Carlsbad Strawberry Company — Attraction in Carlsbad

As a local business owner in the Carlsbad area who supports and promotes other businesses within our community, I have had the pleasure of visiting Carlsbad Strawberry Company with my family for approximately six years. It has been an experience we have traditionally enjoyed and one that I have recommended to others in the past.

Unfortunately, my most recent visit was disappointing enough that I felt compelled to share my experience for the attention of ownership and management.

Admission was $10 per person without a strawberry basket, which was expected and reasonable. I attended with my three-year-old daughter, my wife, and my mother-in-law. We also purchased $5 tickets for access to the small animal area where children can pet goats and sheep, an activity my daughter has greatly enjoyed in previous seasons.

Upon arriving at the animal area, we waited approximately 10 minutes before an employee slowly made his way over. The employee did not greet us, offer any verbal acknowledgment, or create any sense of welcome. When we asked about food to feed the goats — as we have done in previous years — he stated, somewhat indifferently, that the goats had already eaten. The lack of communication and overall demeanor created an uncomfortable atmosphere, especially considering the experience is geared toward young families.

I returned to the ticket booth to respectfully request a refund for the animal experience. I was directed to a manager who identified herself as Daphne. Our interaction, unfortunately, escalated my concerns. Daphne informed me that she would not discuss a refund while my family was still near the animals, despite my explaining that the employee was already asking them to exit.

I asked whether she was a new staff member, as prior years had allowed feeding, and she tersely replied that she had worked there for five years and that policies could change at any time without notice. I remained calm and explained our situation — that we had been onsite for less than 10 minutes, were not participating in strawberry picking, and were unaware of the changed policies — and politely requested a refund for admission for myself, my wife, and my mother-in-law.

Despite my respectful approach, Daphne seemed to take a somewhat combative and dismissive tone, and made it clear she had neither the obligation nor the intention to refund anything.

When I asked for her full name for reference, she refused to provide it, offering only her first name. I then requested the contact information for her supervisor, and she provided me with the name and number of Martha Thobois, listed as Director of Operations. I left a voicemail for Ms. Thobois at approximately 10:30 a.m., leaving my contact information, and I hope to hear back soon.

At this stage, my primary concern is not the refund. Rather, it is making ownership aware of how this situation was handled. As a fellow business owner, I fully understand that it is impossible to personally oversee every customer interaction. However, it is the organization’s responsibility to ensure that when issues do arise, they are addressed with professionalism, warmth, and a spirit of resolution.

Carlsbad Strawberry Company has been a valued part of our family’s local traditions for years. It is my sincere hope that they will continue to represent the very best of what Carlsbad businesses have to offer — but that will require serious attention to how customers are treated on the ground.

Respectfully,

Kenneth Gladstone Chief Operating Officer, Crownview Co-Occurring Institute Owner, Experience...

Pricing model is questionable, rude staff, poor value.

Went there this past week. It was $5 per person to get in. We asked about picking strawberries and they said you have to buy tickets for that once we’re inside. When we asked about it we were told the price was $10 per container. There were 3 of us in the group so we paid the $15 to enter with the understanding that we would have to pay another $10 for the container of strawberries.

I remember thinking that $25 ($15 plus another $10) for a container of strawberries was pricey, but we thought it would be fun so paid the entry fee and went in. We headed straight for the line to get the container to pick your own. The person asked us how many people were in our party and how many containers we wanted. Told her there were 3 of us, but we only wanted one container. The lady informed us that the price was $20. We explained that we had been told the price was $10 per container when we paid our money at the gate. She proceeded to explain that the “picker” gets the cup and pays $10 and each “walker” has to pay $5. We said we already paid the $5 to get in. She said that was the entry fee and it’s another $5 to walk the strawberry fields. The “picker” cup was a styrofoam coffee cup about the size of a large coffee. The lady was fairly rude when we asked about the pricing model. We were not rude to her...we were genuinely confused at that point.

We decided to pass for the moment and just look around a bit. We walked over to check out the apple cannon...looked fun, but it was an additional fee. Saw the bouncy houses...looked fun, but that was an additional fee. The only that that was included in the admission was the sunflower maze that anyone over 5’ tall could see the exit without trying. That took us less than 2 minutes to walk through.

As we exited the maze we asked someone about the strawberries. They said they were good, but big so you only get about 5-6 per cup at the most. At this point we decided to not pay the additional $20 (would have been a total of $35 for 5-6 strawberries) and left.

Ambiguous pricing model, rude staff, little value for your money. Very disappointing. I do...

A Frustrating and Disappointing Experience at Strawberry Fields

I recently visited Strawberry Fields with my husband, my mom, and my three-year-old daughter, and I must say, it was an absolutely horrendous experience. For $10 a person just to get in, I expected at least some basic offerings, but what we encountered was a complete letdown.

First off, everything comes with a price tag. We decided to let our daughter pet the goats, which required an additional ticket. The gentleman in charge, Yahir, was incredibly unfriendly. When I asked if we could feed the goats, he brusquely informed me that they had already been fed, offering no smile or warmth. It felt like he was unhappy to be there, and frankly, he had no business working in a family-friendly environment.

After being there for no more than seven minutes, we were so frustrated that we wanted to leave and asked for a refund. To our dismay, they outright refused. It was clear that the staff didn’t care about our dissatisfaction or the negative experience we had. Their attitude suggested they know they can rip people off and still get away with it.

As we contemplated leaving—since the only remaining activity was the bounce house, which costs a staggering $30—we realized that we had to pay extra just to pet rabbits, look at flowers, or even pick strawberries. This place feels like a complete rip-off, with hidden charges lurking around every corner.

The staff's rude demeanor only added to our dissatisfaction. It’s disheartening to see that many others have had similar experiences, as reflected in the reviews on Yelp. Clearly, people are fed up with this place, and it’s easy to understand why. The lack of customer service and the blatant disregard for our happiness speaks volumes about their business practices.

Overall, our visit was marred by the negativity and unwelcoming atmosphere. We live locally and will never return. Save your money and find a place that actually values families and provides a...