The Spice & Tea Exchange of Dunedin — Local services in Dunedin

It's disheartening to write this, as I've been a loyal customer for six years, consistently purchasing over a dozen different spices and spending approximately $250 annually. While I've genuinely enjoyed supporting this store, I've observed a concerning decline in customer service and a shift in focus that prioritizes operational complexities over customer experience.

My recent visit highlighted this change acutely. For years, the store consistently fulfilled my request for a bag of cheese powder, a service I greatly appreciated. However, during my last visit, this request was refused with a series of justifications: "it's complicated," "it's messy and gets everywhere," "someone has to print a label," and the suggestion to buy the significantly more expensive pre-packaged jars. I was even told to "call first" for future orders, with no guarantee of fulfillment due to perceived logistical challenges.

What was most disappointing was the complete lack of basic courtesies from the store manager and owner. Despite acknowledging my six years of patronage and even looking up my purchase history, neither offered a "good morning" or a "thank you." This omission felt particularly stark given the situation. It felt as though my long-standing support was not valued, and the store's internal "complications" were placed above a customer's disappointment.

I must commend the initial staff member who greeted us; she was exceptionally friendly and courteous, truly embodying the kind of service I once consistently experienced. It's clear that the issue lies higher up, stemming from policy changes and a perceived focus on "schemes and pricing" rather than fostering positive customer relationships.

While I understand that businesses evolve, the current approach of prioritizing internal challenges over acknowledging the customer's experience suggests it might be time for me to seek out the many competitors in the market. The core of a spice business, to me, involves efficiently bagging and labeling bulk spices. The excuses provided felt like internal corporate-franchise issues, not reasons to alienate a long-term customer. I sincerely hope the store can recalibrate its focus back to the customer-centric service it...

Absolutely five stars for The Spice and Tea Exchange in Dunedin, Florida! 🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟

As a tourist visiting this charming town, stumbling upon this gem was a true highlight of my trip. From the moment I walked in, I was welcomed by the most helpful and knowledgeable staff (especially Ashlyn). They took the time to answer all my questions, offer samples, and even made personal recommendations based on what I like to cook and drink. Their passion for what they do is obvious, and it made my shopping experience incredibly enjoyable.

The selection is outstanding — rows and rows of handcrafted spice blends, exotic salts, loose leaf teas, sugars, and everything in between. I felt like a kid in a candy store! Whether you’re an adventurous cook or a casual tea drinker, there’s something for everyone here. I especially appreciated how everything is beautifully packaged and ready to make the perfect gift.

I ended up leaving with a bag full of goodies for myself and thoughtful gifts for family back home — and now I wish I had bought more! I’ll definitely be returning the next time I’m in town. This is a must-visit spot if you’re in Dunedin — you won’t be...

Updating my initial review. This shop used to be amazing. I don't know what happened to them going above and beyond to make customers happy, to the attitude of I can't be bothered anymore. We used to purchase a 4 ounce bag of cheddar cheese and never had a problem with previous employees filling the order in 2-3 minutes. Now they absolutely refuse to do it. Mind you, it was the store manager and the owner we were dealing with. There excuses were, it's too complicated, it makes a mess, someone has to print the label, it takes too much time. It's too complicated to scoop cheese powder into a bag and seal it? You're entire store is filled with spices in little bags with labels on them. We were the only customers in there at the time. We've been going to that shop for over 6 years. We will go one more time to use the reward we earned. We will then take our...