Published by JPLand on 15 Feb 2008 at 09:45 am
Customer Service
There’s an old saying out there that goes something like this: You can’t fix stupid.
I would like to amend that statement to say: You can’t fix stupid but you can hire it to work your cash register and drive-thru.
Not too long ago, I received an e-mail from my favorite fast-food restaurant that said I could have a free entree of my choice. Why this special treatment? Apparently I signed-up for an e-mail list, they found out when my birthday was and they wanted to do something nice for me. How about that….some company that I don’t even know buys me lunch. (What did you get me for my birthday? Now I see who my real friends are.) So anyway, I took my coupon to the restaurant, selected the “Fat Sam” (fajitas), customized it, and went to the cash register. Now, before you enjoy the wonderful discussion that ensued, I should point out that I took no cash with me to the restaurant because my wife doesn’t allow me to carry any. So with that in mind, please join me for a walk down memory lane:
Worker: That will be 45 cents
Me: What? Why 45 cents? The coupon is for one free menu item and that’s what I have.
worker: You got the “Alfredo Garcia” fajitas and added sour cream, so you have to pay for the sour cream.
me: No, I ordered the Fat Sam, which comes with sour cream and guacamole. I don’t want the guacamole, so there’s just sour cream.
worker: No sir, what you have is the Alfredo Garcia with sour cream added.
confused me: Listen…it’s the same thing. I ordered it this way so that I don’t have to pay for the sour cream. It’s all in how you ring it up. Just punch in that I have a Fat Sam and it will work out OK.
worker: I can’t do that. In order for it to be a Fat Sam, you have to have sour cream and guacamole.
agitated me: Look, you’re charging me to not take the guacamole. That’s absurd!
worker: No, I’m charging you for the added sour cream.
mad me: Alright, how about this. Put the guacamole in one of those little containers and ring it up as a Fat Sam since now I’ll have both the guacamole and sour cream.
worker: Yeah, I can do that. (Gets guacamole and puts it in one of those little cups - presses buttons on register) OK, one free Fat Sam, no charge. Thank you, have a nice day!
me: (Walk away with my food, but I leave the little cup-o-guac sitting on the counter)
worker: Sir, you’re forgetting your guacamole.
are-you-kidding-me? me: (trying not to throw my tray of food at the worker) Oh, I don’t want that…you can throw it away.
worker: (throws guacamole away, oblivious to what has just occurred….and then moves on to the next customer)
This is the future of our nation. And judging from the interaction, that worker will probably hold public office someday.
Jonathan on 16 Feb 2008 at 1:59 pm #
It makes you want to apply for a concealed weapon permit, doesn’t it?
“You have to ask yourself one question………”
JPLand on 16 Feb 2008 at 4:19 pm #
At least this was a fast-food restaurant and not somewhere that common sense is require….like the DMV. Now those people are always the prime example of “professionalism”.
lance on 19 Feb 2008 at 1:59 pm #
That is so funny! You should have handed her the guacamole back and asked her if you could trade it in for more sour cream.
Caity on 19 Feb 2008 at 6:18 pm #
Was it a her? Wow lance…
JPLand on 19 Feb 2008 at 8:07 pm #
That is impressive, lance. Let’s see if you can guess her name!!
lance on 20 Feb 2008 at 1:50 pm #
I thought it was obvious that this was a female. A man would have said, “I can’t ‘officially’ tell you this but you can trade that guacamole in for more meat if you just ask.”