C-Town Supermarket

New York

Stacy of Kew Gardens, NY October 26, 2009

To begin with, it must be known that I have shopped at this particular C-Town since I moved to Kew Gardens in 1995. It has never been an efficiently run store, however, it has gotten increasingly worse in recent years. While I understand that these establishments are run as franchises, it is no excuse to not have products that are advertised in the circular or to consistently, on a weekly basis, have rotting produce. Being that I need to be in this store sometimes 4 or more times a week, it is completely an unpleasant shopping experience when you have to see rotting food every time you go. Tomatoes on the vine are rotting and flies are sitting on several of the bunches. Garlic is peeled and put in styrofoam packages with saran wrap, but is packaged weeks before and left to sit and rot. Numerous times, I have needed fresh mushrooms for a recipe, and it constantly is presented as rotting.

Just yesterday morning, I planned to go in to the store to do a full shopping (my term for not just stopping in). I immediately went over to the mushrooms, but was so repulsed, I turned around and walked an extra 5 blocks to go to the Associated Supermarket in another part of Kew Gardens. The shoppping experience there is great, and not once have I encountered rotting fruit and vegetables like I do all the time at C-Town.

It is not all about rotting food. C-Town does not clearly post signs for pricing of items, and recently put a sign up for mushrooms on sale for 1.99 per box. This was very misleading, as they are always 1.99 a box, so I assumed the price had gone up. After yesterday's visit, and not being able to get a clear answer from the very nice manager on the day of the supposed sale, I know there was never a sale on mushrooms. I went in one time with an internet coupon sent to me from Pledge for their pet-hair remover product. I brought my items to check-out, and when I presented the coupon, I was told that they do not accept internet coupons. I found this to be also misleading, as they have a clear sign that says they do not accept "free" coupons, but no sign about the internet ones.

I talked to manager about it; this was about six months ago, and no sign has been put up to let people know - I cannot be the only person going in there with internet coupons. In this economy, it is very unfair to the consumer to tell us that they do not accept things. If you want to keep your customers, you need to oblige them in some way. If the manager had listened to complaints, he would actually be making the changes suggested, and I can tell you this is just not happening. There are several better supermarkets in the area; C-Town just happens to be the most convenient. I made a very conscious decision yesterday to limit my visits to this store, as I realize it is not realistic to say I will never go in again. I can, however, state, that the business I do give them in the future will be severely diminished, because I, like I am sure many of my neighborhood friends, are disgusted with the state of the store. Unless something is doent to improve the store and its services, I can see it closing down very quickly.

Nicole of new York, NY October 25, 2009

The supermarket's shelves are very empty. This has been going on for the last 6-8 months at least. I asked once if they were going out of business because the shelves were so empty and they said no, they were expecting a delivery. They did stock up somewhat but that didn't last too long. The shelves are consistently empty. I went in there today for aluminum foil and they didn't have any. The shelves were 95% empty...no exaggeration. They have sale papers and flyers pasted to the window but they have no products in the store. When they do have products they are sometimes not fresh (e.g. frozen vegetables, ice cream).

Desiree of New York, NY September 4, 2009

I visited the C Town supermarket located at 560 W 125th Street NY to purchase hellmans light mayonaisse that was on sale for 2.99 on 9/4/09. I presented a 1.00 off manufacturers coupon to the cashier and was told that the coupone could not be used because the merchandise was on sale. The cashier was polite ans stated that that was the policy of the store. I do not live very close to the store and actually went out of my way to go there because of the sale and fact that I had a coupon.

About a year ago I ran into the same problem with regard to honoring coupons but on that occassion I insisted on speaking with a manager. After about tweny minutes of waiting I was given a cash dollar.

In these economic times I find it offensive that a neighborhood store would resort to such trickery. And the advertisment showing the sale invites one to visit the web site "for special coupon savings" while the store picks and chooses what items will be affored a coupon discount. I had been waitng a while to find a sale on the mayonaisse since the regular price is 5.99. If I had been able to use the coupon I could have saved 4.00

Kathy of New York City, NY September 2, 2009

Unfortunately the reason C-town (in particular the 3320 Broadway on 135th st) is able to offer such low prices to their customers is because the items they have in stock and on sale are mostly overdue, expired, and rotten. I wish I can say that the items were mistakenly placed on the shelves.

It seems, however, C-Town knowingly placed the sticker price over the expiration date in order to cover up the fact that the product has gone bad. Customers need to be protected against this kind of deception. Although this incident was discovered before the food was ingested, it is obvious that the expiration date of food items is serves an important role in food safety.

To tamper and mislead consumers into buying an expired item is simply wrong and action needs to be taken, especially in accordance to existing laws (Food Quality and Protection Act 1996) implemented to protect consumers in situations much like this one.

Lorraine of Middle Village , NY July 12, 2009

SOMETHING IS WRONG. How could this be. On sale regular .99 cents Doles Pinapple Chunks for .79 cent. After sale they are priced l.99 cents How could this be . Does anyone check the prices in stores anymore. I wonder how many other items are priced like this. Times are hard enough with being overcharged.

Gregory of Brooklyn, NY April 5, 2009

Gregory of Brooklyn NY (04/05/09)
COMPANY MOTTO: C-Town supermarkets are individually owned and operated neighborhood food stores dedicated to serving the needs of the community. We pride ourselves on providing the personal service and quality food that only an independent store owner can provide. We offer the finest quality fresh foods and competitive grocery pricing.

THIS MOTTO IS FALSE AND LIABLE. MY EXPERIENCE IS THE SAME AS THE SEVERAL I HAVE READ. I PRESENTED A COUPON TO THIS STORE IN QUESTION, WHICH WAS IN THE SUNDAY MORNING NEWSPAPER FOR TIDE TOTAL CARE ONE DETERGENT, WHICH WAS ONLY FOR A DOLLAR OFF FROM THE REGULAR PRICE.

THE MANAGER A MIDDLE EASTERN GENTLEMAN,WAS VERY NASTY WHEN I INQUIRED AS TO WHY HIS ESTABLISHMENT DID NOT ACCEPT MANUFACTUERS COUPONS. HIS REPLY WE JUST DON'T - END OF STORY. I AM AN ELDERLY MAN ON A FIXED INCOME, AND THIS ESTABLISHMENT DOES NOT FIND FAVOR IN THIS TIME OF HEAVY RECESSION. THEY DO NOT CARE BUT FOR PROFIT,AND GREED.

Minerva of Ridgewood, NY February 27, 2009

Minerva of Ridgewood NY (02/27/09)
I purchased a 6 Pack Diet Pepsi at this location which I reside in this area. When I brought it home I noticed that it was stale or old. I tried returning it with my purchasing receipt however I was told that it was not possible at all. In fact I was rudely spoken to or rather yelled at by a male manager located in a top office and told that the product was not stale or old without actually coming down in fact he chastised me by saying he did not like soda and to take it up with consumer affairs hence my complaint.

Also, in this location they do not take coupons of any kind from anywhere every other location however does. I think this location and management need to be looked into as I'm not the only local having problems or issues with this C-Town where they do not honor their specials, policies and treat their customers with respect. Thank you kindly,

Rosemary of Bronx, NY February 15, 2009

Report Your Experience
If you've had a bad experience -- or a good one -- with a consumer product or service, we'd like to hear about it. All complaints are reviewed by class action attorneys and are considered for publication on our site. Knowledge is power! Help spread the word. File your consumer report now.

Share		Follow us on Twitter.

Back to the top |