Co-op Food - Dunmow - White Street

Reviews

• CT

  Clare Tucker

  Oct 2, 2026
  5.0
  Great shop and good carpark. Lovely staff
• RV

  Rachelle Vidal

  Sep 14, 2026
  1.0
  POOR Just poor. Poor customer service. Poor staff. Poor stock availability. Shelves often empty or sparse. Self- service checkout often goes wrong with only one person serving at the cigarette till. Staff keep you waiting. No acknowledgment that they won’t be long. Just left. POOR!
• NC

  Nicky Chills

  Jul 18, 2026
  1.0
  It is unfortunate for me, that Co-op stores are conveniently located close to my home, office and gym. Were it not for that convenience, I would no longer shop with Co-op at all. Over the last year, shopping in many of your stores has become an increasingly unpleasant experience. The New Hall Essex branch, for example, resembles a high-security environment rather than a local convenience store. Customers are required to pass through security barriers upon entry and exit, many products are locked away, and there is rarely anyone available at the tills. Customers are effectively forced to use self-service checkouts, regardless of preference. If you wish to purchase alcohol, you are expected to ring for assistance, often waiting for the only member of staff in the store to emerge from stocking shelves, working in the storeroom or attending to other duties. The result is a frustrating and thoroughly miserable customer experience. Upon my recent visit to the Great Dunmow store. When I asked to purchase a bottle of wine, a member of staff stood with me while I made my selection, insisted on retrieving the bottle on my behalf, and then informed me that company policy required me to be escorted back to the till to pay for it. I am a middle aged woman. To be treated in this manner is thoroughly ridiculous. I appreciate that retailers face challenges with theft, but surely there must be some balance between loss prevention and treating customers with dignity and respect. Other retailers facing the same societal challenges, including Marks & Spencer and Waitrose, do not subject customers to these measures. Is Co-op genuinely at a greater risk of theft than those businesses, or has the company simply decided that inconveniencing and alienating law-abiding customers is an acceptable trade-off? I am left with the impression that Co-op has concluded it is economically preferable to reduce staffing levels, increase security measures and rely on self-service technology, even if this comes at the expense of customer service and the overall shopping experience. In many stores, the most visible employee is not a customer service assistant but a security guard!!! What I find particularly disappointing is that this does not appear to be a company-wide issue. The Hatfield Heath branch is a perfect example of how enjoyable shopping at Co-op can be. The staff there are an absolute delight: friendly, approachable and genuinely customer-focused. Every visit is pleasant. Rather than treating customers with suspicion, they make them feel welcome. I would encourage Co-op to look closely at what that store is doing right and seek to replicate it elsewhere. I fully understand the need to address theft and anti-social behaviour. However, there must be room for common sense. The current approach risks sending a troubling message: that every customer is considered a potential criminal until proven otherwise. That may reduce losses on paper, but it comes at the cost of customer goodwill, loyalty and trust.
• SH

  Susan Hyett

  Jun 13, 2026
  5.0
  Called in to do some shopping. What a lovely store ...colleagues so helpful and friendly. Everyone in this day and age are quick to complain but never say anything good. I was brought up with the Co op so have always loved this store.
• RA

  Ruhul Amin

  May 5, 2026
  5.0
  Very convenient lots of parking

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