Not-So-Great Expectations
(It is Memorial Day, and my restaurant happens to be open, although business us very slow. I then received a phone call.)
Me: “Thank you for calling [Restaurant]; how can I help you?”
Caller: “Yes, can you tell me if [Competitor’s Restaurant] is open today?
Me: “Uh, I really don’t know if they’re open. You know you called [Restaurant], right?”
Caller: “Of course I do, I just assumed you would know if they were open.”
Me: “Ma’am, we’re not affiliated with them. We really don’t keep track of what other restaurants in the area do with regard to their business hours.”
Caller: “You’re not being very helpful. I think there should be something you should be able to do.”
Me: “Have you tried calling them?”
Caller: “Of course I’ve tried calling them. I’m not an idiot.”
Me: “What did they say when they answered?”
Caller: “No one picked up. I called four different times, and no one answered.”
Me: “Well, that probably means that they’re closed today. If no one is working there, I mean.”
Caller: “I just want to make sure. Can you send someone over there to check?”
Me: “Um, no, we can’t.”
Caller: “Why not?”
Me: “Because we work here. I can’t send an employee out of the restaurant to drive down the road and find out if a competitor is open today. If you really want to find out, I suggest you drive there yourself.”
Caller: “I’m not going to waste my time and drive to a restaurant where no one answered the phone! My time is valuable.”
Me: *losing patience* “Clearly.”
Caller: “Look, I don’t see why this is so difficult. Just send someone down there to see if they’re open. It’s not like you’re working today.”
Me: “Actually, we are working. Our restaurant is open today.”
Caller: “Oh, do you have any specials?”
Me: “…”
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Question of the Week
Have you ever served a bad customer who got what they deserved?
