Countdown Taupo

Good selection of items, especially gluten free pre-packaged foods. Surprisingly cheaper than other Countdowns on the North Island. ⚠️ Be warned. If you are a foreigner, they won't take a US driver's license to purchase alcohol, so make sure that everyone who is in your party all have their US passports on them before checking out. My husband went to purchase wine. I had my passport, he only had his driver's license. The older woman employee wouldn't sell to us unless we both had passports with us. She said my husband also couldn't come back to purchase wine with his passport, I had to be with him as well. I felt this was absurd because we're both in our mid-thirties, and she already checked my passport that said my age. Why would I need to come back with him? Another couple at self checkout was also denied the ability to purchase alcohol by the same employee for not all having passports despite the fact they were clearly older. It was a total hassle having to drive back to our hotel to get his passport and then pick up our wine at the customer service desk with both passports. Visited February 2023.

I know why I prefer to shop at Countdown Taupo compared to PaknSave. The staff at Countdown are friendly, chatty and helpful. They look after their customers including their regulars. Often I am greeted by staff members while shopping here. Nothing is a hassle for them. Always happy to exchange or refund if something isn't right. Tania( the manager) is fantastic and always in a positive mood. Staff are a credit to the company

Dirty, messy, many empty shelves, too many home brands (most seem to come from China or Australia) very poor overal presentation. One good point seem to be the staff, who are generally friendly. Update, this super market is getting worse. The out of stocks and empty shelves are every where, and it's usually the specials that are empty. And again the service is usually good. And update again. So many out of stocks still. And pricing and ticketing errors. There were buckets around the shop catching water from the leaking roof and creating tripping hazards. Also disgusting and dirty shelves In the frozen and chilled areas. Makes you question Countdown's hygiene in the food preparation areas. THIS SUPERMARKET IS TO BE AVOIDED. Updated. Needed to pop in on way home. More dirty empty shelves.

Ok broken glass in car park, which had been there a long time was the start, getting into the store and it was so badly stocked that Taupo had some insider knowledge on a pending lockdown, many items we wanted not there. Not ideal but the staff where pleasant enough

Being a tourist staying in Taupō going in to get a few things and not knowing where anything is, it does not help that the layout is confusing if you are a tourist The only good part of it is that the pizza slices are made correctly here and look delicious, unlike the pizza slices at both Countdowns in Pukekohe