This post is basically, a good old grumble about Pizza Hut's cost cutting measures :)
The EU bought in regulations regarding the shape, size and colouring of vegetables.
Most of the vegetables you'll buy in supermarkets will be Class 1, consistent shape vegetables and fruit. (No more LOL at the shape of that carrot, potato etc!). So all the vegetables that don't make the grade are then called Class 2 and are significantly cheaper. Aldi and other discounters will sell this stuff routinely.
Pizza Hut uses Class 2 vegetables, as they are cheaper. But it causes problems with how our products look. While we are badgered about the thickness of a slice of cucumber, "supply chain" are happy for us to use one cucumber which has virtually black skin, and others which are almost yellow.
While for the majority of the products it makes very little difference, it just shows that their commitment to quality goes as far as "only if it's cheap enough!".
Anyway enough moaning for this post. If I still have any readers left (I must start posting more regularly again and get my name back out there!!!!) Please leave a comment if you're still reading because it'd be great to hear from you!
Showing posts with label Products. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Products. Show all posts
Monday, 4 May 2009
Table for...
There are a few things which really annoy me about restaurant-goers.
Pair of mothers with 2 children in buggies...
"Table for two please"
It is quite obviously a table for 4. I can't sit you down on a table for two with two massive buses/buggies can I?!
I have taken to correcting parents on this and saying it's a table for 4. I don't understand why they don't count their children as real human beings, because most of the time the kids are nicer than the parents anyway. A lot of my colleagues are shocked when I correct the parents because they never do, but I think it stems from previously working a different format store. There you were still expected to be polite don't get me wrong, but it wasn't all lovey dovey.
That's not to say I'm rude, well not all the time. I have had a couple of notes written on the back of bills thanking me and when I do very occasionally serve tables, I get reasonable tips. I'm probably too honest with customers sometimes. There are a couple of items on the menu which are pretty dire and always disappoint customers and most of the time I tell them about it. They're normally very grateful for that, but some don't listen to my advice and low and behold cry back at me when they receive it.
The small salmon pasta bake for instance, looks like somebodys scrapped the remains of another portion and put it on the plate. Then an attempt to make it look better with some salad.
The tomato and mozzeralla salad is just the same. The mozzerela is ok but the tomatoes are normally floppy and totally unripe. I have a particular gripe about the vegetables but I will post that in a minute in a new post.
Pair of mothers with 2 children in buggies...
"Table for two please"
It is quite obviously a table for 4. I can't sit you down on a table for two with two massive buses/buggies can I?!
I have taken to correcting parents on this and saying it's a table for 4. I don't understand why they don't count their children as real human beings, because most of the time the kids are nicer than the parents anyway. A lot of my colleagues are shocked when I correct the parents because they never do, but I think it stems from previously working a different format store. There you were still expected to be polite don't get me wrong, but it wasn't all lovey dovey.
That's not to say I'm rude, well not all the time. I have had a couple of notes written on the back of bills thanking me and when I do very occasionally serve tables, I get reasonable tips. I'm probably too honest with customers sometimes. There are a couple of items on the menu which are pretty dire and always disappoint customers and most of the time I tell them about it. They're normally very grateful for that, but some don't listen to my advice and low and behold cry back at me when they receive it.
The small salmon pasta bake for instance, looks like somebodys scrapped the remains of another portion and put it on the plate. Then an attempt to make it look better with some salad.
The tomato and mozzeralla salad is just the same. The mozzerela is ok but the tomatoes are normally floppy and totally unripe. I have a particular gripe about the vegetables but I will post that in a minute in a new post.
Sunday, 10 February 2008
Smile!
We are continually losing points on our mystery shoppers because we aren't giving "genuine smiles".
Now...surely if we are being told to smile genuinely, that isn't genuine? It's impossible to do it without smirking. A personal service to me, is loads better than a brand standard smile, hello, and come again....but that's what they want.
So from now on:
Massive smile and greeting
Deadpan face while serving, no conversation (no points for smiling during the transaction)
Massive smile and "Come again"
Not genuine, but that is what they are asking for.
We have new menus, which are loads better than the old ones - but they forgot to change one of the sections, so that looks odd, but you can't expect them to get it right!
Now...surely if we are being told to smile genuinely, that isn't genuine? It's impossible to do it without smirking. A personal service to me, is loads better than a brand standard smile, hello, and come again....but that's what they want.
So from now on:
Massive smile and greeting
Deadpan face while serving, no conversation (no points for smiling during the transaction)
Massive smile and "Come again"
Not genuine, but that is what they are asking for.
We have new menus, which are loads better than the old ones - but they forgot to change one of the sections, so that looks odd, but you can't expect them to get it right!
Thursday, 29 November 2007
Mugging
Well, nothing much has happened, I've not had to talk to a customer for about 2 weeks which is starting to get a bit boring.
The only interesting nugget I have to post is that was a staff member from another store was mugged in the service yard. They nicked her bag, she fell to the floor and has cuts all over her face. There are CCTV cameras in the area but it just depends if one was pointing that way at the time. An early Christmas treat for the poor woman - scum bags out there.
Hopefully Christmas will bring exciting posts. We are getting a new pizza for Christmas, it is something to do with chicken and hot, I can't remember the name. I know there is some cheesy phrase to go with it something like "Hot and ready for you" etc. Don't say Pizza Hut isn't classy!
The only interesting nugget I have to post is that was a staff member from another store was mugged in the service yard. They nicked her bag, she fell to the floor and has cuts all over her face. There are CCTV cameras in the area but it just depends if one was pointing that way at the time. An early Christmas treat for the poor woman - scum bags out there.
Hopefully Christmas will bring exciting posts. We are getting a new pizza for Christmas, it is something to do with chicken and hot, I can't remember the name. I know there is some cheesy phrase to go with it something like "Hot and ready for you" etc. Don't say Pizza Hut isn't classy!
Thursday, 25 October 2007
Rotten smell and CHRISTMAS!!
A rancid and/or rotten smell decided it would make itself known today in the centre. It was like sewage, but worse.
The centre staff noticed it pretty quickly, and they clocked us sniffing the air. Security were looking round, one had the nerve to come up to me and ask "Err - is your extractor on ?" Yes it is thank you!
The outcome was, that it was a burnt panini. I seriously doubt that explanation - it smelt worse than sewage. And I have had a recent experience with sewage when someone decided they'd tip oil down the sink and some pipes had to be ripped out and replaced as it had got clogged with various substances. The same person also put a separator (a plastic disc which allows pizza pans to be stacked on top of each other) through the oven and melt onto the conveyor. I do like this person but wish they wouldn't be so thick.
And on the subject of smells. Making pizza and dough is a smelly occupation. I come home and I stink like oil and dough, and my hands no matter how many times I wash them, still smell of cheese.
Being in the kitchen doesn't provide many customer stories - which for me is rather pleasant. I do enjoy the odd complaint however. I have noticed though, that for some reason customers seem to respect you more when you come from the kitchen out to the front to help them. I wonder if it is the apron or that I've just been lucky.
Christmas isn't far away now and this will be my second Christmas at Pizza Hut. I can't wait for the centre to go all festive. The trees, the lights, the robotic animals, the music, the festive cheer from customers (!). Last year I posted about what I should say to customers at Christmas. I ended up just being the same and not say anything special. This year I've got a lot more confidence with customers (potentially bordering on cocky) so I don't know whether to be happy and jolly or delibrately miserable. I might be delibrately miserable to express my disgust that Pizza Hut don't pay ANYTHING extra for working Christmas Eve, Boxing Day or any other bank holiday for that matter. And the likely recognition we will get at store level will be "Disappointing Christmas, down on last year" forgetting the fact we gave up our family and holiday time so we could sell pizza - and be paid the same as if it was any other weekday.
There we go, another moan over with. I've done meat and pay rates now... Next time it might be about the constant nagging for brand standard quality products. We try but when you send wafer thin "chunky tomatoes" and tomato concentrate which is 30% thinner but don't tell anyone until 3 weeks after its introduction, it really isn't easy! And the fact you have got rid of the Pizza Hut logo on the napkins (any other PH employees noticed that?) but you want to build the brand. Oh AND the way they are selling off some restaurants to franchisees and telling the store team and managers after it has happened with a phone call saying "by the way, you are now owned by.."
Motivation and communication are not Pizza Hut's strongest points.
The centre staff noticed it pretty quickly, and they clocked us sniffing the air. Security were looking round, one had the nerve to come up to me and ask "Err - is your extractor on ?" Yes it is thank you!
The outcome was, that it was a burnt panini. I seriously doubt that explanation - it smelt worse than sewage. And I have had a recent experience with sewage when someone decided they'd tip oil down the sink and some pipes had to be ripped out and replaced as it had got clogged with various substances. The same person also put a separator (a plastic disc which allows pizza pans to be stacked on top of each other) through the oven and melt onto the conveyor. I do like this person but wish they wouldn't be so thick.
And on the subject of smells. Making pizza and dough is a smelly occupation. I come home and I stink like oil and dough, and my hands no matter how many times I wash them, still smell of cheese.
Being in the kitchen doesn't provide many customer stories - which for me is rather pleasant. I do enjoy the odd complaint however. I have noticed though, that for some reason customers seem to respect you more when you come from the kitchen out to the front to help them. I wonder if it is the apron or that I've just been lucky.
Christmas isn't far away now and this will be my second Christmas at Pizza Hut. I can't wait for the centre to go all festive. The trees, the lights, the robotic animals, the music, the festive cheer from customers (!). Last year I posted about what I should say to customers at Christmas. I ended up just being the same and not say anything special. This year I've got a lot more confidence with customers (potentially bordering on cocky) so I don't know whether to be happy and jolly or delibrately miserable. I might be delibrately miserable to express my disgust that Pizza Hut don't pay ANYTHING extra for working Christmas Eve, Boxing Day or any other bank holiday for that matter. And the likely recognition we will get at store level will be "Disappointing Christmas, down on last year" forgetting the fact we gave up our family and holiday time so we could sell pizza - and be paid the same as if it was any other weekday.
There we go, another moan over with. I've done meat and pay rates now... Next time it might be about the constant nagging for brand standard quality products. We try but when you send wafer thin "chunky tomatoes" and tomato concentrate which is 30% thinner but don't tell anyone until 3 weeks after its introduction, it really isn't easy! And the fact you have got rid of the Pizza Hut logo on the napkins (any other PH employees noticed that?) but you want to build the brand. Oh AND the way they are selling off some restaurants to franchisees and telling the store team and managers after it has happened with a phone call saying "by the way, you are now owned by.."
Motivation and communication are not Pizza Hut's strongest points.
Friday, 19 October 2007
Salt
I'm not a company spokesman, so I'm not going to defend the fact that a report has found we are the most salty fast food restaurant. But are we really fast food? We're a chain of restaurants who provide dine in, collection, delivery and a relatively new fast food format. Not really fast food, but we are in the Fast Food Song. So in that way the comparison isn't really fair.
But...they used the Pizza Plus meal deal for 4. They divided the salt content into 4 and got as 12.3g of salt each. They then say thats 4 times the recommended amount for a 6 year old. Just a little problem though, 6 year olds don't each as much as adults so are unlikely to have a quarter of the meal deal.
It is interesting to note that McDonalds came out reasonably well (shock: bag of apple and grapes has less salt than a chicken wrap). McDonalds being so big and the stereotype of fast food, has meant they need to be careful with everything now. It all tastes different now. They know where their meat comes from - and are proud to tell everyone. Pizza Hut on the other hand hasn't really been picked on, so has so far managed to get away with what they want - but maybe it will change. Slowly we are changing. When I started they said the chargrilled chicken would be changing to "real 100% chicken breast", a year on and they are still babbling on about how it will be "real" soon. Just how does it take to stop putting the entire carcass in the mincer.
Well after that small moan and definitely not a company advert - I will just mention - PHQ! A new delivery only format has launched in two cities (forget which). They have explicitly stated in the 'Big 5' newsletter that it is to rival Dominos and target a younger market. They do have a website, but it doesn't work. Good start guys.
But...they used the Pizza Plus meal deal for 4. They divided the salt content into 4 and got as 12.3g of salt each. They then say thats 4 times the recommended amount for a 6 year old. Just a little problem though, 6 year olds don't each as much as adults so are unlikely to have a quarter of the meal deal.
It is interesting to note that McDonalds came out reasonably well (shock: bag of apple and grapes has less salt than a chicken wrap). McDonalds being so big and the stereotype of fast food, has meant they need to be careful with everything now. It all tastes different now. They know where their meat comes from - and are proud to tell everyone. Pizza Hut on the other hand hasn't really been picked on, so has so far managed to get away with what they want - but maybe it will change. Slowly we are changing. When I started they said the chargrilled chicken would be changing to "real 100% chicken breast", a year on and they are still babbling on about how it will be "real" soon. Just how does it take to stop putting the entire carcass in the mincer.
Well after that small moan and definitely not a company advert - I will just mention - PHQ! A new delivery only format has launched in two cities (forget which). They have explicitly stated in the 'Big 5' newsletter that it is to rival Dominos and target a younger market. They do have a website, but it doesn't work. Good start guys.
Tuesday, 9 October 2007
Loyalty cards and Micros
In July we got loyalty cards. They gave us 4000 of the things to hand out. I can give you the exact figure we have had back. It has been hard to keep track because of the sheer amount but we did manage it: 3.
Out of 4000 cards we have had 3 redemptions. Oh well, maybe head office will come up with a better promotion other than you need to spend £12 to get a 99p side free or £36 to get a £2.69 pizza, next time round.
Yesterday the new menu launched complete with Meatball Deli. All our previous paperwork told us it was called Mamas Meatballs but they changed their mind. I tried it, the meatballs are soft but a bit dry. They need some kind of sauce on top, and they are so big the cheese falls of them. We also got chicken goujons (chicken fillet in southern fried coating, new to all Pizza Hut formats) and I can conclude they are around 10 times nicer than chicken dippers - not bad for an extra 10p. We don't do dippers anymore thankfully.
We got new menu boards and they are incredibly ugly - instead of having the titles of the meals at the top, it is at the bottom. Maybe I'm being too fussy.
To accommodate the new menu the tills software has to be updated. A lovely company called Micros does this. They have altered some bits but it has mainly stayed the same. Except the final pay screen. There used to be a large CASH button in the bottom right with equally sized £50, £20, £10 and £5 buttons just below them. But in their fantastic upgrade, they'll half the size of the CASH button as well as the £10 and £5 buttons. They have kept the £50 and £20 buttons the original size. And now at the bottom of the screen there is just grey, empty space. So no longer can you tap the bottom right of the screen to go through. It is a pain and just makes the chance of change inaccuracies greater. Micros are the same great people who put a pop up saying "Have you completed the change?" button after the cash drawer has opened but before the receipt will print. The purpose of this I have no idea. If it was saying "Would the customer like a receipt?" I could understand - we could save paper on all the people who don't want one.
I think this post really requires a photograph to explain why this is such a pain. I'll have to get one soon, but I'm hoping the next time I go in they have realised their stupid mistakes.
Out of 4000 cards we have had 3 redemptions. Oh well, maybe head office will come up with a better promotion other than you need to spend £12 to get a 99p side free or £36 to get a £2.69 pizza, next time round.
Yesterday the new menu launched complete with Meatball Deli. All our previous paperwork told us it was called Mamas Meatballs but they changed their mind. I tried it, the meatballs are soft but a bit dry. They need some kind of sauce on top, and they are so big the cheese falls of them. We also got chicken goujons (chicken fillet in southern fried coating, new to all Pizza Hut formats) and I can conclude they are around 10 times nicer than chicken dippers - not bad for an extra 10p. We don't do dippers anymore thankfully.
We got new menu boards and they are incredibly ugly - instead of having the titles of the meals at the top, it is at the bottom. Maybe I'm being too fussy.
To accommodate the new menu the tills software has to be updated. A lovely company called Micros does this. They have altered some bits but it has mainly stayed the same. Except the final pay screen. There used to be a large CASH button in the bottom right with equally sized £50, £20, £10 and £5 buttons just below them. But in their fantastic upgrade, they'll half the size of the CASH button as well as the £10 and £5 buttons. They have kept the £50 and £20 buttons the original size. And now at the bottom of the screen there is just grey, empty space. So no longer can you tap the bottom right of the screen to go through. It is a pain and just makes the chance of change inaccuracies greater. Micros are the same great people who put a pop up saying "Have you completed the change?" button after the cash drawer has opened but before the receipt will print. The purpose of this I have no idea. If it was saying "Would the customer like a receipt?" I could understand - we could save paper on all the people who don't want one.
I think this post really requires a photograph to explain why this is such a pain. I'll have to get one soon, but I'm hoping the next time I go in they have realised their stupid mistakes.
Monday, 1 October 2007
Correction
In a previous post, I put that chocolate sauce is being replaced by lemon. I was wrong - and another Pizza Hut employee said so in a comment. I am very sorry about that.
And what did I find on todays delivery?
New ICF sauce! Chocolate and caramel ICF sauce! No lemon. But the reason chocolate wasn't orderable was that it had changed product number and the new number hadn't been released. So I reckon, the sauces will be chocolate, strawberry, lemon and caramel. Umm definitely nicer than chocolate, strawberry, bubblegum and popcorn - I think the new ones are more refined and classy!
They have also changed the bottles from white, to see through. That's a good thing - you can see at a glance if they need changing. Plus the chocolate sauce is a nicer now, it is less sweet and has more cocoa.
Quite an amusing customer I dealt with today. I thought they were a bit of div from the start. She paid and I gave her a receipt. About 20 minutes later, after she'd eaten and was about to leave - brings me her tray and asks where she should put it. I tell her. She then asks "Have I paid?" Her receipt was on the tray she had been eating off and looking at for 20 minutes.
And what did I find on todays delivery?
New ICF sauce! Chocolate and caramel ICF sauce! No lemon. But the reason chocolate wasn't orderable was that it had changed product number and the new number hadn't been released. So I reckon, the sauces will be chocolate, strawberry, lemon and caramel. Umm definitely nicer than chocolate, strawberry, bubblegum and popcorn - I think the new ones are more refined and classy!
They have also changed the bottles from white, to see through. That's a good thing - you can see at a glance if they need changing. Plus the chocolate sauce is a nicer now, it is less sweet and has more cocoa.
Quite an amusing customer I dealt with today. I thought they were a bit of div from the start. She paid and I gave her a receipt. About 20 minutes later, after she'd eaten and was about to leave - brings me her tray and asks where she should put it. I tell her. She then asks "Have I paid?" Her receipt was on the tray she had been eating off and looking at for 20 minutes.
Sunday, 23 September 2007
Clumsy and Heelys
At work I do not have a reputation for being delicate or having any particular control over my movements.
Today, I fell in full customer view on the tiled floor I had mopped just 5 seconds ago. I had even put out yellow warning signs, to tell people the floor is wet. I saved myself on the little door, but it then swung open and I flung to the floor. It didn't hurt but was not particularly nice. It was one of those moments when you just know you are going to fall straight down and begin laughing before you've even fell. I was being stared at so I just said "I did NOT just slip over" and walked into the back to hide.
The next accident was in the back. I was cleaning behind the make table (where pizza is topped). I was mopping it. Then I fell once again on the water I was using. My freshly cleaned stainless steel make table then had my hand prints on it where I again, saved myself from greater accident. The comment I got from the manager sitting down was "Water is wet you know". Thanks for that.
I then went to walk off again, but walked straight into an oven deck. They have nasty sharp corners on. The comment I got from the same manager was "There's an oven there you know". I called him a male body part and went to stand on the front where no one knew about my little accidents.
Then finally, I was cleaning the coffee machine (uses HOT water). I couldn't find the plastic container we normally use, so used a metal one. Stupidly I forgot that boiling water in a metal container will make that container very hot. I picked it up and it then became apparent that it was hot and that I also couldn't put it back down without spilling it. So I rushed through to the sink swearing (we were closed) and gave it a final insult when I dumped it in the sick by putting the fry hopper lid on top of it. The same manager walked round from the desk slowly and just went "Metal conducts heat by the way" and sat back down. Arrgh
Oh and good news, Heelys which I moaned about before have been banned by the shopping centre. They have a new automated announcement and signs and I think they are great! I can't wait to tell children not to skate round because "THEY'RE BANNED" and can tap the sign we have been supplied with if parents come over to moan.
And bad news if you are a Pizza Hut customer who likes the Ice Cream Factory chocolate sauce. Pizza Hut are trying to go "natural" on the ICF and so chocolate sauce has been replaced with Lemon! Neither are orderable though, so you'll have to make do with neither for a bit, or until they click "Yes I do want 700 stores to have ICF sauce". Chocolate buttons have been replaced with chocolate raisins (yum!).
Finally thanks to Keith for a mention on his blog - the chavs and gypos aren't that bad and only make up a small % of the total customers I serve so they actually provide a bit of amusement...most of the time.
Today, I fell in full customer view on the tiled floor I had mopped just 5 seconds ago. I had even put out yellow warning signs, to tell people the floor is wet. I saved myself on the little door, but it then swung open and I flung to the floor. It didn't hurt but was not particularly nice. It was one of those moments when you just know you are going to fall straight down and begin laughing before you've even fell. I was being stared at so I just said "I did NOT just slip over" and walked into the back to hide.
The next accident was in the back. I was cleaning behind the make table (where pizza is topped). I was mopping it. Then I fell once again on the water I was using. My freshly cleaned stainless steel make table then had my hand prints on it where I again, saved myself from greater accident. The comment I got from the manager sitting down was "Water is wet you know". Thanks for that.
I then went to walk off again, but walked straight into an oven deck. They have nasty sharp corners on. The comment I got from the same manager was "There's an oven there you know". I called him a male body part and went to stand on the front where no one knew about my little accidents.
Then finally, I was cleaning the coffee machine (uses HOT water). I couldn't find the plastic container we normally use, so used a metal one. Stupidly I forgot that boiling water in a metal container will make that container very hot. I picked it up and it then became apparent that it was hot and that I also couldn't put it back down without spilling it. So I rushed through to the sink swearing (we were closed) and gave it a final insult when I dumped it in the sick by putting the fry hopper lid on top of it. The same manager walked round from the desk slowly and just went "Metal conducts heat by the way" and sat back down. Arrgh
Oh and good news, Heelys which I moaned about before have been banned by the shopping centre. They have a new automated announcement and signs and I think they are great! I can't wait to tell children not to skate round because "THEY'RE BANNED" and can tap the sign we have been supplied with if parents come over to moan.
And bad news if you are a Pizza Hut customer who likes the Ice Cream Factory chocolate sauce. Pizza Hut are trying to go "natural" on the ICF and so chocolate sauce has been replaced with Lemon! Neither are orderable though, so you'll have to make do with neither for a bit, or until they click "Yes I do want 700 stores to have ICF sauce". Chocolate buttons have been replaced with chocolate raisins (yum!).
Finally thanks to Keith for a mention on his blog - the chavs and gypos aren't that bad and only make up a small % of the total customers I serve so they actually provide a bit of amusement...most of the time.
Thursday, 20 September 2007
McDonalds
McDonalds are unorganised filth bags. They have offered me a job twice since I started at Pizza Hut in some kind of head hunting mission. Why I would take a job which is less per hour, has a team of dimwits and managers who wear white trainers on shift and you can hear bellowing from the other side of centre.
They also never put their deliveries away promptly. Their frozen and chilled deliveries routinely stay in the service area for 2 to 3 hours. Therefore, within that time there is a great opportunity to be nosey, and I am extremely nosey.
I have discovered, they are doing some Oreo related, there is some new chicken and possibly new uniforms?
Sorry for that let down, but I 'spose it is ok if you are someone who has a particular interest in McDonald's uniforms and enjoys Oreos and chicken.
They also never put their deliveries away promptly. Their frozen and chilled deliveries routinely stay in the service area for 2 to 3 hours. Therefore, within that time there is a great opportunity to be nosey, and I am extremely nosey.
I have discovered, they are doing some Oreo related, there is some new chicken and possibly new uniforms?
Sorry for that let down, but I 'spose it is ok if you are someone who has a particular interest in McDonald's uniforms and enjoys Oreos and chicken.
Saturday, 15 September 2007
A few things
In February, I posted about the general issues people have about saying the names of menu items. Then Al posted about Christmas already, and the other day someone must have had it on their mind. Instead of a "Feast" meal they asked for a "Festive" meal. I didn't correct them, and they said it about 3 times again to their family. Her husband snapped and ranted "IT IS FEAST NOT FESTIVE!!". I just did a sly smile in his direction and he replied with a shake of the head.
Another taking issue has been "Can I have some receipt?". Ha, sure here's a sachet of receipt.
Then some gypos came in (apologies for this term, but they were). I don't know why we have them on a such a regular basis, but they are frequently camped out on the nearby industrial estate car parks but more and more are putting barriers in. So then they move onto farmers fields which are closer.
So the gypos were in. When I see them walking in, with either vest tops or just no top, I pray they aren't going to come up to the counter. Then they all do. They cannot talk, they can only shout so they immediately seem angry. A father and son (about 10 y.o.) came up and ordered some food which included chicken wings. Our chicken wings are tiny and are a rip off, but there isn't much I can do about that. I put them on the tray and the father picks up the box, and looks inside.
"What tha fack are those!" (you know the accent).
"Errm they're the BBQ chicken wings"
"There's fack all on 'em, they're a facking rip off!".
"Oh right, sorry...do you want them still?"
"Fucking hell what a rip off!"
"I don't set the prices I'm afraid, there isn't much I can do...so do you want them?"
While this was happening, his son (large, topless) was also there mimicking every movement and gesture his dad made. It was a very strange thing to see.
So he sat down with the rest of his family and his other kids and relatives seemed to want stuff. I'd say I got about £20 out of them in the end, not bad!
Yesterday, I was on the front on my own, giving the ICF sauces a clean. Mid way between me doing that there was a sudden rush of customers, so I didn't have a chance to wash my hands of sticky sauce. So then every bit of change I gave out was sticky and you could see the faces on some customers obviously thinking "Great, sticky coins". I tried to hide my glazed fingers as much as possible when I could see them wiping the coins on napkins.
Then later on, a mum and two daughters (about...8 and 11) came up and ordered. In the middle of the transaction, the elder of the daughters, took a bobble out of the younger girl's hair. Then all hell broke loose. The younger one had a seriously bad reaction to having her bobble removed and started kicking her sister, then punching, then wrestling. They ended up fighting on the floor, the younger of the two doing most of the damage. She was kicking her sister in the side and shouting "I hate you, you always pick on me" and various other phrases. The mother didn't realise they were fighting as they were behind her, until I pointed it out...which meant I went "Errrm..." with a pointing finger at them on the floor. Her way of dealing with it was interesting, "OH MY GOD WHAT THE HELL ARE YOU TWO DOING?". They both got back up, both crying, and saying the other one started it. They were sent to opposite ends of the store to "think" about what they had just done. About 20 seconds later they were joking with each other at the drinks machine. Aww.
Finally to finish off this unusually long(ish) post.
We have matching salt and pepper sachets which are a generic type. Anyone who orders from 3663 can get them.
Another taking issue has been "Can I have some receipt?". Ha, sure here's a sachet of receipt.
Then some gypos came in (apologies for this term, but they were). I don't know why we have them on a such a regular basis, but they are frequently camped out on the nearby industrial estate car parks but more and more are putting barriers in. So then they move onto farmers fields which are closer.
So the gypos were in. When I see them walking in, with either vest tops or just no top, I pray they aren't going to come up to the counter. Then they all do. They cannot talk, they can only shout so they immediately seem angry. A father and son (about 10 y.o.) came up and ordered some food which included chicken wings. Our chicken wings are tiny and are a rip off, but there isn't much I can do about that. I put them on the tray and the father picks up the box, and looks inside.
"What tha fack are those!" (you know the accent).
"Errm they're the BBQ chicken wings"
"There's fack all on 'em, they're a facking rip off!".
"Oh right, sorry...do you want them still?"
"Fucking hell what a rip off!"
"I don't set the prices I'm afraid, there isn't much I can do...so do you want them?"
While this was happening, his son (large, topless) was also there mimicking every movement and gesture his dad made. It was a very strange thing to see.
So he sat down with the rest of his family and his other kids and relatives seemed to want stuff. I'd say I got about £20 out of them in the end, not bad!
Yesterday, I was on the front on my own, giving the ICF sauces a clean. Mid way between me doing that there was a sudden rush of customers, so I didn't have a chance to wash my hands of sticky sauce. So then every bit of change I gave out was sticky and you could see the faces on some customers obviously thinking "Great, sticky coins". I tried to hide my glazed fingers as much as possible when I could see them wiping the coins on napkins.
Then later on, a mum and two daughters (about...8 and 11) came up and ordered. In the middle of the transaction, the elder of the daughters, took a bobble out of the younger girl's hair. Then all hell broke loose. The younger one had a seriously bad reaction to having her bobble removed and started kicking her sister, then punching, then wrestling. They ended up fighting on the floor, the younger of the two doing most of the damage. She was kicking her sister in the side and shouting "I hate you, you always pick on me" and various other phrases. The mother didn't realise they were fighting as they were behind her, until I pointed it out...which meant I went "Errrm..." with a pointing finger at them on the floor. Her way of dealing with it was interesting, "OH MY GOD WHAT THE HELL ARE YOU TWO DOING?". They both got back up, both crying, and saying the other one started it. They were sent to opposite ends of the store to "think" about what they had just done. About 20 seconds later they were joking with each other at the drinks machine. Aww.
Finally to finish off this unusually long(ish) post.
We have matching salt and pepper sachets which are a generic type. Anyone who orders from 3663 can get them.
We get the top ones, in the brown packet. Occasionally, you get the odd white design one, the bottom sachet. I just wondered though, as they are obviously EXACTLY the same except for the sachet design, why Pizza Hut order the top one which looks less 'modern' than the other. I will have to ponder a bit more on this topic I think.
And the corner of the £20 note. Well I found it in one of the till draws and thought I'd nab it...maybe it will come in useful one day and I'll find the other 90% of it. It's not impossible...
Tuesday, 11 September 2007
Kids meal, again
As you will know if you read reasonably regularly, the kids meal is a pain. (Oh and sorry for not blogging for a while). People can't read or make up their own variation of what the kids meal is.
It is:
Pizza & drink OR Chicken dippers, fries & drink.
It is not Pizza, drink & fries.
I had this long stupid conversation with two women, clearly mother and daughter (though the daughter was far from a kid, at least 18 or 19). I'm sure I will have missed out bits but this was he general gist:
"Where are the fries?"
"You don't get fries with the kids meal"
"Yes you do"
"No you don't. You get pizza and drink or chicken dippers, fries and drink"
"Nope"
"Err well that is the menu I'm afraid"
"QUIT LYING. I come here ALL the time and get fries everytime"
"Not in the kids meal you don't"
"I DO - I DO!"
"No sorry"
"Well you must have changed it then."
"I've worked here over a year and you have never got fries with a pizza in the kids meal in all that time"
"You have, I come here all the time, it must have JUST been changed and you haven't realised, so you have LIED"
They were really starting to annoy me now and generally I will just go "Ok" but I decided to fight back, a bit.
"I haven't lied to you. There is no reason for me to lie to you, because to give you fries costs me nothing, but the fact is you don't get fries in that meal. Are you telling me you expect pizza, fries and a drink for £2.49?"
"Yes I am - I always get it!"
"Ok whatever, do you want this kids meal or not?"
"Yes and I suppose I'll have to BUY THE FRIES EXTRA THEN"
After they had got their food I had a little think to myself about some scenarios these women could be in, with me deciding their ultimate fate. Afterwards I thought maybe that was a little irrational but they did annoy me.
Then they sat down on the closest table and slowly ate everything. The mother sat studying the receipt (I'm waiting for my first complaint, can't be long surely..) while the daughter just stared at me constantly. Fine love, I'll stare back at you and get paid for it!
On a side note, Pizza Hut have launched some new cheesey bites. The cheese smells significantly worse than before but apparently tastes nicer.
It is:
Pizza & drink OR Chicken dippers, fries & drink.
It is not Pizza, drink & fries.
I had this long stupid conversation with two women, clearly mother and daughter (though the daughter was far from a kid, at least 18 or 19). I'm sure I will have missed out bits but this was he general gist:
"Where are the fries?"
"You don't get fries with the kids meal"
"Yes you do"
"No you don't. You get pizza and drink or chicken dippers, fries and drink"
"Nope"
"Err well that is the menu I'm afraid"
"QUIT LYING. I come here ALL the time and get fries everytime"
"Not in the kids meal you don't"
"I DO - I DO!"
"No sorry"
"Well you must have changed it then."
"I've worked here over a year and you have never got fries with a pizza in the kids meal in all that time"
"You have, I come here all the time, it must have JUST been changed and you haven't realised, so you have LIED"
They were really starting to annoy me now and generally I will just go "Ok" but I decided to fight back, a bit.
"I haven't lied to you. There is no reason for me to lie to you, because to give you fries costs me nothing, but the fact is you don't get fries in that meal. Are you telling me you expect pizza, fries and a drink for £2.49?"
"Yes I am - I always get it!"
"Ok whatever, do you want this kids meal or not?"
"Yes and I suppose I'll have to BUY THE FRIES EXTRA THEN"
After they had got their food I had a little think to myself about some scenarios these women could be in, with me deciding their ultimate fate. Afterwards I thought maybe that was a little irrational but they did annoy me.
Then they sat down on the closest table and slowly ate everything. The mother sat studying the receipt (I'm waiting for my first complaint, can't be long surely..) while the daughter just stared at me constantly. Fine love, I'll stare back at you and get paid for it!
On a side note, Pizza Hut have launched some new cheesey bites. The cheese smells significantly worse than before but apparently tastes nicer.
Thursday, 16 August 2007
Obvious
I bring you through the magic of Microsoft Paint, a drawing which helps the following dialogue.
"Hiya you got any straws?"
"Yeah they are just there" with a slight nod of the head towards them
"Where?!"
"Just there..!" tapping them this time
"Oh yes, thanks".
Next one
In an accent I can't describe other than it being distorted...
"Can I have a pepperoni feast meal?"
"Yep..ok"
I heard her say something about veggie to the people she was with and she didn't seem all that sure
"Pepperoni is vegetarian isn't it?"
"No it is a beef and pork sausage"
"Oh I need the veggie one"
Duh. Who doesn't know pepperoni is meat!
Thursday, 12 July 2007
Communication issues
The better one of the three new people, I could see was having an 'issue' with a customer. I was standing in the back and no one else seemed to be watching him so dealing with the issue fell to me. I walked out in my pizza sauce and dough covered apron...I think it makes me look like I know what I'm doing so try to make my aprons last a few days.
"__ are you ok?"
"This guy says I didn't give him enough discount.."
"Right can I have a look at the receipt"
There are two receipts. One for a buy one get one free pizza and another for a deal with a student discount. The man was complaining that he hadn't got student discount on the BOGOF deal, and when he did get student discount on the other receipt he had got only 6p off.
I read out to the man "Offer is subject to availability and not valid in conjuction with any other offer" from the back of the voucher.
"Rubbish!"
"No really it isn't, that's our rule"
"What about the student discount on the other then"
"Well the student discount button was pressed and that was what it gave. We can't change that."
"Oh never mind. I can't be arsed!"
We can change the discount it gives but there is no way I'm going to undermine what another team member has said/done for the sake of 24p, especially with the customers poor attitude - and any discount is at the stores discretion. I showed him how to give the discount after though.
Then I was out the back again when the above complainer whistled at me and asked for some ketchup. Bugger off, "I can't leave this position I'm afraid, you'll have to join the queue.". It is bad enough people pushing in and pestering the front but to whistle people in the kitchen is one step too far.
No beef
I have posted about a similar thing to this before, the fact that pepperoni has beef in it.
Someone wanted a pizza with no 'spicy beef'. I was on the make table at the time so it was my job to make the pizza. I like to ensure customers know that pepperoni has beef in it so whenever a request for no beef comes I go and ask them "Do you know pepperoni has beef in it too?". In this case the answer was "Oh yes I know thats fine". Excellent I've confirmed it so off I go and make it. 7 minutes later it pops out of the oven, is boxed up and given to the customer. 30 seconds later another woman comes back. Recounted from the front staff she said something like this: "ZOMG I'm allergic to beef and this pizza has beef on it!" It did, but not the spicy beef she requested to be taken off. The team member swapped it because they are soft but I would not have - but I have become a bit mean like that.
Then today, I asked an elderly lady "Do you want fries for an extra 21p?"
To which she replied..."What is the price?"
"It's £3.78 without fries or £3.99 with"
"Yes but whats the price?"
"Now, £3.78..?"
"I said what is the price!"
"It's £3.78"
"YEAH BUT WHAT IS THE PRIZE?!"
"Prize?!??"
"Yes you said for an extra 21p I could get a prize!"
"Haaha I said fries for an 21p"
"Oh!!!!"
"Sorry about that..hehe - so do you want fries for 21p?"
"GOD NO I CAN'T EAT FRIES AS WELL!"
"Ok thats £3.78 then please!"
"Hahahahaha I thought you said prize, but you said fries and then you thought I was saying price haaaahaha!"
"Yeah it's pretty loud in here isn't it...I couldn't hear you and you couldn't hear me...anyway sorry about that - enjoy your meal!"
"It's ok you're only doing your job, I didn't want the prize anyway even if it was 21p."
The customer walked off and I looked to my right and one of my colleagues was crouching down on the floor with laughter.
Then later someone left the ICF lever pulled down again. So then most of the frozen mix was gone and people came to use it and it gives off the most high pitched scream of agony when it is low and it rips through the entire centre. I rather like that though.
To finish off my shift, a girl approx. 12 years old came to the drinks machine and she almost walked into me but instead of saying sorry or anything, instead she did a cocky little dance and went "Oooo".
"__ are you ok?"
"This guy says I didn't give him enough discount.."
"Right can I have a look at the receipt"
There are two receipts. One for a buy one get one free pizza and another for a deal with a student discount. The man was complaining that he hadn't got student discount on the BOGOF deal, and when he did get student discount on the other receipt he had got only 6p off.
I read out to the man "Offer is subject to availability and not valid in conjuction with any other offer" from the back of the voucher.
"Rubbish!"
"No really it isn't, that's our rule"
"What about the student discount on the other then"
"Well the student discount button was pressed and that was what it gave. We can't change that."
"Oh never mind. I can't be arsed!"
We can change the discount it gives but there is no way I'm going to undermine what another team member has said/done for the sake of 24p, especially with the customers poor attitude - and any discount is at the stores discretion. I showed him how to give the discount after though.
Then I was out the back again when the above complainer whistled at me and asked for some ketchup. Bugger off, "I can't leave this position I'm afraid, you'll have to join the queue.". It is bad enough people pushing in and pestering the front but to whistle people in the kitchen is one step too far.
No beef
I have posted about a similar thing to this before, the fact that pepperoni has beef in it.
Someone wanted a pizza with no 'spicy beef'. I was on the make table at the time so it was my job to make the pizza. I like to ensure customers know that pepperoni has beef in it so whenever a request for no beef comes I go and ask them "Do you know pepperoni has beef in it too?". In this case the answer was "Oh yes I know thats fine". Excellent I've confirmed it so off I go and make it. 7 minutes later it pops out of the oven, is boxed up and given to the customer. 30 seconds later another woman comes back. Recounted from the front staff she said something like this: "ZOMG I'm allergic to beef and this pizza has beef on it!" It did, but not the spicy beef she requested to be taken off. The team member swapped it because they are soft but I would not have - but I have become a bit mean like that.
Then today, I asked an elderly lady "Do you want fries for an extra 21p?"
To which she replied..."What is the price?"
"It's £3.78 without fries or £3.99 with"
"Yes but whats the price?"
"Now, £3.78..?"
"I said what is the price!"
"It's £3.78"
"YEAH BUT WHAT IS THE PRIZE?!"
"Prize?!??"
"Yes you said for an extra 21p I could get a prize!"
"Haaha I said fries for an 21p"
"Oh!!!!"
"Sorry about that..hehe - so do you want fries for 21p?"
"GOD NO I CAN'T EAT FRIES AS WELL!"
"Ok thats £3.78 then please!"
"Hahahahaha I thought you said prize, but you said fries and then you thought I was saying price haaaahaha!"
"Yeah it's pretty loud in here isn't it...I couldn't hear you and you couldn't hear me...anyway sorry about that - enjoy your meal!"
"It's ok you're only doing your job, I didn't want the prize anyway even if it was 21p."
The customer walked off and I looked to my right and one of my colleagues was crouching down on the floor with laughter.
Then later someone left the ICF lever pulled down again. So then most of the frozen mix was gone and people came to use it and it gives off the most high pitched scream of agony when it is low and it rips through the entire centre. I rather like that though.
To finish off my shift, a girl approx. 12 years old came to the drinks machine and she almost walked into me but instead of saying sorry or anything, instead she did a cocky little dance and went "Oooo".
Saturday, 30 June 2007
Staff and new things
I'll do the products first, it is easier:
--We now have BBQ pizza. It has a BBQ sauce base, bacon, chicken and red onion on it. It is vile.
--We now have cheesecake. It has cheese, cake and no fruit. It is also vile.
--We are getting a meatball pizza. It will probably - be vile.
Now we stock bacon I scrounged a bun from KFC to make a bacon butty. I was told to put it on a full oven pass. Gradually the kitchen filled with smoke and the distinct smell of cat wee. Then out popped my bacon! It was extremely crispy, black and about a fifth of the size it started. The smell put me off entirely so I didn't bother trying again.
Then the staff...we have some new team members.
They worked well for about 2 weeks. Now they just stand there. Doing nothing. They're all desperate to work BOH but they can't even be arsed to do their front jobs properly. It isn't that they don't know what to do, they just leave it...and have no sense of urgency EVER. I taught them my good ways (ha) with "If you have no one to serve then do things which will make it easier later." So for example, rather than standing there playing Snake, restock the fridges...clean up that puddle of Pepsi...get receipt roll for that till which has had an error message for 2 hours etc.
I mainly work BOH now so I don't get to watch them all the time but I'll go out to the front to fetch a drink and the tiled floor for customers will be sticky with patches of black dried drinks. I look round, and there are 3 front team members standing there staring at their tills but with no customers. Because I trained these people I try and make sure they do things right. So on one occasion I asked "Umm maybe one of you could get the mop out here, it's sticky and going black with dirt..thanks.." and I smiled. The response was "You ain't a manager!" by the gobbiest of the lot. "I know but I trained you to not just stand there doing nothing, and when you do, it makes me look like a prick who hasn't showed you anything". "K." "Are you going to mop it then..?" "Later". A manager then walked in returning from his break, and the first thing he said was "___ clean this floor if you're doing nothing." to the person who gobbed off. Ha, I smirked at her and walked off!
Also, when they get out late, they are surprised - but blame it on being busy not that they stood there doing nothing.
Tuesday, 12 June 2007
Training
Because I've worked at Pizza Hut for a while now, I'm fully trained (can do anything in store) and am now given the task of training new people. I do get a pay rise and different title to reflect this, but no one knows when that is going to happen.
I've been doing this for a little while and it seems to have gone ok. No one has fell in the fryer or got their skin trapped in a cash draw, which are standard measurements of how well you have trained someone. Then we got the results of our latest CHAMPS check (mystery shopper), it wasn't pretty. All the points lost though, were not because I'd not trained the person properly but they seemed to have left their manners behind when they left for work, and also served cold pizza. I couldn't understand it because this person is normally full of manners it is sickening. So either Mr/s Champ or the team member had a bad day. What we all now do is go well over top with all the please/thanks/come again because...you can lose upto 15 points for not doing them or 1 point for not being genuine. So you can take the p**s and lose one point, but if you just don't do it lose 15 points. The criteria are really quite hard but the harshness of the rating varies a lot. To get the full marks according to the book we should be saying something along the lines of this every time we serve a customer
"Thank for you for choosing Pizza Hut, I hope you enjoy your meal and visit again. Is there any further assistance I can provide you with today?".
I never do that much...but I have been known to get the odd 100% CHAMPS :-D !
On a totally separate note we will soon have a BBQ pizza and strawberry cheesecake. The BBQ pizza looks nice but the strawberry cheesecake is a bit of a weird one. It's plain cheesecake, with strawberry ice cream sauce poured over it. Its nice but not exactly "strawberry cheesecake".
I've been doing this for a little while and it seems to have gone ok. No one has fell in the fryer or got their skin trapped in a cash draw, which are standard measurements of how well you have trained someone. Then we got the results of our latest CHAMPS check (mystery shopper), it wasn't pretty. All the points lost though, were not because I'd not trained the person properly but they seemed to have left their manners behind when they left for work, and also served cold pizza. I couldn't understand it because this person is normally full of manners it is sickening. So either Mr/s Champ or the team member had a bad day. What we all now do is go well over top with all the please/thanks/come again because...you can lose upto 15 points for not doing them or 1 point for not being genuine. So you can take the p**s and lose one point, but if you just don't do it lose 15 points. The criteria are really quite hard but the harshness of the rating varies a lot. To get the full marks according to the book we should be saying something along the lines of this every time we serve a customer
"Thank for you for choosing Pizza Hut, I hope you enjoy your meal and visit again. Is there any further assistance I can provide you with today?".
I never do that much...but I have been known to get the odd 100% CHAMPS :-D !
On a totally separate note we will soon have a BBQ pizza and strawberry cheesecake. The BBQ pizza looks nice but the strawberry cheesecake is a bit of a weird one. It's plain cheesecake, with strawberry ice cream sauce poured over it. Its nice but not exactly "strawberry cheesecake".
Saturday, 9 June 2007
Are you doing it?
Although many people think that we have Pepsi and their other brands, sitting in giant tanks round the back ready to drink, we don't. I say many people think because no one ever seems to understand that although a drink has ran out...it is going to be coming back in a minute when we change the box of syrup...we're not waiting for a tanker full of it to be delivered.
So anyway...some background. We have 5 carbonated drinks, each with two boxes of syrup. These boxes...I think can make...40 litres of drink...? So that's effectively 400 litres of soft drinks we can have available instantly...plus a large stock of replacements. The gas however is another matter. It lasts a long time...well about 4 days...but when it runs out if affects all the drinks, because the go flat. So we run up, and change the gas.
But the gas, then takes a lot of water to run through the system to allow the drinks to be carbonated. We do this manually by pressing the 'soda' button (it uses no syrup - just water). But because the machine isn't drained we have to get a jug, fill it up with this water, then pour it in a bucket. When it finally works again, the bucket is about 3/4 full.
So there I am, with a jug and stainless steel bucket...making the gas come through. There is a man hovering round.
"Hi can I use the machine?"
"No it has ran out of gas...it won't be a minute though"
He hovers a bit more
"Oh so is it being fixed?"
"Yes...shouldn't be long"
He hovers a bit more
"Are you doing it?"
"No I'm just getting a pitcher of water for myself"
"Yes"
"Oh ok"
He hovers - for around 3 seconds
"So you are doing it - right?"
"No mate, I've just got my pitcher of water but I've decided to get a bucket instead, should last longer"
"YES!"
"So what exactly are you doing then...I've never seen this before"
"Why the hell would you have seen it before...and even if I explain you'll be confused"
"Just pumping water through, so it draws the gas, oh look, good - it's done now..there you go!"
Didn't say those bits, just thought them.
Then later on, I saw this woman, hammering the drinks machine. She couldn't work out how to get any of the drinks...not that difficult really but some people need it explaining. Problem was, she was very rude. I'm stood there going "Excuse me..." "Madam.." "EXCUSE ME MADAM....ARE YOU OK". Then she turned round, and looked straight at me in the eye - I thought I was going to get shot or something, she looked evil. She was actually just German and couldn't understand a word I was saying. So I just pointed at the 5 drinks, in a "Which do you want, moron?" manner...and did her drink.
Oh and the last thing I did before I went home, was make a small girl cry. I try to do this as often as possible because it very satisfying. No, actually I felt quite guilty, but I'm not going to allow her to get away with using a KFC cup on our drinks machine. Come on parents, watch your kids a bit more...she was only about 3 and wondering round a shopping centre on her own. Not clever.
Sorted out the lime green font!!
So anyway...some background. We have 5 carbonated drinks, each with two boxes of syrup. These boxes...I think can make...40 litres of drink...? So that's effectively 400 litres of soft drinks we can have available instantly...plus a large stock of replacements. The gas however is another matter. It lasts a long time...well about 4 days...but when it runs out if affects all the drinks, because the go flat. So we run up, and change the gas.
But the gas, then takes a lot of water to run through the system to allow the drinks to be carbonated. We do this manually by pressing the 'soda' button (it uses no syrup - just water). But because the machine isn't drained we have to get a jug, fill it up with this water, then pour it in a bucket. When it finally works again, the bucket is about 3/4 full.
So there I am, with a jug and stainless steel bucket...making the gas come through. There is a man hovering round.
"Hi can I use the machine?"
"No it has ran out of gas...it won't be a minute though"
He hovers a bit more
"Oh so is it being fixed?"
"Yes...shouldn't be long"
He hovers a bit more
"Are you doing it?"
"No I'm just getting a pitcher of water for myself"
"Yes"
"Oh ok"
He hovers - for around 3 seconds
"So you are doing it - right?"
"No mate, I've just got my pitcher of water but I've decided to get a bucket instead, should last longer"
"YES!"
"So what exactly are you doing then...I've never seen this before"
"Why the hell would you have seen it before...and even if I explain you'll be confused"
"Just pumping water through, so it draws the gas, oh look, good - it's done now..there you go!"
Didn't say those bits, just thought them.
Then later on, I saw this woman, hammering the drinks machine. She couldn't work out how to get any of the drinks...not that difficult really but some people need it explaining. Problem was, she was very rude. I'm stood there going "Excuse me..." "Madam.." "EXCUSE ME MADAM....ARE YOU OK". Then she turned round, and looked straight at me in the eye - I thought I was going to get shot or something, she looked evil. She was actually just German and couldn't understand a word I was saying. So I just pointed at the 5 drinks, in a "Which do you want, moron?" manner...and did her drink.
Oh and the last thing I did before I went home, was make a small girl cry. I try to do this as often as possible because it very satisfying. No, actually I felt quite guilty, but I'm not going to allow her to get away with using a KFC cup on our drinks machine. Come on parents, watch your kids a bit more...she was only about 3 and wondering round a shopping centre on her own. Not clever.
Sorted out the lime green font!!
Thursday, 7 June 2007
Chips
I have mentioned before I don't like people calling FRIES - CHIPS. But I know what people mean normally.
Small woman at the counter, weird accent:
"Toe cheeps ples"
"Sorry?"
"Toe cheeps ples"
"Two fries?"
"Nah - toe cheeps"
"Ehh...do you want fries...?"
"No...cheeps"
"Oh right well we only do fries.....they are similar though"
"Lemi see" - I show her the fries
"YES CHEEPS...TWO OF!!!"
HEAD-SHARP CORNER OF WALL-HEAD-SHARP CORNER OF WALL-HEAD-SHARP CORNER OF WALL
Also, the girl who called me sarcastic returned. She was a BIT more civil this time and only had one other possy member with her, but still managed to come out with her own sarcastic comment when being called to my till "Oh great, look, it's my friend...". How rude!
Plus also I don't normally do this but I must do a bit of general ranting:
Small woman at the counter, weird accent:
"Toe cheeps ples"
"Sorry?"
"Toe cheeps ples"
"Two fries?"
"Nah - toe cheeps"
"Ehh...do you want fries...?"
"No...cheeps"
"Oh right well we only do fries.....they are similar though"
"Lemi see" - I show her the fries
"YES CHEEPS...TWO OF!!!"
HEAD-SHARP CORNER OF WALL-HEAD-SHARP CORNER OF WALL-HEAD-SHARP CORNER OF WALL
Also, the girl who called me sarcastic returned. She was a BIT more civil this time and only had one other possy member with her, but still managed to come out with her own sarcastic comment when being called to my till "Oh great, look, it's my friend...". How rude!
Plus also I don't normally do this but I must do a bit of general ranting:
- --New neighbours taking the mick with the bin collections. I've seen this bloke giving absolute total random items to the bin men three times, every week. Today, he ran out to the bin men...who were in there lorry identical to this one with an 8ft x 2ft plank of MDF. I was so bothered by this because, one, it is recycling lorry, two he had a massive flatbed truck parked outside his house as he had the builders in and three that he does this all the time and expects them to take it - how the hell can they with the lorry they are in??!! The next lorry came round and bloody hell he is there again. This time with 8 bin liners as well as wheelie bin full. He just walks up to the lorry and starts chucking it on. He manages to get 4 on before it sped off round the corner and he looked totally miffed as to why it had gone before he had but all his rubble in . Extra bags normally cost about £1.50 each!
- --The woman who, when I was a small shop, was going balastic at the girl behind the counter on the phone to what sounded like a customer. "DON'T YOU THINK YOU SHOULD GET OFF THAT PHONE AND SERVE ME" "I DON'T HAVE TIME TO WAIT AROUND" "GET OFF THAT PHONE RIGHT NOW" "THIS IS RIDICULOUS"
- --Getting phone calls when I'm about to catch a bus and then missing the bus as I answered the call.
PS: Sorry about the random layout
Monday, 14 May 2007
It could be read both ways!
Ugh I had another arguement with someone today about the fries with the kids meal. Apparently it can be read 'both ways' - I understood the menu first time I read it, why can't most other people.
See what you think: click here
I was watching a colleague making the salads, and I noticed him throwing away what I call the 'heart' of a lettuce - the middle bit...and I asked him why...he said he didn't like it so he always throws it out! I always thought the heart was the nicest part.
A child was pouring his Tango, and Tango always has a huge froth/head/bubbles compared to the other drinks and his mother shouted at him "BE CAREFUL YOU IDIOT". He hadn't spilt anything until that point...but it made him jump and he made a bit of a mess on the counter and the floor. He looked at me with a 'sorry, shes the idiot' face - and she was.
Oh and I saw someone 'draining' their pizza of the moisture/fat which comes out of them when cut. This bloke had waited for a new pizza because I one I showed him he called 'too dry'...and then he was annoyed when it was too damp - not much we can do when fat comes out of the meat, and the moisture shows it is fresh.
See what you think: click here
I was watching a colleague making the salads, and I noticed him throwing away what I call the 'heart' of a lettuce - the middle bit...and I asked him why...he said he didn't like it so he always throws it out! I always thought the heart was the nicest part.
A child was pouring his Tango, and Tango always has a huge froth/head/bubbles compared to the other drinks and his mother shouted at him "BE CAREFUL YOU IDIOT". He hadn't spilt anything until that point...but it made him jump and he made a bit of a mess on the counter and the floor. He looked at me with a 'sorry, shes the idiot' face - and she was.
Oh and I saw someone 'draining' their pizza of the moisture/fat which comes out of them when cut. This bloke had waited for a new pizza because I one I showed him he called 'too dry'...and then he was annoyed when it was too damp - not much we can do when fat comes out of the meat, and the moisture shows it is fresh.
Saturday, 12 May 2007
New stuff
Well full serve and delivery and launched Cheesy Bite Fondue, which looks rubbish to be honest - it isn't a fondue, it is a dip you put in the microwave.
So to go along with this, we (Express) are launching our own Cheesy Bites, which is pretty good because it means we will tag onto the TV advertising campaign FOC and also be able to yes when someone goes "Do you do them things...I saw them on tele - like bites??" Hopefully they will replace crappy garlic dough balls. But...it means everyone has to learn how to make them - what fun that will be - a group session of moulding dough! Now from the way I've been told it already, we have medium size pan dough, use it to make some cheesy bites round the edge and then - chuck the rest away - seems a bit of a waste, but they know best.
They are also giving us two new pizzas - BBQ and Garlic Crust. How they think we can do this with limited space both front and back I don't know...maybe we can install a food lift and utilise the upstairs a bit more? Yeah right. (A food lift would be fun though, squashing inside it and just going up and down all day.."Wheres ____?" "Hes in the food lift again"
I did know when the new stuff is being launched, but I forgot the date already :-(.
So to go along with this, we (Express) are launching our own Cheesy Bites, which is pretty good because it means we will tag onto the TV advertising campaign FOC and also be able to yes when someone goes "Do you do them things...I saw them on tele - like bites??" Hopefully they will replace crappy garlic dough balls. But...it means everyone has to learn how to make them - what fun that will be - a group session of moulding dough! Now from the way I've been told it already, we have medium size pan dough, use it to make some cheesy bites round the edge and then - chuck the rest away - seems a bit of a waste, but they know best.
They are also giving us two new pizzas - BBQ and Garlic Crust. How they think we can do this with limited space both front and back I don't know...maybe we can install a food lift and utilise the upstairs a bit more? Yeah right. (A food lift would be fun though, squashing inside it and just going up and down all day.."Wheres ____?" "Hes in the food lift again"
I did know when the new stuff is being launched, but I forgot the date already :-(.
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