Just venting: Whole Foods complaints

[Anonymous]

For years, I’ve purchased Cajun Seasoned raw chicken thighs from Whole Foods. Yesterday they were out of stock, so I bought the only package of BBQ (?) seasoned thighs . Three of the 4 thighs were without skin attached — something I couldn’t see until I took them out of the package. So I changed the way I prepared them. Later, when I took the meat off the bones, I saw that they weren’t cut normally (one central bone, gristle on the end) but had some odd bony pieces attached, and some of the central bones were broken. Still later, I found shards of bones in the meat.

Over the years, prices for even conventional produce have gone up while quality has gone down. I bought expensive organic peaches last week that went from rock hard to rotten overnight. I’ve had lettuce mixes and strawberries spoil days before their stamped dates. Old favorites from the bakery have been discontinued (pear tarts, lemon Charlotte, almond cookies, lemon mousse cake…), the once awesome pizza is now barely edible, and even the house brand water seems to have changed. This is all on top of the drop in customer service— from knowledgeable and stellar pre-Bezos, to competent but limited now; and the shift to self checkout machines that don’t take cash, so the lines for cashier service stretch back into the aisles.

I’m hoping that this is just the store that I frequent. I’m also going to make the effort to trek to Wegman’s. Mostly I just want to vent. I’ve been a major fan of WF markets in three different cities. Right now though, I’m feeling ripped off and disappointed.

[Anonymous]

Yep I bought $9 worth of clementines that were inedible. Had to throw them all away. Thanks Amazon!

[Anonymous]

Here's my complaint about Whole Foods: their deli department is terrible. Customer service is slow, they pick who they want to help, they do half of what you want, etc.

[Anonymous]

The last couple times I bought some of those pre-marinated chickens, it’s been terrible quality! I noticed a serious downturn in quality when Amazon acquired them. Also, I don’t believe they’re trying to acquire non-GMO status for all products in the store any longer sadly.

[Anonymous]

I've not had bad experience with produce and I do 95% of my shopping at WF. But their butchers are barely knowledgeable and agree that they are often inexperienced. The deli is often out of stock.

[Anonymous]

I’m not sure if it’s a post-Covid thing, or Bezos, or something else, but recently, it seems as though my neighborhood Whole Foods is often out of very basic things: popular brands of bottled water, paper towels, mayonnaise, things like that. In the old days, they would often have things in overstock when they didn’t have them on the shelves. Now, it seems like there isn’t ever any overstock, and they’re not taking note of things that sell out, so that they can order them regularly in larger quantities. I’m not talking sale items or unusual things — but basics. It’s as though their stocking plan changed with Bezos — to eliminate overstock, even if it meant having customers leave the store empty handed and frustrated. Hrmmph. OP

[Anonymous]

Fresh Market is better

[Anonymous]

They overcharged me. And tried to convince me I was wrong. Ended up refunding me $85 after treating me like a criminal

[Anonymous]

Bought moldy tortillas there more than once that I could not see the mold until the package was open. Also bought very expired beyond burgers recently (I should have checked the date before buys my them but I shouldn’t have to). Products are often moldy, stale or expired. Totally not worth shopping there but it the closest store to my house.

[Anonymous]

This is to be expected; Amazon bought them.

[Anonymous]

Why do people even shop there anymore? It’s ridiculously expensive for what you get.

[Anonymous]

I have returned food and gotten refunds. Just keep the receipts.

[Anonymous]

I've always had a good experience at the Rockville and Bethesda locations, in the sense that everyone is courteous and that the rare times I have issues, they offer refunds no questions asked. It's true that before Amazon bought it, the Bethesa location was EVEN BETTER, and their customer service went above and beyond. But now it's still perfectly acceptable.

I don't like the Silver Spring one and don't go often enough to other WFs that I could make an informed judgement.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Why do people even shop there anymore? It’s ridiculously expensive for what you get.

Myth. It's about the same for staples and the produce is fresher than the typical Giant.

[Anonymous]

Meat quality has gone down everywhere.

Peaches are out of season, so that's why.

Lettuce and strawberries are finicky everywhere most of the time.

That said I do not shop at WF. We go Giant and TJs and Costco and are happy with it.