I've been a longtime Wingstop customer and have generally enjoyed the food, so this experience was disappointing.
For my first Girls' Night, I placed an order for 50 wings two days in advance for a 5:00 PM pickup. When my son arrived, the order wasn't ready. I had ordered different flavors, including spicy and non-spicy, and discovered that all of the flavors had been mixed together. They were mixed so thoroughly that I couldn't tell which was which without tasting them.
I went online to express my concerns through the "Contact Us" link and I got a call from the manager the following day. She left me a voicemail. I returned the call several times but never spoke with her.
I decided to give the location another chance. Two days before my event, I called again but this time I left a message with one of the employee's. The manager did call me but I wasn't able to answer her call so she again left a voicemail. I was in the area so I stopped in the store and the manager was there. I repeated my disappointment with the previous order. During that conversation, I learned that unless a customer specifically requests that the flavors be separated, this location lumps all the flavors together—even spicy and non-spicy. I was honestly surprised and asked, "Even spicy and non-spicy?" and was told yes. I understand now that I need to specifically request that the flavors be separated, but I wish I had known that beforehand.
I decided to place another order for my next Girls' Night—30 wings for $30 because I couldn't pass up a good deal. This time, I specifically requested that the flavors be separated and that the order be ready at 4:45 PM on Saturday. I watched the manager write down my request and give it to an employee because she would not be there when I picked up the order the next day.
What disappointed me more, however, was the lack of acknowledgment or apology for what had happened. I wasn't expecting free food or some kind of special compensation. I simply expected some recognition of the inconvenience and perhaps some effort to restore my confidence as a longtime customer.
On the day of my event, I called to confirm the order. The employee who answered actually thanked me for reminding her about the order, which made me wonder whether it had been entered properly in the first place. Fortunately, the order ultimately came through perfectly. The wings were ready, the flavors were separated as requested, and all 30 wings were eaten at the party.
So I do want to give credit where it's due: the second order was handled correctly, and the food was good.
Unfortunately, the experience with the first order and, more importantly, the lack of customer-service follow-up changed my decision about returning to this particular location. I like Wingstop, but I'll probably try some other wing places going forward.
**Good food can bring customers in, but good customer service is what keeps them coming back.**