It is really a shame that SAFEWAY Scotts Valley doesn't value a healthy sanitary environment.. I will only buy meat from the meat department if Chris is working. I have gone into the store to purchase meat on his days off and I am astounded by the disgusting unsanitary mess of animal by products left on the counter in plain sight. Do you people think that people want salmonella cause your meat dept workers want to be lazy and keep a gross work environment. Not to mention the guy's working in that department have the personality of a rock and are not happy to be at work. Does anyone have any customer service skills these days!!! read more

By far the worst safeway ever!!! And that's no joke. Every time I go there, the lines are so very long. The manager seems to have no idea of when he or she should have the most cashiers. It is seriously a joke. Two cashiers at the most busiest times of the day. Try hiring more people???!!!!! A complete joke of a Safeway read more

This Safeway is always crowded, long lines, narrow isles, no self-checkout and the selection of food is far below your average Safeway.

I will never spend money in this store because of the extremely rude manager. A few years ago this woman was so unbelievably obnoxious to one of her employees that I just don't even shop at this store anymore. I'll use the bank there and that is about it. If I find out this manager was fired I may come back. I don't care what you do as an employee, a boss shouldn't throw a hissy fit in front of customers like a 4 year old. read more

Don't get the doughnuts. There are regularly flies inside the doughnut case. There is regularly a whole swarm of flies in front of the bakery. So I avoid the bakery. As for their other items, selection is okay. They have most items I would want. I've tried their ground beef and chicken breasts and they are fine. Lines are usually long and time consuming, but that's to be expected. I have gotten fruit there and it was fine. There are a few employees here who really make me smile when I come here. They are really friendly and funny. So that's one good quality of this safeway. But they REALLY need to do something about their disgusting bug-infested bakery. read more

i went to the bakery section for a cake for my friends baby shower a friendly girl named camera came to the counter right away helped me with all my needs and even threw in some cute cake toppers for the shower for free! was in and out in no time! thanks camera read more

Long lines, not enough checkers, shelves aren't stocked regularly. We used to shop here every week, but we had to bag our own groceries and no help to the car. Safeway currently won't donate to the local schools if you pay with a credit card, so we don't do our shopping here anymore. Too bad, because we used to enjoy their bakery, floral dept and club card specials. read more

Better than the one on Felton, but not by much .... They sometimes have what I wasn't on stock but since there is another store across the street, it makes it easy to avoid here. read more

I'm standing on a long line again!! 6-7 people long. Like I said yesterday, don't give me time to get in yelp!

I was grossed out, by seeing 20 plastic shopping bags in one cart yesterday. After talking to TONY` (Scotts Valley, Safeway manager) today, they have no plans to ban plastic bags. He said they are the only ones left that don't ban them. Please complain, or discuss how you feel about keeping plastic out of our area. Our rivers, and oceans, and wild areas don't need any plastic, fouling up our nice place to call home~ read more

I love this store so much, everyone is so very helpful always. My experience just now with a check out clerk (Kathleen) was beyond rude and unprofessional. I asked her to charge me for 35 pack of crystal geyser water and I would pick it up in the way out as directed by one of the employees in the store because the packages I tried to get kept falling apart (waters dropping out of plastic in casement) clearly those on the shelf in isle 2 I believe had problems. (Kathleen) ask me to go get a package so she could ring me up. Well, it's a 35 bottles of water and I can hardly get it from the bottom shelf to the cart as it is, she wanted me to carry it from the front of the store to almost the other side of the store at my check out point. I told her I could not carry it that far. Her resolve was well I can't charge you for it unless I have it at the stand and then silence from her the entire time checking out as I packed my own bags. I am beyond disappointed with the lack of her customer service. Every single employee in the Safeway are so very helpful, never ever have I had a problem with anyone in this store before. (Kathleen) was not going to help me at all. Couldn't she call someone to bring one (someone stronger than me) or look it up. I'm completely amazed at her lack of customer service and unconcerned with my needs. I will keep going to this store, I love this store, but I will never get in her check out stand again. She clearly needs customer service classes or something. A good talking to as well! Thank you for being my Safeway, read more

Horrible. 15 people in line no other checkers. Understaffed as usual. I guess more employees would mean more benefits for people so they probably keep me at 25 an hour. I would literally pay more for better service. read more

Clean, well stocked, friendly workers. What more can I say?

Try to get a breakfast burrito in the morning. No one shows up to make it, after 3 calls over the loud speaker. Brands you normally buy in other stores is missing here. You can do much better elsewhere... read more

This morning was a shouting match at the checkout aisles and at the in-store Starbucks. No one could hear each other as the floor cleaning service lady was polishing floors between 7:00 am-8:00 am. The machine is so LOUD and spews an awful smell into the air. I have complained 4 times to management and I guess no one can HEAR me because they too are deaf from the obnoxious noise. Why does this Safeway fail to schedule floor polishing maintenance during after hours or when customers are not populating the store in the morning? Be prepared to SHOUT your way through the checkout lines, at the Deli and at the Starbucks kiosk. Horrible management! read more

Safeway is cheap and always has what I need, normally at a discount!

Another disappointing trip to this Safeway that had me walking out without buying anything. The employees at the deli are so rude and unfriendly not to mention they don't even know what they are selling. I asked a young guy what something was and he had no clue. (Really?? You work in the deli) he asked 2 female employees what the item was and they ignored him. Yes ladies I was standing in front of you as you ignored me and his question and no you were not helping a customer but talking with each other. I rarely go in this store because it has gone down hill and the people working there are so unpleasant. Won't becoming back anytime soon. read more

I went in to Scotts Valley Safeway on 5/24. This store has been going downhill for the past year or two but it is convenient for me to go there. Well, no more. You have to play detective at the check out to make sure you are not overcharged which happens at least 50% of the time. I waited at the seafood counter for someone to help me for 20 minutes. Finally, the person walked up. He had been at lunch and left the counter unattended. No apology, nothing. Not even smart enough to leave a note stating when he would return. I purchased tomatoes on sale for 99 cents a pound and was charged 2.99 a pound. I called it to his attention. He couldn't find the correct price. Called for a manager who finally came up was very rude when I showed her the sign on the tomatoes. Bit my head off. Last year when the donut case was full of fruit flies lasting for 2 weeks, the Manager then asked me if I had a problem with that!!!! I am done. I will take my business where it is appreciated. Worst grocery store I have ever been in. Beware. read more

You know, on behalf of the customer, I gotta say there could be better customer service, it's not your problem that every single other customer decided to go shopping when they're in a horrible mood, or they had some "last minute shopping"... because that's always a good idea. it's called planning people. Not my fault you're in a rush and we just got bombarded by shoppers and everything is gone. That being said, as an employee of food service, do you have any idea how HORRIBLE most of the customers are that we are dealing with EVERYDAY. Yeah yeah it's our job, but tell me this where do you work? I'm only asking because I'd like to come throw your products back at you. or maybe you were actually stupid enough to think that I personally imply the hot tax on foods... as if I pocket the money. Just so you're aware, WE HAVE NO CONTROL OVER THAT. if the chicken tenders aren't warm, bring them back, you can get your money back AND get new super healthy grease fried breaded strips of overly processed chicken, fresh out of the fryer... yum :/ If you wanna whine about how we're out of something, TALK TO THE PERSON WHO DOES THE ORDERING. That's usually some jackass manager who doesn't care that we get yelled at. Just a hint... we're the workers, if I ran safeway you could bitch at me for all the stupid rules we HAVE to follow, so think about that. the produce people aren't in charge of whether certain prewrapped veggies get misted, they come that way they have to be put out that way, "common sense" would assume you should know that but there you go. we don't sabbotage you groceries, it's way too much effort. And yes, so you know we get in trouble when we clock overtime, so when we say we're closed, that's not your cue to cry that we don't have time to help you. We're stuck in the middle. Managers get mad that we clock overtime, you can't possibly just come back when eveything is ready for you the next day, so what happens? We get in trouble either way. Finally, WE'RE NOT ALLOWED TO GRAB STUFF FROM THE STORE TO USE IN OUR DEPARTMENTS. THAT'S STEALING. So don't bother saying "but you work in a grocery store".... you're not funny/clever/persuasive. We think it's dumb too, but we get in trouble and can get fired. Moral of the story?: treat people how you want you and your love ones treated. If you went to see your family at work and saw someone treating your loved one the way you are about to treat someone and don't like it... don't do it. So, next time you want to whine that we're out of something, or complain that a 24 hour safeway's deli is closed, WHINE TO CORPORATE. Suggest that the employees not get scolded for clocking overtime to help you, or that the manager's open their eyes to realize that yes, we're out of tri tip for sandwiches, or we shoud've ordered more chickens to cook because now we're out. I think it's safe to say the customer is responsible for 80% of the bad moods, the other twenty percent you can chalk that up to working under some truly horrendous manager who galks as you help customers only to yell at you later for making small talk. read more

good place to shop late at night. no happy smiley people bothering me if I need help. I go late at night for the quiet and I get it. if I want to go to New Leaf in Felton for organic I expect a different experience than a Safeway. all in all a quiet and sleepy Safeway. course during the day it is different but less crowded than most of the safe ways. I am from the East Coast so.... if service workers have any lip service or attitude I bark at them with a laugh. Hahaha all in all pretty simple folk who work here.. good people working a simple job read more

Shopping here is an incredibly unpleasant experience. Every once in a while I stop in to quickly grab something and promptly wish I hadn't. The employees look miserable and so does the food for sale. Nob Hill or SV Market are the better choice. read more

This location has the grumpiest staff I've ever seen. Today was the final straw, I'm sticking with Nob Hill from now on.

Came in on Saturday evening. Everyone kept asking if I found what I wanted, I guess they thought I was not from around. I've only been shopping at this Safeway for the last 10 years. I'm nine months pregnant and no one would help me bag my groceries, the woman who I watched help an another woman with a child bag up her groceries and chat with them suddenly decided it was time for her to get off of work. The woman who she helped had rammed my cart, gave an insincere apology and kept giving me mean looks. I had a package from the top shelf of the freezer fall on me and scratch my face, the other people who worked there watched me struggling to get the package next to it, and then they laughed at me and went on a break. I tried to explain what had happened to the cashier and I couldn't even get an I'm sorry that happened out of him. And then he acted like I was a jerk because I didn't feel like talking more to him or the lady next to me. I have to say the produce man is nice and everyone else is rude. It is just mean and cruel to not help a pregnant woman bag her groceries. read more

Slowest checkers on the planet work the swing shift. Unless you are as stoned as they are your shopping experience may be frustrating.

Definitely needs some improvements. The check-out lines are always long and take forever, which it's obvious that they don't have enough staff. I always end up going to Nob Hill across the street since the check-out lines are quick and they are fully staffed. I know Safeway is probably better in prices overall but my time is valuable too, so I always end up shopping somewhere else that's quicker. read more

Have shopped at numerious Safeway Stores in No Cal. Scotts Valley is the worst managed store of them all. Have tried to get milk out of the cooler 3 times now after 3pm always have to reach far in down on my knees to reach one and 2 times the milk lower shelves left side of cooler multiple shelvs totally out. Told a clerk in the area about the issue she said they are short handed. Sr Management should look into whats going on here. read more

The worse experience I have ever had in a grocery store. The checker was so sick, that she kept coughing into her sleeve, and then blowing her nose in her tissue, setting it down, and picking up our groceries. I was so upset, I almost walked out. I came home and cleaned all my groceries with antibacterial wipes. Don't go there!!! read more

I like shopping at this store they don't have alot of stuff for not being a super store. And they are not always sold out of stuff, the lines are not super long most of the time. The only bad thing I think I can say about this store is sometimes the workers are not as nice as other safeway's in the the area. read more

Safeway is a convenient grocery store to go to as it is close to where I live however the customer service really is non existent. No matter what time of day I am in there, the cashiers rarely greet me and they are always asking each other about wht time they can go on break. If it werent for the prices I would shop only at Nob Hill. Their lines are not as long and the employees aren't talking to eachother rather then the customers. read more

Worst shopping experience ever at Safeway Scotts Valley. I decided to go full grocery shopping after work so I can do other things this weekend. As I'm shopping half the shelves are empty. And over the loud speakers everyone sounded so negative, practically yelling for naggers.Then I go to the deli. Nobody able to help. (They are in back chatting it up) then I say "hello can I get a few things ". Deli girl wipes he nose with her hand and says yes "what would you like?" Um nothing I changed my mind. Then I after a full Cart of groceries I proceed to the end of a very long LONG line to pay and go. cashier had like a four minute conversation with the bag person which appeared to be some sorta manager. Then finally! It was my turn..so I thought...cashier and so called manager decided it was a good time to complain about other coworkers. And so I slammed my box of pasta on the counter. And said hi! Again I was dismissed. Finally I got a hey how are you. Then I finally have all my groceries bagged and the cashier says your card didn't work. Try running as credit. (We did this 5times). While she was still bitching about no break. Finally she figured it out! But just checked me bank account I was charged twice! Scott's Valley Safeway needs to get it together! read more

Love Safeway's low prices but they are always under stocked. The manager as well as some of the employees all seem to always be in a bad mood. When I asked one of the employees for help, he told me to "go find someone else". Never have been treated like that before by a grocer. Go to nobhill or Scotts valley market instead. read more

I have been going there for nearly 20 years. When I first started the produce section was atrocious. Rotten vegies. The produce improved immensly. I like the prices and convenience, that is the only reason I keep going. On the dark side, management or whoever resides in the little room at the front, is rude. This is what happened. I had picked up a pack of meat that smelled bad. No one noticed until I had purchased it and the bagger started to bag it. The manager walked by at that time and the cashier flagged him down to tell him what happened. He stood long enough for her to speak and then made a beeline for his office. He refused to come to the office door until the cashier was knocking and raising her voice. It was embarrasing. On top of that it was the second time, within this year that I have picked up rotten meat. If it happens again, I am definitly reporting to the health board. In addition, if you have your ears open you hear the grumblings of a pissy attitude between the workers. Each one is either moaning because everyone else is lazy, or moaning because they don't feel respected. In fact, the later conversation was a heated discussion between two workers in produce yesterday. That was embarrasing also. I felt the instigator should have been fired, because she had her coworker, a guy who has been there for years, backed against a corner and was barrating him to no end. At least for his part he was mature about it. read more

I was disappointed at the way this Safeway promotes plastic bag use. Their checkers do not ask customers if they prefer paper or plastic bags. They simply load up the customers with plastic bags. This is a coastal town in a Marine Sanctuary. I understand that the idiot Scotts Valley city Council refuses to go along with plastic bag bans, as the rest of Santa Cruz County does. But they can still ask their customers "paper or plastic". They are totally promoting the plastic. read more

Have been shopping here for 35 years putting up with everything mentioned here already because of their prices. The store is about 15 miles from my house. Today I found out at the checkout that I had forgotten my wallet. I entered my phone number for my card and it came up, but when I tried to pay with a check that had all my pertinent info on it, I was sent to customer service - big mistake. The young gent there would not take my check without an ID even though I knew my license number and I have been coming here for 35 years!!! So much for loyalty. I will not be coming back!! Nob Hill, you have a new customer! read more

The store is just OK. Not bad, not good. I find less overall specials than it's nearest competitor. I am fed up with their purchase tracking Safeway card to get the card price. Their competitor across the street, has equal or lower prices and I am not hassled by a tracking card. It is the old bait and switch marketing campaign of showing you the higher price and then lowering it after the card swipe to show you how much you saved. Pure fluff! The store at least has both free paper and plastic bags, not requiring you to bring in your own bag or pay the outrageous "bag fee" of other Santa Cruz county stores. The employees vary in friendliness. I have met some very nice employees and some others that should not be working with the public. read more

Waited half an hour to buy 3 items. There were 11 people in line and when I looked at the sign at the checkout it said " We will open up if there are three people in line. read more

I like and use all of the markets in SV. This Safeway is above average in that chain. Manager: They do need to clear up the crowded front of store around DVD machine, and Starbucks. This is always congested and accident waiting to happen. Move the displays out of the aisles! Getting perishables home in a timely manner is important. This is not a fast food store. I generally have decent service, but not fast sandwiches. Deli is prepping and cooking food besides serving. I have noticed staffing seems short. But the critical aspects of performing these tasks is always done properly, food handling safety wise. I have made it a point to TALK to personnel, who all have been knowledgeable, and helpful. The ones who do not know, promptly get someone who does. Who designs the obstructed parking in Scotts Valley, should be flogged. Or at least drug behind a four wheel drive over the maze structures their relative builds to congest traffic flow. read more

Ordinarily I'm OK with this Safeway. The two stars are for the friendly employees, especially clerks Buddy and George. My low review is for the substandard customer service department after my last shopping trip. I purchased a birthday card, and when I put my groceries away, I realized the card had not made it into any of my bags. I called immediately, and was told the card was at the customer service counter. The pip squeak I was talking to didn't offer an apology, or the least amount of empathy when I said it was a bummer I would have to make a 7 mile round trip to get it. No biggie....just a lack of training, and common sense, me thinks. The following day I went it to get the card. After standing at the customer service counter for a few minutes, I turned to one of the cashiers and asked if he would page someone for me. He did, and still, no one came. Finally, the uninterested customer service woman sauntered up. I explained I had called and she said that if not picked up the same day, the item was returned to the shelf. Even though she had opened a book, and I saw the hand written notice of the card having been left there, she asked for my receipt, which I didn't have. What a douche. I was the one inconvenienced due to one of their "courtesy" clerks screwing up, and she acted put out at having been called out to her station. No" I'm sorry". No, "we'll remind our employees to make sure everything purchased gets put into a bag". No common courtesy, or professionalism. The moral of the story is not to assume your courtesy clerk will do his job, and avoid needing customer service at all costs! read more

Shame on me for not learning faster. Twice now I've had well over $100.00 in my cart and stood in line so long that the ice cream got soft. So twice now I've just pushed my full cart down an aisle and left the store. I know I'm not the only person to have done this or something similar. It amazes me that in this day and age a large corporation continues to make poor business decisions. If there are two check stands with over ten people in each line maybe you need more checkers. This is an every weekend and some weekdays occurrence. Pitiful management where it is obvious they are more focused on tripping over dollars to pick up dimes. You can continue your poor inventory management and customer service and keep waiting for the Town Center property to become available but it still won't fix your fundamentally flawed management at this store. Also you may want to think about shifting the delivery hours from your Safeway truck that jacks up traffic every day for the evening commute on southbound 17. read more

I am a 75 yr old disabled woman who frequently shopped at Safeway. On two occasions I was met by the Assistant Manager Lisa and asked to leave because I had my 10 lb Emotional Support Dog under my arm. On the second encounter I asked that I be allowed to carry my dog with me as it was 80+ degrees in my SUV. Lisa became demanding, belligerent and when I refused to leave she called the Scott's Valley Police Dept. I was told to " Get of my property" by Lisa, it was her "Private Property". The Police were more gentle and rather than create a 'situation' I was told it better that I leave the property. I have had this pup, a Certified Emotional Support dog for two years, been welcome at restaurants, grocery stores, airlines, and other establishments and never encountered such rude, hostile, insulting behavior by a person as Lisa. I intend to confer with my attorney next week regarding my rights and those that ADA dictates. Safeway is NOT Lisa's Private Property; I was told by her I would be arrested for Trespassing if I ever tried to shop in "her" store again. Seriously? read more