Market basket does not wash the dirt and pesticides off their lettuce before they pack into their salads for consumers to eat.

Wow, this place really brings out the racist in Yelp users, I see. It's crowded, it's chaotic, and there's no real "off" time, but it's cheap, they have things other stores don't have, and the produce is good. Much better than Stop & Shop, in fact. Despite the crowds, I've never had a bad experience here. People seem to understand that it's a crowded/chaotic place and adjust accordingly. Go in assuming that you're somehow "better" than the people shopping or working there, and it'll probably be a negative experience. Or, know what you're in for, prepare yourself mentally, and go in. It will be worth it. And I don't understand the people saying the store is dirty. It's dingy, the decor hasn't been updated, but dirty it is not. read more

This place is pretty much jam packed almost everytime I go. It's very frustrating when it's so crowded. You can't beat the prices, however. So I suck it up, grab my stuff and leave asap!! A few of the younger kids working there also have quite the attitude, but I don't expect much out of this place. Everyone dreads going food shopping. You get in and get out!! read more

one time, at the end of an aisle, some beast of a woman was standing dead center with her cart at an angle, rendering it impossible to get by her fat ass. i made a rather large production out of tip-toeing and squee-ee-eezing by her cart after saying excuse me a few times. after three "excuse me's" and a pissy look, my boyfriend pushed her cart with our cart/carriage/whatever-you'd-like-to-call-it-today and followed me down the aisle. the lady didn't even flinch. she stood there idle like a land mass for another ten seconds or so then went on her merry way. this just about sums up every experience you'll ever have at salem market basket. the prices absolutely cannot be beat. the cheapo prices are almost worth the shitshow that ensues upon entering this class-free establishment. i'd say at least 75% of your fellow shoppers will not be speaking english, will not be giving a shit about anyone else, and will be taking up aisles completely with their family of 7. luckily there is a bit of reprieve, and that is the water aisle. for some reason, the water aisle is always completely desolate. sometimes we go down the water aisle to flit about and jump for clausterphobia-free joy. also, i buy a couple 32-ounce water bottles for 50 cents each. this is definitely the place to go for your cheapo eats needs. a lot of the prices are comparable to trader joe's items, and then where trader joe's gets expensive, market basket takes the cheapie cake. the only problem, i'd say, is the produce section. i've heard they get lower quality items so that they can sell them at low cost. i definitely think this is true. during peak produce months you'll be alright... the summer is usually pretty good. you can pretty much go eff yourself in the winter, though, which i guess is to be expected but i don't know. i just know that a couple weeks ago i bought a shit-ton of tomatoes and roasted them and they ended up tasting awful. maybe the baby pink color of said tomatoes was a good indication that they weren't going to be a burst of luscious flavor in my mouth. just be reeeally friggin prepared to get pissed at everyone. also, the teenagers that will ring up your groceries will be unresponsive and almost rude. i worked at a grocery store when i was a teenager and i always managed to be pleasant to people. i don't know why these mf-ers can't do the same. i'll end by saying this: for years my mom has been driving from gloucester to danvers/rowley/middleton to go to market basket. argue that using up all that gas costs so much money, but you really truly save a ton by visiting a market basket. you can get 6 bags of groceries for the same price it'd cost at shaw's for two (true story; this really happened to me). get ready to kick some aisle-hogging ass and you'll do just fine. read more

I bought some salmon. I asked they guy if it had skin on it. They usually do but for some reason today they de-skinned 1/2 of the salmon. I had to drive back in the snow to the store because it was bare and it was in his hand when I asked him. The guy was just a jerk. There was a bunch that had skin on them. If I could see it, I wouldn't have taken it. I wouldn't have asked. Then some old guy came out and wanted to reorganize the fish exactly where I was at. As if he couldn't wait until I got my fish in a few minutes to do busy work. I came back, the guy that was "supposedly" the meat manager, came out and told me he can't do anything about it I would have to talk to the manager tomorrow. Why do I have to drive back, return fish, and the guy gets to be a jerk. If he is not fit for customer service, then, he should not be at the meat station. He came up to me after I returned the salmon at the meat station and told me "He is a person" Who cares? He is a not a person. He is somebody behind a counter that is screwing up time after time. On purpose. It was in his hand. So I am not going to call anybody stupid. If customer service wants to tell me that guy isn't a jerk, that it was a mistake she can call him whatever she wants. She said mistakes happens all the time -time after time. If that is the case, why is he still there? A few months ago I went to Shaw's. The cashier's at Shaw's are like to have conversations with the customers even when there is a line of 5 people. People just want to be rung up. Then, they like to discuss what you are buying. That's our business. Why don't they get professionally trained. Instead of just shooting off in a tangent with what people are buying. read more

I have been shopping here regularly for 2.5 years. Market Basket is very clean, has an excellent variety of products, and, locally, you cannot beat the prices as far as I can tell. The staff is pleasant and professional and the produce is high quality. It is very nice that it is located next to Target -- I often park halfway between and get grocery shopping and errands done at the same time. There's also a liquor store and a TJ Maxx in the same plaza. It does tend to be pretty crowded and the lines can be long. The parking lot is hectic and it can be tough to find a spot. I do agree with the other reviewers that they stock during busy times, which can be a minor annoyance. But the people stocking are super polite and will sometimes hand me the item if I need one of whatever it is they are stocking. The biggest downside in my book -- I do not buy fish here. The area around the fish counter stinks and it makes me concerned about their cleanliness/refrigeration. If I want to buy fish, I walk over to Shaw's or drive to Whole Foods. read more

I have been shopping at Market Basket for most of my life growing up in Cambridge/Somerville area. There are many pros, and many cons. The prices are really good, especially on all the processed junk food you can't get at Wholefoods. Some of the private label things are good, some aren't. For instance the Market Basket fresh soup is made by the same place the Wholefoods soup is, just different recipes. I just can't get over a few things that always bring me to shop at Wholefoods over Market Basket. I personally think Market Basket has a giant issue with the way they store/label food - it's a food safety issue. On numerous occasions over the last few years I've purchased meat, it does not say "previously frozen", I open it to use it, and it's clearly frozen. I purchased bell and Evans chicken that was clearly re-labeled and had an awful smell to it. Following suit of Johnnys Food Master? The organic section for produce is terrible, and the lines/traffic are insane. I'd like to keep my sanity and go to Wholefoods, when I need something processed I just run in to Market Basket and it always reminds me why I shop elsewhere. read more

This Market Basket is cramped, crowded, not nearly as inexpensive as some believe. And the bread baked in-store has less flavor and goes moldy much quicker than anything from nearby Shaw's. The Deli is especially bad. It often smells so bad a maggot would retch. And if you saw how carelessly some of the clerks are with the meat, you'd never buy anything there again. read more

I have honestly tried to shop here, ignore the mayhem, the overcrowded lines and aisles, the rude staff and check out clerks, the carts and store boxes that are so inconveniently left by the staff in front of the aisles that you have to not only maneuver around the other shoppers but also have to now push the store huge carts loaded with boxes out of the way so you can get to a can of tomatoes...GRR. Despite the savings you find at this store, frankly, I find it not worth the ridiculous frustration of shopping here. I would rather spend a few dollars more at Shaws or anywhere else then endure yet a single additional second at Market Basket. read more

Great prices.....holy moly, this place is welfare central!

Not a bad store per say if you shop either before 8 am or after 7pm! Otherwise a shopping trip can take you a good 2-3 hours due to the crowds and the stockers blocking the aisles. Every trip results in a gridlock and a good 15 minute wait (and they open almost all registers, Walmart should take notice). Cashiers barely acknowledge you and prefer to converse in Spanish with the bagger (who usually puts 3 items in a bag so you have 30 bags when you get home). Talk about a waste! Throw in the first of the month checks, ebtcards, wick and coupons and you could regret getting in that short line behind the 6 member family who apparently has nothing better to do than tag along. You'll probably save $20 overall but it's just not worth the anxiety, aggravation and time spent there. Enjoy your visit, you have been warned! read more

It's cheap but the quality is on the cheaper side as well. It's all over the place the meatballs are in the milk aisle. It's crowded and there are always tons of people working there read more

Maybe it is because I used to live in NYC, but I haven't found the crowds here to be nearly as bad as other people have made them sound. Yes, I often have to steer around other shoppers, but it isn't really a big deal. The prices are obviously great, but I was also impressed with the service on my most recent visit. I asked an employee where I could find twine. She wasn't sure, but helped me find someone who she thought would know. He didn't know either, but asked me if I was still going to be shopping for a bit. I said I was, so he said he would find it and then come find me. I continued shopping, and in a few minutes he appeared with the twine. There are some specialty products that I wish they carried (like some other Amy's Organic products), but for the most part, I'm satisfied. read more

I have been going to Market Basket for the last 10 years it's @ 3 miles from me they don't have everything at times it can get pretty busy in there, sometimes its like bumper cars only with carriages....their were times i would go at the first day of the month and every time it was always packed! i'm wondering why? then my friends told me............................ read more

So every review here has been mostly accurate. On the positive side: 1.Whenever I go, almost every checkout aisle is open. Just beware of who is in front of you in line. 2.Cashiers aren't rude, they're just mostly teenagers or immigrants- thus neither have developed social skills. 3.cheap cheap cheap cheap Now the cons: 1. The customers are the rudest people on earth. It's breathtaking actually. Be prepared for random scowls, avoiding eye contact, hogging the aisle and general obliviousness. And 95% are either non english speaking, AARP members, or morbidly obese. Or some combination of these elements... which is not good. 2. The quality of the food is marginal at best. 3. The damn staff drag out pallets and stock shelves during the day. I guess no night shift saves money. In summary: the food is really cheap but decent quality and the customers are barely tolerable. read more

What do you expect, people???!! Prices are ROCK BOTTOM and everyone in their right mind wants to pay less for their groceries, right??! YES, it is crowded, (lots and lots of people live in this area), but I'm willing to suffer a bit to get the best prices around! When I do have to make the occasional trip to Shaw's, Stop and Shop or Whole Paycheck, I can't believe how much extra I am paying for my groceries -- at least $25 more for the same stuff, no kidding. Buck up and tough it out. It really is worth it. read more

The Salem Market Basket has a good selection of products, nice produce (including organic items), bakery, and deli. The prices are better than other chains so it is VERY crowded on weekends. The staff, for the most part, are friendly and helpful (especially the deli guys, hi deli guys!). I'd rate them higher if they would address the smell from their fish market. Though they get in fresh fish everyday, the smell of cooking lobsters is awful! Perhaps if others let them know their objection to the smell, they would do something about it.. As far as clientele, it is a diverse mix of locals. I personally like the diversity of Salem, and the shoppers reflect all facets. Shop mid week for the best experience. If you can't bear the crowds, Shaws grocery is within walking distance of this store. It is very nice, but the prices and selection aren't as good. read more

I hate to say it, but there is no grocery chain close to Market Basket in price and quality. I hate to say it because yes, as has been pointed out, it's way crowded. But there's a reason. Put most simply, even the store brands are excellent -- something I have never experienced elsewhere. I have to drive past a lot of grocery stores to get to Market Basket. There is a reason. read more

My daughter is a big fan of MB, has shopped there for about 15 years and says the fresh produce is excellent. I agree with her. I have found a range of vegetables there not just the usual offerings and there is always someone to help me to find items One of your reviewers complained that she is given too many bags. This situation is easily rectified. I always take my own bags to the supermarket so do not understand why most of the customers at MB go in empty handed and this makes me feel uncomfortable. They would soon learn if they were charged for the bags as in my home country. read more

This place is the epitome of a jungle. It is constantly mobbed, the customers tend to travel in packs and will trample you and cut you in the checkout line. The staff are nice enough and the prices are good, but the horrendous experience of entering this location make the extra couple miles to middleton market basket worth it. read more

Prices are good, produce is so so, aisles are too crowded but the personnel are helpful

I went to a local Shaw's or two. Being from out of town, I wasn't familiar with the local grocery chains and happened to stumble upon MB. The prices seemed much more reasonable than Shaw's and the employees were nice. I like that they wear ties. Good selection, lots of variety, and they carry many organic items. read more

Husband and I just moved down the street from this MB location. Just to forewarn, we only go on Sundays around 7am when it opens, because I can't stand the crowds. This is the best time to go because it's the very start of their weekly sales and the store is always fully stocked and you get your choice of the best sale items. My snooty friends shun me for shopping at MB but I'd rather save $100 and not shop at wholefoods with the yuppie snowflakes. Staff is always friendly and helpful here, and meat/fish/produce selection is great. Love the weekly sales. Great grocery store. read more

Market Basket is the best grocer in town! Because of the volume of business, the fish and meats are always fresh. MB had unbeatable prices and the overall best rating goes to the happy & friendly employees. Customer Servicd is A++++++. read more

This place is not for a quick shop really, unless you are just after a few, under 12 items for a speedy checkout. The Fish used to be very cheap 5.99 for 1lb of haddock, but that seems to be over, the Haddock here over the last couple of years is down in quality all round size etc. The best time to shop here is before 9am Sunday I find, I don't"t know about week days but probably the same low volume early. The worst time is weekends and evenings. The prices are the lowest in the area, my money seems to get me twice the amount of anywhere else. There are plenty of ethnic foods to tickle the palate and a few new finds for everyone. The parking sucks, the usual immigrant push and shove no manners or consideration, I even seen one south American guy back his car right up to the exit by the kids rocking horse ride!!!! so his fat friend did not get wet in the rain loading the car trunk, he did however look guilty, so there could be some hope!. The Management have FINALLY ! put NO PARKING bollards along the Fire lane, ABOUT TIME jerks. I get to seethe at the check out sometimes when I see the Welfare going to non English speaking Hispanics who are capable of work and are living on my Tax Money!!!! I guess I should be grate full they are at least getting the best value in the area, and keeping the male members of their family well fed, so they can paint my house or re roof my house for much less than the ripoff local union contractors, leaving me more money to spend on Toys for myself Yippee! All in all the shopping here is cheap if you can stand the tide of Humanity and plain bad manners it's fine. read more

I love Market Basket in Salem. I've been shopping there for about three years now. With a family of six to feed, grocery shopping is a big part of our budget and the main reason I started going to Market Basket was because I had heard I would save a lot. And I do, but that's not the only reason I love Market Basket. The people who work there are always so friendly and accommodating - from the parking lot to the cash registers. They always have a smile and hello for me. I enjoy seeing the same faces every week. Even though it's a big store, it feels like a neighborhood market. People stop and say hello to each other. I've had so many conversations while waiting in line. After all, it costs nothing to be pleasant and the time passes more quickly. When there are a lot of customers, the managers work the cashier lines, keeping the central aisle clear. "Turn your carts to the side", they say. And somehow it always works. This is a full service supermarket. The butchers gladly repackage a smaller or larger portion for me, they have really nice chicken and even grass fed beef. A friend of mine has bought lobsters there and had them boiled for a small extra cost. She said they are always tasty and fresh but a fraction of the price elsewhere. There's a great organic aisle in the produce section and the overall selection of fruits and vegetables is amazingly diverse. Many of the veggies are prepackaged and weighed, but when I asked for one habanero pepper last week, the produce worker couldn't have been more gracious about splitting up a package for me. He even asked me which pepper I wanted (out of the package of 20 or so)! I probably sound like I've been paid to write this, but I felt so irritated after reading some of the reviews. Grocery shopping is one of grownup life's regular chores. Having a public temper tantrum about a supermarket says more about the reviewer than anything else. Most people will see that. If you're interested in seeing your grocery bill drop definitively and enjoy a boisterous and diverse Haymarket-like experience, give Market Basket a try. You will be glad you did. read more

Love market basket, love the prices. Would be a five star but this market basket gets A LOT of business and is packed a lot. But over all love the company in general. read more

I am SOOOOO sick of shopping here. The store can not stop ignorant and rude people from shopping here (of which there are plenty). It can insist on some courtesy and a more pleasant demeanor from it's rude employees (there are some that are pleasant). However, the individuals managing or supervising look as miserable as the cashiers and baggers. So I doubt, customer service is any kind of a priority. Today, a group of young employees were on break outside the store. The language was foul and loud. They were on store property so it can be controlled. Another day shopping, the bagger was literaly throwing my groceries in the bags.. The one and ONLY reason I shop here is for the prices and of course this is why the place is consistently mobbed . Since business is always good here, there is no incentive for management to improve it's customer service. Too bad because the other MB's are much more pleasant to shop at. SALEM MB two thumbs down and a raspberry. read more

I love market baskets but this one I hate. The people bagging your food are so rude, if you don't like your job then find a new one

I refuse to pay the outrageous prices at Shaw's and Stop & Shop, so I always shop MB. Yes, it can be hellishly crowded, but in my opinion, the pain is worth the price. I usually go on Wednesday or Thursday evenings (after the rush of people coming to get dinner), and it's significantly more tolerable. Weekends? Forget about it--unless you enjoy playing bumper cars with your carriage, and waiting in line for 20 minutes. I refuse to do it. However, like I said, if you pick a strategic time to go, the prices are worth it. I also find that the selection at MB stores are much better than Stop & Shop (at least the Peabody store), which makes sense given the high inventory turnover. For example, this store carries ground chicken, which I couldn't find at Stop & Shop. I think the food quality is also generally higher (again, a consequence of its inventory turnover). Many of the complaints about this store seem exaggerated, or flat out elitist. If you loathe ethnic diversity, the lower middle class, or paying reasonable prices for food, then absolutely this place is not for you. However, I know that financially-responsible people will always shop here--even those who have the coin to shop elsewhere. read more

Get over yourself and get in this place!!!! I go weekly for all of my grocery needs since I have moved to the North Shore and would never consider shopping anywhere else. Market Basket is so affordable, and allows me to purchase items I would otherwise not because of pricing. The produce is always fresh and plentiful, with lots of choices. I see that people are complaining about crowds and people paying with WIC and EBT. Oh well, you suckers can go to Shaw's or Stop and Shop. Seriously, just get assertive, push your way through the crowds, wait in line, leave happy, and spend less! :) read more

the title of this is (Ball of confusion & chaos ). cheap prices=yes english speaking market=no or @ least 90 % are non white i'm just sayin overcrowded= yes perfect time to go 30 mins before closing & go as soon as they open in the morning , that's the best time to go and beware of weekends! =serious anxiety attack ............................................................. .......................................................................................................................... READ ON IF YOU WANT BAD CHICKEN I used to buy meats here all the time now the only thing ill buy is the hamburg & steak the chicken no-thankyou someone in my fam. told me they work with someone who told them don't ever buy fish or chicken from this place & now i know why but also does market basket even know how to clean? all you can smell is chicken juice & see the juice under the belly of cases I mean please clean this out I'm sorry but chicken juice all over your hands is nasty & very germy they should have papertowles on hand or tell people to use gloves then you touch money @ checkout go to your car you get this nasty bacteria all over your car door handle passing it along when you get home please people use common sense next time you go there bring a disposable glove with you when you handle the fresh chicken packages or you'll have raw salmonella e coli and or everything that goes along with the affects of raw chicken all over you! People might not realize this while they are shopping but they do & will have juice all over there hands after handling it's inevitable while their minds are else where thinking about the next days cook out or other daily things just think you might make someone else sick. happy shopping ....just head the warning read more

I have read the reviews here and found some of them amazingly profane and mean spirited. There is a lot of diversity among the staff and shoppers, unless your family can claim Native American heritage, your family came from another culture as well, so get over it. The store is old, the aisles are too narrow, and yeah they have to restock during the day when people are shopping, its a very busy store. That said, the prices are great, the products are reasonably priced, I have done some comparison shopping and Shaw's items are often a dollar or two higher on items I buy on a regular basis. I live in Lynn and am going to try the Chelsea location which I understand is really a great place, modern, wider aisles and hopefully I can get in and out there more quickly than at the Salem store. It is what it is, if you don't like it, shop somewhere else. Its not perfect but what is? I find the people that work there to be helpful, they don't always know where to find what I want, but them I speak to some one else. Not great, but not bad either. read more

I LOVE Market Basket! The prices are less than a military base commissary, and the choices are more diverse. I agree with a reviewer that I didn't want to be forced to buy 15 peppers when I only needed half, but it's a steel because I paid the same, if not less, than what I would usually pay for half. Same deal with the 10 lb bag of all purpose potatoes last week. I had the option of buying the 10 lb bag, or the 5 lb bag for the same price. Of course though, now I have to figure out what to do with all of those potatoes... Any who, they always have what I need for great prices. The store is clean and ever changing. My favorite part is actually that the store is so crowded and the people are so diverse! Honestly, I cannot believe people are complaining about that. The store is busy because it's great. There are three in the city that I grew up in, so there are never that many people all at once. Maybe MB needs another store in Salem! I's a quality, basic, local supermarket. I need nothing else. read more

Ok, for those who have posted scathing reviews of this store, I have one thing to say. Stop shopping here. Maybe it would be less crowded and obnoxious. This store is not a Whole Foods. It is, in fact, a supermarket with really low prices. The aisles are narrow and crowded. The waits at the checkout can be long. There are a multitude of nationalities shopping here. But, the prices can't be beat. The first time I shopped at MB, it was a culture shock. Personal space and personal boundaries go out the window. Suck it up, get a large DD coffee beforehand and go in ready to do battle. Pull your cart to a spot that doesn't block the aisle if you have to think about what you're buying and try to be a little courteous (although this can be perceived as a weakness when shopping here) Although shopping here can be traumatic, realize that once you leave the store, your wallet actually still has some cash left in it. read more

I love Market Basket and I support what they went through last year but..it seems when ever I shop for pork..this week they have pork roast bone-in $1.49..they had $1.79, and I when I asked for the sale item I was directed to a area ..$1.59..no $1.49..so when I asked for the sale meat..I don't speak English to good..sorry! This is the 3rd time..and the red basket's..this is the only Market Basket that hide's them..when I asked (this was a while ago) they claim they keep getting stolen "BS" and last..the cold cut's..why do they put the sticker over the top..so when you try to open the package it rips!! Oh well Rosetta stone here I come. read more

Very disappointed, we were at Market Basket yesterday and their watermelons were all rotted but didn't know until we cut it open. Also, the romaine lettuce was awful. It looks like their produce has gone down hill in the past few months. read more

I always get my grocery shopping done here! Being a broke college student, it's nice to know I don't have to live off of ramon noodles since everything here is reasonably priced. I just wish they had a wider selection of organic products. read more

As good as it gets for the price you can save. Too crowded during weekends but what the h*ck the place is cheap and people luv cheap stuff. I met very nice staffs and place itself has nothing wrong with products or workers. Some people hate going there simply because of their stupid thoughts that cheap is bad. read more

I'm white and well off, from Swampscott, and I love Market Basket. I save at least $50 of a full shopping when compared to Stop and Shop and other alternatives. As for the crowds, that's totally understandable given the competition. I'm not a bigot, so I'm fine with the mixed ethnicity, in fact I like it. The mixed ethnicity kids who do check out and bagging are bright and fast and fun. The bakery is excellent also. read more