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Need a new lunch place

Ricci.Wright
I am a creature of habit and when I find something I like I usually stay with it to include food. I am one of those weird guys who can eat pretty much the same thing everyday and for the last 8 or 10 months it has been take out from a Hibachi place. The same thing 5 or 6 days a week, chicken, broccoli, onions, and zucchini over white rice;a good healthy meal for about eight bucks. Well yesterday I called in my order and drove over, a ten minute drive. When I got there five cars were in line which is busier than I have ever seen it. You can not enter the place and I needed to get to the bank so I called and asked to cancel my order explaining I couldn't wait that long. I was told no problem by whoever was working the counter. They know me by name and know what I'm ordering when I call. Well today I stopped there around 11:30 after calling in my order and the owner was at the window. He greeted me and said that he was really upset that I had cancelled my order yesterday and I couldn't be doing that. He  wasn't very nice about it and it really made me angry. I didn't say anything except sorry and I would have offered to pay for both meals except for his attitude. BUT. I will never spend another penny there again.
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Comments

15 comments

Date Votes
  • bustedknee
    And that is how you handle that! :p

    Never eat there again and tell everyone you know.
    3
  • roswellnative
     Sometimes the culture is different in the delivery of tone etc. Your money , your choice. 
    0
  • mrmike08075

    I would Mark it down as pandemic stress...

    It's possible that while his pick up traffic seems high that like many small business especially restaurant or foot service outlets the rate of failure and bankruptcy in normal times is high...

    He may be concerned over feeding his family or making payroll or keeping the lights on or being breathed on by an infected carrier not yet symptomatic...

    Maybe he is quarantined with the wife and kids and family and cannot handle the stress - domestic abuse and alcohol abuse have risen sharply.

    Maybe he is just an ashcan* who sells good food.

    Not faulting you just speculating.

    Mike

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  • Butchdog2
    Know the feeling, local joint here has drive through up and going, BBQ, fish, burgers. Catfish is excellent.
    Plate comes with 2 sides. Told the young lady I just wanted 2 pieces fish, oh no it come with 2 sides. Nope, I just can't eat it all. She says it will may cost more without sides. Still nope, no need to waste it. Sure enough about 2 bucks more for just fish. Good fish but won't be back, "man's got to know his limits".

    0
  • hillbille
      Ken could send you some treet/spam, don't think he has any bread to share though........
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  • Rocky Raab
    If you were in line at the pickup, your food was likely cooked and bagged up already. No wonder the owner was upset.
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  • SCOUT5
    Getting upset over one meal after months of steady business is a foolish mistake for a business owner.  He just lost months of profits on the meals yet to be ordered and now never will be.   
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  • BobJudy
    When I was in the business it was all about volume. Drive Thru running at full capacity accounted for 35 - 40% of sales. His business has just been cut by at least 60% and any wasted food comes directly out of profit. His labor cost may be less but rent, utilities and other costs remain the same. So I can see him being upset but he shouldn't have taken it out on you, especially since you were such a good customer. Hard to recoup your losses if you drive people away. Bob
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  • Horse Plains Drifter
    Rocky Raab said:
    If you were in line at the pickup, your food was likely cooked and bagged up already. No wonder the owner was upset.
    Yep, I guess the restaurant was just supposed to throw that food away, and oh so sorry. With the long line waiting to pick up, they won't miss the business. 
    0
  • Brookwood
    If I truly liked the meal, I'd give the owner a 2nd chance after about  a week of punishment for getting short with you.   You may find an apology coming your way and in the food business an apology usually comes with a little something special on your plate!   (special in a good way!)
    3
  • Ricci.Wright
    No. I do not have arguments with people who handle my food. I tip well and treat them with respect but no, no second chances with my food. Too many ways to get even and you would probably never know it.
    3
  • SCOUT5
    No. I do not have arguments with people who handle my food. I tip well and treat them with respect but no, no second chances with my food. Too many ways to get even and you would probably never know it.
    Exactly
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  • mrmike08075

    That food did not get thrown out or tossed in the garbage.

    Somebody working there ate it or saved it to take home later or it went to another customer as a bonus...

    And the cost of materials and ingredients and utilities and salaries and such did not amount to much and should not be an issue taken by itself.

    Maybe if ricci charged it on his card and it required a refund - that never makes anybody happy...

    But I do agree they need good regular repeat customers - patrons - frequent fliers...

    They do need local word of mouth and social media good reviews or recommendations or even conversational mention...

    They need to not be a business or company but instead be perceived as friend and neighbor and on of the local guys...

    He needs standing order regular visit multiple return during the week customers.

    I get both sides of the coin - but methinks they made an error.

    Mike

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  • KenK/84Bravo

    Personally, if I liked what I had been getting, I would give it another shot. I agree about the "Pandemic stress," with restaurants losing easily 60% of their business, owners are on edge. If you were in line to pick it up, it was already prepared, and the restaurant took a loss on it.

    Not all people would stoop so low, as to mess with someones food. Especially if you were a long time good customer.

    I would go back, and offer to pay for the other meal, when I bought my new one. My 2 cents.

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  • Brookwood
    No. I do not have arguments with people who handle my food. I tip well and treat them with respect but no, no second chances with my food. Too many ways to get even and you would probably never know it.

    I can understand your thinking and you are living proof why being in the restaurant business is mostly a losing proposition.    The percentages of failures during good times is bad enough. Now, there will be many (especially mom & pops) that will never reopen their doors.

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