Robert J.
Google
A Truly Astonishing Display of “Customer Service”
My recent visit to this establishment was, without question, one of the most disappointing experiences I’ve had in quite some time. Upon entering, I approached the counter clearly the only customer present and stood directly at the register for several minutes. Not one employee acknowledged my existence. No “I’ll be right with you,” no smile, not even the courtesy of basic eye contact.
Since this was my first visit, I briefly wondered if perhaps I was in the wrong area. After walking to the far end of the counter and realizing that was the pickup section, I returned to the register. At that point, a woman was standing there. I approached, expecting at least minimal professionalism, but was instead met with a blank stare and a look that could only be described as annoyance. She said nothing.
I finally had to prompt her by saying, “This is where you say, ‘Hi, how can I help you.’” Her response: “Oh, I didn’t know you were here to order anything.”
One wonders what she imagined I was doing—standing at the register for the sheer joy of observing her indifference?
The manager, standing nearby, offered no help. Without even glancing up from whatever he found more important than his customers, he muttered something about her “not meaning anything by it.” When I asked him to look at me while speaking, he simply walked away and shook his head.
I placed my order, paid in cash, received my change and still, not a single polite word was spoken. I even attempted to model the expected exchange by saying “Thank you,” to which she replied, “No problem.” So I asked, “Could there have been a problem?” Apparently, teaching employees the difference between “No problem” and “You’re welcome” exceeds the management’s training standards. She rolled her eyes and walked off.
After reading several other reviews, it appears this level of apathy is consistent and, unsurprisingly, reflective of the manager’s own behavior. Customer service, at its core, requires so little eye contact, a greeting, a hint of human decency. If those small gestures are too burdensome, perhaps a career that doesn’t involve interacting with the public would be more suitable.
I won’t be returning. Once was more than enough