| Actual bagels made in Brooklyn |
A friend of mine flew out of Midway on Friday. Had she asked me, I would have strongly advised her to a) never buy food at an airport if you can possibly avoid it and b) never eat at a Dunkin' Donuts for any reason whatsoever and c) never forget, of the range of foodstuff never eaten at the Dunkin' Donuts you never patronize, to particularly abstain from ordering bagels. You risk rending the fabric of time.
Not to minimize her food service nightmare, which was sufficiently nuts that I asked if she would permit me to share her subsequent complaint to Dunkin's, if only to ladle the scorn upon Dunkin's that they deserve on their best day. In her defense, she was under the impression that a Great American Bagel was at Midway ("don’t mistake me for someone who thinks a Dunkin Donuts bagel is acceptable" is how she phrased it, in our considerable post -fiasco parsing) and was looking for that, when its non-presence made her stoop to order a Dunkin's bagel (heck, they can't even make a good DONUT, in my estimation). She asked that I shield her identity to escape the shame of patronizing Dunkin' Donuts — whose coffee, I am told, can be acceptable — and I agreed.
Not to minimize her food service nightmare, which was sufficiently nuts that I asked if she would permit me to share her subsequent complaint to Dunkin's, if only to ladle the scorn upon Dunkin's that they deserve on their best day. In her defense, she was under the impression that a Great American Bagel was at Midway ("don’t mistake me for someone who thinks a Dunkin Donuts bagel is acceptable" is how she phrased it, in our considerable post -fiasco parsing) and was looking for that, when its non-presence made her stoop to order a Dunkin's bagel (heck, they can't even make a good DONUT, in my estimation). She asked that I shield her identity to escape the shame of patronizing Dunkin' Donuts — whose coffee, I am told, can be acceptable — and I agreed.
Greetings, your Twitter account suggested I DM you with feedback re concessions.
First, please find a way to put a few tables along the terminals and especially at the ends. Many of the concessions have no seating areas themselves, so you buy food that really requires more than a lap at the end of terminal B and then find you have to walk all the way back to the start to sit down.
Two: If you can contact whoever manages the Midway Dunkin' Donuts to pass along my input, please do: since the central DD was so jammed I walked to the end of Terminal B and ordered two sesame bagels sliced and well toasted and a medium coffee. First I had to persuade the counter person to take my order, because even though she was doing nothing, she insisted I use the kiosk. But the kiosk would not let me choose a bagel flavor. Finally she sulkily agreed to take the order.
Some time later I got the coffee and asked where the creamers were. They seemed shocked that anyone would put cream in coffee but eventually brought me a paper cup with about two drops of milk in it. When I asked for more, like Oliver Twist, the worker turned to a manager and said, “Do I have to give it to her?”
Finally I had my coffee and bag of bagels and realized there was nowhere for my husband and I to eat. We ran back to the center to be able to sit and eat before our flight. Ripped open the bag and found that the DD people at the end of the terminal had put the bagels into the toaster without slicing them. I took the bagels to the nearby center Dunkin and asked the girl at the window to help me out on that. She stared at me, then continued handing out other orders as soon as I made space at the counter, thinking my problem would be attended to. After a while I realized no one was going to help me. The girl at there would not respond to me so I finally had to stand right at the window again until she asked me to move so she could hand out other orders. I repeated my problem. She claimed it wasn’t Dunkin bagels. I showed her the Dunkin bag. A manager came over and finally agreed to give me a refund and charge me for new bagels. But then he couldn’t make the register work.
Eventually he agreed to give me two new bagels, and when I asked for two sesame, he said Dunkin' Donuts doesn’t have sesame at the airport. I pointed out that I had just purchased two from Dunkin' at the airport. Then he got really nasty. Eventually we agreed on two plain bagels, sliced and well toasted. I don’t ask for and did not receive fresh cream cheese. And when I opened the bag, I found two plain bagels barely warm, not at all toasted. All this cost me, with tip, almost $17. I finally went to Tall Boy Tacos and got a breakfast burrito, costing me $18 more dollars. Quite an expensive breakfast. I will send you next a picture of the Dunkin with its sesame bagels—and a sign identifying them as such. Thank you.
First, please find a way to put a few tables along the terminals and especially at the ends. Many of the concessions have no seating areas themselves, so you buy food that really requires more than a lap at the end of terminal B and then find you have to walk all the way back to the start to sit down.
Two: If you can contact whoever manages the Midway Dunkin' Donuts to pass along my input, please do: since the central DD was so jammed I walked to the end of Terminal B and ordered two sesame bagels sliced and well toasted and a medium coffee. First I had to persuade the counter person to take my order, because even though she was doing nothing, she insisted I use the kiosk. But the kiosk would not let me choose a bagel flavor. Finally she sulkily agreed to take the order.
Some time later I got the coffee and asked where the creamers were. They seemed shocked that anyone would put cream in coffee but eventually brought me a paper cup with about two drops of milk in it. When I asked for more, like Oliver Twist, the worker turned to a manager and said, “Do I have to give it to her?”
Finally I had my coffee and bag of bagels and realized there was nowhere for my husband and I to eat. We ran back to the center to be able to sit and eat before our flight. Ripped open the bag and found that the DD people at the end of the terminal had put the bagels into the toaster without slicing them. I took the bagels to the nearby center Dunkin and asked the girl at the window to help me out on that. She stared at me, then continued handing out other orders as soon as I made space at the counter, thinking my problem would be attended to. After a while I realized no one was going to help me. The girl at there would not respond to me so I finally had to stand right at the window again until she asked me to move so she could hand out other orders. I repeated my problem. She claimed it wasn’t Dunkin bagels. I showed her the Dunkin bag. A manager came over and finally agreed to give me a refund and charge me for new bagels. But then he couldn’t make the register work.
Eventually he agreed to give me two new bagels, and when I asked for two sesame, he said Dunkin' Donuts doesn’t have sesame at the airport. I pointed out that I had just purchased two from Dunkin' at the airport. Then he got really nasty. Eventually we agreed on two plain bagels, sliced and well toasted. I don’t ask for and did not receive fresh cream cheese. And when I opened the bag, I found two plain bagels barely warm, not at all toasted. All this cost me, with tip, almost $17. I finally went to Tall Boy Tacos and got a breakfast burrito, costing me $18 more dollars. Quite an expensive breakfast. I will send you next a picture of the Dunkin with its sesame bagels—and a sign identifying them as such. Thank you.
Tell your friend to write to the DD on fb and companies will usually listen. Write in the pm if necessary or possible. That is disgraceful service. Wondering why she tipped.
ReplyDeleteShe no doubt paid by card and was prompted for a tip before the service was complete. It's one of many reasons that I detest cashless payment operations.
DeleteI only buy my bagels at new York bagel & Bialy on Touhy in Lincolnwood or on Dempster in Skokie.
ReplyDeleteThe absolute best anywhere around!
Got hooked on NY Bagel when they were available at Treasure Island. Now I drive up to Lincolnwood from Lakeview to get them and it's well worth the trip.
DeleteGrew up three miles away. Went there for years when I lived in Evanston and Rogers Park. Still stock up on their products whenever I'm in Chicago. Better than anything I've ever found in Cleveland. I truly miss that place!.
DeleteI agree! Someone opened a Montreal style bagel place a block from me but I would rather drive on Touhy during rush hour to get to NY bagels than spend 3.75 dollar bagels that aren’t nearly as good as NY bagels
DeleteGrizz: I didn't post your last comments for reasons that will be clear when you think about it.
DeleteI have, but they're not. Maybe it's just me. Spent much of the day working my ass off outside, trying to get my yard in shape before the oncoming storms and the days of rain and miserable chill that will follow. Pretty fried at the moment.
DeleteThis story sounds more like a horrible management problem at that location. I don't get a lot of food from Dunkin, although the little donut holes aren't bad. But I am a big fan of their coffee, love it. I've never jumped on the Starbucks bandwagon; coffee's way too strong. Anyway, they may do it differently at the airport, but I've always ordered a large coffee with 3 creams, and it's fine. Never asked for the cream separate.
ReplyDeleteA lot of places force a tip on you thanks to digital only payments.
ReplyDeleteFirst they get away with not accepting cash - legal tender/ coin of the realm - then they get away with including a "gratuity" charge, an illegal, but ignored practice in most states.
I'd like to say that this surprises me, but it doesn't. Dunkin, in general, has declined greatly, as has their customer service. Their pricing and taxing practices are also extremely inconsistent and there are a few that I won't patronize at all anymore. I thought I was just being old and cranky - apparently not.
ReplyDeleteSuch a good story, it is almost worth $17
ReplyDelete"All this cost me, with tip, almost $17"
ReplyDeleteI puzzled at the tip. After a Kafkaesque experience a tip was forthcoming?
The airport Dunkin Donuts really is poor yet people will wait in really long lines (same with Starbucks). I've always wondered why these two places aren't able to open a lot more of these establishments at the airports to allow for this
ReplyDeleteBut as a long time customer of Dunkin Donuts, I have found their stafffs to be unfailingly kind and helpful. Their iced tea and hot coffee are GREAT!. Their bagel minis are a great way to let you have both a bagel with ease of eating it and very little mess. Starbucks would never dream of putting cream cheese ON the bagel, either. My parents loved their croissant sandwiches.
So don't let one unruly location represent the entire chain. I understand you also don't like the food there in general, but perhaps stay with the tea and coffee and give the staff a break (except the one at Midway)
A fan of both DD and you, Neil!
Karen K
Honestly, I've never eaten the food there. It could be ambrosia. And back in the day — I mean 40 years ago, plus, when I commuted to Wheaton, breakfast was a bran muffin, with a chocolate chip muffin for dessert, and I remember thinking those were heavenly. And probably 1200 calories for the pair, now that I think of it.
DeleteThe bran muffin is Dunkin's best offering.
DeleteI met my first great love at the Dunkin Donut on Dempster in Skokie in 1969
ReplyDeleteMy first real girlfriend was a server at the Dunkin in Waukegan in 1970. It took me a month to get the courage to ask her out. Of course the relationship faded away as these things often do but good memories nonetheless
DeleteAt a pre wedding party in Suffolk County several years ago, I picked out the most beautiful bagel I had ever seen, put it on my plate and began to look for a toaster.
ReplyDeleteAfter five fruitless minutes of searching, I finally gave up, and hesitantly asked the bride to be if she coould tell me where it was. Her reply stunned me.
"In New York we don't toast our bagels". I nearly dropped my plate. But I survived.
Yup, I survived that near fatal episode in my life.
First, I do not know why anyone would eat anywhere at O'Hare except at one of the several, and consistently excellent, Tortas Frontera outlets they have there.
ReplyDeleteSecond. Great American Bagel isn't really any better. I repeat. Get your airport food at Tortas Frontera.
Third. I once did taxes for a woman who managed a very busy Dunkin Donut shop in the loop. She made, if I recall correctly, $17/ hour. Zero benefits of course. Hideous hours. Full responsibility for hiring, training, and retaining staff, who of course made minimum wage with zero benefits and also had terrible hours. The blame lands with the cheap ass franchise owners as much, or more, than as their surly employees.
This happened at Midway
DeleteI myself am not a fan of Dunkin Donuts, however I remember well that when it was a family owned business that started in Boston, the quality and service was much better. When the family sold the company to Private Equity, everything changed for the worse. Sadly, the greed of Private Equity has ruined many family owned businesses. I also remember that coffee drinkers loved the quality and price of Dunkin Donuts coffee. They were blue collar and a badge of honor to be applauded versus the expensive, elitist Starbucks.
ReplyDeleteI've been spending more time in airports recently. I usually know I'm headed there and like to be early. I'm a breakfast guy like to sit down read your blog have a couple of bowls of cereal and go through my morning ablutions.
ReplyDeleteMy airport sustenance complaint is having to buy an $8 bottle of water. Just can't do tap. I think it's the excess chlorine. Maybe I'm allergic
Would never dream of eating there or on the plane. I mean the flight is 3 and 1/2 hours. are we toddlers?
I agree New York bagel and bialy is about the only place that has actual bagels. Every place else has bread shaped like a bagel.
As a construction manager a trip for a dozen and a box of coffee seem to make the day go better for all the tradesmen.
I don't mind the French crooler.
This whole thing reminds me of going to the beach and then complaining about the sand
In the past when I've had issues, I've written to the CEO. Apparently, CEOs have people who deal with direct complaints. When I wrote to the CEO of GM, I didn't get the resolution I wanted, but I was glad to have called out an problem for which the company should have issued a recall (but didn't). When I had a bad experience with Mint Mobile, I wrote to the CEO. I have yet to hear back, but we'll see if anything comes of it. Per the Google, David Hoffman is the CEO of Dunkin and the corporate address is 130 Royall St, Canton, Massachusetts 02021.
ReplyDeleteI do like a Dunkin’ dark coffee but I don’t like cream and the DD people seem to be on autopilot with the cream pump.
ReplyDeleteGave up on Dunkin' years ago when, after changing the shape of their buttermilk donuts from a mound to a ring, they discontinued them altogether. Hard to find a good buttermilk doughnut these days. I'm better off without them, I guess. Sigh.
ReplyDeleteThere are real bagels and the imitators I call bagel bread. DD should sell their products as Bagel Bread.
ReplyDeleteIMO the service at any business depends entirely upon the quality of management. If you want a successful retail business you have to do 2 things. Greet people with eye contact when they come in, and make sure you listen to what they want and give it to them. It's not rocket science.
ReplyDeletenever buy or eat food at any airport-expensive and awful
ReplyDeleteWhile I will probably get trampled by the mob and burned by their flaming torches, I just plain don't buy this story, at least in its colorful over-the-top form. I patronize numerous Dunkin locations on a low but regular basis, and while a Dunkin experience is never what you would call fine dining, they have all routinely produced my order as expected and always in a professional manner.
ReplyDeleteI'm sure there were actual problems encountered in the purchase(s) here, but I'm finding it difficult to believe that one location could have that many incompetent idiots behind the counter without someone noticing long before this, and especially in such a ludicrously high-traffic spot as an airport.
This entire saga is based on the testimony of one side. I have to believe that there are two sides to this story, and we've only heard the prosecution so far.
I have known the author for many, many years, and find her tale far, far more believable than the scenario you suggest, based on nothing.
ReplyDeleteNeil mentioned his commute to Wheaton 40 years ago. County Farm Bagels has two locations: Wheaton and Winfield. I may have mentioned them before. My only point today: On mornings when I start my part-time retirement job at 6:30 a.m. I'll pull into County Farm Bagels at EXACTLY 6 a.m., when they open the doors. I order a pumpernickel bagel sandwich with cheddar and egg plus a 20-ounce coffee. (They have wonderful coffee.) The bagel sandwich is huge. I eat half for breakfast and save the other half for lunch. The cost is about $11. Up a couple of bucks from two or three years ago but still an honest price. A fine value. What your friend described at the airport is flat-out thievery. Shameful thievery.
ReplyDelete