We dropped into Restaurant Depot today while out running errands. It'd been on my list for quite…read moresome time, but today found me in the neighborhood and with the time on my hands. Plenty of stuff to shop for, both food and hard goods. Prices seems mostly cheaper that the Sams/Costco tiers, with some being more but mostly being less. Staff were really friendly and explained the membership options to us. The place was squeaky clean and well organized, despite the amount of stock being shelved. I plan on coming back now that I have a feel for the layout and what they offer.

Wow. I don't even have words to describe how awful my experience was today, but I'll do my best. I…read moresigned up online for a membership and brought in the requested documents to have my membership card printed before I shopped. Upon arriving, the manager checked my documents, and informed me that there was a problem with the card printer. He said I could go ahead and shop using the barcode.I was given via email after signing up for the membership online. The barcode was all I needed to get in the store and check out anyway, but if I wanted a printed card, I could request it the next time I returned. Okay, no problem. As it's the first day of the month, there are new sales and deals, but apparently those aren't updated in real time. I had no idea what the prices would be for several items because the previous month's price was still listed. But, it's 7 am on a Saturday, so I can deal. No problem. Going to check out was another new experience. I didn't realize helping the cashier was off-limits. As I usually do at a check out, I proceeded to group the items together, trying to make them easy to count. As the cashier started to scan my strawberries, I told her I had two packs, at which point she informed me that she was perfectly capable of doing it all, and that I should go stand out of the way. OK, no problem. As I was leaving, the manager who had helped me when I first arrived informed me that the card printer was now working and I could go back by the customer service desk to have it printed before leaving. This is where my encounter went from. "OK this place is just a little nuanced" to "why in the world did I even bother getting this membership and why would I ever return?" The woman behind the desk (name pronounced Dajanelle, uncertain of spelling) asked me what I needed. I informed her that I needed to get my membership card printed, that the gentleman from before said the printer wasn't working then but is now functioning so I could get it before I left. The next 10 minutes were filled with confusing instructions and unclear questions from her that I couldn't answer to her satisfaction such that she informed that I was clearly confused and had no idea what she's talking about (ya think?!). She even went so far as to tell me that she is the secretary and the man who helped me before is "just a manager and has no idea what in the world he's doing anyway". I told her I had frozen and refrigerated items that I needed to get home and asked if I could just do the card the next time I return, since I've already checked out (and obviously don't even need the cad anyway). She insisted that was impossible and I was required to stay and fill out more paperwork (same stuff you fill out online no less). Willfully obstinant, petulant, and rude would sum up her behavior this morning. The prices for food items are on par with Costco and the restaurant supplies are priced similarly to Metro Restaurant Supply which is just a few blocks away (no membership needed). Both of those establishments actually appreciate their customers and treat them like they're welcome which sincerely begs the question of why I would ever go back here. Things that make you go hmmm....