IGA Byron Bay

Well worth shopping here. Beats most other grocery store in Byron Bay frankly. well-stocked, lots of good variety at prices same if not better than Woolworths. Was surprised

I live nearby and have been shopping here for over a decade. While the prices are a bit higher than the other Byron options, the selection is good. Unfortunately, they stock expired and damaged items, and offer no guarantee. I recently bought an $18 bag of Bolognesi pasta sauce that was split and leaked onto my other items. Even with the receipt, they would not accept the return and said they were not responsible. They always dismiss issues with expired or moldy stock as if I'm being picky.

I’m giving 2 stars because I actually like this store and shop here regularly, but this experience was handled very poorly. I was charged twice for a single purchase. I called the store and was told they couldn’t guarantee a refund and that I needed to contact my bank to provide proof of the double charge. I did that, got the proof, and was asked to come in the next day before 1 p.m. I showed up at 12 p.m., but the person I was supposed to meet had already left early. I then spoke to a duty manager, explained everything, and showed clear proof that I had been charged twice. Despite that, I was told they still couldn’t issue a refund and that I should continue dealing with my bank. At that point, I had already spent a lot of time on calls, gone back and forth with my bank, and even biked there in the rain to resolve this in person. What’s frustrating is not just the mistake, but the complete lack of willingness to solve it on the spot. The explanation I was given was that if they refunded me, I would end up with both the product and the money, meaning a loss for the company. That logic doesn’t make sense — I already paid twice for one product. Refunding one of those charges would simply correct the mistake. It seems like the system only shows one transaction, but I have clear evidence of two charges. Instead of acknowledging that possibility, the issue was repeatedly dismissed. I’ve always liked shopping here, but after this experience, I seriously question the customer service and whether I want to continue coming back.