I really enjoyed coming to this location after moving away from Flowood because it was convenient…read morefor me. Initially, my smoothies were good. I wouldn't say perfect, but the customer service was nice, the flavor was good, and I could always feel the supplementsI I paid for, specifically the caffeine (energizer) and multivitamin, were having their intended effects.
Unfortunately, after one particularly overwhelming visit, the quality and consistency of my orders seemed to decline. My smoothies were frequently overfilled, had a terrible aftertaste similar to concentrated Red Bull, and often came without the add-ins I selected to be added in. I could always feel the effects of the supplements I paid for, and other times I couldn't. The apples also frequently came unwrapped and were sometimes too soft grainy. I overlooked these issues because I was usually on the go and didn't want to spend extra time addressing them.
I placed an order online. When I arrived to pick it up, I was told that most of the ingredients for my smoothie were unavailable. I received no phone call, and the app gave me no indication that there was a problem. As a result, my order had not been made, and I was left scrambling to choose something else while trying not to be late for work. I cannot eat bananas, which limits the smoothies I can order, making the situation even more frustrating.
I recognize that I was upset during that interaction and that my tone may have come across as rude. I take responsibility for that. In fact, when I returned today, I was prepared to apologize to the employee I had spoken to that way.
Today, my smoothie was blended okay, it looked pretty and it didn't taste like they had forgotten the mango. I was like wow, and it made me happy. However, as I drank it, I noticed that I wasn't experiencing the effects of the caffeine supplement I had paid for. When I brought this to the staff's attention, the employee at the register repeatedly told me that caffeine has no taste and that she had never heard of anyone being able to taste it. I clarified that I wasn't talking about the flavor of caffeine itself; I was talking about not experiencing its effects. I did not feel the effects of the multivitamin either, but was at this time solely focused on the caffeine because I needed it.
What frustrated me most was not simply the possibility that a supplement had been missed, but the way my concern was handled. I felt as though the staff were talking down to me rather than trying to understand what I was explaining. I directed my questions to the employee who appeared to have made my drink, but he repeatedly looked to the employee at the register instead of addressing me directly. Eventually, both employees walked away without offering a solution.
I wasn't asking for an entirely new smoothie. I simply wanted someone to acknowledge my concern and offer to add the missing ingredient and blend what was left in my cup. I was in a hurry and needed the caffeine I had paid for. A simple attempt to resolve the issue would have made a difference.
After the repeated inconsistencies with my orders and the customer service I experienced today, I will no longer be visiting this location. I was willing to acknowledge my own behavior and apologize for my tone during a previous interaction, but today's experience changed my mind. Regardless of a customer's attitude, concerns should be handled professionally and respectfully. I understand that mistakes happen, but how employees respond when a customer raises a concern matters just as much as the quality of the product.
