customer service representative

Avondale Food Stores

My time at Avondale Food Stores was not horrific, and it is an easy job. However, most stores are pretty busy given the range of items carried as far as convenience stores go, and my store was no different. Head Office refuses to allow managers to schedule more than one person on a shift, even if that shift time is well-known to be overly busy, and still require all duties to be done without excuses. They will not pay if you have to stay past closing time to clean or if customers stay past closing time despite being told you have closed. New management in my store was incompetent and refused to work with employees who had worked there far longer than the manager had. Multiple people expressed desires to quit within a month of the new manager being in the store yet Head Office did not care. It is a very small request that the company you work for value your opinions and concerns as an employee, especially as a long-term employee, yet Avondale Food Stores cannot seem to be able to do this. I was cut from almost full time to less than part time without any consideration of the effect that would have, and my concerns were ignored even as the most senior employee in my store. No employee discounts. Hours are minimal and even at 20 hours a week you cannot be guaranteed all your hours. You are told you must be available to work weekends or holidays. If you are not, your resume is not even considered.

There are definite pros to working here: you work alone, hours can be steady, schedules accomodate flexibility, and most of the customers are wonderful. The cons hugely outweigh them unfortunately. The management is absolutely terrible if you like being treated like a human. They will attempt to exploit you, so be warned. I'm not talking about store managers (who are, for the most part, lovely, though they are underpaid and overworked). I'm talking about the people who own the company. If you enjoy having a meal between the hours of 3pm and 11pm, there isn't really an opportunity to have one, especially on buiser days. There are no meal breaks, and they look at you sideways for suggesting this is not okay. It takes me on average 3 hours per shift to eat a single meal with all of the interuptions (revolving door). The upper management also force their store managers to come to work sick, and they cut staff hours on holidays to avoid paying you anything extra. They will pretend to care about the issues you face (example: workplace harasssment), but will ultimately do nothing. Very sad, because this company could be so much better if they just treated their staff with respect and moved into this current century. If you happen to work in a busy location, then the amount of work expected of you quickly becomes unreasonable. Perhaps surprisingly, the customers can be the most enjoyable part of the job, even if you are a recluse like I am! 

What is the best part of working at the company?
 Being in an environment by yourself and having to the opportunity to learn and grow with this company has been amazing!  

What is the most stressful part about working at the company?
The most stressful part would be the nerves of being by yourself at night, I've had a couple scares during the night shift with customers but other than that - everything has been great.

What is the work environment and culture like at the company?
Work environment can be chaotic when it's a lotto max or 6 49 day. Very busy and having to do it by yourself puts you under a lot of pressure.  

What is a typical day like for you at the company?
Typical day would be rotating shelves and stocking, making sure the lottery is stocked and activated, and making sure that the tobacco products are stocked up. After the end of shift you sweep and mop, also double checking again that shelves are rotated and stocked.

Cashier is a misnomer. You'll work the till but also be responsible for receiving orders (in between customers), possibly for making/sending the orders too.  You're responsible for the stores cleaning- dusting mopping washing counters etc. [Right now it's pandemic cleaning on top of usual duties-- also Avondale is behind the curve with 'hazard pay' giving under the $2 Most other places are giving employees. Its also For a shorter time period before they reevaluate if we still get that pay.]  For all the stocking of shelves. If there's a holiday you'll probably work it. The managers are salaried so they don't get paid extra for working them therefore you'll work them all. There is no chance of raise for working years with them. There are no benefits unless you are the salaried mana

I worked at Avondale for a short while and despite the few colleagues that made it a rather difficult experience with their attitude and behaviour, my manager was by far the best thing about the store.

If I could have stayed there long term I would have, just because of her.

Some of the employees were a little hard to work with but overall, the manager of my store and the regular customers we got made the whole experience one of my more enjoyable jobs in my life.

As long as you keep your manager informed of things that need to be addressed, keep your stock rotated and your customers as happy as you can, your experience with Avondale should be great.

I found the Avondale to be a good first job. It was a bit difficult at times, as there could get to be a huge rush at certain hours of the day. There is more to the job than most people think. There's stock and cleaning etc. involved, not just cash. On an average night, I would close at 11, however, by the time your closing duties are completed, it would be close to 11:20. The pros of this job are that you connect with a lot of your "regulars." The cons are the hours, and the rude customers you sometimes come across. All in all, it is not a bad job.

I’m gonna have to say, don’t work here if you get the chance. It’s a good place to get a bit of cash as a TEMPORARY PART TIME JOB but never work here full time. They take for granted full time availability, management is rude and head office is even ruder and you can’t avoid them no matter which location you work at. Customers are entitled little *** and you will never be treated fairly. It’s like going to high school all over again. Management and customers like to gossip about you alike. Childish and unprofessional. Don’t work here. 

You work alone , and are cashier and host of your enviroment customer service #1 , keep your store clean and organized on your shift and build rapor with all the customers , lovely place to work if you love people and take pride in your work and store

I was an Avondale Store Manager until the late 2000’s. My store team and community we’re great; head office not so much. Head office constantly wanted more work from Store Managers with no pay increase and always few labour hours for other staff. Only paid for a 40 hour per week salary but always ended up working close to 50. Had to work almost every holiday to “save on hourly labour” or the Store Manager was fround upon.

What is the best part of working at the company?
My manager is friendly and fair, I enjoy the customers also

What is the most stressful part about working at the company?
When other team members do not help with stocking the coolers

What is the work environment and culture like at the company?
Enjoyable, friendly clean fun environment 

What is a typical day like for you at the company?
Busy with stocking, cleaning usually good conversations and laughs with the customers

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