I'm becoming an old coot.
Feb. 7th, 2007 06:54 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
dolariI'm rapidly running out of places to eat in San Marcos.
I've worked in Customer Service for ten years. I hate it. My whole career path was a mistake. That said, I NEVER EVER have taken it out on the customers. I've wanted to...but I never did. And now I don't take it when I get bad service.
A few months after I first moved here, I stopped going to the only Popeye's in town. They'd screwd up my orders three times in a row. The third time I complained to the manager on duty. I wasn't taken seriously. So I called the HQ# and lodged a complaint. I got a few coupons inthe mail, but I'd told all of them I wouldn't be going back (well, to that one).
I thought maybe bad service like that was just happening at one place. I've quickly found that I'm wrong. Most every place here that isn't micromanaged, like McDonald's or Wendy's has given me some seriously bad service. Even a Jack in the Box just about three days ago, I was sitting at a drive through for five minutes being repeatedly told over and over again "I'll be with you in a moment, sir." They haven't done the hat trick, yet...but they're getting close.
Imperial Garden on Thorpe Street not only just had their third strike, but went for a fourth strike, and all in one visit. After answering the phone with "Hang on" and putting the phone down, the order taker took my order, never repeated it back, never asked me what kind of soup came with the dinner (and I had to remind her), and never told me how much it was. She sounded very annoyed and angry to be taking my call. Strike One.
I showed up 15 minutes later to pick it up, and it wasn't ready. Not a problem, I waited for it, and it came up about 5 minutes later. An order of Sweet and Sour Chicken. Which was not right because it was Sweet and Sour Pork. After telling her I'd ordered Pork instead of Chicken. Strike 2. She argued that she'd read the order back to me, where she said pork (she never repeated the order), and then double checked her ticket...which also said PORK. Strike 3 - don't argue with me without checking your facts first...if I'm wrong I'm wrong. If your're going to say I'm wrong, make sure I am first. I was already pretty hungry told her I'd take it, which I did, and came home, only to notice tha the fried rice was steamed rice, the eggrolls weren't included, and the hot and sour soup was a wonton soup. Strike 4.
I called them up, asked to speak to a manager, and it turned out she WAS the manager (yeah, right), told them they'd seriously screwed up my order, and that I wouldn't be returning. The attitude I got back was "Don't let the door hit you on the way out."
Now I'm not a constant complainer of bad service. Very few places in Austin EVER gave me any problem. If I was cynical enough, I'd blame it on San Marcos's workforce being very young college students, but State College, where Penn State is, was NEVER like this anywhere. Maybe it IS the college students, the low income bracket here, or just a rise in snootyness all over, but either way, I'm really missing Austin.
Guess I should start getting used to McNuggets for fine dining around here....
I did get the last laugh, though. I gave her my credit card to run just before the dinner was delivered. When I complained, she gave it back to me without running it through. Free food is still good food, even if it's the wrong order.
I've worked in Customer Service for ten years. I hate it. My whole career path was a mistake. That said, I NEVER EVER have taken it out on the customers. I've wanted to...but I never did. And now I don't take it when I get bad service.
A few months after I first moved here, I stopped going to the only Popeye's in town. They'd screwd up my orders three times in a row. The third time I complained to the manager on duty. I wasn't taken seriously. So I called the HQ# and lodged a complaint. I got a few coupons inthe mail, but I'd told all of them I wouldn't be going back (well, to that one).
I thought maybe bad service like that was just happening at one place. I've quickly found that I'm wrong. Most every place here that isn't micromanaged, like McDonald's or Wendy's has given me some seriously bad service. Even a Jack in the Box just about three days ago, I was sitting at a drive through for five minutes being repeatedly told over and over again "I'll be with you in a moment, sir." They haven't done the hat trick, yet...but they're getting close.
Imperial Garden on Thorpe Street not only just had their third strike, but went for a fourth strike, and all in one visit. After answering the phone with "Hang on" and putting the phone down, the order taker took my order, never repeated it back, never asked me what kind of soup came with the dinner (and I had to remind her), and never told me how much it was. She sounded very annoyed and angry to be taking my call. Strike One.
I showed up 15 minutes later to pick it up, and it wasn't ready. Not a problem, I waited for it, and it came up about 5 minutes later. An order of Sweet and Sour Chicken. Which was not right because it was Sweet and Sour Pork. After telling her I'd ordered Pork instead of Chicken. Strike 2. She argued that she'd read the order back to me, where she said pork (she never repeated the order), and then double checked her ticket...which also said PORK. Strike 3 - don't argue with me without checking your facts first...if I'm wrong I'm wrong. If your're going to say I'm wrong, make sure I am first. I was already pretty hungry told her I'd take it, which I did, and came home, only to notice tha the fried rice was steamed rice, the eggrolls weren't included, and the hot and sour soup was a wonton soup. Strike 4.
I called them up, asked to speak to a manager, and it turned out she WAS the manager (yeah, right), told them they'd seriously screwed up my order, and that I wouldn't be returning. The attitude I got back was "Don't let the door hit you on the way out."
Now I'm not a constant complainer of bad service. Very few places in Austin EVER gave me any problem. If I was cynical enough, I'd blame it on San Marcos's workforce being very young college students, but State College, where Penn State is, was NEVER like this anywhere. Maybe it IS the college students, the low income bracket here, or just a rise in snootyness all over, but either way, I'm really missing Austin.
Guess I should start getting used to McNuggets for fine dining around here....
I did get the last laugh, though. I gave her my credit card to run just before the dinner was delivered. When I complained, she gave it back to me without running it through. Free food is still good food, even if it's the wrong order.
