I went to Ample a few times a year in 2014. Never been back until today. It's not close to my house so i go to other big stores. There are things to like and a few others you wouldn't want to deal with when you're a payig customer. I forgot about the pros & cons of shopping in Asian stores like the chinesse marts until today.
Pros:
1) Store has the basic Asian food choices from fresh meat to dry goods.
2) It's a bit organized and clean and doesn't smell like cleaning solutions like rat/mice poisons; that type of smell is very predominant at Season's Foodmart on Kennedy/Clarence, especially when you're near their deli/meat section.... ugh!
Cons:
1) Very unfriendly and rude staff, especially the Asian staff that stock the shelves, the ones at the fresh meat counter and few cashiers. Granted some of them hardly ever speak English, those employees should at least be trained to be more courteous and nicer when being asked for directions to such and such stuff from their flyers... I'm even showing the guy the picture of what I was looking for! Never smiled, pointed straight, shook his head in disgust when I still can't find the item and just ignored me after. It wasn't even exactly at the aisle he was pointing to; I finally gave up and turned left from the direction he pointed --- and, voila, a few steps after, there they were! ... but not where he exactly pointed.
Had he got out of his standing stocking position, spent 5 sec. of his time and physically brought me to where the item was, I would have been singing him praises of "thanks". There and then, I remembered why my late husband hated to shop at Asian / Chinese stores. Experiences like that one and similar snobs.
Makes me think: why hire people like those who give bad name to your store when you, the employer, probably pay them minimum wage anyways... there are thousands of unemployed, young and old, people in Brampton who'd probably take jobs like those with a smile, with better communication skills, better manners and maybe even friendlier than their current employees! Shame.
2) Some of the perishable food they sell don't have expiration dates. Isn't there some Health Canada law about that?
3) I came around 2PM on a work day and was ordering one of their specials from the hot food section and only to be told there's nothing... I pointed to the sign on their counter thinking maybe I was (again!) not understood well, but, they lady just removed the sign from the counter and continued to asked: anything else? Not even making an attempt to explain if there will some fresh batch in a few minutes or in 5 hrs... nothing! I was the only customer there so it's wasn't like she was in a hurry for the next 5-20 customers!
For all of you out there who'd like Asian Foods, buy from other chains like Loblaws, No Frills, Food Basics... You may have to pay 4-10 cents more but it's worth your time and self esteem. You'll be treated better and with respect, you will not waste time looking around for someone who can help you find the things you're looking for, and with luck, you might even get a smile back from their employees!
Most of these Asians/Chinese grocery stores in Brampton have a long way to go when it comes to customer service. So people, take your money someplace else! read more