I applied for a job at Whole Foods Market back in March of 2011. When I didn't hear from them, I went into the store and spoke with the store manager. After a week had gone by, and I still hadn't heard from the store, I went back, and again spoke with the store manager.

I reapplied a week later, and again, and again. I was finally contacted by someone at the store, and was screened over the phone. After 3-4 days went by, I went into the store to speak with the person who screened me. After several more days had gone by, I went back into the store to speak with this person, and this person told me that they are going to go with a kid, who will be subsequently leaving to go to collage.

As of this time, I have applied over 30 times to Whole Foods Market. I went into the store recently, and found that they hired well over 10 people at the Sonoma location, mostly kids right out of high school. It seems that they only hire people that fit into the "community market/hippie" stereotype.

This is unfair and discriminating.

Whole Foods state that they sell organic produce which they inspect themselves. It's not true! It appears that their organic produce is not organic at all. There are tests to test food for nitrates/nitrites and they show that organic Whole Foods produce has high levels of nitrates in them. Nitrates are only in those vegetables and fruits that are grown not organicaly, when pesticides are used to grow them. Whole Foods doesn't test local organic produce they buy like every other grocery store from warehouse and other produce is tested in California but it's a big question mark about this also. I tried to complain about this issue and guess what... they don't care. They drop phones or put me on hold for forever just to avoid dealing with me.

I shop at your South Loop store in Chicago. When the store opened, everything was fresh and seldom did I find an out of date product. The service people were very friendly and helpful. In the last year, everything has changed. The employees are still friendly, especially Angle in produce, but after two emails to the store manager about problems I experienced at the store, I still have no response. I had an assistant manager tell me no one complains. There is a diverse clientele at that store. Many people do not complain because of their socio-economic and ethnic background. They don’t expect good service or respect because they haven’t had it before. I called and had assistant manager identified himself as the store manager so I didn’t get his name, thinking that here is only one. Now, I find out that there are many assistant managers and he was just full of BS. Before this store opened near my house, I shopped at your Evanston and Huron locations where I never had ANY problem with the quality or freshness of food.

In the last month at South Loop, I have had a bagger put my organic black cherries under a bag full of meat. Two days later, I purchased potato salad from the deli. The potatoes had been frozen and were mushy. Over the last year, I purchased Alden's ice cream, which had been defrosted and refrozen. The person filling the case said, "Oh it sits on the pallet. I just put them into the freezer compartment.” Well, how long are they on the pallet, out of the freezer? I purchased cookies from the "specialty" counter last week. The first time (a couple of weeks ago), they were fresh, last week they tasted rancid. In addition, the veggies along the wall are always soaking wet. Yes, they look good in the display but bring them home and they rot within a couple of days if each item is not totally dried. When the store first opened, you did not have that water spray. My veggies lasted from one to two weeks without any change in quality. Do you really think people care how something looks on the shelf when they rot in their home in two days?

Too bad your department manages don’t check out their departments. Too bad the store manage doesn’t take more interest in her job. I was a partner in health food store for 20 years and in charge of inventory, purchasing goods and services, and all accounting functions. I know how to please customers by hiring competent people. Having a great return policy is find, but not cost effective for the consumer. I’m not going to drive back to return something or get my money back unless it’s a substantial amount. My time is worth more than the refund.

You have a lot to learn if you want to make a go of the South Loop store.

Willa Douglas
[email protected]

Bocal Raton Whole Foods. Indifference to service, bad quality/expired foold on shelves, no response to complaints.
4/9/10 $192 total purchase to include OJ, Quiche, Chicken Salad. Chicken salad contained bits which appeared as closely cut to bone and taste was suspect. Quiche contained hard pieces of ham, taste also suspect. OJ date of expiration 4/9/10 (did not have glasses with me, would not have believed the date would be the very same date purchased). Submitted complaint via website 4/10/10, no response. Returned to store 4/16/10, asked for location of pate', shown, asked about mousse pate', told by clerk "this is the pate'" commented on his attitude and decided to request manager. "Evan" arrived after 5 mins, advised of last visit issues (OJ, Quiche etc.) his reply (after an obvious display of what was an indifferent attitude) was "I am sure it was not intentional, we make mistakes" . He then proceeded with ... "Well, what is your problem today?" at which point I advised I would again contact the home office to which he responded: "You do that" and walked away. Given Regional Manager name, called number, left message for "Juan" to return call regarding store issues, call never returned.