SERVICE DELAYED because I was using a gift card - Disappointing Experience!
By Michelle
@infatuatedbby (94909)
United States
October 15, 2016 1:24am CST
I had a disappointing experience with Applebees!! Service to me was 'delayed' because I used a gift card...
My boyfriend & I eat at Applebee's once/twice a month - the food has been lacking quality lately, and in addition to the service I received this evening - we won't be back!
I ordered to go. You can do curbside where you stay in your car, but I don't have any reason to, so I went inside to pick up the food. (Curbside would be ideal if it's raining out, you have kids in the car, & etc)
Upon arriving - no one was at the take out counter. A man came in behind me waiting to pick up his food as well.
The lady working the 'take out' counter asked who arrived first? I did & she rung up my bill. I handed her a $10 e-gift card & my debit card to pay the remaining balance. I also asked for A1 Steak Sauce on the side.
Because I was using a "gift card" - she needed her manager and asked if she could ring up the guy first.
As common courtesy I said "sure."
& GUESS WHAT?
When she rung him up, he requested for BBQ sauce on the side. Meaning, she had to go 'grab' him BBQ sauce.
"WHILE I WAIT"
In the end, I came in first, exited last. My food was ready/packaged, it's because I used a 'gift card' - I had to wait longer. Her manager was a couple feet away. She couldn't 'grab' her manager to close my bill first?
Not a smart choice.
13 people like this
16 responses
@kaka135 (14994)
• Malaysia
15 Oct 16
Yes, I agree with you. There are many people here like to go to some traditional local stores for the "very delicious food", but mostly the service is really poor (usually one-man or family business). I don't like to go there no matter how good the food is, I don't want to wait at the long queue and might still get scolded for eating something very nice. 
2 people like this
@youless (114117)
• Guangzhou, China
16 Oct 16
@infatuatedbby Of course. In fact it is usually much more expensive to dine out. And it is reasonable for them to offer you good service besides nice dishes.
1 person likes this
@infatuatedbby (94909)
• United States
15 Oct 16
Since I am dining out - I prefer my food to be good and decent service. I still tip when I am doing the service. I walked in to pick up my order saving them time from walking back and forth outside of the restaurant to my car.
1 person likes this
@infatuatedbby (94909)
• United States
15 Oct 16
We won't be back and I don't want to deal with the hassle.
Last time - I ordered the 8 oz steak for my boyfriend, you know what we got? 2 (4 oz) steak instead. I was like, why would I order a 8 oz steak to get to little steaks? They said they ran out and sometimes they do that.
This is the last time I'm giving them another shot and they failed!
2 people like this
@jstory07 (148749)
• Roseburg, Oregon
15 Oct 16
@infatuatedbby That really is pretty bad when they do that.
1 person likes this
@Tina30219 (82978)
• Onaway, Michigan
29 Oct 16
Wow that is weird never had that happen to me before but i have never used a e-gift card before on anything.I hoped you called back after you got home and complained to a manager that was not right at all. This person that was suppose to be taking care of you should have been better trained.
1 person likes this
@Tina30219 (82978)
• Onaway, Michigan
29 Oct 16
@infatuatedbby Right you should have been. And they should have asked when you called if you wanted condiments with your order and had it with your order when you got there. You can always complain on their website tell them how bad the service was and the food might get a free meal or a discount off another meal.
1 person likes this
@infatuatedbby (94909)
• United States
29 Oct 16
@Tina30219 We won't be back but I do review on Yelp! When I get a chance - I will write my feedback on there.
@infatuatedbby (94909)
• United States
29 Oct 16
I didn't bother because the food wasnt' great and we won't back
I was disappointed but I got over it. I should have been helped first as I was there first.
@sunrisefan (28524)
• Philippines
15 Oct 16
That's discrimination. It's just like some establishments here that charge between 3 to 8 percent on top of the cash price when you use a credit card. It's against the law however but some establishments don't care about the law.
1 person likes this
@infatuatedbby (94909)
• United States
15 Oct 16
I felt I was being discriminated because I wasn't the 'same' color as the other man. And it's like he couldn't wait. I arrived first, why did I have to end up waiting even longer?
I understand if my food wasn't out yet (which she was holding both my food and the mans) - it should not be a problem. I waited LONGER 'first' by a few minutes.
1 person likes this
@infatuatedbby (94909)
• United States
15 Oct 16
@sunrisefan in addition to using gift card that's what I think. I clearly arrived first and was refused to be handled first. The man arrived shortly after and could have waited.
1 person likes this
@sunrisefan (28524)
• Philippines
15 Oct 16
@infatuatedbby So it boils down to racial discrimination, not just because yours was a gift card.
1 person likes this
@RitzzView (3041)
• India
15 Oct 16
Seems so rude when the behavior is done towards the people based on their posts ..
1 person likes this
@XinfulThotz (4136)
• Singapore, Singapore
15 Oct 16
Not nice. If they have gift card system, they should allow all staff to have authorized access instead of only the manager.
1 person likes this
@infatuatedbby (94909)
• United States
15 Oct 16
Exactly especially since the gift card is loaded with a specific amount you would think in today's day/world, they'd be advanced to use a gift card without the manager!
1 person likes this
@infatuatedbby (94909)
• United States
15 Oct 16
@XinfulThotz I won't waste time but I will review them on Yelp.
1 person likes this
@XinfulThotz (4136)
• Singapore, Singapore
15 Oct 16
@infatuatedbby precisely. you should write a feedback form/email and let them know your encounter.
1 person likes this
@kaka135 (14994)
• Malaysia
15 Oct 16
What process did she need to take with your gift card? I don't see any reason she needed to ask her manager if she should ring up the guy first. To me, that's really not professional.
Since the food and service are not good, I guess there's not much reason to go there anymore? 
1 person likes this
@infatuatedbby (94909)
• United States
17 Oct 16
She needed her managers assistance. I don't think the way she handled this situation professional either - I won't be going back though!
@infatuatedbby (94909)
• United States
17 Oct 16
Yeah totally was not nice nor professional.
1 person likes this
@infatuatedbby (94909)
• United States
15 Oct 16
The manager was standing right there and heard her - but didn't say a word. Or apologize for the inconvenience. I won't bother but I will be leaving them a Yelp review on my account.
I won't be returning as well.
1 person likes this
@infatuatedbby (94909)
• United States
16 Oct 16
@LadyDuck I write reviews on Yelp :)
1 person likes this
@LadyDuck (502653)
• Italy
16 Oct 16
@infatuatedbby Leave a review of the location also on TripAdvisor, I always do.
1 person likes this
@moffittjc (128837)
• Gainesville, Florida
16 Oct 16
That didn't sound like very good customer service! And why would a manager need to approve someone paying with a gift card? Gift cards are no different from a credit card or debit card! Some businesses have some really bad policies that seems to ensure a bad customer experience!
1 person likes this
@infatuatedbby (94909)
• United States
16 Oct 16
Exactly it's 2016! We use gift cards -___-
The manager was like 3 feet away very close by it wasn't like she had an office on the 2nd floor or you had to telephone her down. (They don't have a 2nd floor lol)
1 person likes this
@infatuatedbby (94909)
• United States
16 Oct 16
@moffittjc mine was a digital e card printed on a paper. They need an update on their policy!
1 person likes this
@moffittjc (128837)
• Gainesville, Florida
16 Oct 16
@infatuatedbby So, if they can't even handle something as simple as a gift card, what happens when somebody tries to use a coupon app or digital gift card on their smartphone? Sounds like they need to update their staff on modern technology!
1 person likes this
@TheHorse (238342)
• Walnut Creek, California
15 Oct 16
Sorry to hear of this experience. I like their small steak and garlic mashed potato dinner thingie for $10 or so, but haven't been there in awhile. They were starting to use this "high tech" ordering system that I found offensive.
1 person likes this
@infatuatedbby (94909)
• United States
17 Oct 16
Yes, they still have that deal available 6 oz with 2 sides for $10 bucks right now. :)
I don't like the high tech ordering system either. It's a way for them to use less employees yet they put like automatically 20% tip I think on those machines but you have an option to move less or more. They have it at Red Robins, Chili's too.
@infatuatedbby (94909)
• United States
17 Oct 16
Yes which I love myLot so I can vent it all out and be better :)
@teamfreak16 (43642)
• Denver, Colorado
15 Oct 16
My girlfriend would still be on the phone with the manager. She got us a $25 gift card once because we got charged full price for a virgin Bloody Mary.
1 person likes this
@infatuatedbby (94909)
• United States
15 Oct 16
I usually am all about saying something - but I figured we were on the verge of this restaurant and it's not worth it. We won't be coming back.
That's awesome you got $25 gift card 
Now a days it seems like if we don't talk up, we will be treated not that great!
I have incidents where I find coupons mailed home for my dad's eye drops. His eye drops he buys every two weeks cost $16-18 depending on the store and when I find $3 off coupons, he gets thrilled. I hand them to him, they're for the brand he buys and the coupon states on any line of their eyedrops. But 90% of the time, the cashiers will give him a hard time & tell him he can't use it. He would come home telling me they didn't allow him, so now I taught him, if they refuse your coupon or give you a hard time - tell them to get their manager to read the coupon if they don't understand. Now he doesn't have any more problems. 
Now a days it seems like if we don't talk up, we will be treated not that great!
I have incidents where I find coupons mailed home for my dad's eye drops. His eye drops he buys every two weeks cost $16-18 depending on the store and when I find $3 off coupons, he gets thrilled. I hand them to him, they're for the brand he buys and the coupon states on any line of their eyedrops. But 90% of the time, the cashiers will give him a hard time & tell him he can't use it. He would come home telling me they didn't allow him, so now I taught him, if they refuse your coupon or give you a hard time - tell them to get their manager to read the coupon if they don't understand. Now he doesn't have any more problems. 1 person likes this
@infatuatedbby (94909)
• United States
15 Oct 16
@teamfreak16 Haha but asking me to get it takes longer so he would rather go himself. I would always say tomorrow then end up forgetting
1 person likes this
@teamfreak16 (43642)
• Denver, Colorado
15 Oct 16
@infatuatedbby - I'd be "They wouldn't let me use it" and come home.
1 person likes this
@MissNikki (5234)
• Maple Ridge, British Columbia
16 Oct 16
That sounds like a frustrating situation!
1 person likes this
@amitkokiladitya (171988)
• Agra, India
15 Oct 16
This usually happens even here in India we experience this
1 person likes this
