Whole Foods Market

Reviews 7

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Amy Miller

I love the product selection, the pricing is in line with what I expect and the location is convenient. However, I dread my weekly visits to this poorly designed and managed store. The produce department is at the entrance and produce displays are positioned at odd angles allowing only one cart at a time to pass so when staff are restocking or any other customer is in the area, you cannot either pass through or reach the product you want to purchase. You can sometimes grasp products from the back of a diplay but you cant get to the front to see the labels. Product is moved around so you have no way of knowing if you are getting organic or non organic without reading the lables, the ones you cant read, because they are behind someone elses cart. During busy times, you literally cant get in the door with customers trying to pass through the jumbled produce department. Extra display racks clutter every single aisle of the store so only one cart at a time can pass down each aisle, which makes it very difficult to find items you dont know where to locacte and even makes it difficult to reach the check out. We try to shop late at night when there are few other customers but they start to pack up the deli an hour before the store closes and make you feel unwelcome in this area so if you come late dont expect to grab dinner from the deli. The bulk area is the very worst Ive ever seen and the biggest source of my frustration. Bags, tags and pens are often missing entirely. Many bulk products are on the floor so one has to bend over at the waist or get down on hands and knees to buy these products which is unsanitary, unsightely and literally a pain. The bins themselves are pooly designed and the scoops are flimsy and small. I eat oatmeal and raisins every morning and have a strong preference for organic which is why I try to shop at Whole Foods instead of going to Walmart, but this Whole Foods makes it virtually impossible for me to purchase these items. Today, literally on my hands and knees, I scooped the last of the bulk organic oatmeal out, I only got half as much as I wanted, my back hurts, the ladies around me got a lovely view of my tush, and the raisins were missing entirely. I complained to the information desk but as usual was basically told with a friendly smile "sorry I only work the help desk but I cant actually help you in any way". Tomorrow, Im going to Walmart for raisins and oatmeal, I dont like to shop at Walmart but at least I can rely on them to have staple groceries, every.single.week. Management at this Whole Foods location gives no consideration to the needs of its customers, and staff are not empowered to make changes to improve the situation. It is truly sad that we dont have a co-op in this city that caters to the needs of member customers.

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Amby Chew

They do have some interesting products but the have employees that are just jerks.They are to lazy to help you or are rude when they do. Then I was shopping with my mom and she just went over to get a sample. One of the guys in the meat department asked if he could help her she told him she was just getting a sample and he in a very nasty and really condescending way said oh your one of those people who here just for the samples. He made her feel like she was doing something wrong.There were several other people around and my mother was really embarrassed. We had several things in our cart and she put hers back. I have had several experiences with employees getting irritated when you dare to ask for help. Almost no one will even bother to say hello or ever give you eye contact. You just dont feel welcome there. For the prices they charge they should have polite helpful employees. I have never had anyone at Trader Joes ever be nasty, they are always nice and helpful. Maybe Whole Foods needs to have Trader Joes train their employees.

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Jill Grunewald

Believe it or not, this is the best WF Ive been to. And Ive been to WF stores in FL, HI, NY, TX, MN, MO, and KS. Generally, you can expect the same things from most WF stores, but this one stands out. Firstly, the staff went out of their way to help me find what I was looking for -- I was in a hurry and not familiar with this locations layout. (Ive NEVER found WF staff -- in any location -- to be rude. Ever.) Secondly, they had bulk breakfast sausage! Ive never found it at any other location. We eat this regularly with Brussels sprouts and sweet potatoes. (I dont like patties or links.) I was so excited. Thirdly, and most importantly for me, as someone who doesnt eat gluten, I was beyond impressed with this locations hot bar. Im never that excited about the WF hot bar because most things contain gluten and for the dishes that dont, well, often times they just dont get me excited. I recently had the best GF lunch Ive had in a long time from this locations hot bar. I love this store!

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Mayank Kothari

This is not a gourmet place despite its rather gourmet style prices. While the top managers are quite professional, the guys running the departments do not comport the maturity, knowledge and performance. The effects result in things like stale raspberries and second hand fruit, all at first hand price. Today was the worst because the woman at the checkout actually started with an attitude over a grocery bag and was rude all the way through the checkout. I gave an extra star for the top managers but the rest deserve only one star or less, I am about done going there. Gateway and Trader Joes have never failed me and yet I went to Whole Foods due to proximity, traffic. Good bye, Wholesale Frustration. I will not give you my money when you sell me rotten raspberries at full price and then mistreat me while collecting my money? I cannot recommend this store.

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Doug Wittkowski

Great to finally have WF in Iowa. That said, Im surprised what it has become since first seeing the stores in Northern California 20 years. I expected many more local gourmet/specialty choices especially in the meat department and the store brands I have tried are inferior.I also expected regional seafood choices form the upper Midwest. The Beer selection looks like something at Hy Vee, the bakery items dont hold a candle to our own locals. The produce is great and hopefully will sell well enough to stay at a high quality and large quantity. Too bad, its become, just another chain, still glad they are here.

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J Hall

Stopped by Whole Foods today - BIG SURPRISE - it was not a positive experience. The cashier, her name tag read "Lauren", was rude and unfriendly at the checkout. Why does an upscale store like Whole Foods hire an ignorant person like that to work with the public? Makes absolutely no sense. On a happier note, the lady in the cheese department was helpful and walked me right over the the item I was searching for. One employee in the entire store made eye contact and asked if I required assistance. I honestly think this new market in Des Moines could do much, much better!

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Taylor Vander Well

I went into the vitamin section yesterday because my prenatal was making me sick and constipated. The guy who helped me was so knowledgeable (about prenatal vitamins?!! I was impressed.) about the different products and he helped me pick out something new based on my symptoms. He asked me to make sure and tell them how it was working next time I came in. I dont always shop at Whole Foods because its a bit pricey for me, but when I need something specific and stop by, I always receive this kind of care and attention. Thanks Whole Foods!

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