Why I'm a Big Fan of Pyaterochka - A Shopping Experience

Hello!

I've been shopping at Pyaterochka for a while now, and I have to say, I'm impressed. The store I visit is located in a shopping mall, and it's one of the biggest and cleanest ones I've seen.

The self-service kiosks are a huge plus for me. I love how convenient it is to just scan my items and pay without having to wait in line.

Back in the day, I was a big fan of the fruits at Pyaterochka. However, lately, the oranges and mandarins have been a bit disappointing. They're just not as juicy as they used to be.

This winter, it's been a real challenge with the apples. Even the more expensive ones don't look great. I mean, are those even red apples? And have you seen the price? Over 100 rubles.

I was a bit put off by the apples - some of them were already rotting. There were a lot of them, so I didn't bother digging in.

There were a lot of nuts, but I've been avoiding them lately.

The veggies still looked pretty presentable, unlike the apples.

I picked up those tomatoes, but the taste was artificial - the staff had been raving about them, though.

The carrots were 37 rubles - I could get them cheaper at "Lenta" and they looked better.

The red onion was pricey - I usually get it for 50 rubles.

I was shocked to find out that a bag of potatoes costs 65 rubles. That's way too expensive! But the worst part is that you often find moldy potatoes, especially in January and February. The staff just shrugs it off.

They have their own in-house baked goods. My husband tried their cheesecake, but I'm not a fan of the fact that they're not individually packaged. Anyone can touch them.

The store is surprisingly clean, and the shelves are spaced far apart. I can even navigate the aisles with my stroller, which is a big plus for me as a mom. I really appreciate stores that follow the rules.

Just look at how spacious it is! You don't often see stores with this much room. I've seen cases where staff members block the aisles with displays, and someone might accidentally knock over a bottle. It's a nightmare.

And check out how tidy everything is! It's a breath of fresh air.

The bakery section is always super tidy.

I often grab eggs from here, and they're always fresh and large. But, of course, it depends on the store.

I picked up some kids' bath products here, and I regret it. I've written a bunch of reviews about the Honey Kid line, and I wouldn't recommend it for kids.

On the other hand, I do grab the oatmeal from "Frutonyani" for my kid. It's a great option.

Most of the price tags are yellow.

There's this one candle that looks like an orange.

I was expecting the citrus scent of mandarin, but unfortunately, it smells like chemicals instead, and the price is a pretty reasonable 58 rubles, although I didn't end up buying it.

They have some affordable shoe care products here, like creams and sponges, which are way pricier in shoe stores.

I used to buy "Laski", but now I'm a fan of "ABC". I like how everything is neatly stacked on the shelf.

They also have sanitary pads available, and I've been using "Libres" (the pink ones) for ages, which is a great value with the discount.

They sell skillets, but I personally prefer Ronde.

And, of course, they have some kitchenware.

I've got to say, the mugs are pretty cool. But I've already got enough for my kitchen, so I'm leaving them for the mug enthusiasts.

The dairy section is well-organized, and while there might be the occasional expired item, it's pretty rare.

I always grab water here during the summer. They've got a huge selection, and the prices vary. I've been noticing lately that 1.5 liters of water can cost as much as 50 rubles - I just got it for 10 rubles last time, and now even 0.5 liters won't cost me 10 rubles.

I always grab the mushrooms here for my salads - I love the shiitake mushrooms.

I picked up some candles for a special occasion. The prices are a bit steep, though.

I found some fun toys, but they're not the symbol of the year anymore, so nobody's interested in them. They've just been sitting there for a year.

The price of 'Alpen Gold' chocolates has gone up, but we don't even have 'Dubai Chocolate' here. To be honest, nobody's really bothered.

I mean, every city has its own 'Pyaterochka', and it's just not worth going into detail about everything they have.

MY PURCHASES

I buy all sorts of things there - vegetables, fruits, balms, milk, and lots more.

Right now, they've got discounts on shoe care products, so I grabbed some.

They're expecting some events to happen around March 8th, so I picked up some masks for the giveaways. They're only 30 rubles each.

I really liked the black spot stickers. They're cheap and effective.

I've stocked up here before, but this isn't the store where I usually shop. They don't have a lot of the essentials, like crab roll, high-quality dark chocolate, pineapple juice, or a decent chicken roll. I could go on and on.

There's no need to load up a bunch of photos of my purchases. Let me put it this way: you'll find something you like here.

I was particularly impressed by 📚

The store has a bookshelf where you can swap books. Bookcrossing in the store! What a great idea to encourage reading. It's the first store in town where you can bring a book or grab one to read for free.

You can also bring over board games.

True, most of the books are old, but who knows, maybe someone will want to read them? Plus, there's a lovely riverside promenade just nearby. In the summer, you can grab a book, head down to the river, and enjoy some reading time.

I brought over two Metlitsky novels, then some study guides for exams, and some reference books. We got through them all quickly! But I still haven't found a book that really spoke to me. No worries, there's always next time.

I've got to give it up for the management and staff on this one - it's a great idea. Kudos to them for coming up with it! I think every store should have a bookcrossing program. It's a fantastic way to get people interested in reading and culture.

THE VERDICT 🟡

I'm really liking 'Pyaterochka'. You can get all sorts of stuff there - groceries, household items, cleaning supplies. And in some locations, you can even borrow a book for free.

In this store:

Regular discounts;Spotless floors;Wide aisles;Good products;Constant promotions;Super friendly staff;Self-service kiosks;Bonus card available;Bookcrossing.But there are some downsides:

There have been instances where the product was priced higher than listed, but the difference was easily refunded;Occasionally, there's a delay;And sometimes you get spoiled or rotten produce.I'd give this chain 5 stars, if all their stores were like this one. But, unfortunately, the 'Pyaterochka' near my place is a totally different story. In fact, I'd rather run away than go there. That's why I don't shop there. We have a 'Pyaterochka' on 'Krasnaya Line' (on October Avenue). Well, one time their security guard got a little too aggressive with a young girl. It all started when he thought she'd stolen something from the store. He locked the doors and refused to let her out. I intervened, raised a fuss, and asked him to check the CCTV footage. But he just wouldn't let go of her. It was clear she was harmless and calm. Oh man, that's just unacceptable. It took me calling the police to get him to open the doors. That was a while ago, but the negative experience still lingers.

And that's not all!

HERE'S THE LIST of stores where I always shop:

LENTOMAGNETMETROOKEIKBBut I wouldn't recommend the following:

I was really disappointed with this store - it's the worst I've come across.The one thing that really put me off was the constant delays.

But the customer support was top-notch - I'd give it 4 out of 5 stars.

Thanks for reading!