Like others , I was SO excited when Panera opened closer to my house... would not have to trek to Fontana or Rancho Cucamonga to get a decent bagel, sandwich or bread loaf... or would I?
When they first opened, I was an authorized buyer for a huge local company - and already had an account with the Fontana location, but with ordering for many, many breakfast meetings, it was difficult for Fontana to even deliver in time for my meetings, yet alone have someone pick it up. So when the Rialto location opened, was excited and used them right away. To my dismay, their incompetence was apparent right from the beginning when they just didn't show up for the first meeting I ordered from them. I was furious, but I thought I would wait awhile, continue to use Fontana, and let them get some experience under their belt before trying again.
Needless to say, snap forward 4 years, yada yada yada... no more job after pandemic, no more big orders for company - they never in fact got it right before pandemic.
But today I went to Rialto Panera just as customer through drive- thru- which I do about every 6 months or so- at this point just hoping they have had enough time now to operate as a functional restaurant. But hope as I may, still they are dysfunctional. I went this time at approximately 9:15 am- yes, a little late in the morning for bagels- but since the last time I went at 7am-ish and was told it was too early for my selection of a dozen different flavored bagels, I thought I would try a little later.. just trying g to order 6 bagels- 3 everything and 3 cinnamon crunch and some cream cheese and 1 coffee- I was - quite rudely- told " at this time we are not going to have those flavors- we would only have blueberry or jalapeño. I'm a tone like I should know that on a Thursday morning at 9:00 am - I should know that's what they will have. In a snarky tone that cannot escape my memory.
What is sad is that even if they didn't have my flavors- had they only said in a non- snarky tone- something like " I'm sorry but we only have blueberry and jalapeño bagels at the moment, would you like to try one of those or how about a few breakfast sandwiches?" The sad thing is I would have said "YES!" And tried those breakfast sandwiches and spent more than double what I was going to! But this Panera cannot get out of its own way! I have lowered my expectations and would have been so happy to give them my $ and NOT go down the street to Jamba Juice instead! I would have accepted their incompetence if only they could get the customer service part right! Or at least remove the snarkiness that seems to permeate out of this location! I have been told I'm too early, too late, ordering too much, not enough- anything that can make excuses for them not to give me my order!
Sorry this is so long- I think I am just finally giving up and realizing that some places and some
people just cannot ever get it right.. 4 years is a long time to wAit and hold out hope.. but I'm finally done- I give up. They have ruined the Panera experience for me.. I might as well give up and walk away and remove carbs from my diet - and never go here again! Wait- do you think they could ever get a salad order correct? read more