How to screw up a good thing

[killer_carlson]

The wife and I quite like the community pizza joint around the corner. We order once a week and get the same thing each time. We like it because it's close and it's also an independant thing run by two guys in their early 20s. I like seeing them succeed and enjoy supporting these types of businesses.

So I order tonight and they screw up my order. They put crap on it that I can't eat so I called them up and let them know. I said I'd bring this one back and get the right one when it was ready. No worries.

The guy admitted he screwed it up. He then went on to say that there was no more pizzas tonight but I could get my next one at 3:00 am when they would have more dough.

I laughed as I thought he was joking and he wasn't. I said that I wouldn't be around at 3:00 so he said "gee, that's too bad" or something like that.

It blew me away. People make mistakes, whatever, fix it. But the attitude when I called him on it blew me the frick away. This was the same order, each week, and I'm guessing he doesn't want the business. Oh well.

I highly doubt we'll be going back and next time we'll order pizza from a big chain for our "date" evening.

[ken0042]

Call back tomorrow around 4:00pm and ask to speak to the manager. My guess is you were talking to the guy running the shift right now; not the guy in charge. Explain that you have been a loyal weekly customer, what you were told, and can he make it right for you.

[icarus]

Originally Posted by ken0042

Call back tomorrow around 4:00pm and ask to speak to the manager. My guess is you were talking to the guy running the shift right now; not the guy in charge. Explain that you have been a loyal weekly customer, what you were told, and can he make it right for you.

Yep, could result in a free pizza or two for you.

[Azure]

Originally Posted by ken0042

Call back tomorrow around 4:00pm and ask to speak to the manager. My guess is you were talking to the guy running the shift right now; not the guy in charge. Explain that you have been a loyal weekly customer, what you were told, and can he make it right for you.

Ditto.

I bet you anything that you didn't speak to the owners.

[Rathji]

While I understand your frustration and do not agree with his apparent attitude towards you ... If they have no dough, how can they make you pizza?

[Superflyer]

Originally Posted by Rathji

While I understand your frustration and do not agree with his apparent attitude towards you ... If they have no dough, how can they make you pizza?

Or make one for anyone else, what they don't expect to sell any mroe until 3:00?

[Rathji]

Originally Posted by Superflyer

Or make one for anyone else, what they don't expect to sell any mroe until 3:00?

I worked for Domino's when I got out of high school and on one occasion the truck that delivered our dough was late and we literally had to tell people that we could not make any more pizza's.

I assumed that they would be telling the truth, maybe that assumption is an incorrect one. Either way, they dealt with the situation incorrectly and that is what I thought the OP was complaining out.

[You Need a Thneed]

I've driven through a taco bell drive through just as they ran out of meat. These things happen occasionally. I imagine the stores do everything they can so it doesn't happen.

[jolinar of malkshor]

Originally Posted by You Need a Thneed

I've driven through a taco bell drive through just as they ran out of meat. These things happen occasionally. I imagine the stores do everything they can so it doesn't happen.

Ya I went to a Taco time and they ran out of meat. The guy asked if I wanted a bean burito. NOO.

Sorry but that should never happen. That is your business and if you can't plan ahead then, well, maybe you shouldn't be in business. And if it does happen have a plan in place in case it does.

The other day a Subway ran out of lettuce. Hello, really lettuce. Atleast run to the store and grab some more.

The least the employee should have done was given a couple free pizzas.

[Rathji]

Originally Posted by jolinar of malkshor

The other day a Subway ran out of lettuce. Hello, really lettuce. Atleast run to the store and grab some more.

I remember at Domino's it was suggested that we make our own dough, but they said that the franchise agreement said all our (non fresh veggie) materials must be purchased from them to ensure consistent product from store to store. They can apparently fine you, or revoke your franchise if they get complaints on issues related to quality due to non standard ingredients.

I know Subway has a similar thing , and AFAIK it covers almost all their meat and sauces, and most of their veggies with the exception of tomatoes.

[jammies]

I was sure this thread would be some sob story about how you lost your girlfriend because you cheated on her with a Brazilian swimsuit model while enroute to the Caymans in your private jet to put a few more million in the bank.

Man, was I disappointed. I wanted that model's phone number if you weren't going to use it.

[WesternCanadaKing]

These things happen from time to time, they can be hard to plan to prevent.

I work at a Second Cup, and we just ran out of the stuff we need to make chocolate syrup. We can't exactly order 'emergency' syrup packets because they would go bad. Plus we're crammed for space as it is. Just had to tell people that we couldn't make any moccas or hot chocolates.

The way the guy dealt with it is pretty stupid though. I'd probably do what others have suggested and talk to the manager and get some free pizza.

[Hack&Lube]

Buy your pizza from Costco! Giant pizzas, they give you one free for no reason if you voice a problem with it.

Ordered Pepperoni, got Hawaiian instead, got a free Pepperoni as well even after eating the first one. (No, I didn't do this, but I have relatives who will and did)

[jolinar of malkshor]

Originally Posted by Hack&Lube

Buy your pizza from Costco! Giant pizzas, they give you one free for no reason if you voice a problem with it.

Ordered Pepperoni, got Hawaiian instead, got a free Pepperoni as well even after eating the first one. (No, I didn't do this, but I have relatives who will and did)

I can only eat those after a night of drinking.

[Dion]

Originally Posted by Rathji

While I understand your frustration and do not agree with his apparent attitude towards you ... If they have no dough, how can they make you pizza?

How the hell does a pizza operation run out of dough during prime time? That's a ton of business they just lost that night, AND customers also.

Frankly i find it hard to belive that a community operation would run out of dough, since practicaly all of them make their own.

If it's one of the owners that screwed up that pizza, they won't be in business very long.

[Dion]

Originally Posted by WesternCanadaKing

These things happen from time to time, they can be hard to plan to prevent.

In my view running out of dough is something that should never happen. A smart operator/owner will have rough numbers that indicate how many pizzas they sell on a nightly basis. Running out has more to do with incompetence and poor management.

[Circa89]

Originally Posted by WesternCanadaKing

These things happen from time to time, they can be hard to plan to prevent.

I work at a Second Cup, and we just ran out of the stuff we need to make chocolate syrup.

That's akin to running out of anchovies or black olives. If you had run out of coffee at a coffee shop that would be the same as running out of Pizza Dough running a Pizza Parlour.
Brutal customer service. This excuse of a labour shortage has to end soon. I am sick of crap service in this town. Too bad to because I love to support the independent in whatever field that may be.

[Clarkey]

I think you can't go back now. If you phone to complain about the issue you might get a free pizza but you run the risk of getting your pizza spit on.

[Rathji]

Originally Posted by Dion

How the hell does a pizza operation run out of dough during prime time? That's a ton of business they just lost that night, AND customers also.

How does a ANY company run out of anything? Supplier issues. Delivery issues. Storage issues.

Frankly i find it hard to belive that a community operation would run out of dough, since practicaly all of them make their own.

Its not like a pizza place has a giant dough factory in the back that just churns out dough at a moments notice, fresh and ready for each individual order. Even if this pizza place makes their own dough instead of buying from a supplier, making dough takes time, ingredients and someone able to do it.

Trust me, in this labour market you probably don't have more than one guy who can toss the dough for each pizza working at any one time, let alone an additional guy in the back who can churn out pizza dough at the speed needed to keep up with pizza orders.

[llama64]

It's pretty easy to cast judgement on this Pizza place for not being prepared. Might even make you feel high and mighty (the worst type of customer).

The place had one bad night and screwed up your order. Perhaps the stocking truck was delayed. Perhaps the manager calculated the wrong amount of dough needed. Perhaps they had a massive amount of orders that night and ran out of dough. Whatever it was, I bet it was a one time occurrence. To throw a fit over one minor inconvenience is only harming yourself since you professed to enjoy the place so much.

Now, if this was a re-occurring problem, then I might have sympathy for you.

There seems to be a lot of ignorance regarding the food industry in this thread. I'd like to see half of you guys go run a small restaurant for a year then come back and pontificate on how poorly run this pizza joint is.

/grumpy...