COBS Bread — Restaurant in Ontario

I usually enjoy visiting COBS, but today’s visit left me feeling quite uncomfortable. I had purchased some bread and then stepped back in briefly to take a quick photo of the dinner rolls. I wanted to show my friend if the shape would work for her mini burgers.

Unfortunately, the staff member on duty seemed suspicious of me even though I was simply taking a quick photo as a paying customer. The way I was looked at made the situation feel awkward and unwelcoming. She looked unhappy both times I entered. The first time I entered I was looking at the dinner rolls but I knew I wanted to buy a loaf, which I selected very quickly, but I don’t think that’s any reason for her to look at me the way she was. She came from the back. The store was quiet at the time. I explained very quickly what I was doing. It was just really odd!! I didn’t expect such unfriendly and strange behavior from customer service.

What made it more upsetting is that I was wearing traditional clothing today, and I can’t help but wonder if that influenced how I was treated. It’s disheartening to feel judged or unwelcome based on appearance.

I hope this feedback encourages more awareness and kindness. Every customer deserves to feel comfortable and respected.

Happy to remove my review after I get an apology directly from her. I’ve worked in customer service for over 8 years, so I understand that her demeanour was just off and unnecessary.

Update: Still waiting to hear back from you. I believe you have my...

Terrible customer service. Two staff chatted with each other about their break at the front counter, and ignored my presence for such a long time, that it made me so uncomfortable that I stepped away waiting for them to finish. Then they had the audacity to ask me after their chat, if I was finished looking! They demonstrated incredible immaturity in the conversation about their break going around in circles “no seriously when to you want to go?” back and forth repeatedly. The receipt read “Leanne” as server.

As far as the products go, I would rate the danish pastry and croissants equivalent to premium grocery store products, but priced like a top flight patisserie. Not a good price to value ratio. The cinnamon sweet rolls were good and acceptably priced in the box format. The version without icing was appropriately sweet, which I found pleasantly surprising as most chain bakeries make it so sweet it can be stomach turning.

I did not try the bread, and will probably never find out because of the obnoxious front counter...

I’ve been a fan of cobs since they opened. However, the older lady with the accent working the front was nothing but nasty and ignorant. She got upset I used the tongs to grab a sample of a scone, and stated that I should have asked… When she never even offered me a sample in the first place! I stated that I did use the tongs and then she wanted to start arguing with me and then stopped… I don’t know what her problem is when there was never a sign in the first place to ask for assistance if you wanted a sample. To make it even better the person I was with handed me the box of scones after paying, and the old lady made a snarky remark saying to make myself useful. How about you make yourself useful and fix your custom...