When I Said I Wanted Everything On It, I Didn't Actually Mean Everything...

*alternate title: Things That Make You Go Ewww!

WARNING: If you have a weak stomach, read at your own risk. Also, if you are offended by curse words, read at your own risk.












Today I went to Panera Bread for lunch. I knew I shouldn't have gone there, as I had brought a frozen lunch today, but I really wanted a chicken salad sandwich. Well if that wasn't enough of a reason, when I get to the drive-up it isn't working. It only took me about 4 minutes to realize that. So I pull around, and see other people are ordering at the window. So I wait for my turn. I pull up and order an Iced Green Tea (seriously, the best ever!) and a chicken salad sandwich. The lady asked if I wanted everything on it. I said yes. So I pay, get my food, and head back to the bank.

I sit down at my desk, and start writing a blog post. After I published it, I hopped over to another blog to catch up, and start eating my sandwich. Now, I don't know if you have ever been to a Panera Bread before, but I absolutely love the place... or well I did. Everything is good there. And they have the best pickle spears, but you only get them if you order a whole sandwich (I did). So I unwrap the sandwich, and remember about the pickle, so I fish it out and eat it. Actually, I wolfed it down. Then I grabbed half of my sandwich. As I go to grab my other half of the sandwich, I see a band-aid. Yes, a band-aid. One that was out of it's wrapper and stuck to the inside of my sandwich wrap. It had been touching the half of the sandwich that I just ate. Now I think really quickly if I had been wearing a band-aid....... nope. OH GOD! I quickly lost it, and started cussing, "There's a fucking band-aid in my sandwich." My co-worker turned around and muttered something, and then my supervisor and manager come over. "There's a used fucking band-aid in my sandwich." So my manager suggested going back there... and that is exactly what I did. I grabbed my keys, purse, and contaminated sandwich and head back to Panera. I'm not sure exactly why I went back. I guess to actually show them the proof. So I get there and go inside to talk to the manager. Here is the conversation we had:

Me: Yes, I went through the drive-thru a bit ago, and I was eating my sandwich, and this is what I found (shows sandwich and band-aid)
Manager: Oh. (long pause) That is gross.
Some other Employee at Counter: Is there anything on it?
Me: (to employee):HUH? (to manager) Uhh, yeah.
Manager: Would you like me to make you another sandwich?
Me: Umm, I'm not really hungry anymore. That made me lose my appetite.
Manager: Oh, okay. Well, uhh, I can give you your money back.
Me: Umm, (insert longer pause) okay.
Manager: (hands back money) Yeah, that is gross.

So I walk out with the money for the sandwich. I realize at no point did I get an apology. I also did not even get reimbursed for my whole meal. So I drive back to the bank, a little peeved that I didn't get an apology and the best the manager could do was give me seven dollars and some cents back.

And as I have sat her, I am wondering why they employee wasn't wearing gloves. Aren't you required by law to wear gloves when preparing food? Do I have to worry about contracting some kind of disease from whomevers band-aid it was? Why didn't that manager apologize to me? She must have been new... I would have given a full refund to whomever, and then given them a gift card to ensure that they come back.

I used to be a regular at Panera... now I'm not sure I will go back. I'm currently trying to contact corporate, to inform them of this situation, and to let them know if I contract anything, I will be getting an attorney. So if I come down with Hepatitis C, D, E, F, or G in the weeks to come, you Internet Peoples are my witnesses (along with my co-workers, whom I dropped the F-bomb in front of twice).

I'll let you know if Panera Bread has anything further to say to me. You'd think that in the days of Facebook, Twitter, and blogs (and all other social sites) that companies would be trying to absolutely please their customers. I know I wouldn't want an unhappy customer bashing my company online.

So I guess I really knew better than to go there. And the next time someone asks you if you want Everything on it, perhaps you should make them specify exactly what they are going to put on it!