This was easily one of the worst customer service experiences I've had at a Dunkin.
I ordered a sparkling drink which, for the record, is supposed to actually SPARKLE. Yet lately, every time I order one from this location, it's flat. Why am I paying extra for what essentially tastes like flavored water?
This time, I tried to avoid the problem before it happened. At the drive-thru, I politely asked the employee, "Would you please use a fresh bottle of sparkling water for my drink?"
Her response? "Pull around."
Okay...but that didn't answer my question.
So I asked AGAIN, "Would you please use a fresh bottle of sparkling water?"
Another pause. "Pull around."
At that point, I told her I would park and come inside.
Walking into the store explained a lot. The energy was absolutely miserable. No greeting. No smiles. No acknowledgment. NOTHING. Everyone looked like being there was the absolute last thing they wanted to do.
And here's the thing: I understand that people have bad days. What I don't understand is making your bad day the CUSTOMER'S problem. If you're working in customer service, basic courtesy shouldn't feel like an unreasonable request.
I politely asked for my order and was met with what can only be described as a death stare.
Then I tasted the drink.
FLAT.
Exactly what I had specifically asked them to prevent.
I asked for it to be remade using a fresh bottle of sparkling water. Simple solution, right?
Apparently not.
A woman wearing a blue shirt, who told me her name was Naja, actually instructed the employee NOT to remake my drink.
At that point, the situation went from poor customer service to absolutely ridiculous.
I wasn't going to stand there arguing because I had somewhere to be, so I simply asked for a refund.
Her response?
She WALKED AWAY and told me to "call corporate."
Seriously?
I asked for the corporate contact information, and she told me it was on my receipt.
It wasn't.
So let's recap: Dunkin charged me for a sparkling beverage, gave me a flat one, ignored me when I specifically asked for a fresh bottle, refused to remake a drink that was clearly not prepared properly, refused to give me a refund, walked away from me, and then gave me incorrect information about how to contact corporate.
All over a DRINK.
This could have been resolved in 30 seconds: "Absolutely, we'll remake that for you."
Instead, the staff turned an incredibly simple request into an unnecessarily hostile interaction.
The flat drink was irritating. The attitude was unacceptable. But a person who appears to be in a leadership position actively telling another employee NOT to correct a customer's order and then walking away when the customer requests a refund? That's the part management and corporate should be paying attention to.
If providing a customer with the product they actually paid for—or simply treating them with basic respect is this much of an inconvenience, something is seriously wrong at this location.
I left without the drink I paid for, without a refund, and with absolutely no desire to return. Do better.