I work part-time at Panera Bread in Wall, New Jersey. On Sunday, May 1, 2021, we received a Panera…read moreCatering order from Kate Spade Outlet. A Catering order consists of a substantial volume of food and beverages that is typically ordered for a large group of people. Kate Spade Outlet is located at the Jersey Shore Premium Outlets, at 1 Premium Outlet Boulevard, Suite 760, Tinton Falls, New Jersey 07753. We are located at 2007 NJ-35, Wall Township, New Jersey 07719. The distance between both businesses is more than 8 miles and contains a toll road. This distance data is important because no food delivery driver from any delivery platform, such as Uber Eats, Grubhub, Seamless or Postmates wanted to bring this large order to Kate Spade since the Kate Spade employee placing this order did not provide any up-front tip.
This order was accordingly prepared by several Panera Bread employees and merely sat here in the store for a lengthy period of time since no delivery driver would touch this order, obviously because no tip was attached. I watched multiple delivery drivers come and go with other orders and yet no one had come for this order. When my shift ended, I volunteered to bring Kate Spade this Catering order so that the food would not have to be discarded. When a delivery order sits in the store for a prolonged or predetermined period of time without refrigeration, for health reasons, we are instructed to ultimately dispose of it.
I was doing this on my own time, using my very own vehicle, paying for my own gas and paying the road toll out of my very own pocket. Besides doing this out of the virtue of my heart, I was anticipating that the employee who placed this order would, at the very least, cover my gasoline and toll costs.
This order fit into two very large bags and was so heavy that only one bag could be carried at a time. I struggled to carry the first bag to my car and then returned to Panera to pick up the second bag.
Because this was a Sunday, the Jersey Shore Premium Outlets was totally packed with weekend shoppers. I drove around aimlessly looking for a parking space in the jam-packed parking lot. For more ten minutes I was unable to locate an empty parking spot. For those who do not know, this Outlet consists of 120 stores and there are typically more vehicles than packing spaces. After 15 minutes I was finally able to obtain a spot. Even though the spot was quite a distance away from Kate Spade, I was desperate and had no choice but to carry one bag at a time, from my car all the way to Kate Spade. I had to slowly navigate my way between throngs of shoppers who were seemingly unmoved that I was struggling to weave my way around them.
I was panting when I eventually made my way inside Kate Spade. That store was absolutely jammed with shoppers. I located the store manager and attempted to give her the first bag in the hopes of going back to my car for the second bag. She was unable to carry the bag because of its weight and directed me into the back room where a table was set up. I placed the bag onto the table and told her I'd be back with the second bag.
I repeated the same arduous task once more. After I brought the second bag into the back room, I patiently waited for her. When she walked into the back room, I was anticipating more than just a "thank you." Astonishingly, those two words were all that she gave me. Unfortunately, "thank you" doesn't put gas into my car or pay for my toll, which was essentially 'her'toll. So I politely relayed to her how no food delivery platform driver wanted to bring her this large order and how I had to pay a road toll to get here. She was wholly unaffected and repudiated any attempt to reimburse me for these out-of-pocket expenses, 'her' expenses.
Prior to this startling, negative experience, my mother, my sister, my cousins and most of my friends regularly shopped at this Kate Spade Outlet since they all reside near the Jersey Shore. Upon hearing from me about these callous and insensitive employees, they have all decided to take their money elsewhere. Oh sure, they will all continue to shop at the Jersey Shore Premium Outlets. Only now, they will gladly devote their shopping to the nearby Michael Kors Outlet instead.
