Take your attorney with you when you shop here. I'm giving 2 stars instead of 1 only because a manager eventually stepped in to resolve the issue, but the process was incredibly exhausting. I had a very frustrating experience at this Safeway due to an expired "Buy 2 Get 1 Free" tag that was still on the shelf today. I mistakenly thought it was "Buy 1 Get 1 Free" and brought only two items to the self-checkout. After paying, I noticed I was charged for both. I went back to the shelf with a staff member and discovered it was actually "Buy 2 Get 1 Free". Even though I had already paid for two items at full price (which should entitle me to the 3rd free item per the posted sign), the staff member argued for a good 5 minutes that they couldn't give me the 3rd item because it wasn't scanned and the tag was old (the promotion expired nearly 3 weeks ago). I had to insist that it is the store's responsibility to honor the price they choose to display (Google "California Business and Professions Code § 12024.2"). Finally, a manager-level staff member stepped in and gave me the 3rd item. Check your receipts and the dates on tags! The pricing management and initial customer service at this location are very poor. read more

Review is for the deli only. All I can say is worst deli service I've ever encountered in all the Safeways I've been to and I've been to 10-15. The staff is never around when needing help. It's as if they are doing their best to hide in the back. Only reason I come is for the Friday deli specials and it's by my job. Sure wish management would see this review and do something about it. read more

My lovely wife is currently recovering from an injury. Safeway on First Street (Los Altos) has been a lifesaver for me. Order online, pick it up when it's ready (usually very fast). Good handling for items out of stock (remove from order or select a substitute). Today, I got an item that was listed as not available! No idea where they found it, but service above and beyond. read more

=== odd mix of pros and cons === + wifi seems strong. 24 Mbps downstream, 29 Mbps upstream. And it was fairly straightforward to connect to. + entire store seems large so probably have a big selection? + ready-made foods section seems large. + easily accessible bathrooms -- bathrooms are pretty poorly kept. See attached photos. Not just cleanliness but graffiti carved into things? + we've come here for immunizations and they worked like a charm. Staff behind the pharmacy counter was actually quite friendly (and funny!) Pulling up to a 3 largely because of them, and because solid wifi. + dedicated seating area set aside, which would be nice but - seating area is REALLY buried and separated by a wall from rest of shopping experience. Has the effect of making it almost scary feeling. Not a place that people would want to go to and sit at. - furniture in seating area is pretty banged up. - seating area not kept up very well -- trash laying around, tables dirty. + weirdly, a nice-ish fake fireplace in the seating area. - But right in front of it are sad looking beat up chairs finished in cheap vinyl. -- Deli does NOT close at 8 pm like most other Safeways. An employee I asked told me it depends on when it gets slow. Can be 6 or 6:30 pm. He said it closes at 7 pm at the latest. read more

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Holiday hours for today, DECEMBER 24th, close at 7:00 p.m. But that is a dang lie! CLOSES AT 6:30pm! Myself and 5 other cars and I pulled into the parking lot at 6:30 p.m. to be met by an employee waiting outside the exit doors yelling and making the hand gestures no. Some people already at the entrance doors were met with a locked door. Now we are all rushing to the San Antonio Safeway! (Thankfully they were still open and stayed open exactly till 7:00 p.m. Thank you San Antonio Staff!) If your hours of operation say closes at 7:00PM there is no reason for you to have locked your doors at 6:30 p.m. and denied customers entry. Clearly this employee is choosing to be lazy and do the bare minimum and still be paid for it! What a joke! Hours of operation should say closed at 6:30 p.m., NOT 7:00 p.m. read more

This is a unique Safeway. Parking is on the first floor and the store is on the second floor. There was hardly anyone there on a Thursday evening and the staff were in a good mood, happy and helpful. What more can you ask for? read more

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Had a HUGE bakery order the other week, and Melany and Mary Ann absolutely saved me!!! Thank you ladies!!! They were kind, considerate, paid attention to detail, and overall just really helped us to have a great event with a ton (soooooooo many) donuts. If you need a big order someday, or small, ask for them in the bakery and you will not be disappointed! read more

If you've ever wondered what it's like to shop in a grocery store run by a daytime soap villain, come visit the Los Altos Safeway and meet Carlos, the front-end manager -- a short (around 5'5"), hot-tempered, Hispanic-looking guy in his mid-30s who seems to think yelling at customers is part of his job description. During my visit, I used their single-use restroom -- locked door, light on, completely normal. Carlos apparently decided this was suspicious behavior, so he banged on the door like a SWAT raid, unlocked it without consent, and swung it open while I was inside. He saw I was fine, walked off, and then came back later to publicly accuse me of drug use and threaten to call the police in front of everyone. And he didn't stop there -- he yelled at me across the front of the store, announcing that I was "banned" in front of other customers, which publicly humiliated and harassed me even more. Nothing says "customer service" like being shouted at, falsely accused, and embarrassed for existing. The best part? I asked for a follow-up from the store director, who said they'd look into it -- but just like an empty shelf where the sale item should be, nothing ever appeared. No call, no apology, no accountability. Apparently, corporate Safeway thinks "ignore the customer" is a valid complaint-resolution strategy. I filed a detailed complaint with Safeway Corporate through their official website. Weeks later? Silence. Not even a courtesy email. It seems easier for Safeway to protect an aggressive manager than to protect a customer's dignity. The irony is rich: a store that preaches "Customer First" on posters but serves it up with a side of intimidation, humiliation, and corporate indifference. If you value privacy, respect, or basic professionalism, shop literally anywhere else. There are plenty of grocery stores in the Bay Area that won't treat you like a suspect for using the restroom. read more

I find it odd the reviews were so low here. The shopping experience was just fine. They had loads more food options than a local Safeway in Fremont, so I'm not really sure what problems people had. Ambiance People are friendly and lots of parking space and food restaurants around. Verdict ‍ I'd come here again for select items I can't get at another local Safeway. I actually liked it so much because they had brands (Asian and vegan) that are more limited at other locations and they had way more options so it thought I would definitely come back and wanted to write a nice review. read more

My dad called me upset saying that a white women who was a cashier in the line he was in was discriminating him for being brown skin and going in his work clothes during this lunch to buy something to eat. She was ringing up white customers who were in front of him and asking them how their day was with a smile on her face until it was my dad's turn. He said hi how are you? In English and she mugged him and didn't say anything back. My dad got upset and asked her why she was saying hi to everybody else but him. She stayed silent. Why do people keep judging based on looks that's so nasty! Do your job and provide the customer service for each customer in the same way no matter what race they are! read more

Safeway draws people to get immunization shots, including Flu and COVID-19. With that, they advertise a 10% off (paper) grocery coupon as an incentive for going to their store. I have received at other Safeway stores, so I am familiar with the Simple process. After receiving my shot at the Safeway on 1st Street, I asked the Pharmacist for my coupon. They said they were out of coupons, sorry. I went to the front of the store requesting a coupon there, but again, they said: "they were out, but to check with the pharmacist." When I said I did, and they didn't have any, they sent me over to the assistant store manager, who abruptly said they didn't have any. (I even showed my receipt from getting the shot). The Safeway person trying to help went to another store employee who said "the store manager wasn't in yet, but come back another day". :/ Something so simple and something that Safeway advertises as a program, but all avenues are closed at this Safeway location. read more

Safeway - Grocery Near Me - Los Altos, California

Excellent, Beverly went out of her way to help me with the digital app. She walked over to the aisle to check the sign, and when the sale price didn't pull up at the register, she honored it. read more

Phenomenal customer service at this Safeway from Julie, the Assistant Manager. Really impressed. Also just a very big Safeway with lots of convenient parking. read more

Have to say all my experiences in Los Altos businesses have been great until now This Safeway store is actually on second floor which makes navigation a little difficult and usually seems a little understaffed. But for the most part I have bought few items and nothing really to report Other day , happen to buy a lottery ticket that paid a few hundred , from this store. As it was late waited a couple days to cash. Happen to be in town , and stopped in. The customer services is next to escalator up , but that is the only positive. Here is summary of experience - nobody in attendance , no problem a button to push - wait 10 mins , maybe 3 staff walk by say nothing - notice the light is off push button again - wait about another 10 min someone comes by to say someone will be here soon and pages over intercom ( so much for that button ) -4 min later someone comes to only able to tell me they don't have a few hundred to pay out at 11am on a Sunday This is a major grocery store , but either by policy or poor customer service can only pay with what is in drawer Very disappointed , sure took my money to buy the tickets , but not much in the way of even pleasant to say can't pay you Won't stop here again for anything , wish them luck as customer service counts these days in a competitive retail/grocery market read more

It feels a bit odd giving a grocery store five stars, but I thought this Safeway was pretty cool. -It's huge! I didn't feel cramped at all browsing the produce section. I wish all Safeways were this spacious. -self checkout machines. It was efficient and I didn't have to talk to anyone! -huge parking lot downstairs, both covered and not covered. -It's located in downtown Los Altos so it feels very safe and peaceful here (at least the two times I went). Huge contrast to a location like the Safeway next to the Redwood City train station. -Most importantly: they currently stock tree ripe peaches that are very good and sweet for $1.88/pound with your Safeway card. I bought two peaches just to try them out and was so impressed that I went back a few days later to buy more. I should have bought like 10! The peaches near my house were $2.99/pound! read more

Worst grocery store ever. High prices, deceptive pricing, and worst of all rude employees who look miserable and don't care to help you at all. read more

I don't even know why people are upset about a lot of things here. I for one have 99% no qualms with this place. The service here seems to be very good but it doesn't catch on with the Saratoga location. You should have little to no trouble finding parking here because it's not packed in the evening and sometimes the afternoon. Please avoid this joint during lunch hour because it can get packed. This is a very cozy Safeway where natives are nice to each other and act like family. Now that's what I call service. Food quality is good but not as as catching on with the Saratoga location. I like how there is a cool seating area here. You cannot find it in other locations. Brownie points for the bagels. Delicious! Drawback: Unfortunately when something is on sale, this places runs out faster than other locations. Luckily this doesn't deter me from coming here again because l like this location. read more

I bought two lbs of roast beef from this store yesterday. After cooking it to 145 degrees, it looked good, but after trying to eat, it was full of gristle and hard chewing substances. Shame on you Safeway! Your meats are all horrible. No matter what cut. You probably buy it from smugglers in the desert. Shame! Shame! Shame, for what you offer hard working folks. read more

Safeway - Chicken liver. Note the discarded pile on right with black spots. - Grocery Near Me - Los Altos, California

I've been to many Safeway. This one has over of the worst inventory of meat. Especially the sale items. You better off going to Miramonte or San Antonio one. It's almost a waste of time every time. The cashiers also have the worst attitude. Not friendly like Miramonte. read more

We were extremely disappointed by our recent experience in the Los Altos Safeway. We came with our little grandsons to have some balloons blown up to welcome their parents home. No one was at customer service or at the floral department. Employees walked past us despite us asking for help. The employee that works there finally came and told us she was too busy to help. Despite calling customer service on my phone they continued to ignore us even when he asked her to help. She helped an employee get her discount at the register but ignored us. I don't understand how they could be so disrespectful especially with disappointed children there. We will never return to this store. read more

Nobody was in service, which was strange for a Safeway. Bought what I needed at the self checkout and left. No standout groceries and I wouldn't say the parking lot under the store was necessarily safe. I went at the night time. read more

Several different clerks checking out so rude and unfriendly. Bad vibe so frequently. In another occasion They sell outdated and spoiled items that were impossible to return. Many Identical items priced much lower at Target or Trader Joe's without the mean people here. read more

First time at this Safeway. I think we can all agree that right now is a hard time. Living in Palo Alto, I can not find certain foods. Coming to this Safeway, they had chicken and tortillas that I wanted. The DT LA Safeway also has a private covered parking lot and two really small parking lots. I like the design of the Safeway. Safeways are grocery stores and you get what you need. Personally I just thought this one was cool :) read more

Safeway - Grocery Near Me - Los Altos, California

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I've ordered grocery pick up from this Safeway location three times in the last year. I had the same terrible experience both times. I place my order, confirm that I'm on my way after getting notification that the order is ready for pick up, and then follow the app instructions for pickup. Each time I have sat for over 20 minutes waiting for the order to be brought to my car. Each time I've called and the rudeness of the response is staggering--no attempt is made to acknowledge the long wait. Instead I'm told that it will be "out soon." The second time they gave me the wrong person's order, and when I noticed, the delivery person became irritated with me and said I'd have to return to the store to have it taken care of--it wasn't her problem. Never again. read more

To the manager that took the time to respond to my review, please see picture attached. My daughters dessert, which she found funky tasting, is expired on July 2021. Luckily she didn't get food poisoning. Unacceptable:( read more

Safeway - Grocery Near Me - Los Altos, California

Horrible experience at this store. When I went through checkout, the checker quickly reached across to the small payment screen. There was a customer feedback survey. She quickly tapped in excellent ratings for herself and the store. I asked her what she was doing - this was a CUSTOMER survey. She responded that management told all the cashiers to fill out the surveys as excellent before the customers have a chance to fill it out. Really? The manager is instructing cashiers to do this? She had already submitted the survey, but I told her that I wouldn't rank my store experience high. I went to the butcher shop and there were no employees there to assist customers. Then I went to the deli - again, no employees to help customers. So I proceeded to checkout and had the experience of the cashier filling out my survey. Upon leaving, the bagger muttered something derogatory about me under his breath. Here's the kicker - when I got home I went to Safeway.com to fill out the comment form on the website. Filled the whole thing out and the submit function was non-operational. So it was a bad store experience with no way to contact corporate through the website. Will never shop here again. read more

Esthetically a lot has changed since the complete tear down and rebuild of this location but at it's core not much is different from the original 60's era store that was here before. Pros: 1. Ample parking. 2. Decent wine selection including a good local producer presence. 3. Local wine producer pouring events. 4. Well stocked / managed deli and bakery. 5. Well stocked / managed produce department. Cons: 1. Poor inventory control, expired items are WAY to prevalent! 2. Hit or miss employee attitude and assistance. 3. Limited butcher capabilities (communication and skill). 4. Self check out lines have never been glitch free. 5. Often slow to respond to swelling lines at check out. 6. Limitedfine cheese selection. Despite their effort, this is not Draeger's or Whole Foods. It is still a convenient grocery store to fill your weekly food shopping requirements and save $$$. Cheers! read more

Safeway - Valentines Prep! - Grocery Near Me - Los Altos, California

I love Safeway (: it is honestly such a comforting place to go to at 8pm on a random Wednesday buying candy (:

Fraud alert. Be super careful with this Safeway. Bought two $100 gift cards here on Dec 21st. One of them for was for Amazon and the other for Sephora. The Amazon one worked fine. However, the Sephora one was a complete scam. The person I gifted it to went to the Sephora store on 12/30 and was turned down saying that the gift card was empty!! Zero dollars. Was embarrassing. Plus additional hassle because I then I had to get the card back and take it back to the Safeway store. But the ordeal did not end here. They wanted me to have the paper receipt of this transaction. It was nine days ago, so obviously I had thrown it away. The manager, Brian, was helpful on the phone. But the actual staff person on the floor when I went in was rather rude, and lacked empathy. Kept insisting that "nothing can be done because you don't have the receipt". I showed her the transaction in my credit card app as well as from Apple Pay, but she kept interrupting and talking over me, being dismissive and saying that "nothing can be done". Finally a different person who actually knew how to file a report came and was able to assist and take down the relevant information. What a pain. I had total trust in Safeway until now. Never thought they would scam me. This store proved me wrong. I understand these things can happen. But at least train your staff to treat customers with some basic empathy after they have just been scammed at your very store. What a nightmare and colossal waste of time. read more

I see that this Safeway store doesn't have as many positive reviews as I assumed it would. I'm hoping it's because people tend to report when only when disgruntled. This is an extremely efficiently run Safeway. Take the time to be friendly to the workers and you'll see what I'm talking about. RUDY WENT OUT OF HIS WAY to help me when my car was damaged by another. We found the vehicle, he guided me in what I needed to do, paged inside Safeway to find the owner, multiple times, and stood nearby as we talked to the man. This all while on his Safeway break! I didn't know how to thank him other than a hug. RUDY is a special man. Other staff is wonderful as well. read more

Customer service here is awful. Eva the cashier I had the displeasure of meeting was horrible. She TOLD me that I needed to bag my own groceries. I ALWAYS, ALWAYS, help the cashiers bag my groceries and put them in my cart because I know how hard they work, and I was about to help this cashier until she rudely told me to do it. There were no other customers behind me or in any of the other lines-just me, so I don't know why she couldn't do it. When I didn't, she got upset and started shoving my groceries in the bags while telling me that I need to do it because they're my groceries. I got upset and I told her that I didn't work here so she turned around and told the other cashier (very loudly and laughing in Spanish) what I said, and was calling me names, thinking I didn't understand her. She then TOLD me that I NEEDED to put the bags in the cart. She wouldn't put my bags in the cart and started scanning the groceries for the next customer that came up behind me and let it all run into my bags. I finally had to put all my bags in the cart myself, which would not have been a problem if she had been nice about it. I just told her that I would talk to her manager, and she yelled at me across the store as I walked away to go ahead and that her name is Eva. I saw the manager on the way out and I told her that Eva was rude and she just said OK-obviously not going to do anything about it. I can't believe they treat their customers like this at that particular location, especially an older woman. I wish I could give zero stars, but I'm unable to post it without one star. I won't be going back there again. read more

This safeway is by far the worst one around the area. The garage isn't well kept and neither are the elevators. How does a staff member offer someone with two items in front of me a bag, but I didn't get that offer when i had double the items...looks like im carrying my stuff without a bag...hmmm seems prejudice to me. I've never had a good run in with any staff member here (not courteous). Go to self checkout! The meat department....dear god dont get me started. Lets just say you can't complete a full grocery run without getting everything you need because it doesn't look appetizing at all. I don't understand how a franchise would allow this. read more

The location is great to get in and out easily from Foothill, which is a plus! I was there very early in the morning, so early the smell of fresh donuts was still strong. The bakery has a good selection of donuts and the bagel/focaccia breads. Not every store has the jalapeno-cheddar one. This store has it and they're not small either! However, not one employee managed to say good morning, ask if anything was needed or simply smile. There was boxes and a step stool in front of the cold coffee section. Nearby, 2 employees were busy with side conversations and didn't realize a customer trying to maneuver through to get the item. read more

Safeway - Jalapeño cheddar focaccia - Grocery Near Me - Los Altos, California

This is clearly one of the best Safeway stores. Wide selection of freshly made bagels.

On October 10, I bought there a package of Edwards Chocolate Creme Pie as I saw that it was on sale. I consumed this item last night 10/14 just after dinner. At 2 AM I became violently ill and in fact vomited. As the pie was the only thing I ate that was out of the ordinary, I checked the expiration date and found it was September 30, 2023. Now, I should check expiration dates before I purchase, but so should the store! Why are they leaving foods that have gone bad out for us to buy? And we know that they know they are past date because that was no doubt why they were on sale. Do we have to minutely check the expiration in that very small print of every single thing we purchase there or is the store going to step up, check and stand behind its wares? There are plenty of grocery stores around. I am going to patronize one that is better run than this in future. read more

It is embarrassing to shop at this store. It is so dirty going in--messy parking garage, which could be excused, but the floor inside the entry is filthy and so is the escalator. Chipped paint everywhere, elevator not wiped down, just an ugly entrance. Makes you think the store is that way too. If the entrance to a store is inviting and CLEAN, you might think the rest of the store is the same way. Not in Los Altos. Also, Safeway messed up by not training their cashiers in customer service. I have not found a person who was helpful or even polite. I make it a point to express a kind comment and smile when I check out. Occasionally, I might get a mumbled "have a nice day" but never a look in the eye or a smile. Once I tried to make a little conversation with a cashier. She looked really angry and I asked if she was ok. She spent the entire checkout out telling me how she was so upset with her manager over how she was screwed up on her time off. The shelf foods are often expired. If you ask a worker where something is, they say I don't know, "probably in the deli" or something like that. I have to find it myself in one of the aisles. On the plus side, the pharmacy is good and that staff is really nice and helpful. read more

The pharmacist at Safeway in Los Altos was spectacular! She filled my Rx within 10 minutes of when I called it in. When I arrived at the store to pick it up it was already in a bag waiting for me at the cash register. Best experience I've ever had at a pharmacy!!! Saturday, February 20th; 5:15 PM read more

The hot food section has a wide variety of entrees. Their pasta is the best. The prices here are a bit high. Will return for their fresh produce on a different day. Parking is easy here. read more

This is frustrating, a few hours ago I bought some items from this Safeway but changed my mind about my purchase last minute. So I went back in to return the items I bought. I go the cashier and I tell her I would like to return these and i just bought them. I asked her if "I could get cash back for the return or does it go back on to my debit card?" She told me that it would have to go back on the card, so I asked her "how long it would take for the return to go through and she said it should automatically go back. So I said "okay." I requested cash because usually when I have returned items and it goes back to my card, it takes a few days since I am using a debit card. Anyway, she then tells me that she has to manually input the prices for my items in her calculator and I thought that was odd because normally the cashier will scan the items and then issue the refund. I questioned her about that and she said that "it's easier for her this way." And I'm like...okay. And do realize I calculated my refund before walking back in the store but I didn't calculate the tax. Before tax the items were $15.96 w/safeway card. She goes to input $15.96 in the computer and says that is my refund and I asked her "what about the tax?" And she kept talking about the safeway card discount and I said "I understand, but what about the tax?" Because you are supposed to include some of the tax in the return. But she wasn't getting it. So, I started to second guess myself because maybe I am wrong. Then she tells me to insert my card, which I did, I typed in my pin and it rejected my card. She asked me if I canceled the transaction but I said no. I try another time and this time she tells me not to type my pin but to just hit enter. So i did and the machine said "Not authorized". She has me do this 3 times and I tried a different card and I told her both of my cards are debit card not a credit card they usually require a pin #. Her response is because the machine is rejecting both my cards that my cards are the issue. She is smiling at me and I said TWICE to her that I just used my card 10 mins ago to buy these items and I have used my card all day. Why would my card not work?! She keeps smiling and i ask her if I can speak to someone else and with a hint of attitude she says "I am customer service, so you don't need to talk to anyone else. But I can issue you a gift card." I decided to take back the items and go to the Safeway on San Antonio, Because I know my card works. I walked in went directly to a cashier and asked to return these. I had my debit card ready and the cashier scanned my items (didn't bring out his calculator to manually enter anything), asked me to put in my safeway # and without even asking for me to insert my debit card he handed me cash. He returned to me $17.40 which included the tax!!! He even had me sign a receipt with my name and signature for their records. Which is usually the normal routine ! Then I went to buy some stuff to see if my card is having issues and when I went to pay my card was approved!! To the Cashier Girl who helped me this evening at the Los Altos Safeway: I don't understand why it was so hard for you to issue me a return. I asked you why you weren't scanning the items into the system or at least scanning the receipt and you said it would be easier for you and the computer to just calculate it on the calculator and manually enter it. I'm sorry, but I have worked in high-end retail and I worked as a cashier for WF and in both places you either scan the receipt barcode then scan the items or you just scan the items and then issue the return and you always remember to include the tax that goes with each item they are returning. From the two different experiences I had regarding this return, I am giving Los Altos Safeway 1 star. Which is disappointing because my family and I have been going to this location (even before the remodel) for the last 30+ years because it's closer to us and always in stock. But I have come to see that "customer service" and efficiency lack at this store. I am giving the San Antonio Safeway 5 stars. Because I walked in and was helped with my return in under 5 mins. read more

When I lived in Los Altos Hills up to three weeks ago, I shopped at this Safeway. If you can shop here , even if you're not in the neighborhood, worth the service and food choices. read more