30 Replies to "GROCERY SHOPPING: West Seattle's mid-May changes"

• Findlay May 16, 2020 (8:04 am)

  Thriftway in the bold title is spelled wrong :)

  • WSB May 16, 2020 (10:26 am)

    Fixed, thank you.

    • Wild One May 16, 2020 (5:30 pm)

      Good ome!

      • WSB May 16, 2020 (6:03 pm)

        Wish I could say that was intentional but … I thought I’d fixed the acknowledgment of the fix. NOW it should be OK.

• Opendoors May 16, 2020 (8:38 am)

  Have you heard anything around Safeway reopening their entrance on the Hiawatha side? Only having one entrance just crams everyone together so I’m not sure how closing it is helpful.

  • Anne May 16, 2020 (10:41 am)

    Jefferson Sq. Safeway only has one entrance open as well. Might have to do with fact they have an employee stationed there-wiping down all carts which  I appreciate —& haven’t noticed congestion issues-at least at times I go. Admiral store is probably busier though.

    • West Seattle Mad Sci Guy May 16, 2020 (4:08 pm)

      They’re also counting the number of people in the store and once it reaches a certain number they make people wait in line to enter. Similar to trader joes.

• anonyme May 16, 2020 (8:55 am)

  Several weeks ago Amazon changed its procedure for ordering from Whole Foods.  They now require you to go through Prime Now – but that’s not the only change.  The tip rate nearly doubled, and it works out to about 11% of the grocery bill.  I know there was a flap not long ago about Amazon employees not getting tips, and I’m wondering what Tricky Jeff has up his sleeve with these increased tip rates.  Are the employees actually getting the tips?  Is this considered hazard pay while avoiding any cost to Amazon – just more profit?

  • Trickycoolj May 16, 2020 (11:51 am)

    My WF order through Prime Now was a flat $5. Prime Fresh was a flat $7. Both have the option to change it. You’re free to tip zero if you feel the need to stick it to someone. But you’re also welcome to head to QFC, Safeway, Thriftway, PCC, or Trader Joe’s if you’re concerned about Amazon’s business choices. 

  • Mike May 16, 2020 (12:37 pm)

    All of the tips go to the essential workers driving your groceries to you so you don’t have to go to the store.  

• Sara Lou May 16, 2020 (12:28 pm)

  TJ’s is no longer allowing personal bags ☺

  • Tjshopper May 16, 2020 (12:58 pm)

    They haven’t been for quite some time. 

  • Lisa May 16, 2020 (1:13 pm)

    But you can leave the store with your items in your cart and bag them outside in your own bag.

  • bill May 16, 2020 (1:17 pm)

    You are free to bring personal bags and put your stuff into them outside the store. The checker will put your purchases back into your cart or basket.

• Mj May 16, 2020 (1:09 pm)

  And how does one who walks to and from a Grocery Store supposed get groceries home without the use of personal bags I ask TJ’s?

  • WSB May 16, 2020 (1:16 pm)

    Paper bags have handles. Or, bring your personal bags and put the store bags in the personal bag(s). Alternately, it’s been mentioned multiple times that some folks bring their personal bags and just have the clerks put the items back in the cart after ringing them up, so the customer then (outside the store) puts the items in the bag(s) they brought.

• Mj May 16, 2020 (1:24 pm)

  Paper bags do not work with heavy loads such as milk, the handles break and they do not facilitate easy carrying.  I have two very sturdy bags that can carry heavy weight.  And the concept of adding a process step is not at all appealing at all.

  • WSB May 16, 2020 (1:52 pm)

    Well, they’re a private business, so they have the right. We prefer personal bags and hope to be using them again someday.

  • BiggerPicture May 16, 2020 (2:47 pm)

    I get it, caring heavy stuff home is hard. But what is it exactly that’s bothersome? Having to add an extra process step at the grocery store in the middle of a pandemic to lessen the risk to you and society that covid gets transmitted? We all have our burdens to bear in these times. I’m immunocompromised and don’t dare to even go to TJ’s, but that’s not their fault.

• Alvis May 16, 2020 (1:40 pm)

  Now that Admiral Safeway is keeping its south entrance locked 24 hours a day, you’d think it would have the legal smarts to either rope off the doors or display a prominent “use other entrance” sign to alert customers that those automatic entrance doors are locked during store business hours. More than a few times, I’ve seen people collide with the locked automatic glass doors. It’s only a matter of time until someone gets injured (not just momentarily embarrassed and inconvenienced) walking into those glass doors, and  justifiably sues Safeway Corp. for its failure to post a  warning  that  the doors are locked and will not slide open. That said, I do all my shopping at Admiral Safeway and deeply appreciate it and its staff members for being open at all during the covid-19 crisis.

  • MW May 16, 2020 (9:15 pm)

    Millions of Americans successfully navigate their grocery stores’ glass doors -closed or open- every day.  Others however, who can’t do that, use primitive instruments to hunt for squirrels and small birds in their backyards.

• anonyme May 16, 2020 (2:18 pm)

  I think my post was completely misinterpreted.  I am not for a moment suggesting that essential workers not be paid their due.   Amazon claims to have upped its compensation for these essential workers.  Instead, it appears they have increased the tip schedule so that the customer pays these costs.  Unless Prime Now is charging different prices per customer, it is no longer a flat $5.  It changed several weeks ago.  My order yesterday was an $8 tip for a $70 something charge.  Again, I’m for the workers – I have no desire to “stick it” to anyone.  But if you’re a senior on Social Security and must suddenly allot $30 or more dollars per month out of a $200 food budget, that’s a lot.  I cannot physically go to a store or pay even higher delivery fees elsewhere, or I would.  Those who are both able-bodied and amply-funded may not understand the real choices that must be made for some of the rest of us.

  • Jgreene May 16, 2020 (3:16 pm)

    Tips for prime now are not flat fee – they are editable. Here’s how: When you are checking out in the amazon prime app you select a delivery slot and go to the next screen. On this new screen, directly underneath the yellow checkout button at the top, it says TIP: $5.00 (recommended), and the “recommended” amount will increase based on the total amount and/or number of items being delivered. I’ve had a recommended amount of $7 when spending close to $100. It may not be clear but you can still edit the tip amount to be lower, or even zero if you’d like, by clicking the arrow to the right of the tip amount. If you do choose to edit to a higher or lower amount you’re taken to a new screen with a box to edit the tip amount and the following bullets are listed at the top: 1. Including tips is always optional, 2. 100% of tips are passed on to your courier, and 3. You can change your tip up to 24 hours after delivery. I can see how it might be confusing if you’re not used to using the prime now app and hope this helps you. Also FYI – I’m not affiliated with Amazon. I’m just a frequent Prime now user :)

• CarDriver May 16, 2020 (2:22 pm)

  Alvis.  People that can’t figure out a door is closed and walk into it are highly unlikely to win a lawsuit. 

• Alvis May 16, 2020 (6:27 pm)

  Really, Cardriver? Perhaps you’re thinking of people walking into a plate glass window. I’m talking about people walking into a glass entrance door that opens and closes automatically unless it has been locked shut. The store’s negligence in a lawsuit would be its failure to provide any signage (such as “use other entrance”) to warn people when the door is locked shut and will not open automatically. 

• Elton May 16, 2020 (7:51 pm)

  Note that the pharmacy at Safeway on California closes at 6PM on Saturdays and Sundays. I thought it was 9PM every day but I can’t say for sure that it was (it looks to close at 9PM on weekdays) so I thought I’d comment just in case.

  • WSB May 16, 2020 (8:22 pm)

    Thanks! The Safeways have kept their individual store pages updated – Admiral is at
    https://local.safeway.com/safeway/wa/seattle/2622-california-ave-sw.html

    It lists pharmacy hours as

    Day of the Week Hours
    Saturday
    9:00 AM – 6:00 PM
    Sunday
    11:00 AM – 6:00 PM
    Monday
    9:00 AM – 9:00 PM
    Tuesday
    9:00 AM – 9:00 PM
    Wednesday
    9:00 AM – 9:00 PM
    Thursday
    9:00 AM – 9:00 PM
    Friday
    9:00 AM – 9:00 PM

• Chemist May 17, 2020 (10:54 am)

  Does anyone know how stores are handling coupons during all this?  Safeway’s Monopoly game yielded several “free loaf of french bread” and “free donut/bagel” coupons (that expire on May 28).  I don’t think the self-serve donuts are back but there might be hope for a loaf of french bread.

  • AMD May 17, 2020 (11:31 am)

    During previous rounds of Monopoly, Safeway was happy to substitute items when I had a free coupon for something that was out (Roxbury Safeway, at least).  Individual bagels might be a tough one, but I traded 6 coupons for a bag of bagels once, and have been able to substitute different brands, etc.  

• Steve May 17, 2020 (1:33 pm)

  I did my weekly shopping at Thriftway this morning.  I was tired of shopping in Admiral Safeway with so many shoppers wandering around without masks and ignoring the 6-foot distancing rule.  It was so much nicer.  Thank you Thriftway for standing up for public health for all of us and your workers.  I’ll be back next week.  

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