Subway review: Bad treatment

The person serving me was impatient, unprofessional, and visibly irritated when I attempted to use a Delta Airlines meal voucher as payment. The voucher number initially did not go through, which appeared to further frustrate her.

When there was a remaining balance on the bill, she refused to allow me to pay it and instead stated that she would pay it herself. She then walked away while murmuring, in front of the other customers, “This is the most difficult transaction I have ever done.”

I remained there for a short while and subsequently heard the customer who was served immediately after me say to her, “Mine is the easiest.” I found this particularly uncomfortable and embarrassing, as it appeared to be a reference to the difficulty she had expressed in serving me.

I decided to walk away and wait for the line to subside before returning to address the matter calmly. When I returned, her co-worker asked whether she could assist me. I explained that I wanted to speak to the person who had initially served me. Upon seeing that I had returned and before approaching me, she looked at me and said, “Oh my God.”

When she came over, I asked for her name, which she provided. I then explained that I felt she had treated me poorly. She responded by saying words to the effect of, “We are very busy, and I am sorry if you feel like I treated you badly. I am sorry if I took it out on you.”

I was about to ask her about the comment she had made while walking away and whether I could pay the outstanding balance when she told me that she had given me a discount. I explained that I did not want a discount and simply wanted to pay the correct balance of my bill.

At that point, she called her co-worker over and said, “I am done here. I apologized, and I don't know what she wants,” before walking away from me again.

I then asked her co-worker whether I could pay the outstanding balance. Her co-worker explained that the vouchers create difficult transactions for them. She also stated that the employee was hungry and would be okay after she had eaten.

I was so concerned that another customer might be subjected to similar treatment that I offered to buy the employee lunch. Her co-worker told me not to worry about it.

I understand that the restaurant was busy and that processing a Delta Airlines meal voucher may be more complicated than a normal transaction. However, neither of those circumstances justifies treating a customer with visible irritation, making disparaging remarks within earshot of other customers, saying “Oh my God” when the customer returns to raise a concern, or walking away while the customer is attempting to resolve the matter.

I was not seeking a discount or special treatment. I simply wanted to use the voucher provided to me, pay any outstanding balance, and be treated with basic courtesy and professionalism.

I am bringing this matter to your attention because I believe the way the situation was handled was inappropriate and unnecessarily embarrassing. I would appreciate it if management could address the matter with the employee concerned and ensure that customers using airline meal vouchers are not made to feel as though they are inconveniencing staff simply by using an accepted form of payment.