Pak N Save

I don’t even know why they bother having customer service here. I was using the self checkout machine when it froze after I swiped my card. I told them it froze and they assured me that my card transaction didn’t go through and that I had to re-​ring myself up on a new self checkout machine. Fine. Needless to say, they lied and my card was charged twice. When I called back to inquire on fixing it, they said I would need to come in. When I came in, the guy at customer service said he couldn’t help me and that I have to come back in the morning. I told him I have a flight in the morning and can’t come so he said ok leave your number and I’ll have them call you. Nobody called me. So when I got back in town I went in to get it fixed. I’m still here standing at customer service 15 mins later as each person goes in the system to try to find it. I have told my story to 5 people so far, nobody has helped me yet and I am still out of money. I’d rather go to whole foods, pay the premium for customer service and a more aesthetically pleasing experience — this is ridiculous!

One of the worst grocery stores I’ve been to. Almost everything is way overpriced which is probably a reflection of the gentrification happening throughout the Bay Area. This store is also understaffed and there are usually people asking for money at the entrance. Also, I caught some guy peeing ON my car when I came out of the store. It was just an all around bad experience.

In the past, I have purposely avoided coming to this store for two reasons: unfriendly/​unprofessional store staff and ridiculously long checkout lines. Against my better judgement, I decided to make a quick stop for a few items. Nothing has changed! It was barely after 7 am, but still there was a line of folks waiting to be served. The saving grace were the self-​check out lines, which were quickly filled by folks who no longer wanted to wait. Of all things Customer Service or the lack there of, is one of my biggest pet peeves. I counted 5 employees standing in front of the self-​check out area watching as customers made their purchases. As people exited, there was no greeting of any kind– «thank for shopping…» or «have a good morning». nothing! And to top it off a few thought it was a good idea to discuss their personal opinions about a few shoppers. HUH… Management should really invest in and enforce a Customer Service program for the employees. Can’t believe that they are not aware of what’s going on. Nope– I will not be back.

This is the WORST store I’ve ever been to in my life. They don’t have baggers, their food selection is garbage, and the customer service is horrible. I will NEVER go back. #TEAMLUCKYS

I always get profiled and the workers always follow me like I am stealing.

I don’t post on Unilocal much but am compelled due to all the trashy comments. What a surprise to arrive and find an incredibly well stocked, neat as a pin store, with a wide offering of fresh veggies, meats, seafood and pantry items. I love to cook & did a quick check of ingredients for dishes I plan to cook this week: yes on decent Italian cheeses (Bel Gioso), no on fresh fennel. But you must admit fresh fennel is not a common grocery item. Helpful staff: we were in the wrong line for a wine purchase but the clerk helped us out. (True: wine inventory is humble) small charge if you need a paper bag.

So, you know how when you’re poor and in a poor neighborhood everything takes 5x as long and contains arbitrary rules that people pulled out of their ass to get a one up on the other people around them because they have no real power either? That’s this place. It reminds me of my childhood in NY. In a bad way.
Do you have a car, time and gas to spare? Drive to another Safeway.
Do you live near here and want to bike home with your groceries? Go to this Safeway but, for all the time you’ll spend on line with their one open cashier and multiple closed automated checkouts, you might as well just add two miles on to your night and go to the Safeway in the Rockridge shopping center. It’s smaller but, 80x more functional.
This place simply does not have the parking volume, stock volume or staff volume to keep up with demand during peak times. I’ve been here 20+ times since I moved to this side of the bay and each time it has been a shitshow for any number of reasons. The staff have all been relatively nice to me but, during peak times it greatly resembles a Black Friday type shopping experience.
I avoid this place unless it’s late and the closest store at the moment.
Honestly I think if they could get more staff including staff to fix the broken automated checkouts when they’re down –resulting in keeping all of them open at once — the huge aisle jamming backup wouldn’t happen. Then you’d just be left with the parking, stock and hobo problems.

After having shopped here many times (it’s near my office) and had less than mediocre experiences, yesterday finally sent me over the edge. This place actually told me that they have a limit of 10 on ANY item REGARDLESS of whether it is on sale or not, and they actually refused to sell me twenty items. When I asked them «why on earth would you not want to make a sale?», the cashier actually responded to me «This ain’t Costco… we don’t you making our shelves bare» After speaking to everyone who claimed to be the manager on duty – they all told me this is their corporate policy. I don’t believe it for a minute, and needless to say, instead of spending $ 100 yesterday, I spent 0, and will not be back.
Other experiences at this store: Parking lot is full and under constant construction, carts always in the lot, lazy snarky employees, security guards on smartphones, dirty, low stock.
I will be happy to spend TWICE as much not to go back to this HELLHOLE.

After having experiences at a nearby Safeway that were utterly ratchet, I sought a slightly elevated supermarket. I found Pak N Save not much better. Most of the checkers are laconic, and at peak times, with slow checkers and long, long lines, it’s a very dystopic experience. Though I have had some tolerable shopping trips there, I recently went and had to abandon my basket due to the overpopulated conditions. Because this is the bay area, prices are also somewhat high, and to buy any liquor one must go through the rigamarole of having a staff unlock it. While not as ratchet as the local Safeway, I found Pak N Save suffering from some similar ailments: lethargy of the staff, product disarray, time-​taking security procedures, and long lines. It’s unfortunate that such a necessity of life isn’t a better experience.

This place sucks. The lines are always insane. The service is awful. The prices are high lower quality product than you get at other places like Trade Joes or Berkeley Bowl. I only come here because its near my house but regret it every time. Ive had cashiers over charge me and complain about fixing it. Spend 30+ minutes in line. Just all bad.

Safeway prices for Pack and Save service.
The parking lot is always full and difficult to navigate.

This is basically a black safeway. I like it. It has everything a safeway would and my rewards number works here so when I don’t feel like driving to lake merrit or alameda to shop at a «real» safeway, this works just fine. Expect regular grocery store trafic.

The concept of this store is to pack you own groceries and save $$$? Not here and not worth going back again, the produce section is selling old dry stuff. Grocery outlet gets 3 stars, at least you know what is what.

Wooooow. This store still sucks! Can I give negative 5 stars? I HAD to go in again to my demise.
This store is the reason people in customer service are being replaced by automated machines. A machine can be non-​customer service oriented too, but at least it guarantees efficiency. These shitheads can’t even make a damned sandwich.
Please get an automated everything and keep them running ²⁴⁄₇. Your employees are about as friendly and useful as my broken hair dryer.
This store is a JOOOOOKKKKKEEE!!!

The first time I went to Pak N Save, I was on my 30 min lunch. I figured I could order a sandwich at the deli since there was no line. The guy who took my order failed to ask what I wanted on the sandwich before he put things in it. He barely asked me about what I wanted on the sandwich and the worst part was that he was SO slow with everything is did. There wasn’t the slightest sense of urgency, nor did he crack a smile. The line became long and my lunch was almost over by the time he finished my sandwich. Customers became unruly waiting for this guy. I usually order sandwiches from Safeway and none of them took 20 minutes to make like this one did. I didn’t even get to eat during my lunch break.
April 2, 2016
Although I had a bad experience with the sandwich guy, I would still go into Pak N Save once in a while if I needed to get something quick. I can’t believe no one has corrected the customer service yet. Each time I go, majority of the workers are neither friendly nor helpful. I’m not saying all because maybe I just keep seeing the bad ones. When I went two days ago, the cashier girl did not greet me hello or goodbye and did not crack a smile. She looked as though she hated her job. Someone really needs to change the management or something because this store is poorly staffed.

We live just around the corner, so this is the most convenient grocery store for us to go to.
I would actually give Pak N Save one star BUT I do think that this location has improved a lot the last three years. The interior and exterior design is remarkably improved since its renovations. The parking lot construction isn’t quite completed, though, so it hinders traffic efficiency.
Employees are super unfriendly and not helpful at all. In fact, it is evident by the long lines that more employees need to be hired. No matter what time of day we come here, there is always a long line that takes forever to move (for both the self check-​out lanes and cashier-​operated lanes). There are only two registers open every time, so the line is always backed up. –_​–
What’s most concerning to me is the produce selection. There is already a need for healthier options in this area, but Pak N Save does not provide them. The produce is expensive and are not as fresh as you would get in the Safeways located on College Avenue and Berkeley area.

The man at the deli is as slow when there is one customer as when there is a line of 10 customers.
I was the 3^rd, then 2^nd person in line for 20 minutes. I left without buying anything.

Yes this place is ghetto and has a scary parking lot, but what’s funny to me is that this place offers good produce. I also like the prices for most items compared to Target, Berkeley Bowl and Whole Foods. I don’t do all of my shopping here but for a few things yes it’s worth the stop. Get ready to pack your own purchases and don’t expect the friendliest of services, but hey we’re in the Bay Area it’s like that almost everywhere hehe.

The last time I went here was about a couple of weeks ago. It’s a bit far from where I live, maybe about 15 – 20 minutes, depending on traffic. One dude was walking out and dropped a dollar, and I yelled: ‘Hey mister! You dropped a buck!’ But he just looked back and ran faster, with something in his hand. I think he stole something. Yea, lots of stealing happens inside and outside of this Pak N Save. But I used the dollar for myself, because what the heck, he didn’t want it.
Anyhow, I digress. I only give four stars because it’s not very organized in here, and many a times, actually all the time I shop here, I see opened packages that are empty or half empty, like yogurt that’s been eaten by someone. It kinda makes you feel just a tad bit yucky, but the rest of the goods are priced very low, and are neatly packaged. They even have organic fruits and veggies, that most of the time are fresh, and the dates of expiration are pretty reasonable.
There are LOTS of people who shop here, and you have to pack your own groceries when you wait in the long lines. That’s why the prices are so low.
Unlike other supermarkets, nothing is really set in a way where you can easily find what you’re looking for, because the items sometimes just seem like they’ve been thrown together. Also, don’t expect kind smiles and helpful service. No one seems to place much effort, and they don’t really care if you’re lost or can’t find an item.
So you must be patient, and learn to do your own thing, without any real guidance. Don’t bother asking, because the feeling is just this: You do your thing, and leave me alone. I’m just here doing my assigned job. Cashier is a cashier, and stocker is a stocker. It’s fine. I understand. The daily grind is boring and numbing, and life gets to become dreary, when you’re working in a dim lit area, where everyone just keeps to themselves.
I do like the fact that I don’t have to worry about others looking at me, or getting in my face. So sometimes this place is actually a very comfy place to shop at. I always bag my own stuff anyhow, at all markets, in all areas. I’m used to just doing my own thing, not bothering anyone, and no one bothers me. It’s just easy come, easy go. :)

Pak N Save or Safeway as the tags inside suggests looks like the typical Safeway.
at least the beer section does. wine section offers best values at 6 paks. (just a comparison of barefoot shows CVS is cheaper)
buys: bud lite & clamato (2.69)
–clamato tastes better than the bud.
drips:
–quick check out, slow sunday
–lots of parking available.
–security at front door keeping an eye out.
–self check out lanes open.