Local Pizza Restaurant Rant

This is one of those times I am using the blog to share an experience with readers. Have you had a similar one in your area?

We often think that mom & pop small businesses, maybe those in the restaurant category more than any other, are much better at customer service (and even common sense) than cookie-cutter chain stores.

This story makes me reexamine that belief.

I frequently receive menus with attached coupons in the mail for a local pizza place. I save all the coupons. The other day, I ordered two pizzas over the phone with one of the coupons. The woman told me that the coupon was “too old” and they “don’t have that anymore.” (There is no expiration date listed n any of the coupons this place sends.)

She told me they had a different current coupon running which – are you ready for this – was the same thing - for two pizzas with a certain number of toppings, but also included a salad. The inclusion of the salad increased the price of course. I told her that I had already sent people to get the food with the coupon I expected to use. (They were going to the grocery store first and then to pick up the food.)

I asked if they would simply honor that coupon we already had. Here’s the best part. She said there was no way for her to do that because that special was no longer programmed into the computer and there was no way for her to ring it up!

I wish you could see the size of this place. It’s a typical mom and pop pizza joint – they have two employees working at a time. It’s unbelievable that they are even using a computerized system. Putting that aside for a moment, the computer doesn’t have a discount button that she could have used after entering the items at regular price?

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