Well, where to begin about this over priced, rude customer service part do I start with?? So Ive been on Bowen Island for less then 2 weeks, and as there are only 2 places to shop, one with nice selections but outrageously expensive, or a vary basic generic store thats also outrageously expensive, but whatever thats BC (bring cash) for you. The owner/manager has been rude to myself and seemingly everyone in there, I overheard a woman speaking out on his rude behaviour today and shes been going there for 2 years and he hasn't ever been nice to her she said, she was upset. I came over to agree and stand up for her and say that I was new to the area and agreed, but didn't know if he just hated his job, he was then rude to both of us telling us to whatever leave. I had to go back to buy some wine, the wine was listed as one price, then showed the teller, and he took the tag I brought to show, and said it was another wine that was below it, which was just blantantly put in the wrong spot, we got into it, he told me to leave the store, he was horrible, rude, and said people have to earn the right for him to be nice??? REALLY is that what an owner of a store people are forced to shop in because there is no choices on this island??? So I got the wine that was cheaper but had already paid for the expensive one and didn't want to go back in and deal with him. IF you have money and can do it, AVOID and go to the only other grocery store on the island, RUDDY POTATO, its expensive but actually not as much, and not attitude and lovely options and other items that don't look like they have been there since the store opened like General Store has (http://www.yelp.ca/biz/the-ruddy-potato-bowen-island#hrid:GPvvLKvD5nV6QihUvlf_5g) its at least decent food, bakery and nice home made stuff with organic items. Boycott General Store and the rude Manager, or whatever position he holds, He is awful and ruined my afternoon on this bleak rainy day with nothing to do on Bowen......This place leaves a bad taste in my memory for good. read more

A twenty minute ferry ride from a sprawling urban centre does not confer "remote" status, nor does it excuse the horrific price gouging at the Snug Cove General Store. We recently noted that we could make a multi-hour trip to a bona fide remote location...and still spend far less at a local grocers for the same items. Although we are residents of Bowen, we have chosen to not make our purchases from the Snug anymore. In the past, we were happy to support this local business. However, we noted that despite spending a minimum of $80 on each visit, and despite patronizing their business for multiple years, there was never any acknowledgement, never a kind greeting, and never a "thank you". On our final visit, we placed our full basket of goods on the cashier's counter, and were distracted for a second by an event outside the grocers. We always empty our own cart, but as mentioned, we were distracted. The cashier shouted, "Empty your basket!" There was no one else waiting in line, so we found this announcement to be rather unnecessary, alarming, and not to mention, rude. As with every other visit, there was not even a hint of recognition from the cashier (Bowen is a small community, and you quickly come to know the locals by name before long), no smile, no friendliness, just another curt announcement that our purchases tallied to $112. As we departed, no thank you was given. Like I said, we were happy to support this local business, but given their prices, and open contempt for our patronage, why should we bother? The Ruddy Potato is just steps away, their goods are less expensive, and we don't feel defiled after every visit. We now have sufficient incentive to avoid the Snug Cove General Store altogether, and do all of our shopping either at the Ruddy, or on the mainland, and I suggest that you do too. read more

Is it possible to give a lower rating? I'm not sure who was yelling at me the day we arrived at this store but it was not the welcome I was expecting in a small community. Not sure if he was the owner or an employee but although I was 100% stopped (not parked) in a 'no parking zone' as I literally needed to grab 3 bottles of water for our hike up Mount Gardner - the badgering and belittling and outright verbal abuse I suffered by this person is enough to make me never go back to this island! Didn't let it ruin my day - just fair warning - go anywhere but this store! read more

I Found the last comment interesting, I thought I was the only one who experienced this, I had my groceries on the counter and ran 10 feet away to grab an onion and the girl at the till took all my stuff off of the counter and stuck it back in the basket and tole me to get to the back of the line up, I wasn't more than 15 seconds, but unless you follow the arbitrary rules, (we're still getting reprimanded for not standing 6 feet apart and standing behind the lines. I heard someone joking about it today when I was in the store, they were literally heckling the same girl at till that reprimanded me and btw never smiles but rather treats the customers like "useless eaters". Yah I try to be nice but not feeling the love in that store, that's for sure. Pretty cranky crew. read more

* Everything you would expect from a price gouging small island store * Ever felt ripped off when you needed something at 3am and went to a convenience store? You know the feeling. Same feeling you can get when you get to a remote place and want something from the one store in town. You know the feeling. Well Bowen Island isn't a one store town, and not that remote. But this general store acts as if it is! They had the normal small market selection of items (including dust on some of the boxes as you might expect with such high prices) and ridiculously high prices. So happy that Ruddy Potato (http://www.yelp.ca/biz/the-ruddy-potato-bowen-island#hrid:GPvvLKvD5nV6QihUvlf_5g) is just a 3-4 minute walk and focuses on organic and local produce. And ironically Ruddy Potato's prices are actually lower than this place which doesn't have an organic focus at all! Go figure! read more

This is pretty much exactly what a person might expect from a small town general store. Ultra-high prices for run of the mill general life-ing items. But really, where else are you going to go to buy your picnicking snacks if you're like me and didn't necessarily plan a trip to the island? Carrying everything from deli meats to eggs to coffee (of the Nabob variety), they've got it all. They were even so kind as to have a little private liquor section, as if they knew I was coming. A bit junky looking, but totally acceptable wares - this is the Snug Cove General Store. read more

Island living involves the hard core reality of the extra cost of bringing goods over on the ferry. The folks who own and run the Snug Cove General Store are not the type to "price gouge". They are lovely people and a highly valued part of the community. They are constantly investing in improving their store, the selection, the aesthetics and their service. They are highly regarded and appreciated by the community. read more