Jenny J.
Yelp
Went there with a friend for lunch. The food was all right. The service was what you'd expect at Applebee's, some dude who probably hates working there and did the bare minimum. We got our food though.
What happened later on that day is why I'm writing this review.
My friend accidentally left her scarf there. She called, told someone where we sat, and the employee found it and said that it would be put in a safe place. As she lives about 30 minutes away, she called me to ask if I could grab it since I live less than a mile away. Of course, I came to the restaurant to grab her scarf.
When I got up to the hostess stand, I explained that I was there to pick up my friend's scarf, as she was told it was there. She said, very dismissively, that it wasn't. I said, "Well, my friend called here and someone said it was here." Instead of trying to be helpful and find out an answer, she said, "I can get the manager if you want." Well, I asked her to please do that. The manager came over, and I had to re-explain what I wanted since the hostess couldn't have been bothered to relay my message, and he said that there wasn't a scarf there, because it would have been at the hostess stand or in his office and it wasn't. So, I'm standing there somewhat dumbfounded because I really didn't understand why someone at the restaurant would have flat-out lied to my friend about the scarf actually being there.
I went outside and called my friend, and she asked "Do you have my scarf?" and I said "No, I'm here, and they said that they didn't have it." The reply to which was "I just called them back a second time and I was told that you had picked it up!" And I hadn't, as I was standing outside trying to relay to her that her scarf disappeared into thin air. With her still on the phone, I went back in the restaurant.
Up to the hostess stand, "Hi, Me Again, Scarf?" My upset friend is in my ear remembering "It was a 'Trish' I talked to?" I said to the hostess, "She said she talked to a Trish?" And the very unhelpful hostess made a confused face and questioned, "Do you mean Tricia?" Seriously, she HAD to have known who I was talking about. Then she said that she just heard over the headset or intercom or something that someone had called about a scarf and it was gone or something like that but it sounded more like she just wanted me to leave. She said "She's over by the carside to go, you can go talk to her," and points vaguely in the directly of about 40 people between the staff and the patrons. I asked, "Which one is Trish?" And she seemed to have a problem helping me with that. I would think that an employee at any establishment would go find someone by name instead of suggesting that a customer figure it out themselves. So, I started walking in the general, vague direction, to try to find Trish, and eventually end up in front of 3-4 employees, and I ask, "Is one of you Trish?" And I actually don't believe that anyone of them admitted to being 'Trish'. I asked AGAIN about the scarf and one female employee did say, "Yeah it's here in the manager's office." I stood there for a moment and at this point, am VERY irritated, so I ask "Well HOW DO I GET IT?" And then a rude "Someone's going to get it right now."
Honestly, I've relayed this story to several people and every single one of them agreed that this was one of the most ridiculous stories they've heard about unhelpfulness, incompetence, lack of teamwork, and a general disregard for a customer - and every one of them suggested I write in a complaint.
By the way, the scarf was given to my friend by a relative of hers who is now deceased, so it was very important to her.
Also, I am extremely angry that I had just the day before bought $100 worth of Applebee's gift cards for another friend. I wouldn't ever encourage anyone to go to that location again. Just simply downright disappointing and frustrating.
At least I got the scarf back. *rolls eyes*