August 2025 by Mihaela Radu
I had a very unpleasant experience with one of the cashiers today at the Sainsbury's in the city center, on Magdalen St. When I approached the till to pay for my drink and ask for a vape, the cashier interrupted me abruptly and demanded my ID before I could even finish my sentence. When I politely asked to finish explaining what I wanted, he raised his voice at me and continued to argue, which I found very rude and unprofessional.
I understand ID checks are important, but there is no reason for staff to be disrespectful or confrontational with customers. I was so upset by the way I was treated that I left the store without buying anything. This is not the kind of service I expect from Sainsbury's, and I hope management addresses this behavior.
May 2025 by Zeke
I was having trouble with a checkout machine so I went to a different one. A rude staff member proceeded to patronise and even touch me for what was a simple error I was prepared to apologise for. I doubt he would?ve done it if I wasn?t a young looking student. Very unprofessional.
May 2025 by Srin
I had a very strange experience here yesterday. I went in to buy a bottle of wine and went directly to the cashier rather than the self-service checkout to avoid the queue and the wait to be IDed. I was asked for ID and I showed them my BRP, which has always been my chosen form of ID and has been accepted as recently as April 2025 in both Tescos AND Sainsburys. The cashier said he would not be able to accept it as BRP cards were now no longer valid (all immigrants have e-visas now). I think this in itself is an issue because this ID very clearly still has my date of birth and a recent photo; this is meant to be checking for age and not my immigration status, and the photo and the date my BRP was granted clearly indicated that this was not a very old ID. I then asked if I could show a digital proof of my age instead, initially suggesting my evisa, and then a scan of my passport. The cashier refused both as he apparently wasn't allowed to accept any digital forms of ID either. This too is inconsistent as I have previously been allowed to purchase alcohol by showing proof of my ID on my phone when I have forgotten my BRP, but I did not argue. I then had no other options left as I obviously am not walking around with my passport on a daily basis. The cashier asks me if I have another ID with my name on it. I showed him my staff ID from the University of Oxford, which not only has my name but clearly says 'Staff' across the front, which I would think makes me a lot less likely to be under 18 (I'm 29). The cashier however refused it as it didn't have my date of birth on it, and said that he would have to refuse the sale.
I think it's very strange to expect me to carry my passport around everywhere as ID. I understand there are risks to selling alcohol to under-18s and that companies need to cover their backs, but there needs to be a limit and some more common sense to how employees check for this. When I am willing to show multiple proofs of ID physically and digitally, it is deeply frustrating to see an employee assume that I am an underage teenager who has gone through the considerable effort of creating multiple fake IDs to buy *one* bottle of wine. Please do better.
February 2025 by Thomas Moore
Don't shop here.
I went in to grab something for lunch. I used the self-checkout and the screen said someone was coming to verify my signature. I waited patiently for over a minute straight and no one appeared even though the clerk at the cashier stand and another guy could clearly see me. I motioned at them but they both ignored me for a bit, before one of the guys came wandering lazily over, disappeared down one aisle and then another while telling me to wait a minute.
Eventually some woman comes stopping over grumbling at me. She wouldn't even speak to me when I asked her questions, except to snap at me when I started taking the wrong receipt.
No one here seemed to understand even the most rudimentary basics of customer service.
I will starve to death before I come back here.
January 2025 by Karsten Seipp
Disengaged, not very knowledgeable staff. Bit of a desolate place.
December 2024 by Jasper Jameson
On my way to work at 7:45 and I needed to grab something for lunch. There was a line of rubbish trolleys blocking the entire chilled food section directly inside the front door. It might be easy for the staff to get rid of when their delivery truck comes - but useless and dangerous for customers. If they can?t manage this better they should close while they get rid of rubbish.
October 2024 by Michael Ambrose
Closed earlier than advertised, rude staff
September 2024 by Cillian de Paor
Awful Awful Costa Coffee
April 2024 by Julien Delab
Speedy and kind staff. Fantastic experience. Would highly endorse for anyone visiting the area! Truly a must see.
April 2024 by Henry Thomas Barthram
Incredibly rude cashier in there tonight patronising tone talking to me about how to self-scan. No need for smart comments.
April 2024 by Serhii Savinski
Nice store. I go shopping quite often.
November 2023 by Beth Simons
Kieran, you?re the best employee! Super polite & nice. give him a raise!!
October 2023 by Google user
I can always count on Sainsbury's to have sandwiches.
September 2023 by Mohammed
I can always count on Sainsbury's to have sandwiches.
June 2023 by D'arcy Baker-Watts
Always shopped here before work but have stopped since I was shouted at by a manner of staff and accused of stealing because the till crashed after I had paid the next time I came in to the store while the manager stood in the corner and watched, never came over to ask what was going on or why I was being shouted at, I was never given a chance to explain or provide proof that I had paid so I will not be back
