I lead a health-conscious lifestyle and am selective about dining out, which is why Subway has long been my go-to when I do. I regularly order through the app for the convenience and member rewards, and this particular location is the most practical stop on my way home from work. However, I have experienced a consistent pattern of incorrect orders from this location — and yesterday reached a new low.
I placed a mobile order for pickup at 4:35 p.m.: two foot-long Subway Clubs and one Peppercorn Chicken Protein Pocket. My husband picked up the order on his way home. The foot-longs were assembled carelessly and incorrectly, but the protein pocket was the most egregious failure. The customization I requested was minimal — I simply removed cheese, as I am unable to eat it, and removed pickles, as I do not care for them. What was delivered to me instead contained approximately two handfuls of shredded cheese, a generous serving of pickles, a few strands of wilted lettuce, one deteriorated tomato, roughly six small pieces of chicken, and no peppercorn ranch. This is not a customization error — this is a complete disregard for a customer's order.
I attempted to salvage what should have been dinner, though I shouldn't have had to. When that proved impossible, I called the store.
A young man named Diego answered. When I explained the situation, his initial response was that he didn't know who had made my sandwich — a claim he contradicted within the same conversation by acknowledging he had been the sole employee present when my husband picked up the order. When I requested to speak with a manager, he stated he was alone and that he was new. I asked whether it was standard practice for a new employee to be left unsupervised; his reply was, "No, I'm by myself — what do you want?"
I calmly requested compensation for a completely incorrect order. He suggested I simply come back to the store. I explained that we live approximately 35 minutes away and that returning was not a reasonable solution. He then suggested I request a refund through the app. I informed him that this was not my first experience with order errors at this location, that I had attempted that route previously, and that no such option was available. I asked him to at least take a message for his manager. He told me he was busy and didn't have time. When I asked for his manager's name, he repeated that he was busy, said he didn't know what to tell me, and hung up.
I called back immediately. The phone was either left off the hook or redirected to a voicemail box that is not accepting messages.
I then used the online help feature, submitted my receipt, and provided a written account of what occurred — only to be told I would receive an email shortly. That was over 16 hours ago. I have not received anything.
To add insult to injury, I had left Diego a tip that exceeded the cost of the protein pocket itself — certainly more than the item was worth in its delivered condition.
My expectation is a full refund or a gift card in the amount paid. I am pursuing this not merely over the cost, but because this experience reflects a broader issue at this location: a consistent failure to fulfill orders correctly and, now, a complete breakdown in customer service at the hands of an unsupervised, undertrained employee who demonstrated zero accountability, professionalism, or basic respect.
The mobile app experience is a meaningful part of Subway's value proposition — member perks, customization, convenience. None of that matters if orders are assembled by someone who cannot or will not follow simple instructions, and who then treats a paying customer with contempt when asked to make it right. The fact that this employee was left alone while still new speaks to a management failure as much as an individual one.
This location needs oversight. Customers should not have to physically supervise the assembly of their orders to receive what they paid for.
UPDATE: Spoke with Tyece, the manager. She was friendly, professional and resolved the issue without making excuses - total respect!