Too many groceries in too little space. Small aisles are further made impassable for 2 carts by all the cardboard shelves with groceries that they are paid big $$ to put in our way. Also more merchandise is added to each end of the aisles, this also pinches off the limited space. They artificially create a one-way narrow space in front of cheeses by adding still more merchandise. Customers with carts are fatigued by dodging one another. Checkers seem as worn as their customers. It doesn't have to be like this but corporate doesn't care. Not about us or their employees. read more

Parking lot is very limited--- There's a line for both deli and sandwiches (is it that good here?) And like any Safeway you go to, there's one person at the register and at one register only. I was looking for the EXPRESS line, turns out, I was already slowly moving in it. One thing that is horribly inconvenient? the aisle/walk way from the registers... I'm pretty sure it's not suitable for 2 way crossings as one shopping cart along takes up the whole walkway.... We didn't have a shopping cart, but we weren't able to maneuver around them unless we got to the freezer aisle and then quickly walked around other customers. **edited-- The store is 24 hours... but if you loose anything, you can't call at 6AM, no one will answer the phone! Have to call back at 8AM, the suspense is killing me. read more

More like 2.5 Stars. I don't know what ever left me with the impression that shopping at Safeway is cheap. I just rediscovered Trader Joes, and am trying to leave Safeway behind me. Its kind of sad that I'm taking out all my anger on this particular Safeway, it just to be my favorite. So sad how old loves fade. First of all: parking is a bitch here, total clusterf**k. Too many soccer mom's with big SUVs and cellphones attached at their faces, I'm suprised I haven't had an accident here yet. If you really MUST shop here, you're better off parking by the roaster and walking the extra 50 feet. Secondly, once you actually get in the store you have to be careful not to get trampled by line of Aptos birds (who subsequently much like their older counterparts, also have cell phones attached to their faces.) in line for their "light-coffee-mocha-frap-with-like-no-whipped-oh-my-gawd". My final bone to pick with this place is in its prices: you can get MUCH much more inexpensive stuff at trader joes, and you can still be health conscious. I'll probably still continue to shop here just because they carry the kind of yogurt I like. Sad, isn't it? Even with all negative things I have to say about this place, I can pick out a couple of nice things: te first being that I am one of those freaks who really enjoy shopping at two in the morning. What can I say? Most nights I can't sleep. The second being is that I have never ever ever ever ever (not even once) had a bad customer service experience here. Thats probably the real reason I'll still continue to shop here. That and yes, the yogurt. read more

I really don't know why anyone shops at this particular Safeway. Beginning your experience, the parking is awful. If you think you are saving yourself some time because this store is close by, think again. You will waste the time it takes to drive a few extra miles in the parking lot trying to find a spot to park; dealing with the traffic in and out of the gas station; and wheeling your cart to the hinterlands where you finally get your parking place. Once in the store, it is likely to be very crowded and dark. The checkout area is crowded even when there is only one cart in the queue. I know they remodeled this store within the past 4 years and they really should have focused on fixing the parking lot and the crowding inside of the store. It seems like there is enough space here to provide a good variety - in the case of this store, there is a lot of space taken up with very large quantities of single items. I have never found the people working here to be anything less than friendly and helpful, hence the 2 stars. This being said, I would much rather go to Deluxe Foods, Shoppers' Corner, Trader Joes, Nob Hill, Costco, SaveMart or even a different Safeway. read more

I agree with all the other bad reviews of this Safeway! This Safeway is AWFUL! Parking lot is ridiculous. Checkers are super, super slow and it takes FOREVER to get through with a purchase no matter what size your shopping cart. The store is tiny and doesn't carry any variety (mostly junk stuff). Staff is not friendly or helpful. And the shoppers are rude. I always regret going into this store! read more

The staff is extremely rude. The lines are long and there produce is rotten most of the time. Don't shop here.

Horrible management, won't sell me alcohol anymore(I'm over 21) because I came in with my MOTHER who didn't have her ID on her... also a great store if you like waiting 5 hours for a prescription. read more

If I could give negative stars I would. This is the worst Safeway I've ever been to. The clerks seem to be disgruntled and unhappy. Unfriendly, which is unusual for Safeway employees. Their meats are also questionable. I've seen some funky colored meats in that department. No matter what time of day expect to wait in line for a long time.The bottom line is that almost all locals will drive right past this Safeway to go to the nicer one on 41st. Can't wait til New Leaf opens across the street. This Safeway needs to get shut down. I heard it's always been poorly managed read more

Simply put, this Safeway is a complete dump and the employees need to do better. It was bad enough that the store looks dirty and a bag of nuts we got had expired months ago, but when we went to check out, the cashier spent a good three minutes talking to some woman about her apartment, the parking situation, how she likes where she lives, etc. Meanwhile, the line was five people deep just waiting for this guy to finish his conversation. Both the cashier and customer were locals and their extended conversation while people were waiting seemed intentional and rude. Last but not least, as we were finishing up paying, someone walked by our cashier and asked him how his new years was. He loudly replied "It was good because I wasn't working here". His attitude was just as crappy as the appearance of the store. Never again. read more

This place needs some guidance and the bathrooms are unsanitary. Lines are always way to long and some of the employees seem unhappy to be working there. Other than that the usually have everything I need. read more

Cheap Gas in an expensive area! Plug in your club card number and get a discount, I got 10cents per gallon off my tab! Woohoo read more

This store bugs me. I know...it's a grocery store....and what do I expect? Staff is indifferent. Again...not sure I want them to be chummy with me, but most of them really seem unhappy to be working there. Is it management? The unions? Hard to say. Store is frequently being stocked and as a result the store is often in a state of panic. Produce section is grim and grimmer. When you charge more for produce then Deluxe you are bandits of the highest order. Toss in bonus points for having a slew of losers hanging out near the South door who smoke and panhandle and you have a terrific shopping experience while fighting to find parking. read more

This is the worst Safeway I have ever been in. I had to bag my own groceries and never got a Thanks for help or sorry you had to do it yourself. There is always a line. I'll pay the extra money and travel time to go elsewhere. read more

The people who work at this store have always been pleasant and easy to work with, so I've been surprised (several times over the last few months) to find this 24-hour store closed in the early morning hours. It turns out that "customers" have been causing safety issues for the employees (attacks and threats) at that store in those early morning hours, so (for now), the Aptos Safeway will be closed from 1 - 3 a.m. until they get that resolved. Let's think good, safe, thoughts toward the employees there. It's hard enough for most people to work a graveyard shift without them having to fear for their (and their co-workers') safety. read more

Experienced a situation where there were 2 checkers on a Saturday night. Everyone buying booze. Long lines. Im bagging my own groceries to speed the process as multitudes of impatient eyes watch me with numbness and concealed frustration. While bagging, debit card gets rejected. I go to try it again. Still it doesn't work. Even the checker seems to blame me. Fuck this place. Fuck grocery store lines in general. I use my credit card, it works. I get the hell out of there. Use my debit card the next day--works fine. How could buying some groceries turn into such an uncomfortable debacle. Good job Safeway, you sure know how to prepare for a Saturday night. Please hire more checkers and baggers, though I won't be back soon hopefully. I appreciate that they have food, but It comes at the cost of having to go in the store. read more

I left my wallet while I was filling up gas and didn't realized it until I arrived at Costco. What a bummer. So I called the gas station and it turns out they had it! Yay! That's so cool that someone would turn my wallet in. I also had some of their sushi while I was there, it smelt fresh and tasted nice. The lady even hooked it up with some spicy sauce without charging me extra. Thanks Safeway. read more

I think most of the prior reviews are spot on. The reason why this Safeway is still in business is simply due to convenience. Customer service seemed OK to me. PROS: - Open late. - Most necessities are in stock at reasonable prices. - Starbucks on site (like most safeways). - Gas Station prices are some of the best in the area. NEUTRAL: - Parking can be a pain at times but depends greatly on when you're shopping. - Store layout is a bit strange (to me at least). Seems like they've outgrown their current surroundings. CONS: - Limited selection of items. - Gas Station is usually packed most of the time. read more

Safeway Gas Station, Aptos-- the staff there... especially tonight Mother's day has a lousy customer service training! No star for customer service. He should not try to talk to customers at all-- rude and sarcastic! Looks down on women. I came back from a long drive...bugs and dust are on my view. Filling up my tank while I use their disgusting, unchanged water for washing windows...Watch out...you better stop washing your windows as soon as your pump stops...or else, you'll be told to go to a car wash! They only care about taking your money--after you fill up your tank--you should leave right away. Pricks! I will never gas up in this station again. Just 2 miles down the road is Quick Stop or a little further there's Costco--better gas prices, shorter lines. read more

This Safeway has vastly improved. More organized, shorter wait times, friendly staff. I heard there is a new manager. Good job, whoever you are. read more

This is the worst Safeway in SC county. The clerks are burned out or just plain rude, they are frequently out their sale items , the parking is terrible. Every time I shop here I know why I should go elsewhere. Only perk is the gas, but that is sooooo busy and crowded I avoid that as well. read more

For the love of god get more checkers!!! I live up the street and unfortunately this is the closest grocery store to me! Whenever I come it's always a long line to check out. Get it together Safeway!! read more

DO NOT USE THEIR AIR! When you go to fill up your tire by 1, 2 or 3 psi, it deflates your tire completely to 0 psi. So flat you are unable to drive on it and have to call AAA, if you are so lucky to have AAA. They take no responsibility for you having to wait over an hour for someone to come fill your tire and no responsibility for me now not being able to go back to work. I've lost time, money and denied free water to drink, while I wait in the hot sun by their air pump that did not say "out of order" I would not be in this position if they only had put a sign up! Instead I get a oh it was doing that earlier. What!?! Smh. I'd I could select no stars I would. read more

Karren has to be the rudest employee this establishment has, it was clear she didnt want to be working and made it clear in her tone and demeanor. We needed to get quarters from the customer help desk and she sighed and scoffed when mentioned. She didn't mention we needed cash for the exchange and said "how was i supposed to know you were going to try to use a card" Clearly either neglecting her training /being petty and rude. How am i as a customer supposed to know your business policies? She shouldnt be working there. Completely ruined a small trip read more

The produce is fresh here. Probably because Greg rotates it right! They even have spirulina.

Usually ok when they schedule enough staff, today horrible. Shopping at a different store from now on read more

Safeway - Two lanes open and sooo busy! Poor management!!! - Grocery Near Me - Aptos, California

Reasons to NOT use this store: 1. Horrible parking NONE! 2. Aisles cramped with stacks of merchandise creating difficult shopping. (Vendors should be limited to their extra floor stacking for better customer service) 3. Not enough cashiers and long lines. 4.Have to lift everything onto belt. No hand scanners which is so behind the times. read more

Recently the lines have been very long with few checkers from about 5:00 to 7:00 pm. We always expect longer lines because people pick up food after work; however the lines are much longer than before (during this time interval). When a checker was questioned about the change, he said that the management had reduced the number of checkers to save money. Well, I don't think that will work because we (and probably many others) will start going to Nob Hill or Deluxe Foods. read more

The deli has the worst customer service I've ever seen. 1st off not here to bash on the rude employees just felt I had to give some well deserved praise.This place seems to prefer having rude and uninterested employees over nice super helpful ones I've been going to this safeway for a long time and the deli department seems to have a lot of employees come and go and for some reason the ones that have been there longest are just plain rude but about a week or so ago i went in and was helped by a super helpful young man he was new Jose or Juan was his name he not only re sliced some turkey that one of the older ladies had sliced super thick after me asking for it thin but he also went above and beyond by stopping me as I walked away to tell me about a coupon they had for the fried chicken I was also getting there then he ran for the front and brought it to me...I can honestly say that this young man enjoys his job and helping customers something the rest of the deli employees do not share,I even offered him a $10 tip to which he said "Thank you for offering I truly appreciate the gesture but this is my job it's what I get paid for plus I enjoy helping".(went in the other day and sadly he's no longer working there and when I asked one of the ladies there she rudely said she didn't know who I was talking about ... back to rude service no bueno safeway. read more

I am so sick of the cashiers gossiping. Get your act together!!! Several times I'm not even greeted because they are too involved in their stories. I didn't know safeway was the new "Hills". I'm over shopping at a place that does care about the customer. gossip on your break. I avoid safeway if possible now. FIGURE IT OUT SAFEWAY. the only thing working for you is the meat department.... and your gas! read more

On the weekends, I highly recommend just walking out and not paying for your items. You will get arrested for shoplifting, but plea guilty and your jail sentence will be shorter than actually waiting in line at the Safeway. The number of lines they open is minimal and the speed of the checkers is the slowestI have experienced. read more

I had to click on 1 star to review but seriously, this place gets no stars. I was shopping a few days ago, and I did not bring a bag. The lady checker asked if I wanted one. I did not want a bag and replied "No thanks, I dont want to pay for a bag when I can carry my stuff." .. She replied, A SIMPLY NO WOULD BE SUFFICIENT. I was shocked. I then asked if she was serious, because her attitude was so harsh and her glaring at me was so terribly off. It was not like I am some princess who thinks I deserve to be treated with superiority. She was just down right rude. This was the 3rd time I had to deal with this lady and her rudeness. If she hates her job so much, why doesnt she quit? Why put innocent people through her crap? Another day, My special needs child was bouncing up and down in one spot. She said, "What, cant control your kid?" with a raise of her eye brow. Well actually my kid hats stores and crowds because she gets nervous and scared of strangers. Probably because she thinks they will be a wench like this lady. Seriously woman?? Also.. The place is not just small, and shaped like a blind man ran through a corn maze but the female checkers have got to be the rudest, laziest, most unhappy and disrespectful people I have ever come across. I am not saying I will never shop here again, because I get gas here. I am saying that I would never shop here again if I can help it. It is not worth the disrespect. If I wanted to be talked down 2 I could just be a high school teacher. No thanks to either! read more

This is not a 24 hour store it's a 22 hour store always closing at different times never knowing when their gonna close people waiting outside and they don't even open at the time they say their gonna open if your gonna be in a 24 hour store their should be no problem with customer coming in and out the store when theirs so many employees read more

This is the most exciting Safeway you will ever experience! You will NEVER want to shop anywhere else! First there's the parking lot: whenever I COME to this Safeway I have to be ready for adventure. Will I get hit by someone going the wrong way in a one way lane? Will I flatten a misplaced infant? Will I even find a place to park HERE at all? It's a nonstop thrill-ride that keeps you on the edge of your seat until you park. Then there's the inside experience: will they have the groceries you were hoping for or will their refrigerator be broken so all the cheese went bad and they had to throw IT all away (happened last week) you never know what you will be leaving this place with even if you have a very specific shopping list because there's an 80% chance they won't have even the most basic item you're looking for! But this IS really helping with my diet plan because you lose a AWFUL lot awful of weight when you can't find anything to eat. If you can stand any more excitement after you've walked in circles for 2 hours trying to find Doritos, just wait until you've seen the lines. Seriously. Charlie Sheen couldn't handle lines this big. I have never seen less than 4 people in line in front of me and the smiling employees are just chomping at the bit to say something rude to you. I've been talked down to, groaned at, and literally shooed away from the cashiers here. It's really a shame that the rest of the Safeway franchise can't take some lessons from this place and ruin people's days all over the state because whenever I leave this place I have so much adrenaline, I feel like I could go back to a full work day and then run a marathon or two. What a boost in my productivity! I'll never shop anywhere else! 1 star for 5$ box of ok-ish-tasting donuts. read more

Can I give this Safeway zero stars? On 08/30/13, I stopped by this Safeway before heading to my family's beach house in Aptos to order a cake for my son's birthday. When I arrived at the bakery, there wasn't bakery clerk to be found so I asked another Safeway employee for help... they paged the bakery clerk on the intercom. Five minutes went by and no one came. I asked another Safeway employee to assist me and they again, paged the bakery clerk on the intercom. I waited and waited and after 25 minutes, I went to the deli (which is right next to the bakery) and I told them my dilemma. The young man I spoke to told me that he could help me in the bakery. He didn't seem to know what he was doing in the bakery so I asked if he could find the bakery clerk to which he replied "I do work in the bakery, they just have me in the deli today because they hate me." So the bakery clerk was in the deli the whole time I was waiting listening to the intercom page him numerous times. Not cool. I ordered my cake from the Safeway in Soquel and it turned out great. I won't ever waste my time at this Safeway again. read more

love the friendly workers. they keep long hours open.when i absolutely have to have something from a grocery store, i can count on aptos safeway. read more

I'm really not a fan of the Safeway at this location for several reasons. First, the parking lot situation is atrocious. You're lucky to find a spot in front of the store. Be prepared to walk. Next, it's old, dingy, and dirty inside. Yuck. Third, employees are impersonal and sometimes rude. Next, there are a lot of sketchy people hanging in and around this store. Next, they are often out of the thing I needed, or don't carry it to begin with. I only come here when I'm desperate for one, maybe two things and I make it as snappy as the checkout person allows me to be. read more

I attempted to call this establishment with my cellular device, as I desired to cop some mullein. HOWEVER, after listening to some 4/10 yet adequate musical accompaniment whilst on hold, when the music had ended NO ONE SAID HELLO NO ONE WAS THERE NO ONE ANSWERED TO ASSIST ME I WAS TRYNNA BUY SOME MULLEIN A SIMPLE TASK SIMPLY SIMPLE TASK. it's an herb which should be available at this location but I WOULDN'T KNOW, AS NO ONE ANSWERED THE PHONE. I am enraged. I am insulted. I am feeling personally victimized. kinda good troll tho lol read more

After shopping at aptos Safeway for three years, I've decided my life's ambition is to become a recluse, join Amazon prime and never leave the house again. The lines are long, often down the entire isle with an average time of about 30 minutes, and help is nowhere in sight when you need to find something. My ice cream always melts by the time I actually check out. They get two stars for being open 24 hours in the event I need to buy something late night. read more

I'm becoming more convinced that every area has a good Safeway and a bad Safeway. Where I'm from, we have a Bad Safeway, and an Even Worse Safeway, if you want a Tolerable Safeway, you have to go another town up. I guess I found the Even Worse Safeway for this area! Manager must not have a clue how to request labor hours to add more checkers, which when reading reviews seems to go back a number of years. Note to the new owners, (Albertsons LLC) time to close this hellhole and call it a day. read more

This Safeway sucks. Old outdated and clapped out. Very small store with a limited selection - not much super about this market. Lines are often long and they have a very limited supply of ethnic food ingredients. read more