Panera Bread Customer Service Issues

Today I visited the Panera cafe on Lake Street in River Forest, IL. I ordered a "take 2" selection consisting of a Fuji salad and half a Napa chicken salad sandwich to go. Upon arriving home and unwrapping the chicken sandwich, I found it to be lacking in chicken salad. The sandwich had mostly lettuce with a small portion of chicken salad concentrated on one side of the bread, which was disappointing. Similarly, the Fuji salad had only 4 small slices of chicken, with 2 slices containing gristle/fat, adding to my disappointment. I believe the management at this location should be informed of the poor quality of the sandwiches. I have not visited Panera in months, and if this is the new standard, I will likely not return in the near future.

I usually don't like to complain about food or service, but with prices rising, I can't stay silent anymore. Yesterday, I visited Panera on Lake Street in River Forest, IL, and ordered a Fuji salad and a Napa chicken salad sandwich to go as part of the "take two" deal. When I got home and took a bite of my chicken sandwich, there was barely any chicken salad inside, just a lot of lettuce filling up the bread. The Fuji salad also disappointed me with only five small slices of chicken, some of which had gristle/fat on them. I think the management should be aware of the sandwich preparation at this location. If this is the new standard at Panera, I'm not sure if I'll be returning any time soon.

I placed an order using the Panera app for delivery to my workplace, where I am a nurse at a hospital. The order number is #[redacted]43 from the Saddle Creek location. I specified in the delivery instructions to leave the food at the front desk and call me upon arrival. Unfortunately, DoorDash delivered my order. After receiving a notification with a photo showing the order at the front desk, I went down to get it. The clerk informed me that the dasher asked for a patient's name, which led to confusion. Instead of following the instructions, the clerk allowed the dasher to leave with my order. Attempting to contact the dasher was unsuccessful as the calls went straight to voicemail. The Panera store at Saddle Creek was unhelpful, mentioning that I should contact DoorDash for a resolution. When reaching out to DoorDash, they advised that Panera, as the merchant, should issue the refund due to billing details. This incident is disappointing, especially considering it's not the first problem I've encountered with this Panera Bread location.

I am frustrated about an item missing from my Panera Bread order. Despite calling the store 14 times with no response, the situation was not addressed. Customer care only offered a refund for the missing item ($3.09) plus a $5.00 reward credit. I expressed my disappointment to the manager and requested the $5.00 to be refunded to my bank account, but she declined. I believe Customer Care should be more attentive to their customers. I am seeking a refund for the missing item totaling $3.09, the $0.25 tax, and the $5.00 credit to be transferred to my bank account if a full refund is not possible.

I'm concerned about the food quality at Panera in Woodbury, MN. Although I enjoy the food, the lettuce was wilted and the bread was old. During my recent visit, the bread was falling apart to the point where I needed a knife and fork (which is unacceptable). Furthermore, the Woodbury location was dirty and had flies everywhere. I hope to see improvements soon because I have decided not to eat there for the time being. The price we pay for the food does not match the quality we receive. While I understand there may be a lack of employees, there seemed to be enough staff present who were just hanging around. The lack of cleanliness in the restaurant was off-putting and it appeared unkempt and sticky. I spent a significant amount of money there and left feeling very disappointed.

I placed my regular food order, expecting it between 4:00 and 4:15. I waited until 5:30, and discovered that my order was canceled by the company without any prior notification. I am deeply disappointed. Panera has all my contact details, yet they failed to inform me promptly. A simple message could have prevented this situation. Neglecting to communicate with customers reflects poorly on the service quality. Can Panera afford to lose customers so easily? In case you reach out (although I am not hopeful), kindly send a text to [redacted]. Thank you. (Note: I will remain courteous.)

On September 26th, [redacted] around 2pm, I visited your Kanis Road store's drive-thru. I ordered two bowls of broccoli cheddar soup and a large Pepsi, amounting to $17.50. Unfortunately, when the cashier handed me the drink, she forgot to return my credit card. This caused a delay as I realized I didn't receive any spoons for the soup or enough butter for the bread. It wasn't until three hours later, while refueling, that I noticed my missing card. After calling and facing long hold times, I discovered that the manager had my credit card. Despite a 25-mile trip to retrieve it, I received no apology upon collection. The manager claimed their staff is trained to return cards promptly, which clearly didn't happen in my case. When I requested compensation for the inconvenience (extra gas costs and missed work), the manager declined. This lack of accountability and customer service is disappointing considering my frequent visits to Panera over the years, spending upwards of $[redacted] annually. I am dissatisfied with the way this was handled and seek resolution.

During my time at Panera Bread as a baker, I had concerns about the individual who was supposed to be training me. They would often take breaks while I was left baking bread continuously for eight hours without a break. It took three weeks before they provided any feedback on what I was doing wrong while preparing the bread. As part of the training process, they eyeballed measurements, stating it was about half the size of a palm, which led to discrepancies when I had to bake the bread alone and ensure the correct measurements. I only met the person who hired me once, and shortly after, I was informed that I was being let go. I suspect it may have been due to a conflict with the person training me, as they seemed unhappy that I made more money despite their longer tenure. Additionally, I observed some questionable practices, such as leaving icing out in a warm area for days. I wonder if it's safe to use the icing after being exposed to such conditions.

Yesterday morning, I visited Panera in Woodhaven, MI, expecting it to be open at 6 am as indicated online. Despite heavy rain, I arrived at 6:55 am to find the door locked, although two workers were inside. After being soaked and trying to contact the store, I was informed the opening time was actually 7 am. Even though I found no sign on the door stating the later time, the manager insisted it was there and suggested it had been removed. Frustrated and wet, I left without my complete order and feeling uncertain about returning. Following a discussion with a friend, I felt compelled to share my experience. - K. T.

Today, November 3, [redacted], around 4:00 PM, I went to the Panera Bread in Colonial Heights, Virginia. The Manager on duty, named Chey, provided exceptional service. He was professional, kind, considerate, and generous. I have dined in many restaurants nationwide, but this experience stood out. Chey displayed qualities that are commendable for anyone, especially someone in a leadership role. Panera Bread is lucky to have him on their team. I will always cherish the memory of his outstanding service. Best wishes to Chey.

I have frequented the Panera Bread on Capital Blvd for some time now. On my visits, I noticed an employee named Maggie who always seemed to be paying extra attention to me. Despite feeling uneasy about her behavior, I chose to ignore it. However, on my recent visit, I was informed that I was not welcome in the store due to harassment claims. I have evidence of Maggie's inappropriate behavior towards me as well. As a person with disabilities, I suffer from PTSD and generalized anxiety disorder, and I do not appreciate being discriminated against. I intend to take legal action if this issue is not resolved promptly. Employee behavior towards customers, especially those with disabilities, should not be tolerated.

Subject: Partnership Inquiry for Fundraiser To whom it may concern, I am reaching out on behalf of the Community Service Council at Oldfields School in Sparks Glencoe, Maryland. Our club supervisor, Ms. Bloom, who is the director of community service, is included in this email if you require further details from her. This year, our goal is to donate goods to animal shelters, food drives, women's shelters, and engage in hands-on work with various organizations in Maryland. We are interested in collaborating with your establishment for a fundraiser to support our school's community service projects. We appreciate your time and consideration and anticipate the potential opportunity to work together. Warm regards, Oldfields School Community Service Council

Date: 12-5-21 Time: Sunday, 10:30am To whom it may concern, During my recent visit to your establishment, I ordered 2 sandwiches and a large hot cinnamon crunch latte. I interacted with a lady with pink hair who appeared to be the manager and several other young male staff members. One of the male employees in a green shirt seemed unsure about his duties. Upon receiving my order, the young man in the pink shirt called out "Teresa, your Cinnamon Crunch Latte," and I mistakenly took it. However, upon tasting it in my van, I realized it was regular coffee. When I went back in to address the error, he pointed to another drink and claimed that was the latte, which was misleading given his initial announcement. Upon examining the sandwiches at home, they appeared sloppily made, and the sausage was cold. The latte did not match the visual representation on your website as it lacked whipped cream and topping. I have attached photos for reference. I intend to leave feedback on your Facebook page as we were quite disappointed with the food quality and the knowledge of your staff members. Sincerely, Teresa from Kissimmee

Dear Panera, I believe it's important for your leadership team to address internal control weaknesses, especially with the recent rise in takeout orders being taken by people seeking a free meal. This leads to increased food costs, decreased profit margins, and a decline in customer retention when orders are stolen. It also affects delivery drivers who may hesitate to pick up orders due to the issue of duplicate orders. Implementing a more secure system for order verification before handing out takeout orders could help prevent these incidents. Thank you.

Good morning, I had a negative experience at your local store on Manatee Ave. in Bradenton, FL around 2 weeks ago. We ordered 2 bowls of wild rice and chicken soup along with 2 Turkey and Avocado clubs, totaling $23.98 before tax for the sandwiches. Unfortunately, when we got home, the club sandwiches had very little chicken - one was more like a lettuce and tomato club. I contacted the female manager on duty, who promised to rectify the situation and took down my name. On a return visit on 3/1/22, the manager indicated they had no record of our previous issue but still helped us. We purchased a Thai soup, broccoli and cheese soup, and a flatbread pizza that totaled $25.77. Although I believed I only owed $1.79, I was charged $13.48 on my credit card, which I recently noticed. We used to frequent this store due to its proximity to our home, but now we hesitate to visit again.

Today at noon, my husband and I went to Panera Bread in Derby, Kansas. When we got there, there were two souffles on display, but unfortunately, they were no longer available. My husband ended up ordering a muffin and a coffee, while I ordered the same. The light and dark coffee pots were almost empty, so I only got a lukewarm dark roast. We informed a staff member about the situation, and they said they would start a fresh pot, but we ended up waiting for 15 to 20 minutes without a new brew being made. Feeling disappointed after paying for two cups of coffee, which were nearly empty, we decided to leave and go home. It's ironic that you promote unlimited coffee when our experience was quite the opposite. Good luck if people actually sign up for it, you might make a lot of money!

I wanted to share a wonderful experience I had at Panera in Cross County Mall, Yonkers, NY. One of your employees, Antoine, went above and beyond to assist me. Despite an initial issue with a cashier, Antoine intervened respectfully and resolved the problem efficiently. His proactive approach, checking in on me during my meal, and even holding the door upon my departure, truly showcased exceptional customer service. Antoine's professionalism and care deserve recognition, as it's rare to encounter such dedication nowadays. I hope he receives the appreciation he deserves for making my visit so memorable.

Hello, my name is Jackie. I placed an order at Panera, located at [redacted] US - 44 in Raynham MA [redacted], and my experience was unsatisfactory. Unfortunately, they left my broccoli cheddar soup sitting on the counter for about 10 minutes, and when the Mac n cheese finally arrived, it appeared to have been sitting for a while as well. Typically, restaurants wait to serve all items together to ensure everything is hot and fresh. Additionally, they overlooked providing a metal spoon for my Mac n cheese despite my preference for dining in. This experience was disappointing, and I intend to leave a negative review as it was the worst Panera visit I have ever had, despite it being a favorite of mine in the past. I have photographic evidence to support my claims. My order number was [redacted]85.

I frequently visit the Panera Bread in Bluffton, South Carolina to order my daily coffee. Unfortunately, the service there is consistently slow and the staff have been disrespectful and unprofessional. Today, I experienced a 23-minute wait for a simple iced coffee and bagel. The staff admitted to marking my order as ready to meet their ticket time goals, delaying actual preparation. I had to remind them after 18 minutes to start making my order as I was running late for work. This recurring issue of poor service, dishonesty, and laziness is unacceptable. As someone who values good customer service and leadership, I am disappointed in the culture at this branch. I am considering documenting this behavior with videos to address the ongoing problem. The quality of service at this Panera Bread is subpar compared to other locations, and I hope the management takes action to improve it.

Hello, my name is Shuretha Turner. Unfortunately, I was let go from my job on Monday for a misunderstanding. I was tasked with restocking all stations and questioned why a colleague, Carlos, hadn't stocked his station before leaving. I found it unfair and brought it up with Tyler, my supervisor. However, instead of resolving the issue, I was written up for my attitude and for allegedly not showing up to work. This isn't the first time Tyler has treated me unfairly, and my job is vital to me. I take my work seriously, and it's frustrating when others don't carry out their responsibilities. Communication and teamwork are crucial in a workplace like Panera Bread. I hope to address this situation and ensure fairness for all employees.