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Checked out the new iHOP on STX, service was abominable!

(@NugBlazer)
Posts: 359
Reputable Member
Topic starter
 

Hey all - thought I'd give a heads up to anyone wondering what this place was like.

After a decade on STX, I've gotten (somewhat) used to the slower pace of things and the lax customer service the locals provide.

But, wow, the new iHOP in Sunny Isle acheived a new low. We got there during off hours, about 3PM. We had to wait a few minutes to be seated, no big deal. But, things went downhill rapidly after that. We waited 15 minutes for our server to finally show up. And then, get this, another 30 minutes before she brought us our beverages. (All we ordered was a cranberry juice and a chocolate milk; nothing difficult or time-consuming to make.) That's 45 minutes from being seated until actually had something to drink! I'm not exaggerating: I checked the times on my cell phone. I had to get up and go to the front desk to tell them that our drinks had apparently been forgotten - she finally brought them 5 minutes later.

When the food finally came, my plate was missing the salad. I asked her about the salad, she said that it didn't come with one. I said that yes, it did -- the menu clearly stated that it comes with a salad. Furthermmore, it's a featured item on the menu and there is even a picture of the exact dish I ordered and the picture shows - voila - a salad there. Her response? She walked away. She. Walked. AWAY.

Then, so did we.

When we finished eating, after being in the place for what seemed like an eternity, we just put money on the table and left. No way were we waiting for our bill to arrive. We'd probably still be sitting in there right now.

As for the food itself, it was average, which is all I expect from an iHop. And the place itself was nice enough. So, actually, it's a decent place... if you've got a couple days to kill and won't be hungery until day #2.

 
Posted : January 5, 2010 2:52 am
(@chockman)
Posts: 512
Honorable Member
 

Please don't forget. I'M coming !!!!!! You can get better service and quality at my residence. I guess if you want really fast food there is always McDonalds,if you want great service while you wait for food and I mean you're not going to leave hungry. I guess you better keep your eye 's open for Paradise in Blue,coming soon to an Island near you.

 
Posted : January 5, 2010 3:35 am
(@boyd46)
Posts: 296
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No matter what your plan is, you will still be dealing with the local work force.

 
Posted : January 5, 2010 8:50 am
A Davis
(@A_Davis)
Posts: 687
Honorable Member
 

i am part of the local work force.

i know people who come here from other places, who specialize in obfuscation, delivering the bare minimum, tardiness, etc. as well. they are good at covering their tails and you would never know how lousy they are. but i do because i have worked with them and seen them praised and rewarded for "delivering" on the backs of those who work for and alongside them.

it all comes down to training, monitoring, and utilizing a system of notification of wrongdoing and then following up consistently with people who do not deliver the goods. others see this and will decide what their next move is.

management needs to be notified of this, i hope someone is kind enough to send them this thread.

 
Posted : January 5, 2010 10:07 am
(@vacationstx)
Posts: 76
Trusted Member
 

I am also part of the local work force and have seen how some in this work force can put a place out of business--so have you. I am lucky to have a wonderful and dedicated staff ,but have gone through many many workers over the years to arrive where I am today.

Surely the owner is aware of what is going on; she obviously made a large monetary investment in this restaurant and I cannot imagine why she would allow this to continue----their reputation is going downhill fast.

 
Posted : January 5, 2010 11:04 am
Bombi
(@Bombi)
Posts: 2104
Noble Member
 

I'm not a fast food kinda person so I'll probably never go there but I know the new owner has put a lot of $ and time into IHOP so far.

Some constructive criticism would probably be welcomed by her so she can correct these issues and be successful

 
Posted : January 5, 2010 11:49 am
(@stiphy)
Posts: 956
Prominent Member
 

In regards to the "local workforce" there are many here, both born here and transplants, who work very hard. But there are a disproportionate (when compared to the continent) number of people who are awful who are able to ride the backs of hard workers because they know they can't easily be fired. Things won't change until employers can terminate employees at will without risking extremely costly legal action. Many just keep bad employees on payroll because its cheaper to pay them then to terminate them. IMO this is one of the biggest things that needs to be fixed for condidtions on the island to improve.

Sean

 
Posted : January 5, 2010 12:10 pm
(@vacationstx)
Posts: 76
Trusted Member
 

Sean,----Agreed 100%

 
Posted : January 5, 2010 12:25 pm
(@chockman)
Posts: 512
Honorable Member
 

Local work force personnel. Thank you all for your comments about being part of the local work force. I will look and seek people such as yourselves upon my arrival. I think my place will be rather small,so the work force will not have to be very large. I have every intention of delivering everything I have ran my mouth about here on this board. I know it is very easy to underestimate someone new.

Anita has hit the nail right on the head. Training,Monitoring,Patron feed back. I will have a lot of hard work ahead as well as a lot of fun serving you. Call me old fashion,but my word is everything. If I can not offer Great food,great service and a good time , well I guess I will die trying. If it all works out for the good,who knows the place my have to get bigger. I think small is a major key,I have to make a living on island,not buy the La Grange estate.

Keep your eyes open St Croix,I'M coming .

 
Posted : January 5, 2010 12:32 pm
(@thwolf24)
Posts: 108
Estimable Member
 

The one thing that I have noticed that bothers me is that people here tip so much. Why should you tip a lot when the service is bad. I was a waitress for 5 years in the states and worked very hard to get a tip of $2 when workers here give very bad slow service and expect a large tip. Well I tell you what, I am not tipping a lot just because that is what they are used to. I went to college and worked to have a professional job and am told all the time "you could waitress" when I moved here. What kind of mentality is that? Why should any of the youth here try to obtain higher education or try to do better themselves when they can just waitress or bar tend. That really bothers me. It is already expensive enough to go out and eat here and then we have to tip $5 every time at least? That just doesn't make sense to me. Minimum wage here isn't $20/hour so why are the residents tipping so much. Are waiters and bartenders worth more than a cashier for example?

I think that everyone should tip less so that the youth believe that getting a higher education is actually worth while. Quite frankly it is better to just be a waitress here than to go to college. The island is never going to benefit from higher education if everyone continues this. That is my belief. I understand that a large income comes in from the tourists and that is fine. I am just saying that it costs enough to live here. Why are we expected to spend so much to have a drink or go out to eat when we are not even making $200/day or even $100/day. I just don't understand this way of thinking.

 
Posted : January 5, 2010 1:12 pm
(@pt_of_view)
Posts: 18
Active Member
 

Well, I could go on and on about that last thread thwolf24, just hope I don't have you as a customer in my section. Tipping should be appropriate to the service recieved by percentage of the tab, not by how much you make.

 
Posted : January 5, 2010 1:33 pm
 rks
(@rks)
Posts: 396
Reputable Member
 

Agreed that where tips are expected, not earned, service suffers.

But that pretty much goes for anything in life...and a lot of problems in the VI have to do with expectations vs responsibilities among EVERY segment of the population.

 
Posted : January 5, 2010 2:00 pm
(@Michaelds9)
Posts: 328
Reputable Member
 

Please don't forget. I'M coming !!!!!! You can get better service and quality at my residence. I guess if you want really fast food there is always McDonalds,if you want great service while you wait for food and I mean you're not going to leave hungry. I guess you better keep your eye 's open for Paradise in Blue,coming soon to an Island near you.

Chockman McDonalds on STX is not fast food:-(

 
Posted : January 5, 2010 4:42 pm
(@Michaelds9)
Posts: 328
Reputable Member
 

i am part of the local work force.

Anita are there any private employment agencies providing pre-qualified temp to hire personnel - or is this forbidden by local law?

I have met some darn hard working Crucians so I know they exist.

 
Posted : January 5, 2010 4:53 pm
(@Juanita)
Posts: 3111
Famed Member
 

NugBlazer,
I don't know if you caught my IHOP review on the STX restaurant thread, but somewhat similar to yours. Was you waitress by any chance a very petite young girl. She is HOPELESS, and I can't for the life of me believe she is still there, but it sure sounds like her.

 
Posted : January 5, 2010 4:55 pm
Bombi
(@Bombi)
Posts: 2104
Noble Member
 

There is a temp agency in Orange Grove near DLCA

 
Posted : January 5, 2010 5:19 pm
(@nforbes)
Posts: 580
Honorable Member
 

there's also one in Christiansted in the Penthany Building - Select Temps.

 
Posted : January 5, 2010 5:31 pm
(@robbystx)
Posts: 157
Estimable Member
 

I frequently stop at McDonald's for coffee.... Which is across the parking
lot from ihop.
I have on more than one occasion seen ihop employees (in their full ihop uniform) getting a meal from McDonald's!
What does that say??!!

 
Posted : January 6, 2010 9:18 am
 DUN
(@DUN)
Posts: 812
Prominent Member
 

How long has this Ihop been open?
Did the stateside start up team leave yet?

From what I`m hearing, is either the stateside team left(and it`s rapidly going downhill w/ the local work force as did happen in STT)
OR, every one here complaining is getting the same crappy worker(& the stateside team is still there & everyone else is really enjoying this place still).

The food was good, & the portions were generous here in STT.
We only noticed the food part going down hill well after the stateside team left, perhaps they changed the cook & the replacement wasn`t properly trained?

 
Posted : January 6, 2010 11:40 am
(@Linda_J)
Posts: 3919
Famed Member
 

Robby, don't know where you think the STX IHOP is located, but there is no McDonalds near it.

 
Posted : January 6, 2010 5:04 pm
Bombi
(@Bombi)
Posts: 2104
Noble Member
 

Robby, don't know where you think the STX IHOP is located, but there is no McDonalds near it.

There is a Mc D's in the new food court at Sunney Isle

 
Posted : January 6, 2010 5:10 pm
(@robbystx)
Posts: 157
Estimable Member
 

Thank you Bombi !!
You are correct !!
McDonald's is in the new food court at Sunny Isle!!
I haven't totally lost my mind!!!!!

 
Posted : January 6, 2010 9:51 pm
(@CAtoSTX)
Posts: 591
Honorable Member
 

I waited in line at that McDs for almost 30 min the other day to find out they were out of what I wanted. I also noticed that the 2 times Ive been to that McDs , all the cashiers manage to Disappear for extended time when I get to the front of the line.

 
Posted : January 6, 2010 10:00 pm
Bombi
(@Bombi)
Posts: 2104
Noble Member
 

Thank you Bombi !!
You are correct !!
McDonald's is in the new food court at Sunny Isle!!
I haven't totally lost my mind!!!!!

robby, give it some time for the crucian confusion to take hold ,LOL, Bombi

 
Posted : January 6, 2010 10:07 pm
 DUN
(@DUN)
Posts: 812
Prominent Member
 

So, how long has this Ihop been opened?
Is the stateside team still there?

Before you criticize someone, you should walk a mile in their shoes. That way, when you criticize them, you're a mile away and you have their shoes.

 
Posted : January 6, 2010 11:08 pm
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