Why I Will No Longer Promote Community Coffee

As a review blogger, it is my responsibility to convey my honest opinions about companies, products and services. Not only am I to relate my opinions, I am also to share my experiences...both good and bad. Today, I am sad to inform my readers of my recent, frustrating experiences with Community Coffee. This is not something I enjoy, but something that is necessary. I believe that if I sit down and don't say anything about this, the company will never know that they need to improve in this area of business. Also, before I continue, please know that I have gone above and beyond to rectify this issue and my attempts have been met with empty promises and unfulfilled requests by this company. They too will be receiving a copy of this post.

Back in November of 2012, I contacted Community Coffee about being a part of my Holiday Gift Guide. They were under no obligation to participate but I was thrilled when they agreed. My package came in and I wrote (what I thought was) a lovely review. They also offered to giveaway the same package I received to a giveaway winner...which was also wonderful. My readers thoroughly enjoyed this review and actively participated in the giveaway. At the close of the giveaway, I emailed my winner and after she responded, I emailed my rep at Community Coffee. This was back on January 2nd. My email to the rep at Community Coffee (Meredith) came back to me as undeliverable. Right away, I called Community Coffee to see who could handle my request as they had told me that Meredith was no longer with the company. After speaking to someone there, I was told to email a different PR rep, named Blair. This person did email me back and I was relieved, thinking everything would be settled soon.

To save you the back and forth, I sent her my winner's shipping info and thought everything was taken care of at that point. On February 14th, my winner emailed to let me know she was still awaiting her prize. So, I emailed Blair again. That email was returned as undeliverable  So, at this point I didn't know who to contact about this. I called Community Coffee once again (this PR rep was no longer with the company either) and was transferred to so many different departments, it made my head spin. NO ONE could help me and when I asked to speak to ANYONE in the media department, well, they were all gone for the WEEK. I left a message for the person who is the manager of the media department and was told (after I called back to make sure he would get the message) that I could contact someone named Paige on Monday. (And, it took the PR manager 2 weeks to call me back). When I asked for her email, I was told that it could not be given out so I would need to call back.

After finally getting a phone call from the PR Manager, he told me he was very sorry and thanked me for my persistence.  I was glad to finally be getting this issue resolved (hopefully) and he gave me another person to email and told me that he would follow up with her the next day. This was on a Wednesday. SO, I emailed this other person.

After not receiving a reply acknowledging that my email had been received and was being handled,  I re-sent the email again, one week later. Still, I heard nothing. This led to yet another phone call and of course, no one was available to take my call. I will note at this point that the receptionist was VERY good at taking my phone call and was very apologetic that I had not been taken care of. She was a real sweetheart and I am thankful for her patience.

Finally, I have been able to get in contact (with another blogger's help) with a PR company who seems to be handling Community Coffee's PR requests. I have been speaking back and forth with this company and to this day, I am still not sure if my winner will receive her prize.

Never before have I had such poor customer service and I should not have had to go through the hoops that I have gone through. Never again will I be working with Community Coffee and never again will I recommend Community Coffee to anyone. It is my hope that they will realize the trouble and frustration that I have gone through, as a blogger, and somehow re-work their media relations department. I truly wonder what a customer has to go through if they have an issue.

I just wanted to share with you all my experience and hope that no one else has to deal with this kind of mess. I will state once again that I have attempted to rectify this situation with Community Coffee (emails, phone calls and tweets), which is why I am now publishing this on my blog.  Also, I do not enjoy writing negative reviews like this, I just feel that it is my responsibility to YOU, my readers to know that I do my very best to always convey my reviews honestly and that if you do not receive a prize that I will work my hardest to get your prize fulfilled. Now, on to better and more positive things. :)

Holiday Gift Guide ~ Community Coffee Review & Giveaway

I love coffee. My mornings haven't officially started until I have had my morning coffee. Because I am currently nursing, I prefer a decaf blend but most of the time I love a nice cup of fully leaded coffee. :) My favorite coffees are the flavored ones, although I recently learned that I can flavor my own coffee which has been so much fun. So, I don't know many people who do not like coffee and I think that coffee can make a fantastic Christmas gift...especially for the hard-to-by-for person.

Today, I am going to talk to you a little bit about Community Coffee. This is a company that manufactures some really tasty coffees and gifts for the coffee lover. My mom knows a couple who absolutely adore Community Coffee and it is all they drink! Personally, I think their coffees are wonderful too and this time of the year is wonderful for featuring this company on my blog. Here is a bit more of the history of Community Coffee...

For four generations, the Saurage family of Louisiana has owned and operated Community Coffee Company. In 1919, Henry Norman "Cap" Saurage discovered the secret of making this great-tasting coffee in his country store on the north edge of Baton Rouge, Louisiana. He named his coffee "Community" in honor of his community of friends. In 1924, he closed the store and converted his backyard barn into a coffee mill, using coffee beans purchased from a local roaster. In 1941, Cap's son H. Norman Saurage Jr. purchased the company's first coffee roaster, having decided that Community should roast its own coffee to ensure quality at every step. A roasting plant was built in Baton Rouge in 1946.

Over the years, Community Coffee Company would take countless steps to ensure the quality of its product. In 1955, the company began importing green coffee beans directly from coffee plantations in Brazil. In 1970, a new plant was built on the Mississippi River in Port Allen, Louisiana. In 1980, Community introduced the nation's first vacuum-sealed coffee package.

The first CC's Community Coffee House opened on the corner of Jefferson and Magazine Street in New Orleans in 1995. Dozens more opened during the 10 years that followed.

It's been more than 90 years since Cap Saurage founded Community Coffee Company, but our mission has never changed – to share our passion for great coffee with our customers.

I have tried Community Coffee before and was very excited when they agreed to be a part of my Holiday Gift Guide!

So, for this review I was sent the Season's Greetings Variety Pack and it is sooo lovely! It contains four bags of ground coffee in four different flavors. In this pack you will find Holiday Jazz, Dark Roast, Cafe' Special and Bread Pudding flavored coffee.

I already know that I love the Bread Pudding coffee, so I thought I would try the Cafe' Special. It sounded like a coffee that would not be really strong and that is what I prefer. 

The aroma of this coffee is wonderful...it isn't too strong and smells very fresh too. I love whole bean coffee but hate having to grind my own beans (I don't have a grinder either)...so ground coffee is my preference for convenience's sake.

After my coffee was done brewing, I added some French Vanilla creamer to coffee and took a sip. The flavor is amazing. Full, fresh and flavorful, this coffee helped me jump-start my day and prepare myself for the busy hours that awaited me. I have enjoyed several cups since and each cup has been perfect!

Along with this Season's Greetings Variety Pack (which retails for $29.99), Community Coffee also offers several other beautiful seasonal gift packs that would make wonderful gifts. If you are looking for a great Chinese Auction gift, why not check out Community Coffee? I, for one, would LOVE to receive one of these gift packs as a present! :)

So, in my opinion...Community Coffee is a wonderful coffee company! With their wide variety of gift ideas and coffee selections, they are sure to have something for everyone. I love the coffee sampler I was sent and am especially enjoying the Cafe' Special and Bread Pudding flavored coffees....yummm. I would definitely recommend this company to anyone! :)

Community Coffee has offered to give away a Season's Greetings Variety Pack to one of my readers!!! Here are your entry options...
a Rafflecopter giveaway

Disclaimer: I received no monetary compensation for this post.I did receive a free Season's Greetings Variety Pack for review purposes. All quotes and stock photos are from the Community Coffee website and email. Prize is being provided and shipped by the sponsor.  All thoughts and opinions are 100% mine.