickly realized the gas and time wasn't worth it.

Now I go every couple of months for odds and sods, and shop primarily at Safeway as it's just up the hill. I figure I'm coming out about even.

Gas ain't cheap. My time is worth even more.

[Yamer]

Originally Posted by Ducay

Honestly, your veiws of each chain depend on what location you shop at.

Bowness/16th Ave Safeway =/= Aspen Safeway.

Just like my terrible Strathcona Sobey's is totally different to other Sobey's locations.

But overally, Superstore is the worst because you cannot get produce there. Why make 2 trips to different stores when I can go to Safeway/Coop and spend $10 more on a trip and get actual fresh produce instead of picked over baby bok choy. Somehow that's all that store ever has lots of.

Definitely is a location based preference I'm sure. Then again the only Superstore I have ever been in that was overwhelmingly busy was the one on the south end of Edmonton. You almost couldn't move it was so packed.

I never have problem with produce stock at any of the Superstores I have shopped at. I will concede that I have purchased produce that has tasted a little wooden, but I've learned what to look out for having worked in a produce department a couple years back. If it doesn't look right I just don't buy it, and if I really need that single item I will zip into one of the many stores near any major shopping location I frequent and simply pick it up. For the handful of times I can count in which that has happened to me at Superstore I am willing to take the risk.

[Handsome B. Wonderful]

Originally Posted by Yamer

I know this is somewhat off-topic, but after reading a few comments in this thread I'm just puzzled at people's aversion to Superstore.

Gaping empty shelves that make Target look well supplied.
Absolutely the worst produce in the city. If they have any, often that is empty too.
Dairy products near their expiration date.
Idiot customers clogging the aisles worse than Costco.
They somehow manage to have less tills open than Wal-Mart.
Incompetent, slow cashiers.
Hostile customer service people.
And the worst sin: warm beer in the liquor store.

[cDnStealth]

Originally Posted by Handsome B. Wonderful

Gaping empty shelves that make Target look well supplied.
Absolutely the worst produce in the city. If they have any, often that is empty too.
Dairy products near their expiration date.
Idiot customers clogging the aisles worse than Costco.
They somehow manage to have less tills open than Wal-Mart.
Incompetent, slow cashiers.
Hostile customer service people.
And the worst sin: warm beer in the liquor store.

I hear their pop is more expensive too.

I tend to shop at Sobey's simply because it's close to my house.

[Canehdianman]

I'm losing my local Sobeys (Douglas square) and the Safeway north of me in Ogden as well.

Not really a problem as we shop mostly as Superstore or Co-op, but still crappy for when we need something convenient.

[You Need a Thneed]

Superstore: lack of thoughtful organization.

The one near me has 5-6 long aisles of food stuff. That should allow them to put like things together, right?


Wrong, you can literally find juice displayed in three separate aisles. It's moronic.

[MRCboicgy]

I wish they'd just torch the Montgomery Safeway, despite it being my local big chain (Bownesian Grocer doesn't count). Seriously, that place is the pits, the number of times I've been there and their milk or yogurt is just a day or two away from expiry, or their produce is scuzzy had me swear them off. I'm sure it's super profitable for them though.
Market Mall Safeway pisses me off too, due to the fact they can't have a self-checkout line for some reason...getting worked up for a Friday.

[Slava]

I just can't wait until I can click and buy groceries that way. Maybe for delivery, maybe for pickup, but either way the time savings will be great. I shop at Sobeys for a bunch of stuff and frankly one major reason I want this is to avoid the sales pitch on the way in and out. I can't stand the hard sell for credit cards or newspapers or calendars when I just needed a bag of apples and a loaf of bread.

[redforever]

Originally Posted by Handsome B. Wonderful

Gaping empty shelves that make Target look well supplied.
Absolutely the worst produce in the city. If they have any, often that is empty too.
Dairy products near their expiration date.
Idiot customers clogging the aisles worse than Costco.
They somehow manage to have less tills open than Wal-Mart.
Incompetent, slow cashiers.
Hostile customer service people.
And the worst sin: warm beer in the liquor store.

I am wondering when you last shopped at Superstore.

I felt the same way about them at one time but as they renovated their stores over the last 3 years, that simply is not the case anymore. Their produce has improved dramatically in that period of time. I mainly shop at their Shawnessy store and find it to be very nice. I don't however shop exclusively at any grocery store.

I just did a small shop at Superstore yesterday and the milk I purchased has an expiry date of July 15. I never saw any milk products one day away from their expiry date.

Yes, sometimes their shelves are not as well stocked but I find that to be mainly at holiday times.

I have never encountered a hostile customer service rep nor have I found their cashiers to be slow. I have found that if there is congestion, it is because some customers are simply not very fast at packing their own groceries.

I don't purchase a lot of meat there, mainly some shell fish and cod, perhaps a pork butt for pulled pork, but then I don't purchase much meat period. When I want a nice roast or steak, I usually buy the triple A product at Co-op or Safeway.

And no store, and I mean no store, is more congested than Costco. And I don't buy much meat at Costco either, usually only their extra meaty pork ribs. I have always wondered if their beef is really triple A as I don't find their beef to be very good at all and don't purchase beef from Costco anymore.

[Jimmy Stang]

Originally Posted by Slava

I just can't wait until I can click and buy groceries that way. Maybe for delivery, maybe for pickup, but either way the time savings will be great. I shop at Sobeys for a bunch of stuff and frankly one major reason I want this is to avoid the sales pitch on the way in and out. I can't stand the hard sell for credit cards or newspapers or calendars when I just needed a bag of apples and a loaf of bread.

Co-op had home delivery a few years ago, but they discontinued it. Perhaps it was a little before its time? I wish they'd bring it back as I'd be much more likely to use it now.

While I'm not a CP 1%'er, I would pay a small premium for the time saved.

[undercoverbrother]

Originally Posted by Slava

I just can't wait until I can click and buy groceries that way. Maybe for delivery, maybe for pickup, but either way the time savings will be great. I shop at Sobeys for a bunch of stuff and frankly one major reason I want this is to avoid the sales pitch on the way in and out. I can't stand the hard sell for credit cards or newspapers or calendars when I just needed a bag of apples and a loaf of bread.

Hard sell?

[undercoverbrother]

Originally Posted by Jimmy Stang

Co-op had home delivery a few years ago, but they discontinued it. Perhaps it was a little before its time? I wish they'd bring it back as I'd be much more likely to use it now.

While I'm not a CP 1%'er, I would pay a small premium for the time saved.

The other thing that was discontinued was taking out my groceries to the vehicle for me.

WTF, I am old, lazy and earn in the six figures. I need a minimum wage worker to care by name brand purchases out to my vehicle.


Also, why did they discontinue the drive up pick-up. I rememebr buying groceries at Chinook Safeway, then strolling around the mall, then being able to swing by in the car and get the groceries loaded up in my vehicle.


The future sucks.

[Slava]

Originally Posted by undercoverbrother

Hard sell?

Well in the one I go to we have guy wandering around the produce section trying to sell credit cards or subscriptions to the paper. Its ridiculous. Then you walk in or out and there are charities set up for donations or whatever fundraising initiative they have going. I'm not a fan of the whole thing.

[MrMastodonFarm]

Originally Posted by Slava

Well in the one I go to we have guy wandering around the produce section trying to sell credit cards or subscriptions to the paper.

Seriously?

I would walk out and never return again.

[ben voyonsdonc]

Originally Posted by Slava

Well in the one I go to we have guy wandering around the produce section trying to sell credit cards or subscriptions to the paper. Its ridiculous. Then you walk in or out and there are charities set up for donations or whatever fundraising initiative they have going. I'm not a fan of the whole thing.

Which location is this?

[redforever]

Originally Posted by Slava

Well in the one I go to we have guy wandering around the produce section trying to sell credit cards or subscriptions to the paper. Its ridiculous. Then you walk in or out and there are charities set up for donations or whatever fundraising initiative they have going. I'm not a fan of the whole thing.

Pretty well most major chains do this, and not just grocery stores.

Sobey's had some guy fundraising for the Fire Dept about 3 months ago.

Foothills Academy was fundraising in Canadian Tire last week.

Co-op lets the Girl Guides sell cookies.

Don't think I have seen any fundraising at Safeway's nor do Safeway or Co-op have people trying to sell credit cards...I guess because they don't have their own credit cards to sell.

Sears and the Bay both have people trying to sell you credit cards.

I just walk by the credit card people...make my own judgement about stopping at any of the fund raising stuff.

It is never a hard sell except for that jerk in Sears who runs up to you and tells you what nice hands you have and would you be interested in some kind of product.

I told him to take a hike, that he had to be kidding...I am a gardener and my hands are rarely what you would call nice enough for someone to come running and tell you what beautiful hands you have.