AZ Sandwich Co. & Catering - 52nd/University — Restaurant in Tempe

I stopped in this store today to get a soup lite combo, which I usually order at least three times a week because I work nearby and unfortunately they were out of chicken noodle soup today. Because I did not like any of the other soups that were being offered I asked if I could substitute for an extra fee to get a pasta salad instead of the soup and I was told no that that was not an option. I asked if I could speak to a manager at the store and the woman at the register advised me that she was the manager. I asked her name and she said her name was Claudia. I then saw a sign that said you could substitute for a different side for a fee. The pasta salad was an additional $1.00 according to the sign, so I asked Claudia at the register why the sign said that I could substitute for a pasta salad, but she was telling me that I could not. She then proceeded to tell me verbatim that “that’s just the way it is and if you don’t like it then you can get out”. I was shocked by this response. So I then asked her “are you really kicking me out because I asked you a question?” and she confirmed by saying “yes I am kicking you out”. I was completely disappointed and saddened by this level of rudeness towards me as a loyal customer who just genuinely was trying to understand why I could not pay for pasta salad to be included with my meal instead of soup. I think that this was an EXTREMELY poor display of customer service and no one should ever be dealt with this way unless they are displaying threatening behavior which I in no way was doing. I simply just asked a question. As I am writing this I am still in complete disbelief of what just happened and wanted to make sure that I provided this feedback to someone. I hope that this gets into the right hands because as someone who works in a service industry myself, this should be considered unacceptable to handle your customers this way. I am sure this is not the type of behavior that this store wants to be known for. They should really deal with a “manager” who would handle loyal paying customers in this manner. I hope someone from the company cares enough to respond. As I mentioned, I frequently purchase food here and have never had someone there treat me so poorly. All the other employees are usually very friendly. But this “manager” is setting a terrible example for...

Updated

Decent food and ok service

Eating here for years!!

One star review why?? Because these people do not offer water!!

No cup for water!!

Every other business especially FOOD business give you free water .or water cup

Seriously especially in AZ this is unacceptable!!

I even asked to clarify! Nope have to buy bottled water even thou they have a soda machine that produces water

I was just trying to get a sandwich and a cup of water....sad

Edit to owners reply

Wow that's a LONG and Pathetic reply

First of all I was not offered to use my own container to fill up .nor was offered a 25 cent bottled water.. just told no..the. Told you sell bottled water

Second the Free punch card u boost is a joke..it's for combos!! To increase ur profit margins. I only want the sandwich..not the chips or sides..nor a soda...I never drink soda or sugar drinks

Every food place that serves beverage's offers water and has to go through using a Commercial HVAC and/low temp company to service their equipment..acting like you go out of ur way is again PATHETIC

Taking about how you have expanded ..good for you....sounds like ur profit margins are so low that u cannot afford the BASIC thing in AZ. Water

I could list tons of businesses that offer water for FREE that are not even in the food business...yes even fancy bottled water

Heck many businesses donate tons of cases of bottled water (even to homeless). You cannot for paying customers

But thank you for ur reply as it cements what I feared..I will never spend a dollar nor have my business catered as well from you guys

Good luck with the "big expansion" and that nice...

I used to come here once a week for the past few months. But they RAISED THEIR PRICES 10% this week, while simultaneously providing smaller sandwiches!

Why? Why should I pay more for less of the same? The food didn't get better. In fact, it's worse, because the portion is smaller. I used to get full on half of the sandwich. Now I need to eat the whole thing to get full. Basically it's twice as expensive now.

Service here is poor. The cashiers should be fired. They are not nice and dismissive. I asked her if the prices went up, because I order the same thing and noticed it cost more. She looked at me like I was ridiculous for asking! She said "credit card rates went up so we have to charge more". I doubt that is even true. I asked if I pay with cash, then I should get a discount if that is true. She said "nope, same price whether cash or card". So she was obviously BSing me.

I used to like this place a lot, but I doubt I'll get back here very often, if ever again. You can't just charge more and offer less. That's greedy and insulting to your loyal customers. If you charge more, at least do something to make it seem less of a rip off. Give us a gold sticker, coupon, or something! $7 for a little sandwich isn't a good value.

I'll be looking for another sandwich...