H-E-B — Local services in Houston

(1) Poor experience at the customer service desk, and (2) the worst automatic car wash I’ve ever used.

I got a couple things with a nice friendly cashier. I asked if I could pay cash for a car wash code at the register, so I didn’t have to go to the gas station kiosk and initiate a new transaction. She wasn’t sure so she called for a manager or customer service and couldn’t get a hold of anyone. Some people jumped in line at the register and I didn’t want to hold up the line, so I finalized my transaction. I was passing by customer service on my way out, noticed there was no line, so I went up to the desk. There was an employee standing there working on something, so I waited. Another employee came up and I thought it was my turn, but instead she initiated a conversation with the other employee. I wasn’t acknowledged at all by either employee. Not “we will be right with you,” or “let me get someone who can help you” or anything. I got frustrated and left. I looked back and the 2nd employee was just watching me go and STILL didn’t say anything.

Car wash. I got gas at HEB so I could get the $1 car wash discount. I acknowledged that automated car washes tend to be imperfect, and my car was pretty dirty (but just dirt/dust/whatever, I don’t go off-roading or anything), so I opted for the most expensive wash they offer, which was $12.99 (Not sure where that $1 discount went, btw). The car wash line itself took a very long time, which I guess is normal for those. When it was my turn though, I noticed that my car was still covered in soap when the dryer turned on (the multicolored soap). The dryer passes from front to back, then back to front, THEN TURNS OFF. YOU’RE DONE BYE. It doesn’t even stay on as you’re driving out?? After, I got out to take a look, and the back of my car is still completely dirty. It looked as if maybe 1/4 of it had been touched by the wash spinner things.

Now I have two options: I can go complain at the cashier at the gas station, and POSSIBLY get a rewash, but have to wait in line at the station for another 20 minutes or so, but if only 1/4 of the back of my car had been touched, I would have to go through 3 more times.

Anyway, $12.99 wasted. Now I’m spending money somewhere else, and paying the price for a full wash, because I won’t drive around clean in front and...

It's like visiting the family grocery store where the selection, the prices, are like any big chain store however the difference is the quality, the service even making things right and value from the Wagu type beef to own branded food that they out right own & manufacture & distributors themselves under subsidiaries names or even under the HEB name so you can possibly get better options though there are times where the chains grocery stores can match them yet for me I personally rate them as my top go to store with only Walmart making a close 2nd because HEB normally has a better selection of meats and Better produce yet I rank their produce price to high like most grocery store and that's because they base there prices on covering what they might lose instead of making sure ever but of fresh fruit & vegetables gets to home yet. AND I know what Im talking about when it comes to Fresh Produce as I'm a from the 3rd Generation of Fresh Produce business while I'm not famous like original Green grocer Joe Carcione However he was a close friend of my Grandfathers & My Father in fact ever Friday that I got to the South SF City market ( right across from SFO airport) where even today is their Family Bussiness my Dad would sit me down to eat breakfast with Joe while he walked the market looking for deals this is the same place Joe did his early morning Fresh produce show with fruit of the day and as I learned you don't sell fruit & veggies you find it a home as we all need to EAT even Today I could run circles around most of Produce stores Mangers as there aren't to many from the old school as it the way I know everyone comes out a winner from the Farmer who trusted me with his Fresh product, the Consumer who not only love the quality yet also the price and the Owner or CEO while his margin wasn't quite as high however the Praise of his store produce Dept by word of mouth made whatever stores I manged as we're made famous by the people that shopped there which is priceless in the eyes of the owner or the CEO & the board which BTW is falling to the way side as to much Analytics and not enough realism which means...

I just finished having a late lunch of some California sushi rolls. Crunchy cucumber and fresh avocado rolled up in jasmine rice just right. When I was at H-E-B earlier, I saw the California rolls, but they were in packs of like 12 or so, on sale, but too many for me to eat, and the rest would go bad.

I asked the lady behind the counter if they had some smaller packages, she looked and saw that there weren't any and touched my arm and said ‘just wait’. She was a busy lady named Sue. She promptly put on some gloves behind the prep counter and took ingredients and made me a fresh sushi roll. Neatly sliced it and put it in a package with the label that red "custom order". I asked her, "is that just for me?" She looked up and smiled and said 'yes for you'. That was so nice to stop what she was doing and prepared that just for me.

I made sure to stop and talk to a manager who was standing nearby And told her the story. She said that was so nice and that Sue should get recognized for it.

I hope she does get at least a kind word of appreciation. You know, what she did, used to be the norm, used to be “just doing your job“. Nowadays, so many businesses and service providers act like they’re doing you a favor taking your money .

There are still places that know how to make a customer feel appreciated and in return we revisit their establishments over and over and cultivate good customer relationships, and sometimes even friendships.

Thank you, Ms. Sue. Thank you for making my trip to the Kingwood H-E-B on 59 a nice...