I can't begin to tell you how disappointed I am with my experience tonight at HTeaO.
We discovered HTeaO about six months ago, and I can't tell you how many times we've made the 25-minute drive out of our way just to get your teas. I work in healthcare on the graveyard shift, and before work I usually stop in for a large drink for myself and a gallon for my coworkers to share. It's something we genuinely look forward to, and it helps get us through those long 12-hour nights. Over the past several months, I've noticed that a few employees haven't always had the best customer service, but I've always overlooked it because I truly love the teas, the variety, and the flavors. To me, it was worth it.
Tonight, though, was too much to ignore. I walked in at 9:48 p.m. According to Google, your posted hours are until 10:05 p.m. Monday through Thursday, so I felt like I had plenty of time and wasn't being that customer who walks in right before closing. When I opened the door, a young lady was mopping the floor, and it was absolutely soaked. I attached a photo, although it honestly doesn't capture just how wet it was. I remember thinking it seemed like a safety hazard, but I figured I'd just grab my order and leave. As I picked up a sample cup to try the new pineapple tea, someone yelled from the back, "Don't you know we're about to close?" The two young ladies at the front immediately started giggling. It was obvious the comment was directed at me, and I honestly couldn't believe it. I quickly ordered my usual drinks, including a gallon for my coworkers. The same employee who yelled from the back came out and slammed the gallon onto the counter. At that point, I couldn't stay quiet. I calmly told her how disappointed I was by the unnecessary comments and how rude the interaction had been. I also explained that if customers coming in at 9:48 is an issue, that's something management should address by posting a cutoff time for orders rather than making customers feel unwelcome. She had misunderstood my orderI had asked for a gallon that was half Texas Chai and half Coconut, but she brought me a half gallon instead. When I politely asked for the correct order, she grabbed it with obvious attitude, took it to the back, and was gone for quite a while before returning with the gallon.
I'll be hones I left feeling uncomfortable. Maybe it was simply because of how the interaction unfolded, and maybe I'm letting my emotions get the best of me, but after the comments, the attitude, and the amount of time the drink was out of sight, when she took the gallon to the back for some reason, which I’ve never seen them do that before. I didn’t feel comfortable giving the gallon to my coworkers.. I ended up questioning something I should have been excited to bring into work, and that's a terrible feeling to have as a customer. I completely understand what it's like to work customer service and to be trying to close for the night. If I had walked in one minute before closing and ordered a dozen customized drinks, I would completely understand the frustration. But I came in while the store was still open and ordered two items. As someone who has become a loyal customer and regularly drives 25 minutes out of my way to come here, this experience was incredibly disappointing. After reading through some previous reviews, I'm saddened to see that similar concerns about customer service have been mentioned before.
I truly hope this reaches the right people because HTeaO has become one of my favorite places, and I'd hate to stop coming over an experience like this. A little customer service training and stronger management could make a huge difference. I know I'm just one customer, but this really was disheartening.
Update to respond to management. No I won’t be calling. Please review your security footage and speak with the employee who identified herself as “Liz” (clear-framed glasses and tattoos). I also encourage you to read your recent one-star reviews there appears to be a consistent pattern of complaints regarding customer service.