Subway's Customer Service

[MIGrandma]

DH and I went to Subway to get subs to bring home for dinner tonight. It was 7:47 p.m. We saw chairs up on half the tables so wondered if they were closing. DH walked in first, and I stopped to quickly look at their hours printed on the door. They were open until 10:00. Since he didn't know that he said "are you still open?" She was in the process of putting the chairs down, but then started walking behind the counter and said "for a little while longer." I said "it looks like more than 2 hours" and she said "too long." Never a smile or any kind of decent greeting at all. She grudgingly made our subs, and when I gave her the money to pay I asked what her name was. I definitely plan to send a note to management in the morning, and e-mail the corporate web site as well to let them know what kind of employee they have working there. Her poor attitude doesn't reflect well on the business.

I could have understood her being ready to go home if we got there 10 minutes before closing, but more than 2 hours? Come on! At least pretend you're happy to see us.

Would you put up with that kind of poor service, or would you let them know?

 

[si-am]

I'd just let it go.

 

[Minnesota!]

let it go. everyone has a day like that where they feel it will never end. I can guarantee that most everyone bemoans each day about how many hours they have left. I know all of us in my department doing it on a daily basis.

 

[Hannathy]

I'd let it go. I wouldn't complain, she wasn't outright rude to you or refuse to make your food cause she was closing. Heck she was about as friendly as they ever are when I go into Subway.

I wouldn't make waves for some poor worker 2 weeks before Christmas.

 

[LilyWDW]

Let it go.

She may not have been the most energetic person in the world, but I honestly don't see anything worth getting her in trouble for. Everyone has a bad day. There may have been a reason that she was closing up early or doing some of the closing duties early. You don't know and as such your comment may have come across as judgmental.

 

[leight]

Was it in a mall or stand alone restaurant? I would imagine that it is natural that if it is not in a heavily traffic area/mall that during the week, the dinner rush is over at subway around 7. It is probably part of her job to sweep and clean the tables so that wouldn't bother me but sure her attitude would be something I'd think twice about. Since she wasn't overtly rude or ruined your order I'd let it go too. If it happened again, then I'd contact the owner- isn't Subway a franchise? or manager if not. Hope your bad experience didn't ruin your and dh's dinner!

 

[xanphylus]

I worked in the restaurant industry for over 10 years- most of them in management. Please tell the manager of the store. I would def have wanted to know if any of my employees treated my customers in that manner. Even if they are having a bad day, don't bring it to work and def don't take it out on the customers. And other than that- don't close the store before time. But I would not go so far as to tell the actual company- that just comes back on the actual manager- not the employee usually. The only way I would go above the manager, is if the manager did not reply back to my complaints in a satisfactory manner.

 

[MIGrandma]

Was it in a mall or stand alone restaurant? I would imagine that it is natural that if it is not in a heavily traffic area/mall that during the week, the dinner rush is over at subway around 7. It is probably part of her job to sweep and clean the tables so that wouldn't bother me but sure her attitude would be something I'd think twice about. Since she wasn't overtly rude or ruined your order I'd let it go too. If it happened again, then I'd contact the owner- isn't Subway a franchise? or manager if not. Hope your bad experience didn't ruin your and dh's dinner!

Oh, no, I didn't mind that she was putting down chairs, I understand wanting to get clean-up duties done and since there was no one in the restaurant that didn't bother me at all. It just made us wonder if they were closing at 8:00, so that's why we asked. It was her attitude that bothered me.

 

[SAHDad]

I'd be inclined to let it go. For all you know, two co-workers didn't show, she just got chewed out by a customer, and the little unsupervised horror that someone thinks of as "their little angel" smeared mayo across a dozen tables.

 

[AKL_Megs]

Let it go.

For all you know, she could have just gotten terrible news, could be having the worst day ever, or any other variable.

If she wasn't disrespectful, but just NOT PLEASANT, why get her in trouble for being human and having an off moment.

It makes me think of a VERY recent flight I had. Five minutes before we boarded, I got terrible news. I had no choice but to suck back tears and be as pleasant as I could. I can tell you there wasn't much "pleasant" in me, but I wasn't mean. I'd hate to think that someone would report me for not having a huge smile on my face after bad news, and nowhere to go but right there.

As for the tables us, maybe it was a down time and she was washing the floors early so she could get out of there ASAP at 10pm.

 

[chisnpeke]

It's a Subway worker. I know it's important to try and put out the best image possible even for low wages (I do it everyday) but give her a break. Unless you've noticed it several times, let it go.

 

[Imzadi]

I'd call the management. We had something similar happen at our Subway. Our Subway closes at 2am. But, then they got in a new guy working the night shift and suddenly he was closing at 11:45 one nite. A few weeks later, at around 10:30, I go in and he's about ready to close up again. There was NO food out in the cooling trays. Everything was cleaned up. He had to pull out individual items to make my sandwich, then put them back in the fridge.

I didn't complain to management, but apparently others must have. He was fired. He must have thought he could close whenever he wanted and no one would know. We are back to being open 2am! And yes, I know they stay open till 2, because if I'm coming home very late, that's one of the places I can count on to still be open to get something.

 

[Elmo9607]

I'd let it go. It's so hard working in a position like that this time of year (retail, foodservice), It's not an excuse for a poor attitude all the time, but it definely is trying. It is extremely likely that she already knows she wasn't being pleasant and that it's wrong.

 

[TinklednPants]

I'd be more upset at the thought of having Subway for dinner.

But yeah, let it go. She was probably mopping the floor or something.

 

[Tinijocaro]

In Japan, this kind of customer service would never, ever happen. The two cultures are astonishingly different in this regard.

 

[powellrj]

I would let it go. It sounds like she was left alone to do all the clean-up and closing alone and just wanted to get it done. She may have been there alone all day and was just worn out.

 

[Angelhalo]

I'd be irked but I'd just let it go. I know we're always supposed to put our best foot forward but every once in a while you just can't. Maybe she had a horrible day. Maybe she just found out her grandmother died. Maybe she's worried about how she's going to get her kids some gifts for Christmas. I'd just shrug it off. In fact knowing myself I'd probably bring her a card or a box of tea or something the next time I went in. I'd let her know it seemed like she was having a rough day when I came in before and I hope things get better, and wish her a happy holiday.

 

[tluvstink]

I have to say something like this wouldn't be on my list of things to complain about. Granted she may not have been the friendliest person out there but it doesn't sound like she was out right rude either.

Maybe I missed something but do you know for sure she was closing the store early? I would let it go but that's just me.

 

[GJM]

I would let it go - as others have said, maybe something happen before you came in. If she wasn't rude I wouldn't complain.

 

[FlightlessDuck]

Subway is franchised. Sending a message to the corporate office is probably a waste of time. But there should probably be a phone number on your receipt to call and complain.

But like others said, some times some people have a bad day. If she wasn't rude, just not into her job, I'm not sure it's worth getting upset about. Maybe if it becomes a recurring problem.