Smart & Final Extra!

I want to send a HUGE THANK YOU to Trish at the Fairfield Smart & Final! She was SO helpful when placing my order for our fundraiser. Customer service SUPER STAR!

I found my new rotisserie chicken place! Over a pound more than the walmart chicken for only a dollar more. I like that I can buy a 15lb hunk of beef there too.

Even though I wanted to like this store, their customer sucks. There are always a ton of employees just standing around especially management (when I would come in, but they arent friendly or helpful).Heck Walmart staff are way more serviced oriented! I get that they are new store in the area, but at some time you’ve got to get your sh*t together people. Ive been patiently waiting for an item thats «apparantly» on back order, and has been for a long time and every time I’ve inquired with their employees I get a different story, and that «a manager will call me». However, to date I have never received any call from someone that can assist, only attitudes from staff. I’m no longer shopping at this store, atleast not the location in Fairfield.

This is my new grocery store! They have a pretty wide variety and really fair prices. I usually shop at Walmart and even drive to the Suisun store, which is farther then Fairfield’s… But overall, Smart & Final has better pricing and less crowds.
One time I did buy a side-​dish and came home to find it expired with some mold… I should have taken it back and I’m sure they would have issued a refund… but I was lazy and just threw it away. I can’t ding them for something they had no opportunity to fix.
I’ll be a loyal shopper for quite some time, as long as they keep up the good work!

When I heard a Smart and Final was going to open a few minutes away from home I loved the idea (so I didn’t have to go to Walmart) and put up with the long lines and people that don’t know customer service !!!
Today is my second day at Smart and Final, came in for something quick but to my surprise the lines are very long only two registers open and at one point I counted 22 people waiting to pay.
I find this ridiculous!!! It took me 10 minutes to get my stuff but 21 minutes waiting on line to pay…
Attention to management How are you suppose to compete with Walmart Being next door and became successful when there is lots of competition around you ???
Here is an Idea SUPREME CUSTOMER SERVICE AND SHORTER LINES !!!
Customers would not mind paying a few cents or few dollars more for their product as long as customers get treated with respect.
((((BE SMARTER))). Smart and Final right now you’re sucking big monkey balls.

Cool and all but the associates aren’t very helpful and even seem pretty rude. Cashiers don’t even talk to you until they’re ready to tell you to pay.

Grand Opening!” (09÷30÷15) Came by to check out the new Smart & Final later that night on opening day or rather «evening.» The store opened their doors @ 7am and I heard the lines were «n’ucken f’uts,» I can appreciate a FREE, reusable, shopping bag as much as the next person BUT really… 7am, for a plastic bag? If you were driving by, you would think that they were launching the iPhone 7 or the opening of Disney’s Star Wars Land. Silly. «Uhm, I have better things to do… ‘Such as hitting the snooze button on my alarm clock.»
I finally made it over to the store at 8pm, no crazy @ss, world première or Elvis sighting crowds but still a decent amount of bodies… ‘Not really doing a whole lot of shopping but just stopping by to check out the new kid on the block. It’s sort’ve like the neighbor’s house that’s up for sale and you fake a walk-​thru so your nosey/​snooping self can take a peak at what’s inside… ‘Not really buying as much as you are looking.
When I first walked up, I noticed a guy in a suit out front, arms folded, trying to look serious with the mylar balloons flying overhead, and giving me «the eye,» as I took a few photos for Unilocal*.Smart & Final had not made it to Unilocal*as of then but I was going to get to work, shortly after I returned from checking out the store. It was until later when I walked back out to grab a shiny, new shopping cart that it clicked. — «The suit,» was part of their security team! BWA’HAHA!!! Really, a suit? I think the suit is an attempt to portray a more professional/​business image but the juxtaposition was so off, it’s like placing a butler in the bathroom @ the local 7 – 11. It does not fit with the overall continuity… ‘And someone needs to tell these guys, «If you have to overact confidence then you really don’t have much to begin with.» You do not have to stare down the clientele as if you had x-​ray vision. After all, it makes the consumers feel so welcomed and inviting. «HELLO AND WELCOME TO OUR GRAND OPENING, don’t mind the mall cops in the Sear’s suits.» (Call me nuts but I don’t think that’s the correct image to go with… ‘Or do they?)
I walked through the entire store taking photos & a few notes before going back out and grabbing a spanking, brand new basket to do a bit of shopping.
The store was well stocked, lit, and clean. There were team members constantly moving about to help keep the store,” Showtime ready.” I spoke to a few workers who worked @ other locations who were helping out w/​the grand opening.
As I walked through the aisles, couldn’t help but notice that the aisles were bit on the tight side. Now, my fat @ss along with the very fat @sses of the general public did not help matters either. I did notice that the snack and «Lard in a can» aisles were exceptionally crowded. It was like the 405 on a Friday of 4^th of July weekend.
Pricing — Overall, they’re «alright,» w/​a few good, bargain deals folded throughout. The strawberries and bananas had great prices. Bananas ($ 0.39/lb), just 2 cents more than COSTCO ($ 0.37/lb) — Great price! Most grocery stores charge between $ 0.59 — $ 0.69/lb for bananas. (I generally look @ the produce pricing as a precursor to the rest of the store.)
Grocery notes:
Main St Deviled Egg Potato Salad ($ 5.50) — DO NOT BUY; nasty @ss crap; potatoes not properly cooked to the correct consistency; waste $$ (**See photo)
Talenti Gelato — In the ½ gallon size! YES! (The sea salt caramel is one of my favorites.) If you’ve never tasted this, try it at least once and if it’s only going to be once, be sure to try the sea salt caramel. (The last time i checked, Target had the best price.)
Smart & Final brought in several additional, «mobile registers,» to help with the grand opening crowds. There were a total of eight registers up and running with five of them being permanent installations. I was rather surprised to see a mere five registers for such a fairly large store. (Weekends will suck.)
The employees that I spoke with were all very friendly, professional, and helpful. However, there was the exception of the two ladies at the register when I checked out. After the cashier said hello, she immediately turned to her assistant & started their own conversation. I thought it was going to be a brief chat and then the cashier would refocus her attention back to the customer but unfortunately it was not to be. From the beginning of my order to the scanning of the last UPC number, the cashier didn’t say another word since the initial greeting… BUT I did learn that one of them missed the latest episode of «Arrow,» someone’s kid got braces, and the dog’s pregnant. I don’t mind friends making idle chatter but it may not be such a bad idea to say more to the customer than, «Hi!» (5 minutes later) «Here’s your total, give me your money.» I get more social interaction at a Wells Fargo ATM… ‘And I get thanked every time. — «Thank you for using Wells Fargo.»
— Big Aloha!
Food: 4
Ambiance: 3
Service: 3+
Value: 3

Interesting. Obviously packed because it’s the second day they’re open. I don’t know what to make of the place, it’s like a Food 4 Less, Grocery Outlet and super Walmart (minus the clothing, toys and what have you) combined into one. They had their own brand (for example, walmart’s is Sam’s Choice) but I didn’t quite catch the name. They had fresh produce and a meat section. No deli or bakery. I think the one thing that really caught my eye were the boxes of food you normally would find at a whole seller because they come in bulk. For example, you know those huge tubs of ice cream you see at ice cream parlors? Yeah, they have those in various flavors for about $ 19… That’s not something you can find at Costco, Sam’s Club or local grocery store. The prices were the same as the items you would see at other grocery stores. Again, not too sure what I’d come here for but I’m sure since it’s literally down the street from our house we’ll be back to buy a few things.

Grand opening was pretty cool. A lot of savings which helped me make tonight’s dinner without having to spend a lot. The line was out the door while someone was letting people in and out of the entrance without bumping into each other.
Was pretty surprised with their grocery section. Really clean and stocked with a lot of items that would never be found at other competitor grocery stores. What got me juiced was their rhubarb.