Based on recent customer reviews, Krispy Kreme delivers doughnuts that customers repeatedly describe as fresh, soft and well stocked, with individual team members such as Rombi, Rejoice, Segabjale and Lerato praised for patient, warm help at Waterfront, V&A and Centurion Mall. Most criticism centres on counter service, including unwelcoming greetings, gossiping in front of customers, promotions not honoured and dismissive treatment of voucher users at The Glen, Menlyn, Canal Walk and Sun Coast. App and card payment failures, duplicate charges and unresolved refunds draw the sharpest frustration.
TrustIndex
4
NPS Score
10
Recommended: Likely
Dec '25 - Nov '26
Frequently Asked Questions About Krispy Kreme
What do customers say about Krispy Kreme?
Based on recent customer reviews, Krispy Kreme delivers doughnuts that customers repeatedly describe as fresh, soft and well stocked, with individual team members such as Rombi, Rejoice, Segabjale and Lerato praised for patient, warm help at Waterfront, V&A and Centurion Mall. Most criticism centres on counter service, including unwelcoming greetings, gossiping in front of customers, promotions not honoured and dismissive treatment of voucher users at The Glen, Menlyn, Canal Walk and Sun Coast. App and card payment failures, duplicate charges and unresolved refunds draw the sharpest frustration.
Is Krispy Kreme trustworthy?
Krispy Kreme has a TrustIndex of 4 out of 10 on Hellopeter, based on 22 reviews in the last 12 months. They reply to 17% of negative reviews, typically within 47 hours 21 min. Hellopeter has tracked Krispy Kreme across 215 total reviews. How is the TrustIndex calculated? →
Recent reviews (22)
Used this business recently? Share your experience to help others decide.
Used this business recently? Share your experience to help others decide.
Share Your Experience1 reviews | Active since Jun 2025
KRISPY KREME AT MAYVILLE MALL — DON'T USE SOUTH AFRICA'S DEMOCRACY FOR CHEAP ADVERTISING STUNTS!
🚨🍩🇿🇦 KRISPY KREME AT MAYVILLE MALL — DON'T USE SOUTH AFRICA'S DEMOCRACY FOR CHEAP ADVERTISING STUNTS! ONE O'CLOCK IN THE AFTERNOON AND ALREADY NO DOUGHNUTS! VOTING CONTINUES UNTIL NINE O'CLOCK TONIGHT! I am actually struggling to find words to describe how utterly ridiculous and disappointing this experience was. 😡 Today, 4 November 2026, South Africans are exercising their democratic right to vote. And Krispy Kreme decided to capitalise on the occasion with a beautiful advertisement promising voters a FREE Original Glazed Doughnut simply for showing their inked fingers. Wonderful! A company apparently recognising the importance of democracy and thanking South Africans for exercising their constitutional rights. OR WAS THIS JUST ANOTHER CHEAP ADVERTISING STUNT AT THE EXPENSE OF SOUTH AFRICAN VOTERS? Let me explain exactly what happened. My wife saw the advertisement and wanted one of the doughnuts. Simple enough. WE DON'T EVEN LIVE IN THE MAYVILLE MALL AREA! But because my wife wanted to take advantage of the advertised offer, I got into my vehicle and drove all the way to Krispy Kreme at Mayville Mall. We had voted. Our thumbs were marked. We had complied with the advertised conditions. We arrived at approximately 1:00 PM. And what did we discover? THE PROMOTIONAL DOUGHNUTS WERE ALREADY FINISHED! ARE YOU SERIOUS? 🤣🍩 One o'clock in the afternoon! VOTING CONTINUES UNTIL 9:00 PM TONIGHT, YET BY 1:00 PM THIS PARTICULAR STORE COULD NO LONGER HONOUR THE PROMOTION! Now, before somebody comes along with the ridiculous argument that I am complaining about a free doughnut, allow me to make something absolutely clear. THIS HAS ABSOLUTELY NOTHING TO DO WITH A DOUGHNUT! I can afford to buy my own doughnuts. I can afford to buy doughnuts for my wife. I certainly do not need a multinational brand to give me something for free. IT IS ABOUT THE PRINCIPLE! It is about a company using one of the most important days in our democracy to promote its brand, attract customers to its stores and generate publicity around an offer that, at least at Mayville Mall, was already unavailable by early afternoon. It is about my wife seeing an advertisement, believing the offer would be available, and me driving to a shopping centre outside our area, only to discover that the advertised promotional product was finished. OUR TIME, OUR FUEL, OUR EFFORT — ALL FOR WHAT? And Krispy Kreme, please don't insult our intelligence by pointing to the conveniently placed words "WHILE STOCKS LAST." I can read perfectly well! Of course, stock can run out. Nobody disputes that. But when you deliberately build an advertising campaign around election day, surely you anticipate that people will continue voting and visiting your stores throughout that day? HOW DO YOU RUN OUT OF YOUR ADVERTISED PROMOTIONAL PRODUCT WHEN THERE ARE STILL EIGHT HOURS OF VOTING LEFT? How many free doughnuts did you allocate to the Mayville Mall branch? How many voters did you actually intend to accommodate? Was there any realistic planning behind this promotion, or was the real objective simply to get your brand associated with election day and enjoy the advertising exposure? BECAUSE FROM WHERE I AM STANDING, THIS LOOKS FAR MORE LIKE A PUBLICITY EXERCISE THAN A MEANINGFUL GESTURE TOWARDS THE VOTERS OF THIS COUNTRY! And that is what makes me angry. Not the doughnut. Not its price. THE PRINCIPLE OF MAKING PROMISES TO THE PUBLIC, ENCOURAGING PEOPLE TO ACT ON THOSE PROMISES, AND THEN LEAVING THEM DISAPPOINTED! South Africans already have enough empty promises to deal with, especially during elections. DO WE REALLY NEED CORPORATE SOUTH AFRICA JOINING THE QUEUE WITH EMPTY PROMISES COVERED IN SUGAR? 🤣🤡🍩 I find it deeply disappointing that a company can associate itself with such an important democratic occasion without apparently ensuring that this particular branch has sufficient promotional stock to serve voters beyond lunchtime. And I want Krispy Kreme's management to understand something. YOU DID NOT LOSE A CUSTOMER OVER A FREE DOUGHNUT. YOU LOST MY CONFIDENCE OVER A MATTER OF PRINCIPLE. There is an enormous difference. A free doughnut costs relatively little. CUSTOMER TRUST IS PRICELESS. My advice to South Africans is simple: before driving anywhere to redeem this particular promotion, contact the branch and establish whether the advertised doughnuts are actually available. As for Krispy Kreme at Mayville Mall, I certainly will not be making another special trip. And Krispy Kreme's management is welcome to explain publicly why the advertised offer was already unavailable when we arrived at approximately 1:00 PM. DON'T USE DEMOCRACY AS AN ADVERTISING TOOL IF YOU ARE NOT ADEQUATELY PREPARED TO DELIVER ON YOUR PROMOTION! Our votes matter. Our time matters. Our money matters. And our trust matters. MY WIFE WANTED A DOUGHNUT. I DROVE ALL THE WAY THERE. WE LEFT WITH NOTHING BUT A VERY GOOD REASON TO QUESTION THIS ADVERTISING CAMPAIGN. I would genuinely like to know how many other South Africans experienced the same disappointment today. And one final message to Krispy Kreme: THE PROBLEM IS NOT THAT YOU RAN OUT OF DOUGHNUTS. THE PROBLEM IS THAT YOUR ADVERTISING CREATED AN EXPECTATION THAT YOUR MAYVILLE MALL BRANCH COULD NOT FULFIL WHEN WE ARRIVED. DON'T TURN OUR DEMOCRACY INTO A CHEAP ADVERTISING STUNT. 🇿🇦 AND DON'T EXPECT CUSTOMERS TO SWALLOW EMPTY PROMISES JUST BECAUSE THEY COME WITH ICING! 🍩🤣 📸 My inked thumb, the advertisement that prompted our visit and the Krispy Kreme store branding are pictured below. LEGAL DISCLAIMER: This publication reflects my firsthand account, personal experience and opinion concerning the availability of an advertised commercial promotion. References to advertising stunts, corporate motives and promotional planning constitute criticism, opinion and questions raised in the public interest, not established findings of intentional deception or ******** conduct. Krispy Kreme is entitled to respond and provide clarification. This publication is made in the exercise of freedom of expression under section 16 of the Constitution of the Republic of South Africa, 1996. No finding of ******** or statutory wrongdoing is asserted.
1 reviews | Active since Jun 2025
KRISPY KREME AT MAYVILLE MALL — DON'T USE SOUTH AFRICA'S DEMOCRACY FOR CHEAP ADVERTISING STUNTS!
🚨🍩🇿🇦 KRISPY KREME AT MAYVILLE MALL — DON'T USE SOUTH AFRICA'S DEMOCRACY FOR CHEAP ADVERTISING STUNTS! ONE O'CLOCK IN THE AFTERNOON AND ALREADY NO DOUGHNUTS! VOTING CONTINUES UNTIL NINE O'CLOCK TONIGHT! I am actually struggling to find words to describe how utterly ridiculous and disappointing this experience was. 😡 Today, 4 November 2026, South Africans are exercising their democratic right to vote. And Krispy Kreme decided to capitalise on the occasion with a beautiful advertisement promising voters a FREE Original Glazed Doughnut simply for showing their inked fingers. Wonderful! A company apparently recognising the importance of democracy and thanking South Africans for exercising their constitutional rights. OR WAS THIS JUST ANOTHER CHEAP ADVERTISING STUNT AT THE EXPENSE OF SOUTH AFRICAN VOTERS? Let me explain exactly what happened. My wife saw the advertisement and wanted one of the doughnuts. Simple enough. WE DON'T EVEN LIVE IN THE MAYVILLE MALL AREA! But because my wife wanted to take advantage of the advertised offer, I got into my vehicle and drove all the way to Krispy Kreme at Mayville Mall. We had voted. Our thumbs were marked. We had complied with the advertised conditions. We arrived at approximately 1:00 PM. And what did we discover? THE PROMOTIONAL DOUGHNUTS WERE ALREADY FINISHED! ARE YOU SERIOUS? 🤣🍩 One o'clock in the afternoon! VOTING CONTINUES UNTIL 9:00 PM TONIGHT, YET BY 1:00 PM THIS PARTICULAR STORE COULD NO LONGER HONOUR THE PROMOTION! Now, before somebody comes along with the ridiculous argument that I am complaining about a free doughnut, allow me to make something absolutely clear. THIS HAS ABSOLUTELY NOTHING TO DO WITH A DOUGHNUT! I can afford to buy my own doughnuts. I can afford to buy doughnuts for my wife. I certainly do not need a multinational brand to give me something for free. IT IS ABOUT THE PRINCIPLE! It is about a company using one of the most important days in our democracy to promote its brand, attract customers to its stores and generate publicity around an offer that, at least at Mayville Mall, was already unavailable by early afternoon. It is about my wife seeing an advertisement, believing the offer would be available, and me driving to a shopping centre outside our area, only to discover that the advertised promotional product was finished. OUR TIME, OUR FUEL, OUR EFFORT — ALL FOR WHAT? And Krispy Kreme, please don't insult our intelligence by pointing to the conveniently placed words "WHILE STOCKS LAST." I can read perfectly well! Of course, stock can run out. Nobody disputes that. But when you deliberately build an advertising campaign around election day, surely you anticipate that people will continue voting and visiting your stores throughout that day? HOW DO YOU RUN OUT OF YOUR ADVERTISED PROMOTIONAL PRODUCT WHEN THERE ARE STILL EIGHT HOURS OF VOTING LEFT? How many free doughnuts did you allocate to the Mayville Mall branch? How many voters did you actually intend to accommodate? Was there any realistic planning behind this promotion, or was the real objective simply to get your brand associated with election day and enjoy the advertising exposure? BECAUSE FROM WHERE I AM STANDING, THIS LOOKS FAR MORE LIKE A PUBLICITY EXERCISE THAN A MEANINGFUL GESTURE TOWARDS THE VOTERS OF THIS COUNTRY! And that is what makes me angry. Not the doughnut. Not its price. THE PRINCIPLE OF MAKING PROMISES TO THE PUBLIC, ENCOURAGING PEOPLE TO ACT ON THOSE PROMISES, AND THEN LEAVING THEM DISAPPOINTED! South Africans already have enough empty promises to deal with, especially during elections. DO WE REALLY NEED CORPORATE SOUTH AFRICA JOINING THE QUEUE WITH EMPTY PROMISES COVERED IN SUGAR? 🤣🤡🍩 I find it deeply disappointing that a company can associate itself with such an important democratic occasion without apparently ensuring that this particular branch has sufficient promotional stock to serve voters beyond lunchtime. And I want Krispy Kreme's management to understand something. YOU DID NOT LOSE A CUSTOMER OVER A FREE DOUGHNUT. YOU LOST MY CONFIDENCE OVER A MATTER OF PRINCIPLE. There is an enormous difference. A free doughnut costs relatively little. CUSTOMER TRUST IS PRICELESS. My advice to South Africans is simple: before driving anywhere to redeem this particular promotion, contact the branch and establish whether the advertised doughnuts are actually available. As for Krispy Kreme at Mayville Mall, I certainly will not be making another special trip. And Krispy Kreme's management is welcome to explain publicly why the advertised offer was already unavailable when we arrived at approximately 1:00 PM. DON'T USE DEMOCRACY AS AN ADVERTISING TOOL IF YOU ARE NOT ADEQUATELY PREPARED TO DELIVER ON YOUR PROMOTION! Our votes matter. Our time matters. Our money matters. And our trust matters. MY WIFE WANTED A DOUGHNUT. I DROVE ALL THE WAY THERE. WE LEFT WITH NOTHING BUT A VERY GOOD REASON TO QUESTION THIS ADVERTISING CAMPAIGN. I would genuinely like to know how many other South Africans experienced the same disappointment today. And one final message to Krispy Kreme: THE PROBLEM IS NOT THAT YOU RAN OUT OF DOUGHNUTS. THE PROBLEM IS THAT YOUR ADVERTISING CREATED AN EXPECTATION THAT YOUR MAYVILLE MALL BRANCH COULD NOT FULFIL WHEN WE ARRIVED. DON'T TURN OUR DEMOCRACY INTO A CHEAP ADVERTISING STUNT. 🇿🇦 AND DON'T EXPECT CUSTOMERS TO SWALLOW EMPTY PROMISES JUST BECAUSE THEY COME WITH ICING! 🍩🤣 📸 My inked thumb, the advertisement that prompted our visit and the Krispy Kreme store branding are pictured below. LEGAL DISCLAIMER: This publication reflects my firsthand account, personal experience and opinion concerning the availability of an advertised commercial promotion. References to advertising stunts, corporate motives and promotional planning constitute criticism, opinion and questions raised in the public interest, not established findings of intentional deception or ******** conduct. Krispy Kreme is entitled to respond and provide clarification. This publication is made in the exercise of freedom of expression under section 16 of the Constitution of the Republic of South Africa, 1996. No finding of ******** or statutory wrongdoing is asserted.
1 reviews | Active since Sept 2022
FREE VOTERS GLAZED DONIGHTS
They advertised free glazed donughts for all Voters with proof of voting today 4 November. we arrived at the branch in Brooklyn Mall at about 12h30, we were told that they dont have Voters glazed donughts and we walked away with nothing, dissapointed. NO REPLACEMENTS. Why did they advrtise free donughts for voters if they cant offer them? On display there were only 3 donughts and no other donughts in sight as per norm. VERY DISSAPOINTING TO ADVERTISE SOMETHING YOU DON'T HAVE.
1 reviews | Active since Sept 2022
FREE VOTERS GLAZED DONIGHTS
They advertised free glazed donughts for all Voters with proof of voting today 4 November. we arrived at the branch in Brooklyn Mall at about 12h30, we were told that they dont have Voters glazed donughts and we walked away with nothing, dissapointed. NO REPLACEMENTS. Why did they advrtise free donughts for voters if they cant offer them? On display there were only 3 donughts and no other donughts in sight as per norm. VERY DISSAPOINTING TO ADVERTISE SOMETHING YOU DON'T HAVE.
1 reviews | Active since Jun 2023
False Advertising
I ordered 2 dozen doughnuts online for my Springbok themed birthday party 29 August for collection at the Kenilworth store in Cape Town. I then bought an additional 6 springbok doughnuts in store. I asked for my complimentary hot drink as advertised on the Krispy Kreme website with any online order for collection. The staff laughed at me and said they don't give anything for free. This is extremely disappointing. Please educate your staff if they are not aware of promotions.
1 reviews | Active since Jun 2023
False Advertising
I ordered 2 dozen doughnuts online for my Springbok themed birthday party 29 August for collection at the Kenilworth store in Cape Town. I then bought an additional 6 springbok doughnuts in store. I asked for my complimentary hot drink as advertised on the Krispy Kreme website with any online order for collection. The staff laughed at me and said they don't give anything for free. This is extremely disappointing. Please educate your staff if they are not aware of promotions.
1 reviews | Active since Sept 2015
Sprinkles day!
World sprinkles day was it called? Was one of those "sprinkles" flies? Please get a glass for the back end of your display shelves. Totally unhygienic! I dont even want to talk about how unprofessional the person assisting us was.
1 reviews | Active since Sept 2015
Sprinkles day!
World sprinkles day was it called? Was one of those "sprinkles" flies? Please get a glass for the back end of your display shelves. Totally unhygienic! I dont even want to talk about how unprofessional the person assisting us was.
1 reviews | Active since Jul 2026
Rude Cashier Krispy Creme potchefstroom
I had a very disappointing experience at Krispy Kreme. As soon as we walked in, before we even had a chance to speak, we were asked, “What do you want?” and “What are you looking for?” in a way that felt rude and unwelcoming. We had placed an order through the Refreshi app for collection at 6:00 PM. We arrived a little early and simply waited quietly at the counter. Instead of politely telling us that our order would only be ready at 6:00 PM, the cashier rudely told us to leave and come back later, even though we were just waiting. When it was exactly 6:00 PM, we went back to the counter, but the cashier insisted that it wasn’t 6:00 yet, even though it was. She then chose to help another customer before assisting us. The whole interaction felt disrespectful and unnecessary. We weren’t asking for our order early—we were simply waiting patiently and expected to be treated with basic courtesy. Customer service should be friendly and respectful, and unfortunately, that wasn’t our experience. I hope Krispy Kreme addresses this so that future customers receive better service.
1 reviews | Active since Jul 2026
Rude Cashier Krispy Creme potchefstroom
I had a very disappointing experience at Krispy Kreme. As soon as we walked in, before we even had a chance to speak, we were asked, “What do you want?” and “What are you looking for?” in a way that felt rude and unwelcoming. We had placed an order through the Refreshi app for collection at 6:00 PM. We arrived a little early and simply waited quietly at the counter. Instead of politely telling us that our order would only be ready at 6:00 PM, the cashier rudely told us to leave and come back later, even though we were just waiting. When it was exactly 6:00 PM, we went back to the counter, but the cashier insisted that it wasn’t 6:00 yet, even though it was. She then chose to help another customer before assisting us. The whole interaction felt disrespectful and unnecessary. We weren’t asking for our order early—we were simply waiting patiently and expected to be treated with basic courtesy. Customer service should be friendly and respectful, and unfortunately, that wasn’t our experience. I hope Krispy Kreme addresses this so that future customers receive better service.
1 reviews | Active since May 2026
Bad service
I was unhappy with the service I received from a lady at the Sun Coast branch, her attitude was so poor. The card machine declines a payment and we keep trying different cards, then I tell her that the problem is with the machine because it’s not a problem from our side. She responded in an antagonist manner, saying customers have been using this machine so the problem is with us. Then, other people proceed and try to make card payments and the machine keeps on declining again, then another lady working there her name is Sanele, she tried restarting the machine and noticed that the machine is still not working. I am still shocked at the manner in which the lady responded to the situation, she made us feel inferior and made it seem like we came without money from the onset. After the other worker saw that indeed the problem is with their machine, she did not even bother to apologize instead, she just walked away and pretended to be oblivious to the situation at hand. We ended up not even taking the order and left due to the bad service. I am highly disappointed, it’s unfortunate that I did not get her name, but it was her, Sanele and another guy working there. The least she could have done was to acknowledge her mistake and apologize than to undermine people, it was such a horrific experience.
1 reviews | Active since May 2026
Bad service
I was unhappy with the service I received from a lady at the Sun Coast branch, her attitude was so poor. The card machine declines a payment and we keep trying different cards, then I tell her that the problem is with the machine because it’s not a problem from our side. She responded in an antagonist manner, saying customers have been using this machine so the problem is with us. Then, other people proceed and try to make card payments and the machine keeps on declining again, then another lady working there her name is Sanele, she tried restarting the machine and noticed that the machine is still not working. I am still shocked at the manner in which the lady responded to the situation, she made us feel inferior and made it seem like we came without money from the onset. After the other worker saw that indeed the problem is with their machine, she did not even bother to apologize instead, she just walked away and pretended to be oblivious to the situation at hand. We ended up not even taking the order and left due to the bad service. I am highly disappointed, it’s unfortunate that I did not get her name, but it was her, Sanele and another guy working there. The least she could have done was to acknowledge her mistake and apologize than to undermine people, it was such a horrific experience.
1 reviews | Active since Sept 2023
Tip Option
Since when did they introduce a tip option? Arn’t they paying their employees enough? It’s their job to pack donuts into a box and be polite. I don’t like being put on the spot to tip for very little service - the employee didn’t even say Thank you. Very bad move on the companies part.😩
1 reviews | Active since Sept 2023
Tip Option
Since when did they introduce a tip option? Arn’t they paying their employees enough? It’s their job to pack donuts into a box and be polite. I don’t like being put on the spot to tip for very little service - the employee didn’t even say Thank you. Very bad move on the companies part.😩