Because the Winco in north Spokane is not far from my home and on a route I take frequently, I stop there 4-5 times per week for small purchases. Overall, I find the selection good, the stocking good, the prices generally lower than any other grocery in the area (even Walmart, and WAY lower than the Albertson's and Safeway stores). In particular, produce (packaged or in bulk) as well as most fresh meats and frozen vegetables are all generally less expensive here.

I also find the quality, yes including the produce to be good, although if the produce is bulk and not packaged, I do pick through it before it goes into my basket.

The best time to go is between 8:00 and 10:00 a.m. After that, it gets crowded, but MOSTLY at checkout. Checkout here can be nightmarish, with unbelievably long lines. The cashiers are, for the most part, very courteous and pleasant, but there are way more checkout stands than employees manning them.

Which brings me to my biggest gripe and why I am beginning to hate going there. Their "self-checkout" is poorly designed and equipped. There are 4 checkouts for debit card only (no credit cards, no cash) and 3 checkouts that are cash OR (debit) card "only"). I and a lot of other people use only cash (some don't have or can't get bank accounts). Unfortunately, on any given day (remember, I stop there for SMALL purchases 4-5 times per week) at least 1 of the 3 cash machines is out of service, and generally, just while I am waiting, issues arise with the other 2, requiring an employee to help.

There are soooo many problems with that. First, having some but not complete knowledge about it, I assume the NCR equipment there is leased, that there is a maintenance and service contract attached, that the contract was "low bid," and that the servicing company is over-committed elsewhere or just doesn't care. After all, these are Winco's customers, not NCR's.

As a customer, it also appears to me that leadership in Winco couldn't give a hoot about their own employees, much less the customers. You can see it in their faces at self-checkout. They are stressed, unhappy, and have been the recipient of complaints (like mine) hundreds of times in a week.

They really need more "self-checkout" lanes (including for "cash only,") if they care about their customers AND their employees, and get a BETTER contractor.

I place the blame for every thing that is wrong in any company directly on the leaders/management. I was one for many years. Believed it then, believe it now.