From angryconsumer's workspace

Tim Horton's No More

OK, so I'm guessing you read my posting on the terrible service at Tim Horton's on Monroe St. by now. Clearly, I was beyond just a little upset at the time. After all, since I love the product, I'd been enduring the lousy service for many months. I did everything I could think of to respectfully address the issue, including writing to the Corp. home Office. Still, nothing changed. Again, this establishment used to have very GOOD customer service, I have no idea why the downhill fall.
At any rate, as I mentioned, I tried Starbuck's. Different product, a few pennies more but more of the product AND good old fashioned customer service.
A couple postings about Good Customer service elsewhere made me realize I would be remiss if I didn't take the time to compliment the good service I get as well as the bad.
So, Good Job Starbucks!
Tonight, I drove through Del Taco. While they are a Mexican fast food joint, I opted for a burger and fries instead. Needless to say, my expectations were not too high. Talk about being surprised! Drive through voice was clear, concise and FRIENDLY! Got to the pick up window and the girl was Friendly, Smiled, announced the amount due by adding "Please" at the end of her sentence and said "Thank You" while giving me my change.
And get this, the burger and fries were cooked to order and DELICIOUS. I was amazed and very surprised. The burger was even partially wrapped in paper for those intending to eat while driving. WOW!

So, Good service does still exist and clearly not all fast food establishments have poor customer service and/or training. There ARE young folks (and not so young as well) with good manners and common sense instilled in them. THANK YOU and Thank YOU to the parents raising them and the managers training them!

Apparently, I'm a slow learner when I love a certain product. No more banging my head against the wall in vain.
Goodbye Tim Horton's on Monroe Street.

created by angryconsumer on May 07, 2008 at 05:42:05 pm
updated by angryconsumer on May 07, 2008 at 05:54:55 pm Comments: 27

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Comments ... #

"Del Taco"?

posted by Darkseid on May 07, 2008 at 06:48:04 pm     #

Yes, Del Taco.
A new mexican fast food place, on Secor Rd. at Executive Parkway. A Taco Bell type place but I'd say maybe a little better.

posted by angryconsumer on May 07, 2008 at 06:58:49 pm     #

It used to be a Krispy Kreme

posted by angryconsumer on May 07, 2008 at 07:00:22 pm     #

We, as consumers, have the power to "punish" theses businesses that provide sub-par customer service.

We can not only post about our experience here, of course being as objective as possible, and joining together as consumers to avoid these labeled locations. It would be even better if could get together and send a letter to these businesses informing them of our group's position.

Let's face it, just complaining about bad service will not change anything. Taking business away from them will. There is power in numbers.

posted by hockeyfan on May 07, 2008 at 07:21:02 pm     #

Well now, with THAT level of customer service Del Kremeo won't last long in Toledo!
By the way, I had the exact opposite service at Starbucks - never go back.

posted by justareviewer on May 07, 2008 at 07:23:56 pm     #

Any business can have an occaisional "Bad Service Day". Usually it's a new hire who isn't working out but whose bad attitude hasn't yet been discovered. But when the service is consistently bad it comes from the top down. Either management is arrogant and passes on that attitude or they treat the employees with such disrespect that there is more incentive to retaliate than treat the customer well. I try to give a business a chance or two. But if faced with the same consistently bad conduct angryconsumer experienced then it's time to take your dollar elsewhere. Are Tim Horton's franchises?

posted by holland on May 07, 2008 at 07:52:50 pm     #

Love Del Taco, the burgers are very good. But everytime I go there I end up cracking up because they sell a Fish Taco.

posted by roygbiv on May 07, 2008 at 08:19:46 pm     #

You hit up all the bottom feeder targeting establishments....

When you eat shit and drink shit, you're demeanor is ____.

The new thinking in psychology is you behave how you eat.

Perhaps try to be a more savvy consumer and that anger will fall by the wayside. Oh sunshine.

posted by charlatan on May 07, 2008 at 08:24:53 pm     #

I haven't tried the burgers at Del Taco yet, but I've been impressed by the burritos, and the service isn't half bad.

I'm usually a bit more forgiving when it comes to awful service. But I won't put up with repeated awfulness.

Funny story... I pulled into a Tim Horton's the other day (the one on Glendale), and placed my order:

"I'll have a plain bagel, toasted, with cream cheese. And a medium hot chocolate."
"...Alright I have a plain bagel, toasted, with cream cheese and a medium hot chocolate?"
"...I know you have them. I want them. May I have them?"

They've been very good to me in the past, however.

posted by TheTalentedMrC on May 07, 2008 at 08:25:32 pm     #

Holland- I agree 100 percent. I will always give more than a reasonable number of chances, especially when I like the product. But, as I've said, after dozens of times, I finally decided to take my business elsewhere. I still love Tim Horton's but I sure won't give any business to the franchise on Monroe St.

As for the Fish Taco's, I've not been brave enough to try them yet but the wife has and loved it. NOT my cup of tea.

posted by angryconsumer on May 07, 2008 at 08:58:58 pm     #

The fish taco's are very good at Del Taco. Try them; you might be pleasantly surprised.

The relatively new Tim Horton's on Alexis in Sylvania is okay but they could use a bit more effect in the 'friendly' department.

posted by McCaskey on May 08, 2008 at 01:56:37 am     #

LOL, meant effort in the friendliness department. Guess I need to get to bed.

posted by McCaskey on May 08, 2008 at 01:58:30 am     #

Try driving a twenty year-old POS like I do. They are much nicer if they can identify with you.

posted by Offshore on May 08, 2008 at 08:07:22 am     #

Another place locally that has HORRIBLE service is El Matador out on Airport Hwy! It used to be our absolute favorite place to eat if we went out for dinner, but has REALLY gone down hill in the past year or so! On our most recent visit the waitress TOTALLY screwed up my husbands order when writing it down then stood there and rather than apologize tried to blame him and tell him what was on his plate was exactly what he ordered, when it wasn't even close! My husband went to the manager to complain because this was the 2nd time we had had this specific waitress, and good grief, you'd have thought he asked for a million bucks or something with the attitude we ended up getting the rest of our time there.

It's too bad too because the food is FANTASTIC, but we're done, we won't ever go back! Between the snotty attitudes from the wait staff to their inability to accept that they made the mistake, we'll take our dining dollars elsewhere!

posted by justsimplyholly on May 08, 2008 at 08:36:18 am     #

I didn’t even know that place was still there. Never really liked their food all that well as I recall.

I think T-Town needs one of those restaurants where the theme is the staff are supposed to be rude, etc. Can’t remember the name, but I would love that!

posted by Ryan on May 08, 2008 at 11:55:32 am     #

OK. As the owner of an independent coffee house, I have to weigh in on this.

First of all, Tim Horton's sucks regardless of the bad service. Their coffee is among the most god awful swill around. Angryconsumer, you were purchassing a frappe, I know, but regardless, I do not see why people patronize a business that server such garbage.

While I am not a big fan of Starbucks, they do put out some effort. Their customer service will consistently beat Tim Horton's hands down. Their coffee, while not top notch is definitely drinkable in my opinion. But let me hijack this thread just a little and talk about coffee, and who deserves your business.

In my opinion, your hard earned dollars are much better spent at quality indy coffee house. (I should emphasize "quality" as sadly enough there are a few indy shops out there who aren't really getting it right.) However, a good indy coffee house is more bang for your buck. They buy, or should be buying, fresh artisan roasted coffee, and paying a wholesale rate of around $9 per pound, if they are not roasting the beans themselves. Their profit margin on a cup of coffee is then just a small fraction of what Tim Horton's, Dunkin Donuts, or even Starbucks makes. Second, it is the tradition of independent houses, to go far beyond the service one would receive at a corporate chain. And third, these are local business owners, who in many case are struggling just to pay the bills. It's a different business model than most, built on building a customer base on the quality of their product, not putting a lot of variables in a spreadsheet, and doing a max profit calculation.

More than you probably care about, and I realize that for many in the mid west "coffee is coffee". But it's not.

posted by nick44 on May 08, 2008 at 12:10:30 pm     #

I am not a fan of coffee, but certainly understand what you mean. I only hope that you put your money where your mouth is and do not shop at Wal-Mart and the like and also help out the local stores.

posted by Ryan on May 08, 2008 at 12:35:20 pm     #

OK nick44, my hubby and I are HUGE coffee drinkers as well as ones that LOVE to try out coffee houses, if you feel comfortable doing so would you PLEASE email me the name/address of your shop and I'll definitely check it out! you can contact me at justsimplyholly@gmail.com

With all of the stops that we make at coffee houses, I'd much rather put the $$ in the pocket of a local one than a franchise! And no, coffee is NOT coffee!!!!

posted by justsimplyholly on May 08, 2008 at 12:41:13 pm     #

nick44- Thanks for the info. Additionaly, I ALWAYS make an effort to support local businesses over chains. Like justsimplyholly, I too would love to try out your shop if you're willing to give me the name and address. kevin123intoledo@yahoo.com

posted by angryconsumer on May 08, 2008 at 01:36:02 pm     #

We always patronize independants over chains. My favorite coffee shop that is nearby is the old Beaner's. There was just some silly name change - I forget what. And as a native midwesterner I do NOT hold all coffees as equals. My home brew is shipped in from Miami FL. Cafe Signore is my favorite but sometimes I like to take it up a notch to Bustelo.

www.JAVACABANA.com

posted by holland on May 08, 2008 at 01:55:48 pm     #

I make absolutely no claims to be a coffee connoisseur, I am far from it. I just know how much I like Tim Horton's Iced cappuccino's....be that good or bad could be a whole other discussion I suppose. In all honesty, one litttle thing I've left out, is that I suppose the word "Addicted" would be appropriate. Usually 5-6 a week. Is that addicted? Who knows.....Anyway, again today I tried my new drink from Starbucks. And again, service was good and product is good as well.
And the best part? My Blood Pressure isn't going up.
Breaking Routines can be damn hard I'm finding out.

posted by angryconsumer on May 08, 2008 at 02:07:04 pm     #

I'm with you Holland, they may have changed their name to Bigby's, but to me they will ALWAYS be Beaners!!! They make a MEAN Cafe Latte and I've had nothing but top notch customer service from them! They even have a location on the OCC campus that I visit when I'm on campus, if I have the time!

The place I was talking about out on Airport Hwy is called The Daily Grind, I believe. They use Seattle's Best coffees there and have AWESOME customer service!

posted by justsimplyholly on May 08, 2008 at 02:37:03 pm     #

I get my coffee from Red Rambler in Wauseon. They are very good. It's a great coffee house too. Other places that I recommend for great coffee beans are Stumptown in Portland, Intellegentsia in Chicago, and CounterCulture in North Carolina.

If you want to brew at home, I would invest in a good grinder, and a french press. You can make some pretty amazing coffee at home this way.

Ryan, I try to shop at local businesses, but it is hard to find them sometimes. I do shop at Churchill's for groceries primarily. There is one at the end of my street, and they are open until ten in the summer. It's so convenient. Kroger is nearly as bad as Wal Mart in my opinion.

posted by nick44 on May 08, 2008 at 04:23:45 pm     #

Ugh to Kroger's. It's Kroger brand this and Kroger brand that. Absolutely no shelf space left for the better stuff. The variety sucks.

posted by holland on May 08, 2008 at 06:05:16 pm     #

The grind your own beans Kroger's is all right.

posted by Darkseid on May 08, 2008 at 06:26:44 pm     #

8'oclock coffee, buy a nice grinder and buy whole bean. Meijer has a nice coffee selection. Kroger is trying to sell only their brand of everything plus a couch or table. Wish they would go back into the grocery business and let meijer and walmart handle the crappy chinese merchandise.

posted by Linecrosser on May 09, 2008 at 01:55:20 am     #

GREAT cup of java Nick!!! :-)

posted by justsimplyholly on May 09, 2008 at 04:55:11 pm     #