Should you give unsolicited constructive criticism to a local bakery?

[Anonymous]

My fav bakery makes amazing pastries but they do two things wrong. Complaint 1: they put a ton of that coarse rock sugar on top of all their muffins so it's like crunchy on the top. It's so unpleasant and gross to chew on crunchy huge flakes of sugar. I have no idea why they do this? 2: They unnecessarily drizzle icing on their otherwise phenomenal cheese cheese croissants.

[Anonymous]

Both of those sound delicious to me. They obviously sell as-is, so what do you think your input is going to change? You are one customer of thousands.

I know I sound like a dick but I work with the public and spend a good chunk of the day thinking to myself "YES, angry old man. Your one opinion is absolutely going to convince us to change the entire way we do things. Thank you."

Scrape the sugar off!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:My fav bakery makes amazing pastries but they do two things wrong. Complaint 1: they put a ton of that coarse rock sugar on top of all their muffins so it's like crunchy on the top. It's so unpleasant and gross to chew on crunchy huge flakes of sugar. I have no idea why they do this? 2: They unnecessarily drizzle icing on their otherwise phenomenal cheese cheese croissants.

Seriously? These both sound heavenly!

[Anonymous]

Mention it nicely. Can't hurt.

[Anonymous]

I love the sugar on top. That's my jam!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Mention it nicely. Can't hurt.

+1 of course it's your opinion and some people might share it and others might not.

[Anonymous]

I like both of those things!

[Anonymous]

I agree those two habits wouldn't be my cup of tea, either, OP, especially icing on cheese - SHUDDER - because it's not something you can non-messily scrape off if you're on your way to work or in a meeting. The sugar crumbs on muffins is more easily dealt with, so maybe you could let that go.

The business would probably like to have customers' feedback on these things, so if you speak courteously, there is no reason why you shouldn't tell them!

[Anonymous]

Yes, you should. As someone who has had financial interest in a bakery I can tell you that although one person's opinion might not change things most non-chain bakeries take customers' opinions seriously. If other customers also object to the same things that you do then the owner/manager may very well tweak those items.

It makes all the difference if you approach the matter in a friendly way.

[Anonymous]

Bakeries can be very accommodating. I'm sure you can request a certain number of pastries without the toppings and they'd be happy to do that without any extra charge. My grandmother used to make requests like that all the time and the bakers are happy to comply.

[Anonymous]

Ugh I hate those coarse sugar granules so I'm with you on that.

I might mention it, if I was a regular customer...something like "Hey, Do you guys ever make a muffin that doesn't have these sugar crystals on top?" If enough people ask, maybe they will try making a muffin without that sugar.

[Anonymous]

What bakery is this? If you take away the sugar on top of my muffins, OP, I'll NEVER forgive you.

[Anonymous]

No. But what you can do is request a batch one day without the parts you don't like. But DO NOT say you have constructive criticism.

[Anonymous]

Can someone please explain what the hell is appealing about all that coarse rock sugar on top of muffins? It makes me cringe just thinking about it.

And the white icing on the croissants is just stupid and clumsy overkill.

[Anonymous]

I LOVE the coarse sugar on top. It's just a nice little crunch. LOVE it.