I LOVE Publix stores! But my experience at this one wasn't the 5 star adventure I was hoping.
The overall store seems small but maybe it's just the odd way it's shaped? The parking lot is very confusing and the spots seem quite small. Usually this isn't a problem in my crossover SUV (read: modern day hatchback) but I had to vehicle swap with my husband that day so navigating a truck I'm not used to driving made it all the more irritating.
The store inside is clean but, again, strangely designed. One of the things I love about the Publix chain is that your shopping experience is usually pretty reliable. The staff are all exceptionally nice and friendly... at least at all the other locations I've visited (across 3 states!) except for this particular location. At first I thought it was just my personal check-out clerk who may have been having a bad day - a big part of my job is customer service so I can see how a bad customer interaction can really drag you down. But then I looked around and observed other interactions between staff and customer and realized that my experience was more of the norm.
And lastly, the thing that dropped this from a 4 star review to a 3 star review is my actual order! The only reason I stopped into this location was because it is a tiny bit closer to my office than the other Publix in Mount Pleasant. I went online in the morning to order my sandwich. I triple checked that all of my preferences were correct - a half size Italian sandwich on 5 grain bread, hot, with a handful of specific veggies and oil and vinegar on the side.
I arrive to a full size Italian (and yes, I was charged for a full size), COLD, on 5 grain bread, with the correct vegetables but it was already slathered with oil and vinegar.
I'm sure anyone who has wrestled with the little packets may be wondering why it's an irritation but it's because I'm not eating my sandwich immediately - especially when it's twice the size I ordered! So if they've already slathered it in oil and vinegar, unless I eat it NOW, the sandwich is just going to get more and more soggy thus ruining my lunch experience.
And I really have to stress, THE ONLY REASON I went to this location was because I was craving this specific Publix sandwich so this complaint is, admittedly, a "you had ONE job" sort of thing.
Some people may consider this nit picky but one of the supposed advantages to ordering online is that your order is written out plainly for the person who is putting your order together to see. There's no confusion or back and forth when someone is in front of you and you may not be able to hear them or understand what they're saying... it's printed out legibly! For you to cross reference in case you get confused!
I wanted to stay behind and talk to whoever was at the Deli Counter but they were helping another customer. The whole parking lot fiasco meant that my schedule for this adventure was running more tightly than anticipated so I didn't have the time to wait around for them to help the few people already waiting there for assistance.
Overall, I think I'll be sticking to the other Mount Pleasant location when the mood strikes me for anything from specifically Publix. read more