Came to grab something real quick today & they had 8 mins before closing & some lady refused to let me in. Needed to make a quick purchase, so last time I’m shopping at this El toro location. Apparently they close at 9:52 at this location.
Great deals. Looks like they recieve merchandise from other local markets like sprouts and ralphs at a better price. Just check their expiration dates before purchase.
This store has been my own little gem ever since I found it. It is located just North of the 405 Fwy. on El Toro rd.. Wonderful way to save money if you want the items they sell. The girls/sisters who own it run it like a well oiled machine. The shelves are always well stocked and show the merchandise beautifully. They have a little bit of everything. Bread, jams, crackers, meat, turkey, chicken, cheese, crackers... on and on. Go there. If you like deals on food, you will enjoy this visit/find.
Since your hiding reviews ill post it again. I was coming here for FIVE YEARS WEEKLY and i was kicked out last month from the store for wearing a backpack. A backpack that i BOUGHT THERE. Yet they allow women to walk around in large handbags. PROFILING AND TARGETING. DISGUSTING.
I shop here regularly, but I’m very disappointed with how the donation program for hunger is handled. While it may seem like a good cause, customers should be aware that large companies often use these donations to reduce their tax burden while still appearing charitable—they collect money from us, then report it as their own donation, which helps them, not necessarily the people in need.
Today, on July 4th, I had an unpleasant experience with a staff member who isn’t usually there. After I said I didn’t want to donate and handed her cash for my groceries, she still tried to pressure me to “round up.” Her tone was pushy and rude, and it made me very uncomfortable.
I believe this approach should be stopped. Donations should be a private and voluntary choice—not something you’re made to feel guilty about at the register. If the company really wants to help, they should donate from their own profits, not push it onto customers. A simple sign near the checkout would be more respectful to those who choose to give.
All the employees here are nice and helpful except for one woman in her 50s who has lectured me about not taking separate produce bags for different fruit and vegetable items cause she days they're expensive, and also that I should take one of the spare bananas instead of getting one from a banana bunch. All the spare bananas were way over ripe! P.s. I'm in my early 70s and perfectly capable of making grocery decisions. It's really insulting and rude how she speaks to me. I'm sure I'm not the only person she does this with. Great way to discourage customers from shopping there!
The staff here treated me and my son so rudely for simply asking about using the restroom. Two female staff members were incredibly rude to my 4 year old and were yelling to each other from across aisles instead of coming together and having a normal conversation, not a confrontation.
This is one of my favorite stores, but you have to pay attention when you check out or you may get charged more than the price tag. They love to charge you the msrp for something but tell you it should cost 3x more so pay attention to that as well. Great place for dry good usually
The two areas where I have been screwed by not paying attention are dog food and alcohol. I have bought food labeled $19.99 but it rang up at $49; it’s full msrp price. When I came back to show this to the cashier she could not honor their posted price so I had a get a refund on the dog food.
More recently I bought bottles of wine at $6.99 and $9.99. When I checked my receipt the $7 bottle rang up at $16. Furthermore I checked and the wine is normally $7 at other retailers. Because it was alcohol they could not honor their posted price or offer me a refund. Be especially careful when buying alcohol there. The prices they post are not accurate
Management needs some better understanding of the laws of physics and smooth efficient flow of operations. They have been parking merchandise offerings on the cashiers checkout belt. Why is this bad? For one thing, it crowds customer space but with a little imagination the store can be sued for a million dollars:
A blind person off loads some wine bottles unto the checkout belt but since she doesn't see the merchdise the bottles smash on the floor. She is so startled she kocks the next in line woman's toddler who lands on the shards cutting his eyes and blinding him forever. The case goes to court, the manager is found to be a careless jerk, and the judgement is a million dollars. There are other scenarios like this: the crippled war vet becomes unbalanced and knocks his head....
So what do you suppose my opinion of managment is that would
so rudely crowd the cashier belt space?
Should we just wait for the inevitable catastrophe to see who has
the clearest vision about how to treat your customers?
I purchased these eggs that were labeled as having a "Rich amber yolk." The mention of amber yolk brought back memories from my childhood. Consequently, I made the decision to prepare a delightful egg salad using these eggs. Upon returning home, I proceeded to boil the eggs. However, as I commenced peeling them, I observed that there was no trace of amber whatsoever. Instead, the yolk appeared to be a plain, pale yellow similar to any other egg.
False advertisement destroys trust.
At this location (Lake Forest) the manager wouldn't honor the price listed on the tag on the shelf. The Tag's Name and description was correct but apparently not the price. Poor customer service.
I often visit the Lake Forest, CA store on El Toro Road. I've had a poor experience with a checker named Victoria. Every time I have been in her line, she is wiping her nose with her hands and fingers and then touching the groceries. She does not help at all and stands there watching me frantically bag my groceries while she starts checking out the next customer. I asked her once to help me because I had a hand brace on due to injury and she did a little, but otherwise it's bad every single time. Also, today I asked her if I needed to scan the app to use the $5 off coupon and she said yes; I asked because the store otherwise does not scan the bar code when using the app and prefers the customer enters their phone number at the key pad. The checker on the other side from me asked Victoria, "I don't understand why customers think they just need to enter the phone number to get the coupon." Just rude. I am standing right there! I don't plan on going back for more gross, rude employee banter anytime soon. Hopefully the new Aldi will open soon and have some decent people working there.
VERY RUDE OWNER - DO NOT SHOP HERE.
I shopped here often, and today I came across a very rude older woman at the check out who I found out was the owner. First, she wasn't at the cash register and another employee had to tell her that someone was ready to check out. She replied, "I know" and continued to make me wait while she was putting something on the nearby shelf. She then walked over, did not acknowledge me, scanned my items, took a very long time to count my change and did not acknowledge me afterwards. She was very rude and made me feel unwelcome - I will not be spending my money here and advise you do the same.
It's been my favorite store since I discovered it. Here you can find some European products that cannot be found in another store or for the price much more expensive. I love this store especially because of the various sorts of cheese and vine, and because whenever I visit it it has a different assortment of products and I never know what I will buy this time for really cheap price.
I am an owner of a business and I am so disappointed in the way my children were treated. I can’t believe the type of management they have. I had asked my 20 year old to run some errands in the area since I was working and we live in Rancho Santa Margarita. She took her younger brother. The manager Tammy followed them out of the store and accused them of stealing by telling them she needed to search their bag. She profiled my children what she did was racist and awful. Just because my children are brown it doesn’t give her the right to treat them that way. The worst part is that prior to finding out she is the manager we called to place a complain. We were transferred to the manager which then we found it was her. She had the audacity to refuse my daughter of speaking to her superior and hung up on her. As an owner of a business this is appalling. None of my management team would ever partake in this disgusting behavior!!!DO BETTER!
Big chain groceries alternative, I always get good deals of vegetables and produces here, other stuff s at lowest price, too but since this is an outlet store so they on the shelf seasonal and randomly. Wines are cheaper here, too. One thing odd about this store chain is public restroom always has the sign "Out of order"
Great prices on everything. They wont have all things needed and why they say to shop there first. One negative is listed retail price is many times inflated from what all other stores would sell it for but they do beat other supermarket stores
I recently visited Grocery Outlet, and my experience was a mixed bag. The store is packed with discontinued and overstocked items, making it feel like an overpriced version of a dollar store for non-food items. On the bright side, they have a decent selection of food, especially when it comes to wine.
The cashiers were friendly, which added a pleasant touch to my visit. However, my interaction with one of the sister owners left much to be desired. She was extremely rude. She didn't seem happy to be there, and it may have been an off day for her.
In summary, I would consider going back to Grocery Outlet, but it doesn't replace the major box stores or even a place like Trader Joe's in terms of overall shopping experience.
Some great prices on gluten free food items! Other prices are hit or miss. For example, the sweet corn at Whole Foods is cheaper. A box of cereal was stale. I mostly buy snacks there.
The clerks were helpful and the store seemed neat and orderly. The bathroom was clean.
They have a somewhat limited selection, but what they do have is so very reasonably priced. It blows my mind! I try to always stop here and do my initial shopping here, and then fill in the rest at the other store for things that they don't have here. But it's all top quality. I've never been disappointed, friendly employees. If you haven't been here you need to try it. Like I
It's a lot larger on the inside than it appears from the outside. It's actually a really nice store that's very well stocked with a ton of great products and a very friendly staff. I was sent here to find some meatless products for our daughter, and was floored by the pricing. Their alcohol selection is pretty darn good as well. On a subsequent trip I found really inexpensive cookies. Great store.
Very clean location. With chicken breasts at 1.99 a pound vs pavilions at 7.99 a pound it’s a great value. Also they keep this location very clean and good selection of household items like candles half off or shampoos and conditioners. If inflation is hitting you hard it’s a good place to save.
Jonah was a great story teller and he made me and my parents laugh. I loved the story he told and how he moved his body to do actions he said.I really enjoyed listening to the story since it made me laugh. I hope next time me and my parents go to the store that he will be there. So he can tell more stories.I really appreciate the story and he was actually pretty good at doing the story. I gave this a 5 star since he made me laugh
Great prices and great variety. I was extremely happy to find something I had been looking for at other stores but could not find. The staff was friendly, the store was organized really nicely, with wide aisles that could fit two people with carts passing each other without a problem. The prices were incredible. The parking is great as well. Thank you, Grocery Outlet!
Shortly after entering the store to shop for produce for the rest of the week, I found a large display of Copper Infused socks, body supports, etc. The majority of the items were priced between $11.99 - $16.99
While looking through the items, I came across a set of (4) ankle socks that had been clearanced to $3.50, as per the "Grocery Outlet" price tag sticker stating such. Surprised, I added them to our cart, hoping they'd assist in pain relief. As a Epileptic, I've heard that these items can be very helpful.
Upon checking out with my Family, I observed the aforementioned item scan for $11.99
I mentioned to the store associate that there was a sticker on the front of the item packaging, stating that the purchase was being clearanced for only $3.50, not the original price of $11.99
I was then rudely told, "They are $11.99, not $3.50, that doesn't belong on there.
In addition to the rude and discourteous tone of voice from the associate, I felt that the displayed pricing should have been honored.
Subsequently, I told her that I'd like the item to be a "go-back," as I would not be purchasing it.
What was also upsetting, is that while shopping we'd seen numerous other clearance items stickered the same way on almost every aisle.
All in all, a very disappointing experience unfortunately, to say the least.
Grocery Outlet Corporate Management has also been contacted via phone and email, as requested.
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