sweet lady jane- incredibly rude!
i had just had the worst customer service experience at sweet lady jane today. i'm typically very forgiving when it comes to service but today's experience just takes the cake. the woman helping us (with strawberry blonde hair) rolled her eyes at us several times (for what, i have no idea) and just seemed pretty abrasive. when we paid for our cake, she gave us our change by slamming it on the glass cake counter and walking away. there went her tip.
afterwards, my friend and i were talking about it in a marc jacobs store and several of the employees overheard us and chimed in. apparently, i guess sweet lady jane is notorious for not being so sweet after all.
anyway, we had the triple berry cake at SLJ...it was dry and overly sweet. the susina berry blossom cake is infinitely better!
greengelato
Apr 01, 2007 04:13PM
I quit going there after experiencing continued rude service. Moreover, the last time I had any contact was when I called to order a custom-made cake. I was put on hold forever, when I called back I was put on hold again.Finally, I reached someone and explained that this was my third attempt at trying to place this order. I was told that I should call at a more "convenient" time. They lost my business.
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The rudest person in there is Jane. The second rudest is her husband though her husband appears as if he has the potential to be friendly. The rest of the crew is very nice. Jane's not so much rude as just very aloof. She appears oblivious to her customers. It is so odd to me--no people skills and she doesn't appear to care. Doesn't stop me from going there because she has great stuff and I don't really care if she's friendly or not.
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yes, i agree. jane and her husband are soo rude, it's unbelieveable! they really need to change the name of the shop.
nasty jane?
rude jane?
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Wow - sorry to hear about that... another attitude pie in the face of a Chowhounder... I remember reading about their service issues in previous posts... I too had a less-than pleasing experience at SLJ a few monthes back, but it was more about indifference on the part of the staff.
I just don't get how businesses that have people walking through their doors to shell out serious cash for their products can expect them to return or to refer their businesses to others when disrespect or indifference is shelled out in copious amounts to their customers.
IMHO, I find SLJ's products to be great as well. I've mentioned this on other posts that Jane has a deft hand at making truly standout lemon desserts, almost as if she can make a lemon recite poetry. I would hope that they'd get their service issues taken care of, as so many other good to great competitors are but a short distance away. I for one would miss SLJ but at the same time, I won't tolerate being dissed when I'm the one paying the bill...
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Absolutely. There are just too many good dessert places to settle on a place where you are emotionally abused! With a mom who makes great baked goods, I don't have to subject myself to that nonsense. One trip to SLJ (with plenty of attitude) was enough for me.
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Agreed.
See my post re surly treatment at Chantilly Patisserie.
http://www.chowhound.com/topics/382875
Mr Taster
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Wow, I guess it has been a while since I popped into SLJ for the second best Lemon Merangue Tart in California, it was $6.50 last time and up from $5.00!
I've been going to SLJ since about, oh '97 or '98 and while I have heard of and don't discount the rude service, the staff has always been friendly or at least courtious during my visits!
The cakes, the 3-Berry Cakes in particular, have always been perfect, never dry or of a reduced quality.Tarts, cookies always good except I recall having a hard time finding cookies sans nuts for my lads. Oh well, I guess I've just been lucky in the past but should stop by for a more current experience!
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Okay - you've teased me with Jane's being second best. Where is number one?
It must be descended from the bakeries in Heaven! Where where where?
I really like their cakes as well. I've never had their sandwiches but I hear they're great too. But these postings on SLJ's manners or lack there of are starting to pick up steam. If one of our posters is a true regular there, please give the owners and staff a heads-up before the walls start crumbling down.
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I'm sorry but it's not local, my favorite bakery in CA is Tartine Bakery which is in San Francisco and has been covered ad nauseum on the S.S. ChowHound Board. It is worth enduring the crowds to enjoy their products if you are up there!
I will add that my fave in S. Cal. is EuroPane in Pasadena.
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Folks, please keep your responses focused on the L.A. region. We've removed some posts talking about distant places, because they're not appropriate on the L.A. board. Sorry for the interruption.
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well... i didn't have a terrrible experience... so far.. but....
they aren't the nicest ppl there.
i was stopping by to grab a cake, and i was a little hesitant as to what i should order...
of coarse... i don't know who this person is... she was sighning , totally annoyed...
then she looked at the other customer behind me to move on the "someone who might be more decisive" which made me just order whatever they had.
oh.. .by the way.....
i went there for a cupcake.... of course.. no cupcake....
it's like....going to a gas station and finding out that they ran out of gas!!!!
i ended up walking out of there w. a $35 cake...
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I would have walked straight out! Nothing can make me pay my hard-earned money for rude service, even if it is the best!!
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I've hit the same attitude, on Valentine's day once! It was Jane's husband, captain Jerk. Worse, I watched him treat regualrs like kings, ang give them the final slice of cake I had ordered before they came in. What he did was take my order, they came one group after me. We both sat to wait. He gave them my cake, then came to me and told me they were all out. When I complained he was so rude and mean, he had me in tears. Both he and Jane didn't care. They'd sold their cake, so why bother makeing people happy?
In my mind, if a customer is treated in such a way, you should bend over backwards to fix it. Jane's solution was to tell me "He's really not all that bad, really." and then tell me there was noting left without nuts for me to order, and blame me for coming in so late.
I refuse to return.
They have ego and attitude, and no famous item is worth that.
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Went to SLJ a few weeks back after not going for years. First, big mistake going on a Saturday afternoon. It was crazy. We had decent service...not great...not awful. One complaint, we ordered french press coffee it did not arrive until we almost finished our cake. I ordered the marzipan tart. It was ok. VERY sweet and much almond flavor. My husband liked his lemon bars but again high on sweet factor low on flavor. Boy do I miss the old days of SLJ..good food...good service...sweet little neighbourhood joint...maybe they have just outgrown their space?
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Wow, strong feelings from all on this, and nary a word in defense!
My sister picked up some cake and didn't complain about the service, but the cakes she picked up were dry, the frosting was disgusting (too darkly colored with chemically food coloring--smelled like sewage, frankly), and when I e-mailed what I thought was a politely worded complaint they didn't even bother to respond.
Usually restaurants and such will write back a form letter like "Thank you for your input, we appreciate customer response." SLJ didn't even do that.
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i haven't written in a while but had to chime in on this one. last year i tried to order a cake for my BF's b-day. i had never ordered a cake from them so i had some questions regarding flavor combinations. after every questions the woman answered me back in a complete huff and practically yelling back at me. i could practically see rolling her eyes at me with each question. i ended up in an arguement with her and she hung up on me. i thought maybe i was going crazy and wondered what i did wrong. right after i called susina and ordered a cake from them. the woman who answered was really nice and reassured me that i wasn't crazy to ask questions when i was about to plop down $70 bucks for a cake. there are so many wonderful places to get cake in this town that i no longer need to go back to SLJ after that incident.
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I went to Sweet Lady (Shit) Jane for the first time a few weeks back and couldn't agree more with their terrible service and their awful tasting cakes!! I grew up in l.a. and I have walked by their place many times but the cakes never appealed to me. However to be fair I couldn't just form an opinion based on how they looked, so I tried the cakes. First, they didn't have a menu, so I didn't know what anything was. When I asked for a menu, they said the cakes are in the case, yet they don't have any labels. Anyway the service just kept getting worse. When I told my waiter that it was my first time in there, he looked at me like it was the worst thing in the world and was so shocked. Then told me to get the berry cake b/c then I can go around town saying I've had the best cake in l.a.
Suffice it to say, when I got the check it was ridiculous, paid half and walked out. Shouldn't have paid at all. What I don't understand is the fact that their cakes are really bad, aside from the service, they aren't good cakes. I don't get it people. The ingredients they use are so clearly sub par. I really really don't get it!!!
The cakes are heavy, with a sugar after taste. The frosting is thick, rock like and cheap. They really shouldn't be in business. The location is cute and the place itself has charm, but that's it. Unfortunately, they now have their cakes at Gelsons-good packaging. It's a shame that people like this Jane and her husband make money when they so clearly have no talent for baking and so clearly use cheap ingredients!!!
By the way I had the berry cake and some chocolate cake--
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WOW! I haven't been to SLJ in over 15 years, but it seems that nothing has changed since then... Same crappy tasting over priced baked goods (hate to sully the word cake) and the rudest I-could-give-a-rats-butt-about-you-the-paying-customer attitude and service. Why oh why do people keep going back and keep these losers in business? Inquiring minds want to know.
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I personally like their cakes alot, especially their cakes with lemon curd. And I've also mentioned I really like their other lemon desserts, especially their lemon meringue tart. In addition to be an excellent rendition of lemon meringue, the meringue itself has bits of candied lemon zest in it, which really make this tart sing. Outside of that, I can't comment...
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My friend had the same experience with service. She had ordered a cake, went to pick it up at the correct time and they did not have it ready and acted like she was in the wrong. The triple espresso cake still is amazing!
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Anyone know if the stuff at the bakery is the same stuff that is sold in the giant display case at Gelson's Century City?
The stuff at Gelson's with the Sweet Lady Jane label is awful, way too sugary - no taste other than sugar -- and scary if you read the labels (transfats, anyone?)
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I don't know, but it sounds like the same crap they sell at the store---
They are so lucky they have little competition. Boule and Urth Cafe are fun. Where is Tartine?? I'll check it out.
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San Francisco... and it's like cake paradise... where as SLJ seems to be where cakes go when they've sinned.
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I ordered a triple berry cake from SLJ for my step-daughter's graduation party. When I went to pick up the over $200.00 cake, they were so rude I almost left without the cake! The only reason I even ordered it was because I had heard such wonderful things about their cakes. Frankly, I thought it was good, not great. Never again!!
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This thread is pretty amazing. I live a block away, so I end up there a lot for my cheesecake fix (preferably Oreo), and I've never gotten the sort of service I see described here. With that said, I'll think twice whether to make the walk in the future.
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I have heard that the products sold in the supermarkets are made in a central commisary and are mass-produced,
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They certainly taste mass-produced. Let's put it this way, I think Hostess cupcakes taste better than the Sweet Lady Jane products that I tried at Gelsons (and are a lot cheaper too).
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I got a slice of cake at the gelson's in century city and couldn't see what the fuss was about. It was dry and kind of bland.
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I've had some very good cakes from there (bought and brought by others), but will never go back myself due to very poor (non-existent) service.
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I went once for lunch. ONCE. Service was awful so I've never returned.
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I am loving this board. This year I have had cake from SLJ four times (lots of celebrations!). Two out of the four cakes were dry and overly sweet--I thought it was just a fluke, because I have always loved their cakes in the past. Hearing all these complaints tells me I should find another bakery. Any suggestions?
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SUSINA!!!!
i adore susina.
try their berry blossom cake. :)
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A berry blossom cake sounds good. Where is Susina?
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http://www.susinabakery.com/
7122 beverly blvd. i think it's cross street is la brea.
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I just checked out the link you sent to Susina's website. It looks great. Thanks!
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Susina
7122 Beverly Blvd
(323) 934-7900
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Second... they have always been really nice! :)
--Dommy!
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Last November, I was visiting Los Angeles and my daughter a student at USC for her birthday. After asking around for bakery recs, a week before I called Sweet Lady Jane to order a birthday cake(half sheet) which I needed delivered to the school.Sweet Lady Jane barely let me finish asking the question before they refused my order. The good news though was my next call was to Susina which agreed to make the cake-I wanted the Chocolate Raspberry Cake- and also delivered the cake on a Sunday morning exactly at the time I had requested. They were so kind and accomodating. The cake was delicious and beautiful receiving many compliments. Their cooperation and "can do" attitude gained me as a loyal fan and I was grateful for their service.
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I like Susina a lot, but their service can be somewhat erratic. Not rude like SLJ, but some of their counter people are definitely more on the ball than others. I ordered a latte once and when it arrived, I tasted it and it had no milk in it. At all. I took it back and the manager apologized profusely and replaced it immediately, but afterwards I heard the boy who had waited in me in the back, "I didn't know a latte had milk in it!"
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I can accept an honest mistake, especially from a new employee who is learning ther ropes - I think we've all been there before...
What gets me is attitude pies and snotty cakes thrown in my face with relish by the the people you are handing hard-earned money to...
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ROFL! In my head I hear the so-trendy people at SLJ going "blah blah blah snottycakes."
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Such a shame - lots of potential only to be curtailed by a lack of common decency. I mean how much effort does it take to treat others as one would wish to be treated themselves?
I would be one of the happiest people on earth if I had the talent to create things that make people pull a broad smile, close their eyes, and relish their tastebuds in sublime bliss - and make a living doing it...
I would not want to leave my mark on this world as being known for my ability to roll my eyes and huff at people who might otherwise want to admire me... Those are talents revered in method acting... might thespians start appearing shoulder-to-shoulder in front of their store and press their noses up against the windows to peer in for a glimpse of a true master at work?
Of all the places that one could go on an average day, a bakery should be one of the happier experiences to encounter in daily life. I would think the owners would need to make an assessment whether they are acheiving this in their endeavors, or if it is even strikes them as at least obligatory to do so... If not, maybe they need to step away from the counter... maybe even step away from the business altogether...
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I agree that "a bakery should be one of the happier experiences...."
This is one reason SusieCakes in Brentwood has attracted such a loyal following. Susie (the owner) is warm, gracious and friendly and sets a great example for her staff. Moreover, her baked goods are excellent. Everyone leaves SusieCakes with a smile.
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I don't know, I've seen susiecakes and it looks like it's all frosting. I don't like that. A cake shouldn't be all frosting. I will say they were nice when I walked in, but you really have to have both the service and the product...
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That's funny! I love Susina and find the staff really well trained at making hot drinks - it must have been a total newbie.
I never gave Sweet Lady Jane much of a chance to piss me off, since the overbearingly bright fluorescent lighting, cramped seating, and mediocre food pretty much put me off the place early on.
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I vote for Paris Pastry at 1448 Westwood Blvd. in Westwood (just North of Ohio). They have a great Grand Marnier cake, a good lemon cake and delicious petit fours. :) Of course there is always Viktor Benes as well for reliably tasty goodies.
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Hi HungryHapa... Also a fan of Viktor Benes, here. And i SHALL look into Paris Pastry in Westwood, based on your friendly referral. Thanks!
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Not being a huge sweets person, I don't go there often, but everyone I know has had a bad experience with them. I went once, years ago, to try their brownies after a times article on the best brownies in the city. They are just unprofessional. I have no idea how they stay in business, if I gave my clients that level of unprofessional behavior, I'd be out of a job. Not only were they slow and kind of nasty(all I wanted was a to go brownie) but the woman didn't even wash her hands after taking the previous customer's money and then packaging my brownie. I didn't even want to eat it. I'm shocked that they are still in business.
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They stay in business because people (including people on this thread) continue to patronize. I've never been there but will never go based on this thread. But they still don't seem to need my business.
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That's a shame. Their cakes aren't that good to begin with -really bland stuff- but inexcusable service makes them one of the worst and overrated bakeries in LA. And yes, it's hard to find a berry cream cake that tops Susina's berry blossom. If you haven't yet, try the St. Honore or the Bear cake (a very rich cake) with a cup of vanilla latte. Hard to beat.
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Glad to know, I was thinking in trying their bake goods one of this days, now I will never go, I don't like bad attitude, especially when I am giving them my business.
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Forget SLJ and go to Cake Walk. Here's a link to her website. www.cakewalkbakery.net
Debra makes the BEST cakes in LA. I have served her cakes at countless birthday parties and both kids and adults love them. They actually taste as good as they look. As one guest said after taking a big bite of the sublime cardamon cake with pistachio cream filling, "This is what a cake is supposed to taste like!!" The cakes aren't cheap..we aren't talking costco prices here, but they are worth every penny. And you won't get any attitude at Cake Walk. Real people and real good cakes!
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I'll have to check that out--it looks good. The area not so, but I'll still go.
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FWIW, I went there a few years ago & liked the slice of berry cake I had, though it was very sweet.
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Had a birthday cake from SLJ and while the decorating looked great, the cake was really bad! I don't mean bad for a $70 cake, I mean just plain discount shop cake bad. Cheaply frosted, cheap tasting some kind of chocolate cake. I was frankly shocked.
Apparently the service is terrible too. Maybe they reserve the good cakes and the friendly service for VIPS?! The hype has to come from somewhere right? I am just confounded.
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