Whole Foods

Dennis of Berkeley, CA October 16, 2009

This issue has been ongoing for a bit more or approximate to one year. There is pattern of harrassment as per my own person. I've asked repeatedly via email to the corporate offices, telephone calls to the regional offices for an explanation as to why this treatment. I was assured in 2008 by a representative 'Kathy' that this would be a matter of record and resolution for this location of Whole Foods Market, and yet it persists. This morning some time approximate 9:00AM I was followed by an employee from the moment I entered the store, as is unfortunately part of the historical issue citing. The employee at this point I did not know her name. But I was at the breakfast bar containing the food I intended on purchasing, and she approached me and requested that I use another container that the container I was using was going to spill, when in fact the contents were not near the level of excessive within the container. I stated to this person that I was fine, and she stood there waiting and watching as continued. And I'm watching her baffled. I did not say anything further but continued to shop, proceeding to the cheese aisle where I began to review cheeses. This person then followed me over to the cheese aisle and began to circle though there was no one behind the service desk for cheeses. When in fact another customer was began to peruse the cheeses, this person stepped only then behind the service desk of this station and asked the other customer if she needed help. I continued on to the milk aisle, to the Whole body section where I placed soap into my hand -held cart, then over to the fruit section, where this person appeared yet again eyeing the items in my cart and my every item I retrieved.

Finally, I asked her why she was following me, that this is harrassment, and why is it that every time I come into this particular store I feel as if I am being harrassed by these employees here. This person then began to argue stating she was just doing her job, when I terminated the conversation by walking away, this person followed me suggesting that I stated something under my breath. I advised her I have no need to speak under my breath at her. I then proceeded to the check out where she continued to follow me, I then asked the clerk who was the manager, and the clerk pointed to this person stating her name was Patti and she was the supervisor. Outraged I paid for my purchase and exited the store.

At this store of Whole Foods several employees have made comments about my allege orientation (I was purchasing milk in a 2008 incident when an employee from behind the milk rack hurled an insult at me); there was an attempt by an employee engaging a security guard to falsely accuse me of theft which sparked my initial contact with the Regional office; they have refused to wait my order; an employee came from behind the register to scold me about placing my basket on the conveyor; all of these instances have been reported in emails and by telephone (the instance with the conveyor a supervisor was present when I reported this) but nothing has been done. There is a larger, civil issue here that I feel must not go unreported/escalated. I would sincerely appreciate your consideration. No one paying customer after paying an exponential amount at various locations to this business should be subjected to such treatment without discourse, without explanation. I have curtailed shopping at this particular location to mitigate this experience.

Julie of Tampa, FL July 5, 2009

We were in your store today, July 5, 2009, at approximately 2pm. We did some shopping through the produce area and then proceeded to the bulk foods aisle. Julie got some bulk sesame sticks and as she stood there an entire container full to the brim of rice fell out of nowhere on to the top of her head. I am appalled at the way this situation was handled.

She clearly was out of it and was stunned at what just happened..in pain and crying. A team leader named Cherish went and got her a bag of ice and 2 bottles of water, wrote some stuff down on a blank sheet of copy paper, gave her a business card and said to call her if anything more comes of it. No incident report was made, a medic was not called to make sure there was no further damage...just a "Have a nice day".

So now, the rest of our day is ruined. My girlfriend is laying in bed in pain with a terrible headache...I'm sitting here worried and watching her to make sure she doesn't have a concussion. We had plans today, which included shopping at Whole Foods, and fifteen minutes into being in your store, our plans are gone because you have failed to keep your store safe for shoppers.

Cherish mentioned that it's not the first time you've had issues with these bulk canisters falling off the wall...even mentioning she had trouble with the pumpkin seeds canister just last week. She also mentioned that sometimes the brackets break and that's why they fall off but that there was no reason this specific canister fell off the wall saying the brackets were not broken or anything.

Within 5 minutes of the incident, there were already employees cleaning up the mess and taking photos of the wall the canister had just fallen off of...quick action for a store that cannot even muster the concern for a shopper to even have a store manager come out to fill out an incident report or contact a medic specifically because this is a head injury. I am quite surprised that a retailer of your stature could not handle this type of situation properly, likely because a low level employee was sent to handle an incident that she is clearly not trained to handle properly.

I am care copying this message to your regional and corporate offices because your team leader was fully aware there is an issue with the bulk food canisters being a safety concern to shoppers. I will never shop in a Whole Foods market again and I do plan on warning your shoppers of this danger since you have not done so yourselves...allowing shoppers to be clubbed over the head while standing unknowingly in danger. Julie is an electrician construction worker, must wear a hard hat for work and works strenuously throughout the day. If she is unable to attend work in the coming days due to this incident you will definitely be hearing from me again. Needless to say, the both of us are extremely dissatisfied with our experience at your store this afternoon.

Kiki of Jamaica Plain, MA April 16, 2009

Kiki of Jamaica Plain MA (04/16/09)
I have been shopping at whole foods for about 16 years, since before it changed from bread & circus. My biggest complaint has to do with their price gauging especially now when people are huring bad. I buy a lot of greens one of them is collard greens and the price for this item has becom rediculously expensive with in the last couple of months there is about 4-5 leaves of it for 2.49. This was previously sold by the pound whichc was better.

second I buy goat milk yogurt because I cannot tolerate cow milk, which sold for 5.99 and now all of a sudden it is 6.39. Does whole foods understan that people are loosing jobs left and right? and they are not able to pay as thy have been? I wonder also if this increase is just because this is the only place we can find these items and we are going to scrounge and buy it any way? really some one needs to look at how their monopoly on the market is affecting their prices.

It is just very hard to keep up with this unexplained price increases when your income is going down.

Rona of Walnut Creek, CA April 14, 2009

Rona of Walnut Creek CA (04/14/09)
I shop at Whole Foods twice a week, so I know the store layout really well. I went in this morning just to get some produce and fish, which are both on the right side of the store. The main produce item I was looking for was Clementines (tangerines). I searched the produce section. I searched the bins outside the store. No Clementines, so I phoned my husband and he agreed to take oranges instead. As I was leaving the fish counter, I overheard one produce person tell another produce person to go check the Clementine display in front of the bakery! So I went to the bakery, on the far left side of the store, and there were 30-40 boxed of Clementines.

After returning the oranges and checking out, I went to the customer service counter to complain. The person listened to my story and then asked me why I hadn't asked where the tangerines were. I said that after searching the produce section, the logical conclusion was that there were no tangerines. He pressed his position that it was my fault for not asking about them. He did finally admit that normally when they cross market an item, the will leave at least part of the supply in the normal location, which hadn't happened this time. (But he also acted like he didn't believe me that there were no tangerines in the produce department.) Finally I asked what he was going to do about my complaint (they never volunteer a solution), and he said he would talk to the team leader.

This is the second time I have had a run in with customer service. The prior time I had a special order in for 6 bottles of a shower gel and they were supposed to call me when it came in. They never called. Finally, a couple of weeks later, I checked the shelves where the shower gel is stocked, and there were my 6 bottles on the shelf. I got the same treatment when I complained. I should have asked someone. Their customer service deserves an F. They never apologize, even when it is their fault. Would it kill them to say, I'm sorry you had trouble finding the tangerines? They always make it the customer's fault. They never tell you what they might do to resolve the problem (probably because they don't really believe it's a problem in the first place). After several years of shopping there loyally, I am rethinking my shopping options. There is an excellent Lunardi's just 10 minutes farther away, and they treat the customers with respect.

No damages other than a lot of anger on my part.

Teigeeny of Portland, OR March 19, 2009

Teigeeny of Portland OR (03/19/09)
I entered the store at approx. 745am. I cruised around, looking for a breakfast to eat, a lunch to take with me, and a place to sit; maybe plug in my laptop for a bit. Every Customer Service (CS) person I saw, I smiled at, but received a swift head turn from the people I walked past, as if not wanting to answer a question I may have. I felt as if everyone in the store was anooyed I was there.

Icing on the cak; I go get a coffee, and the CS woman told me I was killing her, and everybody behind me in line, (both of which were employees and she had their coffees already made!) because I changed my mind on wanting a bag. I had my own bag and realized I could just put my purchased items there. I thought I was helping by saving a bag, but this woman made me feel as if I was a HUGE inconvenience! The whole aura about the store was snooty and pompous.

Whole Foods has Customer Service that acts as if they are better than everyone else. You have to be the right type of person to go into their establishment and treated with kindness and respect.

Diana of West Hollywood, CA March 8, 2009

Diana of West Hollywood CA (03/08/09)
I have Bells palsy so my face and speech is distorted. They where doing samples in the store and one customer and a worker each had one. They moved the tray right past my face and when I asked for one they laughed. I told them that was rude. They continued to laugh at me since my disbility??? They security came up and asked me to leave. Wouldn't even listen to what I had to say even when I explained I have a disability. Asked for a manager and got the same. Paid for my items and left. Out side of the store the Manager confronted me again and again I pleaded with him that I have a disability and it is hard to speak.

I sat on the steps and cried my eyes out. Seems they don't want my type in the store!!!

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