Thursday, May 14, 2009

Which chain/franchise has the worst customer service?

34 comments:

Martin Andres Austermuhle said...

CVS. Hands down. It's like they purposely hire the most unpleasant people ever. In every store.

F**k you, CVS.

rob said...

i completely concur, but the best buy tech staff comes in 2nd (which is why i haven't bought anything from best buy in years)

Leslie said...

Totally. CVS was actually the inspiration for this question. Why are they so unhelpful?

I think Giant may come in second.

And an honorary mention goes out to the bouncer at the Pour House. It's not a chain or franchise but I'm pulling a Beenu and tossing it in anyway.

eric h said...

AUSTIN. GRILL.

Erin said...

Comcast. (Ha. My captcha is "facked").

John said...

Southwest is on notice for their stupid seating by grouping. If I buy a seat, just give me one damn it. Don't make me rush to stand in line while people try to cut, then I get on the plane it's like I'm Forrest Gump getting on the school bus with people giving me their "seat taken" look.

You have the same seating procedure as the Chinatown bus, so why stop there. Give me a couple of suspect drugs mules, a bathroom that smells like a martini mixed with vomit and piss, and play some midgrade romantic comedy starring Kate Hudson and/or Matthew McCoughnoshirt at a volume not loud enough to hear but still loud enough to annoy

Nerdette said...

The Cosi on 15th and K is sometimes a real winner. And by winner I mean I want to punch people.

Mike said...

United Airlines. More of a chain than a franchise.

Unknown said...
This comment has been removed by the author.
Unknown said...

US Airways w/o a doubt!!! I'm seeing a theme here.

Dan said...

Best Buy's sales staff. I went there to buy an ipod a few weeks ago, and it took them almost 20 minutes to send someone to open the display case and hand me one. Hello, I'M TRYING TO GIVE YOU MONEY. Please let me.

andrew said...

I'm telling you people, go to CVS in New England and it is like a complete 180. They are actually friendly and knowledgeable ... you know, things Beenu isn't.

Worst customer service goes to US Airways. I absolutely hate how you always get someone in India when you call who wants you to believe their name is Karen or Greg. Or any of my credit card companies.

Unknown said...

Starbucks. The number of times that I have witnessed an argument between the cashier calling out the beverages and the barista at the espresso machine is non-trivial.

Beth R. said...

The Dunkin Donuts servicepeople in DC are horrendously slow and inept, and their sad sack service would never, ever be tolerated by customers whowanttheircoffeenow! in a Jerz Dunkin.

Leslie said...

Dunkin Donuts is pretty good in NH too. Don't make an uncaffeinated New Englander wait for their coffee. Is a 'regular' coffee in DD in DC or NJ a medium ocffee with cream and sugar or is that just a New England thing?

That being said, I think Dunkins jumped the shark when Rachel Ray started doing their promotion...

Leslie said...

Oh and my coworker add Jerry's subs to this list.

beenu said...

if you douches went to CVSs in nice neighborhoods then you'd realize it's not bad.

i'm going w/ best buy b/c no one helps you there. second on the list is sephora b/c the staff like to talk to each other instead of helping customers. and number 3 is comcast b/c they only hire dumb people.

pinchie said...

I absolutely agree with DC Dunkin Donutses and the Giant in Columbia Heights. Also one of the slowest of all time: the Woodley Cafe on Connecticut. Not a chain, but just need to warn people that it's terrible.
Another problem: any Taco Bell in DC. So disappointing.

pinchie said...

yes, "regular" meaning two creams two sugars in a medium coffee is totes a New England thing!

GC/DC said...

hipsters dont go to chains or franchises. it's like their kryptonite.

andrew said...

Totes love ordering a medium regular at DD in New England. So efficient.

the non-hipster said...

GC/DC: Seriously? Have you been in an Urban Outfitters lately?

Leslie said...

Is Urban Outfitters hipster? I feel like it is targeted at hipsters but would a hipster go in there?

And why does Martin hate hipsters and chains/franchises? (That one was for you, Scott.)

Unknown said...

Either the local coffee shop where the hipsters don't pay you the time of day (and give you dirty looks when you don't tip for a $5 mocha), or Home Depot where the "home improvement experts" don't know what the fuck a socket wrench is.

Never had a problem at CVS.

P.S. Liked the Chinatown Bus comment.

sara said...

duane reade, nyc's version of cvs. always a line and the pharmacy is especially awful.

CVS came to mind too.

Cate said...

CVS is the WORST. I've been to many a CVS, all over this lovely land of DC and they are all the suck.

SngngMSW said...

WALMART. Ugh.

Unknown said...

I'm gonna jump on the CVS bandwagon. They suck universally.

As far as Wal-Mart goes, you get what you deserve if you shop there. I'd be unfriendly too if I got paid shit with no health insurance and no retirement benefits. Frankly, we're lucky that more Wal-Mart employees don't go on shooting sprees. And I say this all as a former weekly Wal-Mart shopper back in my misspent youth.

Scottie said...

I'm having a hard time remembering the last time I had good customer service anywhere. So yeah...f&%k CVS, f&%k Best Buy, f&%k Target, f&%k any restaurant, f&%k Starbucks, f&%k Giant, f&%k Safeway, f&%k Radio Shack, f&%k every gas station/Jiffy Lube, and most of all, f&%k the Caps for putting on that shitshow and making me miss Lost last night.

Leslie said...

I am with Scott --> so bummed that I watched the Caps fail miserably and miss the LOST finale...

Unknown said...

In college when I worked at Urban Outfitters (I quit that job fabulously by the way!), they told us not to talk to customers. We were supposed to be calculatedly aloof, and only helpful after the customer approached us. That's effed up.

Isra Pananon said...

GIANT IN COLUMBIA HEIGHTS

BOOYAH

GC/DC said...

I started going to Urban Outfitter before it was chain (I am from Philly, Phuck-Yeah.)

caroline said...

american apparel. i only order that shiz online bc whenever i go in there i feel like i am being silently judged by every employee. and they treat every customer as if they're a shoplifter.