Panera Bread — Restaurant in Maryland

Brand new store, clean, great parking, and the food was good. This was my first visit there. I could tell the staff were a bit new and not as well trained as other stores. One was reading their cell phone getting a drink while blocking the area from customers. The real issue is when we ordered, we had a gift card and it didn't work, and nobody including the manager could help. We even had to show them how to swipe the card through their own reader, but it still did not work. They had no idea how to resolve the issue, and just said call "the number" and talk to "them", like it is a different company. Entering the number manually caused the same problem. We then had to enter the long number manually a second time to even find the help number to call. After 10 minutes on the phone and hearing Panera is having more calls than usual, a menu tree, and two phone transfers, it still did not work. We ended up just buying the meal due to the hassle.

It took 10 minutes and we paid for the order. This is a combination of a local management and Panera system problem. Eating with a gift card should be a pleasant experience, not a hassle. Panera does so much with gift cards they need a better system like so many other companies have like scan it into the App. They should also train and empower their new store managers as this was not a pleasant first time experience. I'll likely frequent the other shops nearby or even another Panera Bread than this store until they mature...

Poor customer service: I came to this location because it is convenient to my home. However, when I came in today, there was a different shift working (not the one that I am accustomed to. I ordered a super fruit smoothie and the cashier didn't even ask me what size I wanted. Apparently, on their menu board, there is the standard size for the cost of $4.19. When I tried to explain to them the associates not only got rude with me but tried to explain to me that the store does not advertise on their board that there are 2 sizes (the standard and a large size option). If they had asked me what option I wanted, I would have told them the large size, but the associate who took my order, didn't even ask and got smart with me (the girl who made my smoothie with limited English and a older woman). The older woman got smart with me and tried to argue with me(poor customer service). I asked for the manager, but he tried to talk over me and didn't even try to sympathize with me (wrong move). If this is the type of employees that Panera hires, they have poor HR personnel who can't hire worth a crap. They not only ruined my day but my order (I asked for a refund). Needless to say, poor associates and management with poor...

It's something about this location. I have a staff of about 20 men working da early shift. Da first time I stopped @ this location da girl on da register assumed I was there to pickup an order for my boss wit da company card & she got my order wrong. She looked @ me & said you better make sure you don't lose dat company card cause ur boss he will Fire you. I just smiled & told her Thank you. Had she looked @ da card she would have seen my pic on da it. I stopped by dis location 2 times & both times while placing my order it was a huge problem with what & how much I was buying. (I only got items from da bakery side didn't have anything cooked.) Now if dis is how da company makes its money why is it a problem for me to buy a couple muffins & some damn scones. My staff works hard & I don't mind stopping to get them something to eat. But dis location has a bit of a problem with me placing a large order. So off to da local bakery I go where they are more than happy to take my order, money & smile add a few extra items for free. For all da business I bring them. Oh & by da way I'm Black & da boss on my JOB. (Just saying)...