ComplaintsforBloomin' Brands, Inc.

• Initial Complaint

  05/23/2024

  Complaint Type:

  Billing Issues

  Status:

  Resolved

  More info

  I visited the Bloomin Brands restaurant, Outback #**** on 05/06/24 (check #****) in response to an ad that offered a steak and lobster meal for $19.99. I asked the server, ********, if I could upgrade the sirloin to a filet at an additional cost. She said yes. On previous occasions, when this same promotion has been offered, the server has asked if we wanted to upgrade. The ad itself says $19.99 and up. The difference in the price of the sirloin vs. filet is 15.99-25.99 = $10.00. When the check came I was charged the full price of $25.99: steak and *****: lobster. There was no discount for the promotion. I told the server and she said had to charge the full price since I changed the type of steak. I told her that she said I could. She said she would get the manager. He came and the 1st thing out of his mouth was its corporate policy. I explained that We have done this before after the server offered a steak upgrade for the promotion. I did not initiate the upgrade, they did. He said its corporate policy. I said the server, ********, said I could upgrade. He said, corporate policy. Everytime I said something, all he said was corporate policy. I emailed corporate headquarters and they had manager, ********************* call me. He left a message and I called back and left him a message. I called the restaurant again and again. He was either busy or not there and received no call back after leaving messages. But honestly, what can he do because its corporate policy to cheat customers. ********************************************* owes me. And another thing, the server snuck a 23% tip in the check and then asked for another tip on the $134.24 total. The correct check should have been $88.73.I want a refund of $45.51

  Business response

  06/17/2024

  Thank you for contacting us. We have connected with the guest and issued a refund. 
  Please let us know if there are any further concerns. 
  
  Thank you,

  
  Outback Steakhouse

  Customer response

  06/18/2024

   
  Better Business Bureau:
  
  I have reviewed the response made by the business in reference to complaint ID ********, and find that this resolution is satisfactory to me.
  
  Sincerely,
  
  *************************

• Initial Complaint

  05/15/2024

  Complaint Type:

  Product Issues

  Status:

  Resolved

  More info

  I am writing to express my disappointment and frustration regarding a recent issue with an Outback gift card. On May 4th, I emailed Bloomin' Brands gift card customer service to check the balance of the gift card because there is no PIN on the giftcard. As a result, I am unable to access the balance or utilize the gift card. However, it has been over ten days since my initial inquiry, and I have yet to receive any response or resolution. I was hoping if there is value on the card a new one can be reissued with a PIN. The card number is *******************.

  Business response

  05/15/2024

  Hi *******,

  Thank you for contacting us. I sincerely apologize for the inconvenience this has caused and I will be happy to further assist you. 

  Unfortunately, I am not able to locate any email communication from your email given. However, I will be more than happy to proceed with assisting with your gift card via email. Please look for an email shortly from *************************************** for further assistance.

  Sincerely,

  Gift card team 

   

  Customer response

  05/17/2024

   
  Better Business Bureau:
  
  I have reviewed the response made by the business in reference to complaint ID ********, and find that this resolution is satisfactory to me.
  
  Sincerely,
  
  ***********************

• Initial Complaint

  04/19/2024

  Complaint Type:

  Product Issues

  Status:

  Answered

  More info

  Received four Christmas gift cards for Outback Stack House valued around $114 dollars They closed 41 outlet without any notifications which was the one I used in ************ IA /Stating an outlet is near ********** **** 150 miles away....I am retired and not easy to travel proper notice should have been notified. None of their associated places are in **** Value $114.00 dollars should be refunded to me,,,,,,and the company should advise me the procedure to do this.

  Business response

  04/19/2024

  Hi *****,

  I sincerely apologize for the inconvenience this closure has caused. Closing this location was a business decision based on the performance of the restaurant.
  
  Closing a restaurant is always a difficult decision for our company, no matter how fiscally responsible it is. The decision is one that is not made lightly and a lot of thought and analysis for performance, potential and the market of the restaurant goes into this decision.

  I can see you emailed us at *************************************** on 4/17/2024. We have responded to your email (from ******************) and requested the information required in order to further assist with your gift cards.  

  We will be happy to further assist you via that email chain. 

  Thank you for your loyalty to Bloomin' Brands, we will miss you and hope to host you again in the future. 

  Sincerely, Gift card team 

• Initial Complaint

  04/02/2024

  Complaint Type:

  Billing Issues

  Status:

  Answered

  More info

  3/11/2024 and 3/31/2024 Trying to place order and pay with gift cards and bonus cards via the website have resulted in being told "****'t use" how and why can we not use these items which were purchased via the website? The we NEVER are given the reward points after we do finally have to call and place order on the 11th or the 31st we have to pay with a credit card and the $10 are made to buy something we didn't even want.To top it off when we go to the website to add "missing points" get "Not a valid transaction"... You changed the way rewards are earned, now changed the website, and it's all a hassle and a way to discriminate against a Female Disabled Veteran.

  Business response

  04/02/2024

  Hi,

  Thank you for contacting us. I apologize for the inconvenience this has caused and I am happy to further assist you. 

  Bonus cards are not able to be used for pre-pay online. The terms and conditions on the bonus cards state "to pre-pay, call your local location". The bonus cards are permitted to be used on pickup orders, however, you must call the store location to pay over the phone with a bonus card or bring the bonus card in person to pay upon pickup. The bonus cards are also not compatible for redemption in conjunction with Dine Rewards points or additional promotional discounts. 

  If you will please provide a front and back image (or screenshots, if digital) of your gift cards and bonus cards, as well as your full mailing address, I will be happy to further investigate.

  If you are missing Dine Rewards points from a visit, please contact ************************************** and they will be happy to assist you. 

  
  Sincerely,
  Gift Card Team
  
  

  Customer response

  04/02/2024

   
  Complaint: 21511079
  
  I am rejecting this response because: it's a joke as is Dine rewards.  You can close this as I will take my business elsewhere from here forward!!! 
  
  Sincerely,
  
  ***********************

• Initial Complaint

  03/18/2024

  Complaint Type:

  Product Issues

  Status:

  Answered

  More info

  Date was 2/10/2024 I ordered two dinners for pickup and the meals were not cooked right I asked for Medium Well steaks I got rare they were ****** and blood rain into the crab cake meal was ruined couldnt save them my husband ended up ordering pizza and wings from dominos. It was a romantic dinner I planned. Next day I reached out to them because I was upset and it was late when this happen let them know what happen via contact feedback the manager called me-back offered gift cards to fix it I was like sure . Then he calls me back and says he doesn't have any he will refund me. I said ok he sent me an email said he had adjusted the order and refunded it. That money never made it to my card.. I contacted them and let them know. The last guy I talk to got nasty and was like there is no way I can track it down all we can do is press the online refund button. That refund never processed. I told them I had a gift card I used at pickup so the amount was different. They tried to refund me the full amount is why I believe I never received the refund. They tried to refund 57.84What came out my account was *****

  Business response

  03/19/2024

  Guest has been contacted and concerns have been resolved.

• Initial Complaint

  02/20/2024

  Complaint Type:

  Service or Repair Issues

  Status:

  Resolved

  More info

  The steak was grissell and fat I got maybe two little bites I could eat. The Aussie fries were very cold. The only thing good was the salad and bread.

  Business response

  02/22/2024

  Guest has been contacted and concerns have been resolved. 

  Customer response

  02/22/2024

   
  Better Business Bureau:
  
  I have reviewed the response made by the business in reference to complaint ID ********, and find that this resolution is satisfactory to me.
  
  Sincerely,
  
  ***************************

• Initial Complaint

  02/18/2024

  Complaint Type:

  Customer Service Issues

  Status:

  Answered

  More info

  On January 1st, I meet a friend for lunch at the Outback Steakhouse on ********************************************************* We noticed a lady carrying a small Chihuahua dog in ********** tote bag. I asked our waitress are dogs allowed in here. She said she would ask her manager. We continued our conversation. I noticed a lady who was walking briskly and forcefully through the restaurant...she stopped quickly at our table with pure annoyance on her face. She rudely and aggressively said she was the assistant manager. She proceeded to tell us that we wanted to know if dogs were allowed in there and she talked with the customer and that the dog is a service dog and yes, they are allowed in there. The dog is going to stay. I interjected and said, "That's not a service dog!" While standing over me and berating me she said, "Do you have any credentials on you that qualifies you to determine if any animal is a service dog or not?" She extended her hand out waiting for me to give her papers. She said, "if you don't have the proper credentials, you are in no position to say which animals are service dogs or not." Please keep in mind that I never asked to speak to a manager and just simply made a comment. She was rude and hostile. She told me she can seat me somewhere else in the store and then said if I don't like it, you can go somewhere else. I told her to go away and leave me alone because she kept going on and on. She then bent down at my table eye level with me saying she is not going anywhere, this her restaurant, she's not leaving, etc. she's staying here, etc. A tall man came out and told her he would handle it. He then told me to leave, he heard the whole conversation and that I need to leave. I sat there and he towered over me saying, "Look at you, you're acting like a child" You're just going to ignore me. He then volunteered his name, *************************" and said he was the owner. I have a more detailed letter attached that explains the humiliating ordeal I experienced in this establishment. The unprofessional behaviors of management are a serious problem.

  Business response

  02/22/2024

  Attempted to call and email guest.

  Customer response

  02/24/2024

   
  Complaint: 21111353
  
  I am rejecting the response because they are NOT telling the truth. Ive called and left my information with them on 1/3, 1/8 called office in Florida, 1/9, secretary took my info and promised Id get a call back and sent my information to their complaint department. I called again on 1/23 , 2/2 and left my information with the secretary name ****. This company had my phone number and email because it was verified by their secretary.
  Sincerely,
  
  *************************

  Business response

  03/01/2024

  The management team has tried to connect with guest by phone and email several times this week. 

  Customer response

  03/07/2024

   
  Complaint: 21111353
  
  I am rejecting this response because:
  
  Sincerely,
  
  *************************

• Initial Complaint

  01/11/2024

  Complaint Type:

  Service or Repair Issues

  Status:

  Answered

  More info

  I frequent this restaurant frequently when I want to treat myself to lunch in which case I did this yesterday, Monday, January 8, ****. The Outback Restaurant in which I went to on the above referenced day was Outback Steakhouse located at *********************************************************************************************** *****. I was there between the hours of 11:00 AM thru 12:00 pm and had my lunch. I had purchased my lunch with a gift card that my friend sent to me. Apparently the gift card that I used was the wrong one. But that was the only one I had. The one that I should of used was for $50.00 and the one that I used had a balance of $6.81 which I had used at this same location before. After I presented the card to the waiter, he came back to the table there was a problem with the card. The amount was for $61.89. And then this woman came over and I assumed that was the Manager who I had never seen before because I know all of the people at the restaurant and I have become very friendly with them. They know me for years. As I am a regular customer. But after what happened yesterday, I am having second thoughts about going back to that restaurant which was a favorite place of my husband and myself. We both loved it. To make a long story short, the Manager came over and asked me if a had any collateral. And of course I said no. And said to me that I could not leave the restaurant if I did not pay the bill and even threatened to call the police. And she said that you would rather not do that and neither did I. So I paid the bill with my debit card which left an overdraft in my account because of another check that was cleared the very same day. I just wanted to crawl down a hole and forget that had happened. It is the worst feeling in the world when you cannot leave a restaurant because you were short on cash. This has happened before when I was short on money and they took care of it. This was was a different Manager.

  Business response

  01/11/2024

  Hi,

  I am very sorry for the inconvenience this has caused you. We understand there are some things out of our customer's control and we will do our best to assist you. 

  We will be happy to investigate your gift cards. Please attach front and back images (or screenshots, if digital) of your cards. Once we receive these images, we will be able to access the gift card numbers to investigate their transaction histories. 

  Again, I am very sorry for the poor experience. 

  Sincerely,

  Gift card team 

• Initial Complaint

  01/09/2024

  Complaint Type:

  Product Issues

  Status:

  Resolved

  More info

  Long story short a delivery through a third party ended up having an insect in our one beverage, it was sealed, so we know it is at the fault of BG.Third party gave like a third back which is fine, if I should go after them I will.BG took an initial phone call, they told me email them, I did, and nothing, would like the difference refunded, which is around $60 give or take.I have a picture if needed.

  Customer response

  12/16/2023

  Hello ******,

  Credit card, DoorDash, which one, or both?

  Whole transaction history behind both since a partial refund was given?

  Sincerely,

  ***

  Customer response

  12/19/2023

  Hello ******,

  Just emailed you.

  Sincerely,

  ***

  Customer response

  01/09/2024

  Hello ******,

  The ************************************************************************* location.

  Sincerely,

  ***

  Business response

  01/09/2024

  Hello, 

  This notification is has been recieved by the incorrect location. It needs to be forwarded to the ********** location, or to the *********** in *****, **.

  Thank You, 

  *************************

  Managing Partner 

  Bonefish Grill 

  *************,**

  Business response

  01/22/2024

   I did speak with ******** and was able to resolve the issue.  I am mailing him certificates to make up for the issue and the third party delivery service returned a portion of his bill as well.

  Customer response

  01/22/2024

  
  

• Initial Complaint

  01/05/2024

  Complaint Type:

  Product Issues

  Status:

  Resolved

  More info

  I am writing this because I purchased a bloomin brands resteraunt gift card at a ****** store. I put 100 dollars on the card and sent it. The bone fish grill would not accept it because they said it was not activated. So I called the card company and they activated it but said there was no money on it. So I went to ****** and they could not help without a receipt and the person who could retrieve the receipt was not there. When I finally got to her at the store she told me she could not do it and they could do nothing for me. I feel ripped off by ****** and bloomin brands. I do a lot of business at these companies and that will no longer be the case. And I am going to tell my friends and family members about the business practices of ******.

  Business response

  01/08/2024

  Hi,

  We are sorry to hear you are contacting us under such circumstances. This card was purchased from a 3rd party location (meaning a Wal-Mart, CVS, grocery store, etc.) When the gift card is purchased, the cashier is required to swipe the card to activate it.
  
  If you will please provide us with the receipt showing proof of purchase, we can investigate this further. From this receipt we can confirm how much money this card should have been loaded with, we can confirm this gift card was purchased, and we can confirm which location we will be charging for this purchase.
  
  Please attach a copy of your receipt, a front and back image of your gift card, along with your full name and mailing address.
  
  Thank you for your patience and understanding.

   

  Sincerely,

  Gift card team 

  Customer response

  01/08/2024

   
  Better Business Bureau:
  
  I have reviewed the response made by the business in reference to complaint ID ********, and find that this resolution is satisfactory to me.
  
  Sincerely,
  
  *******************

*Some consumers may elect to not publish the details of their complaints, some complaints may not meet BBB's standards for publication, or BBB may display a portion of complaints when a high volume is received for a particular business. ↩