I popped into Stater Bros. this evening with my daughter hoping to grab some wings -- imagine my…read moresurprise when the deli counter was out. Scott, the clerk behind the counter, could have said "sorry, we're closed out," but instead he smiled, agreed to make a fresh batch, and dropped six wings for me. He told me it would be about six minutes, and true to his word, those wings came out fresh and delicious. Small thing? Maybe. But for a tired, working mom who'd had a rough day, it meant the world.
While I waited, Kelly greeted me at the counter. I asked for a single scoop of macaroni (I have an illness, so one scoop is plenty), and instead of the usual eye-roll some of us get for asking "not the whole scoop," she made me feel seen and welcome. She served me with a smile and genuine kindness -- customer service that actually looks like customer service.
There were other customers being helped, and when they realized the wings needed a little extra time, they apologized, took accountability, and even gave me a few extra wings while I waited. Again -- just wings, right? But sometimes it's the little things that brighten the whole evening. I walked out feeling cared for, not just processed.
Andrea rung me up -- always pleasant, professional, and knowledgeable, with that kind of calm smile that makes a checkout line less chaotic. Customer service seems to have gone missing in many places, but this Stater Bros. location still has it at its core, even on the night shift.
I've requested the store survey and hope it comes through, but in the meantime I wanted to make sure Scott and Kelly (and Andrea!) get the shout-out they deserve. I'll be stopping in tomorrow to tell the store manager in person how much this small act of kindness meant to me -- because sometimes all it takes is fresh wings and a friendly smile to turn a day around.
Thank you, Scott, Kelly, and Andrea -- you made a rough day a lot better. If wings were currency, you all just paid my emotional rent.