Fish Man

[customersruinmylife]

For a while now a customer has been coming into the pub and ordering the same meal over and over again: Fish and chips, the traditional British dish. Sometimes he will come in two or three times a day and order it, however he never, EVER eats it. Not even one bite.

This was annoying for a few reasons. One was that fish and chips is a bit of a pain to make when compared to other meals that we serve. It can be annoying and messy, and if it's busy it means that the cooks have to stop what they're doing in order to prepare it. It is something the pub has wanted to remove from the menus to reduce the wait times, but it is just too popular. The other reason it is annoying is a personal one, and that is that it makes me feel ill that so much food is being wasted.

The first time he ordered, the floor co-worker noticed he wasn't eating.

FCW: Is everything OK? Is there a problem with the meal?
SC: No, no problem at all.

He finished his drinks and went to leave.

FCW: Are you sure everything is fine? You haven't touched the meal!
SC: Yes, everything was great! Thank you!

The next day he did the same thing twice. Once during the lunch rush and again about ten minutes before the kitchen closed.

FCW: Are you really sure there is nothing wrong with your food? It's just that it's the second time you haven't eaten your meal.
SC: Yes it's fine! Look, I just think the standard of the food here is brilliant! I'm not hungry but it does make me feel good to look at such a well prepared meal!

Very strange. But OK. He wasn't being a big pain. Sure, the cooks were not happy having to cook fish right before they closed, and I was not happy at the wasted food, but what were we to do? He was paying full price, he was always polite, and never complained...

...until now.

He came in a few days ago like clockwork. We've had massive food sales since the schools finished for the summer, and I mean REALLY busy. So much so that we had run out of a lot of the menu until the delivery day. We had run out of fish.

Me: I'm sorry sir, but we've actually run out of fish today.
SC: WHAT???
Me: We are waiting for our delivery.
SC: BUT I WANTED FISH!! THIS IS RIDICULOUS! I CAN'T BLOODY BELIEVE THIS! GET THE MANAGER! THIS IS BAD MANAGEMENT!!!!

He bickered with the manager for a while, before leaving and glaring at us all.

[AmethystSquirrel]

I have no words.

[EricKei]

SC: BUT I WANTED FISH!! THIS IS RIDICULOUS! I CAN'T BLOODY BELIEVE THIS! GET THE MANAGER! THIS IS BAD MANAGEMENT!!!!

Noooo. He wanted to LOOK at fish...*plays Twilight Zone theme music*

[AmethystSquirrel]

Ohh, make up a clay dish of fish n chips for this guy.

[siead_lietrathua]

or put a picture on a place, since he just wants to look at it. tell him if he wants the real deal he can waste food elsewhere or just friggan eat!

[Enjis]

I honestly can't think of one reason why Mr. Fish does this......not one. This is a new one. Just so weird.......

[fireheart]

I honestly can't think of one reason why Mr. Fish does this......not one. This is a new one. Just so weird.......

He has a fish fetish?

I also agree with the clay fish and chips one.

[Lachrymose]

"I wonder where that fish has gone.
You did love it so. You looked after it like a son.
And it went wherever I did go.
Is it in the cupboard? Wouldn't you like to know? It was a lovely little fish.
And it went wherever I did go.
Where can that fish be? It is a most elusive fish!
And it went wherever I did go.
Ooooh, fishy, fishy, fishy fish!
A-fish, a-fish, a-fish, a-fishy, ooooh.
Ooooh, fishy, fishy, fishy fish!
That went wherever I did go."

[Insomnia]

Did you try to give him the option of taking the meal with him to eat later? Or let him know that you have to throw the untouched food away? I know this sounds nasty but you could always save it and give to a bum if you got any around.

"I wonder where that fish has gone.
You did love it so. You looked after it like a son.
And it went wherever I did go.
Is it in the cupboard? Wouldn't you like to know? It was a lovely little fish.
And it went wherever I did go.
Where can that fish be? It is a most elusive fish!
And it went wherever I did go.
Ooooh, fishy, fishy, fishy fish!
A-fish, a-fish, a-fish, a-fishy, ooooh.
Ooooh, fishy, fishy, fishy fish!
That went wherever I did go."

Thank you! That's going to be in my head all day now! (beats head against desk) LOL!

[fireheart]

"I wonder where that fish has gone.
You did love it so. You looked after it like a son.
And it went wherever I did go.
Is it in the cupboard? Wouldn't you like to know? It was a lovely little fish.
And it went wherever I did go.
Where can that fish be? It is a most elusive fish!
And it went wherever I did go.
Ooooh, fishy, fishy, fishy fish!
A-fish, a-fish, a-fish, a-fishy, ooooh.
Ooooh, fishy, fishy, fishy fish!
That went wherever I did go."

Dammit, that's going to be in MY head too! At least I can sing it in front of the kids. (Now the lumberjack song on the other hand....)

Did you try to give him the option of taking the meal with him to eat later? Or let him know that you have to throw the untouched food away? I know this sounds nasty but you could always save it and give to a bum if you got any around.

This. Definitely. Next time ask if he wants a doggy bag.

Otherwise saving it for a homeless customer would be good.

[XCashier]

I honestly can't think of one reason why Mr. Fish does this......not one. This is a new one. Just so weird.......

Makes no sense to me, either. I love good seafood, and to see someone order it just to waste it...hey idiot, here's your fish!

I like the idea of the clay fish and chips. Ask someone who knows how to sculpt Fimo and have them make you a fake fish and chips, then keep it just for this clown. Turn the pieces around before you serve him so he doesn't suspect. Then when he leaves, just put it in the cupboard for next time.

[Racket_Man]

So this person comes in, orders food and drinks and then leaves WITHOUT eating the fish???? Does he actually PAY for the fish and chips meal or just the drinks and then walk out?????

[Mikkel]

Does he actually PAY for the fish and chips meal or just the drinks and then walk out?????

CRML says that the customer always pay full price.
I suppose he can do whatever he wants to his food, as long as he pay, doesn't make a mess and doesn't bother other guests. He is slightly crazy to waste all that food, and getting angry about not being able to watch fish'n'chips while drinking is ridiculous.

[customersruinmylife]

Did you try to give him the option of taking the meal with him to eat later? Or let him know that you have to throw the untouched food away? I know this sounds nasty but you could always save it and give to a bum if you got any around.

Sorry, I completely forgot to add this into the original thread. We have offered to wrap it up for him. He always agrees and says thank you but then he leaves without it! We have no choice but to throw it away as there are no bums in the vicinity of the pub.

[Cecily]

Go to Japanese websites and order a fake fish and chips plate. It can be a few $$$, but in the long run, you're going to save money and stop the food waste. They look real enough to eat and if you order the parts separaterly instead of fused together, you'll have the pleasure of artistically present the plates.

Also, is it possible to lacker a set of fish and chips and keep it in store for him?

Yes, I have insane ideas... is that a surprise?