Whole Foods Market Services
Reviews and Complaints

Not allowed to wear poppies to respect the dead young men who defended this country?
Please leave Canada, no one needs a bunch of Nazis here.
Country of freedom and equality, your business needs to resituate itself in Hell where you clearly belong.
Will never again shop in your stores and will forever voice dislike over your heartless and soulless policies.
Leave Canada and set up in countries that do not allow freedom, your business structure will fit in well.

So I have been working for Wholefoods for the past two years in the past two years I have been put on the final for attendance and even after explaining my situation my managers disregarded what I have told them even though I use issues to their attention on multiple occasions I was also put on a final again in November 2018 ironically the day after my birthday because of a customer complaint due to Amazon prime now as we know our store policy is we cannot except a screenshot and because I was doing my job and in forming the customer over store policy So I have been working for Wholefoods for the past two years in the past two years I have been put on a final for attendance and even after explaining my situation my managers disregarded what I have told them even though I've run his issues to their attention on multiple occasions I was also put on a final again in November 2018 ironically the day after my birthday because of a customer complaint due to Amazon prime now as we know our store policy is we cannot except a screenshot and because I was doing my job and informing the customer of our store policy She then proceeded to complain to management claiming that I refuse to give her service and that I was being rude and disrespectful towards her when I was pulled into a meeting with my managers and explain what happened they basically disregarded what I said and still proceeded to put me on a final I have received harassment from customers because I am a black cashier working in a predominately white town now I'm not being a recess and I'm not being a bigot but my point is I've received so much harassment so many complaints claiming that it's my attitude and all of this other stuff but when you're following store procedures and you're doing what is told and expected of you and required by you and you still get reprimanded for doing your job becomes very she then proceeded to complain to management claiming that I refuse to give her service and that I was being rude and disrespectful towards her when I was pulled into a meeting with my managers and explained what happened they basically disregarded what I said and still proceeded to put me on a final I have received harassment from customers because I am a black cashier working in a predominately white town now I'm not being a racist and I'm not being a big it but my point is I've received so much harassment so many complaints claiming that it's my attitude and all of this other stuff but when you're following store procedures and you're doing what is told and expected of you and required by you and you still get reprimanded for doing your job it becomes very Frustrating and when I tried to transfer to a store that is closer to my home I was denied on multiple occasions due to my past history that Wholefoods Market claims that I have a bad attitude but Wholefoods Market refuses to actually take the time to listen to their employees so overall I'll be looking for another job and I plan to complain

I was at the Whole Foods store and I accidentally had diarrhea in my pants. It wasn't my fault that I wasn't wearing underwear that day! So instead of helping to clean up the poopy that was all over my crack, pants and shoes, they told me to leave! How horrible! It smelled mighty bad of course, but what a way to treat a customer! I came in looking for a discount on habenero peppers and fresh spicy salsa and left with doody all over me... Never again!

My family and I went to the Whole Foods Market at 10601 San Jose Blvd. Jacksonville, Florida 6/24/2019 4:00pm. And upon checking out we put on the counter a container of hot food we got at the hot food bar. Its all the same price by the pound. It was in a closed container and she asked what we were having. I told her Vietnamese Chicken. And the female cashier said loudly with a big smile " Oh, the Vietnamese cat. I said what? And she said Loudly again "Vietnamese Cat". Its actually cat not chicken! My daughters who each have cats couldn't believe she actually said something as ignorant as that. Neither could my wife and I. The people in line behind us were shaking their heads too. Whole foods prices for one should prevent shoppers from having to deal with ignorant and low class people/employees when they shop and spend good money at their store. Seems their employees aren't vetted very well before hire. Certainly don't leave your purse or personal items in your cart when you shop there. That manager needs to go to Walmart or less! And she didn't give us a receipt either we realized after checking the bags. Doesn't want people to know her name?

I also had a similar experience when I went to customer service at Whole Foods in Harlem NYC to exchange/refund an item. For some reason, the lady before me got an immediate refund for her items but I did not. I had to wait to speak to a team leader named Kristen she was extremely rude who then called for her boss Damon Yousef who seemed like he could care less. Kristen took my receipts from my hand and started to take pictures of my receipt with her personal phone. I asked her why was she taking pictures, she said for her boss who was in a meeting but her boss was standing close by, when I took my receipt from her as she had taken them from me she yelled security. The security guards were confused and thought she was nuts. I did too at that point. It was a terrible very rude awkward experience. I called 1-844-WFM-Talk while in the store to make a complaint before I shopped because I did not want this crazy woman to call security again on me for no reason. Sometimes the employees are just downright racist against some of their shoppers and more courteous to other shoppers. They say you can sample some things but I never do. They turn their heads when they see others sampling. But then others they immediately call security on. I once saw this lady open a whole bottle of juice, taste it and put it back. I called the management and they did nothing. They did not even take the juice off of the shelf. My family and I shop at Whole Foods in Harlem and sometimes it is a great experience especially on Gospel nights, the staff is just absolutely lovely, smiling and courteous. The next morning I go in to buy beets and a cappuccino and it has turned completely ghetto and it is because some of the people they hire have terrible attitudes and need to be fired. They do not need to work with the public. Some of them the staff are very racist against mixed families and have said some awful things about my family and me when we shop together. I look more black and my son looks completely white. I heard the rude team leader Kristen say to another employee "Why is she talking to that white man" Well that white man is my son and yes, I gave birth to him, he is not adopted! They even have had security follow us around when we shop and you can imagine the rest that was said about me and my son. My daughter won't even go to the store anymore because she hates the rude stares from some of the staff. I think some of the staff is just amazing and the security team is just amazing too. I received an apology from the security guard telling me he did not know he was your son letting me know, right away when we entered the store we were being watched and comments were being made, terrible comments. The guard looked guilty, seems he felt very bad and it was a tearful heartfelt apology. It has scarred my son but he is getting over it. I have yet to receive an apology back from Whole Foods. I have contacted them 3 times via email and have not heard a true heartfelt apology. I only heard from the robotic auto-generated messages they probably send people when they do not want to address serious issues. What is outrageous is that I feel that they think people make these complaints to get something in return which is also a prejudice way to think about your customers who shop there every other day and spend lots of money at your store it is a terrible way to treat your customers that are helping to make your store successful.

I use to buy Stilton Cheese from Whole Foods Boulder Pearl St Store, but I don't anymore. I don't know that I will again, because my experience was that bad. I now purchase Stilton Cheese from Safeway. I would usually purchase $5-10 worth of cheese a week from Whole Foods. The last time I purchased Stilton Cheese was on July 9th. About a week after the 9th I went in to the store to buy some more and the Specialty Department was completely out. I asked a clerk if she knew when some would be coming back in. She didn't seem very helpful or knowledgeable so I asked if she could put me in touch with someone who would have more information, so that I would know when to come back in. She did and that woman was abrasive and seem to make her answers up. She said Friday. I came back Friday and there was no cheese. This went on for weeks. I would come in and there would be no Stilton Cheese and when I would inquire with the female employees of the Specialty Department they were unhelpful, abrasive, acted like I was an inconvenience to them and always said to come back Friday. It takes time and effort for me to come to Whole Foods and to be repeatedly told incorrect information...just to blow me off started to upset me. This went on for 5 weeks. That's how long your Specialty Department did not have it in stock... without any explanation. That's 5 trips to the store and coming up empty handed. I could have spent $50 during that time. When I went in on August 13th, I wasn't keen on not wasting anymore of my time and energy and I wanted some answers so that I could at least be informed about what was going on and to know for sure when to come in. I asked a clerk, Jamie, to write down for me a name and a number to call of a person who could definitively tell me the information I was seeking and I was treated in a mean hostile way. I don't know if she was having a bad day but I explain the situation to her and that this was a major inconvenience that I needed to solve that day. I was treated like I was not allowed to know or speak to that person... like it was top secret of something and again, like I was inconveniencing her. It became a power struggle. It took me 20 minutes and talking to manager Karen, who would not tell me her exact title, to get manger of the Specialty Departments name (Tara) and the main store number written down for me. This should have taken five minutes and Jamie should have been friendly and helpful. Needless to say...I didn't call Tara. I have found Stilton Cheese at Safeway. Wholefoods you have lost a customer. I don't want to come back to your store to be treated like that again. I am an Amazon Prime member so ordering online may be an option in the future. I didn't like the way I was treated and now I don't want to interact with your employees anymore.

Yesterday, I was buying groceries at the Whole Foods' Columbus Circle location. It was a busy time and the line was very long. I went to get one more item while my friend was in a line, only to find out that my friend was getting verbally harassed by another customer when I came back. The other customer was calling my friend as "uncivilized" because he didn't move further in a line, when there was, in fact, no space in that crowded space. The aggressive verbal attacks and threats kept going on. We initially tried to ignore him, but he became more and more aggressive; when my friend eventually confronted him, he hit my friend's face. I immediately asked for the security guards.

It took a while for the security person to arrive. But here is a more serious problem. When the security guard finally came, I asked for mediation between us and the aggressive customer who was still standing next to us. But the security person just said, "Since it's not the Whole Foods' problem, you should report to the police." Yes, the aggressive customer is not a Whole Foods employee, but the incident happened on its premise, and we were asking for a safe way of resolving the situation--and the security guards are meant to act as such mediators in this kind of incident (according to the store manager as well). Even though I kept saying the customer standing right next to me hit my friend's face, the security person didn't even TRY to talk to or confirm the facts from that customer, and just asked, "Do you want to call the police or not?", and just let that customer run away.

I am deeply disappointed by how the situation was handled and feel unsafe shopping at Whole Foods. What if he punched me really hard and I got seriously injured? Would they still say that they can't even get hold of or talk to the attacker because it's not Whole Foods' problem? What's the benefit of paying the premium by shopping at Whole Foods then?

My Family and I go to the Whole Foods in Williamsburg Brooklyn for the past year and always look forward to Dough Doughnuts. They are local and you have had them forever in this store. I can't find them in your store and all the other Whole Foods in New York carry them. This is disappointing. Can you find out why this store doesn't have them. They are the best doughnuts in New York.

Hello,

I love Whole Foods and have been shopping at your stores for many years. Last week was hectic as I had just adopted a new rescue dog, was trying to get to a class, and planned to shop for food on my way to class. When I was almost to the Ponce de Leon store, I realized that I had rushed out of the house without my wallet! I did have my checkbook though and pictures of all my credit cards and driver's license so I felt confident that I would be able to shop. NOT. I spoke to the assistant manager, explaining what had happened and that I drove a 50 mile round trip just to shop at this store. Also, I explained that I was a long time customer. He would not budge, so I asked to speak to the manager. She refused to even talk to me.

I find this totally unacceptable. It would not have hurt them in any way to make at least a one time exception, particularly since I am a good customer, had identification, a checkbook, and pictures of all credit cards. A simple phone call could have been made for verification.

This has made me feel uncomfortable about continuing to shop here. I'm so hoping this is not Whole Foods policy every where as I travel extensively and always seek out the nearest Whole Foods. BTW: We desperately need a store here in west Georgia!

Thank you for listening to my concerns.

Sincerely,
Elizabeth Richardson
[protected]@yahoo.com
[protected]

Notes On Whole foods dismissal. I started with whole foods under a professional expectation that they are a well rounded fair equal company. In the Beginning when I was hired the lady Mel who hired me explained that she see I am applying for Customer service but, clearly she encourage me to try grocery over night because it’s something different and no customers and 1.00 extra pay. I said I have never tried it but, would give it a go since they needed help in that dept and she went on to say if you don’t like it, you can always just transfer to the dept you wanted in the beginning. I asked was there any special requiremets and she said nope just stock the shelfs and listen to my music in my headphone easy and laidback. The first two week there, I went to lift a case of coconut water, and tore my old injury from a previous job. I told my supervisor Nicolle, and she said its probally due to not using the muscles. Days went on and the pain never really subsided, but then I get called into the office and told I am moving to slow and not keeping my quota, which I was unaware of. I told Tony the shift supervisor about the incident and he explained that I was to try harder or it is going to lead to a write up. Until a week later mark tony boss calls into the office again and I went to explain I am in pain but, still trying to do my best and keep my numbers. And, the injury seems to be getting worse. I was told get my numbers up our it will resort to termination. The next day, I get pulled into the office with Jenn Jenn and tony asking me why I am moving so slow and my numbers are low. Explained again what happened and how I am trying to stay on task but, since my benefits have not kicked I can’t afford to see my chirocpractor but one a week, and he said to take it easy on my left side or I can really make the injury permanent. I was told to go home, and to wait for a call for there decision on my work schedule. I get a call the same day, saying yes you need a note from the doctor to return, and it after 5pm and have to wait 3 days before my apt is due to see my doctor. I get the note, and bring it into HR and was told it not clear enough on the pounds and weight restrictions. I go back ($75 again) same week, explain the note was not clear enough and he re adjusted me and wrote a better not with more details. Bring It back, then told, not clear enough, so I just go on to say my doctor said to call him if you don’t understand clear directions on the client. I go home Hr contacts me to come and start working in Customer Service front End were I originally applied. It seem like to me that communication between management is really a disconnect there because nobody talked to anybody about my injury or my doctor note. I start in CS front end and benefits kick in and seeing my chiropractor two times a week and healing fine. But, now I start to notice little things like how supervisors like Natalie talk to team members a little out of pocket, and Supervisor Brad is trying to fix a lot of issues that seem to be going on way before I started. Then, I had to keep reminded them about my limited ablilities as far as gathering carts so it don’t pull on my left side while I am healing. I notice that our turnover is high and from speaking with team members its due to lack of respect between tm and managers, like ash who seems to play favorites with some more then other especially supervisors. Other are leaving to persue there goal in life. I stay focused and come to work everyday, on time, I was late 2 times in 8 months by 14 min and 6 min, but I get a notice to file which is not a write just to let me know to mind my time clock ins. But it was a little weird that we hired a young man name Rick who clearly had some issues in his head, tm notices him eating the produce that was not paid for and getting food from the hot bar without paying and taking naps in the break room on the clock. We all wondered what is going on and why is getting away with it, we was told by supervisor Natalie and Erin that they cant just fire him they, need to build a case on him. Tm was like wow but, ok. 3 months go on and he is finally separated from the company. We have Tm that show up weekly late like Jaddais who calls out at will. Or Fedge who curses out team members on the floor and say stuff like “the world needs to blow up and start over” just interesting personalitys all around. But, I do what I am told, and focus on my job. Every time I am asked to help in another dept I always say yes, as well stay later and come in on my days off. So its 8 months into my employment and I finally called out sick on a Sat due to strenuous stomach pains. I went to the doctor, and received Motrin for the pain and antacids which both said to eat with food when taking. I only had to take the meds for 3 to 5 days, I returned to work. Two days later realizing I was due for my meds and have not eaten all day. On Monday 10/9 put two scoops of mashed potaoes into on of the small hot bar boxe to have something on my stomach before the meds kick in and I get sent home and get a point. While in line on my 10 min break I took a couple of bites out of the box, ( realizing I don’t get another break for another 2 hours, by then I would have been in terrible pain) the line was long and my 10 min was dwendlling down and I get to the register and explain to Tizi the cashier I took a couple of bites but, if she needs to add a stapler or something for weight pls do but, I was in terrible tummy pain. She said she understand rung me up and that left me with 2 min to get back from my 10 min break. So I forced the finishing food down my throat and went back to the register. Two scoops is not a lot but when you in a hurry you don’t have time to taste the food either. So, on Tues 10/10 I get called into the office to meet with Brad and Tanya the shift Supervisor, I am asked about the incident on Monday about eating out of the hot bar box. I see Tanya has a pen and pad but, not writing anything down as she asked me “why did I do it” I explained my med issue and stomach pains, told her it was never a money issue but, a health issue. I am more then willing to pay whatever she feels it cost, she ended the comment with you still know it was not right. I said “ I understand and not lying about the eating of the food but, I was more worried about my health. I will openly accept and own up to it. She asked “ you say two or three bites but, on camera it looks like 3 or 4 bites would you agree” I said not sure since it was the day after, but sure I will agree.
In the meantime I notice Brad turning red and not really saying nothing, (like he was uncomfortable being there) and she not writing nothing down. But, doing all the talking ending the comments with but, you know it was not right. So, I realize at this point she has made up her mind and she is not listening to me. She explains per protocal I am put on a suspension until further notice and to stay by my phone and wait for a call. Now, in my mind since I have never been in trouble on purpose, and have a great track record and wonderful repor with my staff, I am looking at a write up for sure. Days go by, and no call on either phone. But, I knew I should hear something by Friday 13th on payday. I checked my workday and saw my PTO cashed out and knew I was terminated. I proceeded to call the store and ask questions. Brad could not answer any due to the fact he was not informed of my separation from the company.
Tanya the shift supervisor says to me on the phone that she did not want me to find out this way, I went on to say I did not receive a phone call or email, she explained that she called the number on file I told her I have no missed calls and I cleared all my voicemails to make sure I could get the call. She said well with that being said we decided to separate you from the company. I explained that I will be down to sign my paperwork and she really seemed worried about the time I would be arriving and why since I did not need to why am I coming down. So, now I really want to know what she put on the paperwork. I proceed to the store and run into my staff which had no clue I was released, and Tizi the cashier says” did you get a write up too” I looked at her and said nope “ I Got terminated” she was very surprised. Tizi was wrote up for not snitching on me to a supervisor about me eating the bites out of the box. I explain the truth to my fellow team members, and all I hear is team members have been written for that not terminated. Me being only 8 months into the company, was unaware of that. I felt I was being made a example of for whatever reason, I am not sure. Overall I feel there was another route she could of went seeing that in the comment box on my termination paperwork it says “On Oct 9 2017 Jeanetta was in the check out line, eating from the container, before handing the cashier a “half-eaten” box of food Jeanetta admitted eating only one bite” only. This is WFM Theft policy.
To counter act which she did not say was I was on meds, offered to pay for whatever she felt I owed, was not sure of how many bites I had, explained it was my first offense and no reconmendations like a final. If it is on record that other TM have been written up for the same thing, I request an investigation and apology from The supervisor. I like the company and its values as a whole, I like my experiences and growth I developed in the company. I really learned a lot from my fellow staff and supervisors like Natalie she came off unapprocable but, softened up as we worked together more and Erin who try to awnser every question if she did not have a awnser. Brad the staff favorite because he is a problem solver and a ppl person. Robert very emotional with some mood swings but, on a good day you might be able to get a solid awnser.

I just left the Vancouver Washington store where I brought two gift cards
which I received from Chase Visa as a "rewards program". I attempted to
pay with the gift cards at which time your cashier said she could not take
them as they were fraudulent. I asked to speak to the manager and Leslie
Wallace came up and said the gift cards were fraudulent and would not even
attempt to scan them. I asked her to call someone above her, and she said
she was in charge, and there was no need, and would not do so. I paid for
my purchase with cash and credit card and came home and called The Whole Foods Corporate phone number which I got from their official web site.
[protected], and then keyed in the gift card prompt for gift card support. I spoke
with Beverly at approximately 3:00 o'clock Washington
time. She verified both cards were indeed issued by Chase Bank as rewards,
each had 100 dollars on them available. She said the store manager had no business deciding whether the cards were valid or not, and should have called Corporate to validate them. Beverly said she would call the store manager to let her know they were valid. I called the store back at 3:12 p.m., asked to speak with a manager, and Leslie came to the phone. I asked her to call your Corporate office and verify the validity of my gift cards
and she told me "I don't have to do that, because they are fraudulent".
Why in the world would I ask her to call Whole Foods corporate office if they are
fraudulent?

I spend approximately 800 dollars a month EVERY SINGLE month at this store
purchasing a special kind of meat for my dog who suffers from a deadly
stomach ailment. This is how the local store management treats
customers? I asked her why she did not call Corporate when I was standing
in line, trying to pay and her answer was that "I don't have to because
they are fraudulent". So here I am with 200 in gift cards, which Whole Foods Corporate office deemed valid, and the store manager still won't take them. To say the least
this was unnecessarily embarrassing to me, in the line at the store, as I feel that Leslie was talking down at me, and the customers behind me in line scowled at me and said the word "thief. I believe that was caused by how this manager was talking at me. The
store has wasted 1 1/2 hours of my time (I live 45 minutes away from this
store), and the store manager is holding 200 of my money hostage. Legitimately, with Corporate telling me the cards are good, whose the thief?

I called the store again at about 5:45 p.m. and spoke with Leslie again, and she was trying to verify that these numbers are indeed valid, but had not been able to. I grilled her for about 3 minutes, and insisted I could not believe this as when I called Corporate, I got through to them within 30 seconds, and it took Beverly all but 40 seconds or so to confirm their validity. After confronting Leslie, she admitted that she did INDEED CONFIRM THE CARDS ARE LEGITIMATE NUMBERS, BUT SHE WOULD STILL NOT ACCEPT THE GIFT CARDS. As the story changed, then it became a problem that the cards had "remove before use" stickers on them. When I told her they all come that way, she then changed her story and said "oh no, that's the wrong kind of sticker on your
cards". She requested I get her pictures of the cards, which I did and she
verified she received, and told me she would continue to look into the
matter tomorrow. She said she had to forward the pictures to her
Corporate office at your Corporate office's request because the cards I
presented did not come from Whole Foods. I promptly called back Gift card services,
from the phone number on the Corporate website and spoke with Mary, and
requested reimbursement for these cards as the store manager is refusing to honor them, and was told Corporate has no control getting me a refund because the cards are issued by a third party, NOT FROM WHOLE FOODS. As you can see, the story is 'EVOLVING" and changing between the
people at Corporate and the store manager. Corporate says the cards are issued by a third party and the store manager says they are ONLY issued by Whole Foods. I feel like this is deceptive business practices, I will be calling and writing Chase Bank as well to let them know what is happening. I hope you can appreciate my frustration. I want these cards honored, as Whole Foods corporate says they should be.

Maggots and Fleas skins found when I opened the packet of Mac n Cheese. Dinner time for my toddler would have been a mess if I had not paid attention to what I was cooking. This could have messed him up. I am not going to the store because the last time I was in to talk about mold in my vegan jackfruit burrito I was turned down. They refunded my money and were not even honestly apologetic about it like it was not a big deal.I was pregnant then and did not have the strength to fight for the wrong. This mac n cheese was to be fed to my one year old baby and I was shocked to see that the product had not expired. So Quality IT IS ! I have not heard from the Customer Service Department of WholeFoods where I placed the complaint, like their website says that someone shall contact you soon. I really don't think they care enough. I shall be posting these pictures on Social Media and let the community know what they are buying before they put in their hard earned money into Whole Foods. I am just appalled.