Survey: Costco, Trader Joe’s are best retailers of 2018. See which ones were the worst

A new consumer survey shows America’s love affair with Trader Joe’s and Costco continues, but overall customer satisfaction was down last year.

The latest American Customer Satisfaction Index survey ranked the best and worst retailers of 2018 asked more than 62,000 consumers to choose favorite department and discount stores, specialty retailers, supermarkets and e-retailers, among others.

A score of 100 was best. Top retailers scored in the 80s, with most chains clustered in the 70s. Poor customer service was mostly responsible for dragging down scores, with the last two yearly surveys showing overall declines in customer satisfaction across all retail categories.

“There is a slump in customer satisfaction in every category of the retail sector,” said David VanAmburg, ACSI managing director, in a news release. “Internet retail versus brick-and-mortar retail, department stores versus specialty stores, it’s all down. Considering the importance of retail to overall consumer spending, this decline is a big deal.”