I spend money there!

[unholypet]

Today, I had the unfortunance to answer the phone to a local furniture guy. I live in a very small town, where everyone knows everyone, and this guy thinks he is the big cheese. S for secretary, JJ for the cheesy fellow.

Me: Thank you for calling (pizza company), this is UnholyPet, how may I help you?
S: I'd like a pick-up order.
Me: Okay! What can I get for you?
S: I have a coupon for, buy one large and get one medium one-topping for free?
Me: All righty, what would you like on the large?
S: Thin veggie topper.
Me: Okay, and your medium?
S: Thin pepperoni.
Me: Annndddd, thin pepperoni. And the coupon is (repeating)?
S: That's right... and how much would it cost to add onions on that?

Inward sigh.

Me: Actually, that would negate your coupon. The free medium is only one topping, no more.
S: Are you serious?
Me: Yes, do you still want to use your coupon, ma'am?
S: Hold on.. HEY, JJ! She said she can't do that with onions..
JJ: (in background) Why in the hell not?
S: Why not?
Me: Its not what the coupon states you can have.
S: You can't charge the difference?
Me: Nope.
JJ: Hand me the phone... HEY!! (I'm not out in a barn)
Me: Yes, sir, what seems to be the problem?
JJ: What do you mean I can't add onions?
Me: It clearly states the free medium is only one topping. We can't add more, as that negates the coupon. Would you still like your order?
JJ: Do you know who I am? I spend a lot of money over there and I demand satisfaction.
Me: Well, unless you can do without the onions, I can't give you that discount.
JJ: Is Manager D there? I want to talk to him (smug).
Me: He is with another customer at the moment, and it'll be at least 10minutes before he can get to you.. If you'd like me to, I can write a message and he'll call you back, I really don't want to put you on hold that long.
JJ: So I can't talk to him.
Me: Sorry.
JJ: What's your name?
Me: UnholyPet.
JJ: Spell it.
Me: (spelling)
JJ: I'll be down there in a minute. *click*

He came by, and patted Manager D on the shoulder and politely asked for his discount. Man.D of course turned him down, and JJ walked away in a hissy.

Poor, mistreated, older, rich man who can afford a secretary to order his pizza, and then waste his own time to come by the store to complain and try to make me out to be a liar.

[Enjis]

I know this is gonna sound weird...but I see nothing wrong with adding more to the order (in the form of onions) as long as the customer is willing to pay for it.

Would management really object to it? Would the computer system spit the order out?

Not that I would be sucky about it, but I sure would be curious about it, if I was a customer.

Your milage may vary, of course!

Of course, I love to see the customer getting his high hat handed to him, as his little game of "I know someone important" is shot down in flames!

[Crazeyal]

Sounds like a corporate thing. Suits get their collective panties in a bunch over numbers when they are bad, and figure it's the product, not the service when they are good.

[Jester]

The policy is stupid, in my opinion.

Stupid policy notwithstanding, JJ was an Asshat of the Highest Order.

"Do you know who I am?" Yes, an obnoxious strutting self-important cheap bastard. Next easy question, please?

[Broomjockey]

You know, I've had similar coupons before, and it never dawned on me ONCE to ask for extra toppings, even though I thought to myself "Gee, that'd be really good with (blank) on it." Coupons are usually not alterable, and sure, a lot of places have a charge to add extra toppings, but isn't the whole point of a coupon to move some extra product that doesn't take a ton of time to make?

[CaroPhoenix]

I agree with Broom. My mom & I are always using coupons when we order pizzas. We go by the letter of the coupon. However, we usually use the ones that say "$10.99 for large 3-topping or specialty pizza". If we have a one topping, we get around it by saying "Half <whatever topping> and half <another topping>." This is allowed because 1/2 + 1/2 = 1 whole.

[ReverendBSB]

I do think it is silly that they cannot pay to have extra toppings. I have used a coupon and added extra toppings many times at pizza places and they never had a problem with it. I did work at one pizza place that told us we could not add toppings, but only for one specific coupon and that was to discourage people from using it. But whatever the case you were just following the rules, not your fault.

[unholypet]

I don't think its silly.

Not only does that mess up the tax on the order, but our computer automatically will not allow it for that reason.

[Boozy]

JJ: Do you know who I am? I spend a lot of money over there and I demand satisfaction.

I demand satisfaction?

Who says that? I half expected you to tell us that he came down there, slapped your manager across the face with a white glove, and challenged him to a duel.

[MrSunshineState]

I demand satisfaction?

Who says that?

People in Kentucky. I used to hear it all the time when I did customer service for a Cable Company up there.

[Posture Moll]

"Very well! Is it to be pistols or banjos?"

[myswtghst]

That's the type of situation I might ask nicely, if they say no, then so be it. I've seen/heard it both ways (we have about 13 pizza places that deliver around here, and they each have their own policies and quirks).

I guess that's what differentiates me from the SC's of the world--when I hear no, I do not see it as an invitation to strut out my self-importance and complain. I hear no.

And did anyone else just flash back to the Simpsons episode where Homer starts challenging everyone and their brother to a duel? I know I did.

[Imogene]

I demand satisfaction?

Who says that?

"You sound like a prostitute, sir, and not one of the high class ones, either."

[Rapscallion]

It sounds daft in that the company is turning down the additional money it could make from the sale, ergo the policy is stupid. However, it's not up to the people on the front line to decide policy, and they cannot override the tills. I think corporate dropped the ball on that one.

Rapscallion

[greensinestro]

Plenty of debate with this thread. I cannot fully side with the SC only because today, many people are abusing the coupon system, using them for things that are not there. If one person can have something extra that is not mentioned, then everyone would get the same treatment. I've stated in other threads that I have seen people use coupons, like one for a name brand type of product, then insist they get that discount on another. For example, 25 cents off Jiff peanut butter, yet the customer prefers Skippy and gets their 25 cents.

On the other hand, it does seem a little silly that he couldn't get his onions for a small price, but again, it's not what the coupon said.

Finally, when he decided to play the "I'm going to get my way by speaking to your manager" it probably killed that SC's chances of getting what he wanted because by that point, it was turning a bit ugly. I'm not fond of SC's that do that either, when you tell them they cannot have what they want, then they hand the phone to someone "in more authority". Turns me off big time.