Wawa's are usually great, I can't even count how many times I stop in for gas, coffee, lunch, and my (almost) daily pint of Ben and Jerry's. It's unfortunate that I moved just two blocks down the side street this particular Wawa sits on. I say unfortunate as the customer service here, more so in the evening as I don't really believe I have had any unpleasant experiences during any morning coffee runs, is just terrible at the registers. There are a handful of women that encounter on the regular that are downright miserable and unfriendly. I get that not everyone can have the best day everyday, but this is such a common thing that my neighbors an I actually exchange stories about which one we ran in to and about how rude they were. The most... shocking, I suppose is the proper word, experience I've had at this store was one this past Christmas day. Wawa was one of the only stores open, as is every year, and I forgot to pick up eggs so I stopped in around 4pm. The young woman behind the register was clearly VERY unhappy and bitter about being there. Hey, I get it, it stinks to work holidays, but if you're scheduled you work, just like anyone who has to work holidays at their job. It happens, and we do it, usually with better pay for holidays to try to make up for it.
In any case, this young woman did not handle her undesirable shift well in the least. She was being more than loud while speaking to her co-worker, a young man stocking cigarettes behind her, asking why there were so many people in the store that day, why it was so busy, saying this with great distain, all the while with people standing in line waiting to check out right in front of her as she was ringing their purchases up, and still others spread around the very small store. The young man clearly looked embarrassed and uncomfortable, he replied it was likely because they were one of the only places open on Christmas, to which she replied louder still, that 711 down the street is open and why don't people go there? The young man didn't really say anything back or attempt to scold her for talking that way in front of customers, but I couldn't really blame him because she was very aggressive with the way she was saying it. When i was next at the register she did not make any eye contact and kept taking to her co-worker and said, I quote, "This is f***ing bullsh*t, it's bullsh*t!". I was floored at this, I was literally standing DIRECTLY in front of her. Standing face to face, with my card in my hand and her throwing my items (she didn't throw the eggs though so that was considerate and appreciated) into the bag. I couldn't believe that she was taking that way, in front of the people she was REFERRING TO, so blatantly! I have to admit it was actually brazen. I am normally the kind of person who would say something in this type of circumstance, like suggest that maybe she shouldn't be swearing in front of customers and saying they should be going to a different store... I mean she had to be there anyway, regardless of if anyone showed up or not, right?
I was so shocked and dumbfounded, I just watched the rest of the performance and provided my payment. She never said one word to me and so rather than say something to her about her inappropriateness, I instead quietly wished her a Merry Christmas, not surprisingly it was unreturned, and left. After I was home again I started to become angrier the more I thought about it, as it was just such a rediculous way to behave.
I considered calling to speak with a manager, but, I decided against it. Rather, I am writing this review now as my neighbor and I were talking about it again just a little earlier this evening since he had just stopped in the same store tonight and told me about the cashier that he always runs into and is consistently miserable (not the same one as my experience, just FYI), and I think there either needs to be some sort of customer service training (re-traing?) or SOMETHING, because lately I have taken to just going just a little further up the street to 711 with my business or making sure to stop at a Wawa closer to work or on my route home if I can. There are so many good Wawa's, it is just a shame for me to now live just a short walk away from one, but that really makes you feel like you and your business are not wanted there. Long review, my apologies. Just felt I needed to get that out there for someone who may care and I really didn't want to do so via a corporate complaint... I'm not looking to get anyone to lose their job, just make the establishment aware of what it's like to be a customer at this branch. read more