Nathan
Google
Since there isn't a place to write my thoughts in their receipt survey, I thought I would post them publicly instead.
As someone who currently toils in two different food and customer service jobs, I must admit a big disappointment in both customer service, and product quality at this location. I had also worked this particular Christmas Eve at a customer service job before arriving to pick up our orders we had placed well in advance for today. We have had done this at this location every Christmas Eve for a few years now with awesome success. We do not get to enjoy seafood at home but on Christmas Day, so it's always something to look forward to and add to the usual Christmas celebrations.
My mother had placed an order for steamed shrimp to be ready at 4pm Christmas eve with well over a week in advance. When we arrived, at 4pm, to claim our order, we were given our order. It was cold, which perplexed me, as the paperwork which had specified "steamed shrimp" was also attached. The seasoning was accurate to the paperwork. However, plainly, the preparation was not. We had ordered it steamed, hot. It was quite cold to the touch through the packaging. I asked why it wasn't steamed, they had apparently taken too many orders and couldn't fulfill them. Typical management, I have been in that situation before and it sucks as a worker. I get it, you still have to smear on that fake smile and empty upbeat on your face and bear at least attempting to be accommodating when the higher ups utterly shaft you. This is not a failure of the worker, but a failure of management at this location. There are calculations based on equipment and available labor, not to mention their experience to draw on to understand the capacity of your capability on a holiday. This location has been here for decades, they have had plenty of time to figure this out.
However, when asked how to reheat the shrimp on our own, the answer of a seafood department worker cannot simply just be limited to, as Dankiel put it; "Just pop it in the microwave!" I then asked for further detail, as I have operated not only the equipment that they are also currently paid to operate, but also most certainly my own microwave. When asked for even simply a duration of time for the shrimp to be nuked, the summation of their knowledge of a product that they are employed to sell was a simple shrug of their shoulders. Shameful. I understand that as a lowly unit cog your knowledge is likely limited, this is valid. However, I am in that place every day of my own work, in front of customers. When one does not know what the answer to a customer's question, it is okay to say 'I don't know', IF AND ONLY IF that is followed by, 'let me ask someone know may know the answer to that' or some variation, and then you seek that knowledge from someone who does. At least make an attempt to accommodate a problem that was generated by the store that affects the customer.
We later rounded back and had asked another employee about the shrimp. They said they would not steam it, and to put it in the microwave for 30 seconds with a damp paper towel on top. At least they made an attempt.
This is a yearly treat for my mother and I, who knows how many more of these we will have together. Through disease and atrophy, she persists. It's a constant source of inspiration. I include this not to guilt trip, but instead to try and to provide some context as to the sheer immensity of our shared disappointment. In all my blessed, wonderful years with her, I have NEVER, EVER seen her visibly disappointed in shrimp, much less actually leave some on her plate that she had taken. Never.
The shrimp was tough, and chewy. It was quite obvious they had not seen a single wash before preparation from the amount of feces found in them. We tried eating them cold, and also with the warming method suggested by Eddie. We had ordered two pounds of shrimp, and we had well over a pound left. We usually polish it off. The shrimp was inedible.
Merry Christmas, what a disappointment.