Jessica T.
Yelp
[Update on 12/26 11:15am]: The business owner reached back out via Yelp DM explaining their perspective and remedy for this situation that occurred on 12/25/2024. I'm posting screenshots of our messages here for customer transparency.
I'm also providing an honest review below:
Location and Parking: Plentiful parking as it's located in a large plaza.
Service: I went on Christmas Day & since it's one of the few establishments open on this day, I was not surprised for the long line which I did not mind. We ordered through their self order kiosk which was easy to navigate. We received our large drink order within 20 minutes.
Drinks: We ordered 7 drinks but I personally only tried the 2 below -
* Mango Pomelo ($7.25): This one was my favorite. It wasn't too sweet, even at 100% sweetness level, and the agar was a good texture. I would definitely order this again.
* Black Sesame Under the Cloud ($6.25): Really great black sesame flavor & the boba was soft and chewy. A bit too watery for my liking as I wished the consistency was a little more thick.
Environment: Very clean and aesthetically pleasing inside - I loved the interior design! The shop is fairly small with no real indoor seating besides a bench. There were some outdoor tables and seats though.
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This review is based on my visit on 12/25/2024 at 2:26pm, where I ordered 7 drinks: 4 Mango Pomelos, 1 Black Sesame Under the Cloud, 1 Watermelon Jasmine, and 1 Phoenix Oolong Milk Tea.
Upon entering, we were not greeted, and there was a long line. All 3 employees were busy preparing drinks in the back, so no one was available to take orders. As a result, everyone in line was using the self-ordering kiosk. The reason why I decided to come was because I had seen a post on Instagram about a 20% off promotion for 12/24 and 12/25, but after I paid, I realized the discount wasn't applied. I didn't notice this at the time of purchasing as I forgot to check.
When I asked the employee about the promotion, they explained that while the location was participating in the offer, the discount wasn't applied because I used the self-ordering kiosk. There was no sign or instructions at the counter indicating this, nor was it mentioned in the Instagram post. The employee said they could not refund or honor the promotion after the fact. Fair enough.
What was more concerning and upsetting was this: I tipped the workers when I completed my order because I believed they deserved it, especially for working on Christmas Day. However, the worker informed us that they do not receive ANY tips from orders placed through the self-ordering kiosk, only from orders made at the register where they directly assist customers. According to the employee, this is because they "did not provide service" for kiosk orders, so they don't get the tips. If that's the case, there should be clear communication that tips given through the kiosk don't go to the workers, so customers can tip appropriately. My main concern now is: where does the tip money go when paid through the kiosk? Does it go to the owner?
Under California Labor Code Section 351, it's illegal for employers to withhold any portion of an employee's tips. I have already expressed my concerns via Instagram direct message on 12/25/2024 at 2:51 PM, but I have yet to receive a response. I will update this post if I hear back.