A Sad Holiday Pizza Story

What would you put up with to get a free pizza?

I had a coupon for a national pizza chain that I don’t usually eat at. I generally avoid the national chains because the pizza is not that good, but the coupon I had was for a free pizza. While the pizza may not be that tasty, I’m willing to lower my pizza standards to save a few bucks. Yes, I admit I’m a sellout…

Even if the food is horrible, the key word here is FREE.

I was out doing some holiday shopping and needed a quick meal before heading home. I figured this was a perfect opportunity to redeem the coupon I probably wouldn’t have used otherwise because I surely would not have went to this pizza chain as a primary destination.

I ordered a pizza online for me to pick up on my way home (because I’m too cheap to pay delivery fees). The website said my order was accepted and it would be ready in 15 minutes. Knowing these times are rarely true, I waited about 15 minutes before I even headed toward the store. I arrived about 25 minutes after ordering. As I pulled up to the store, the lights were off. I found this odd as it was around 3:00pm in the afternoon. I pulled on the door, but it was locked and I didn’t see anyone inside.

Hmm…

After a couple of minutes of me standing in front of a locked door surely looking like a confused idiot, I saw a guy moving around in the back of the store. I knocked on the door, but he didn’t seem to care that I was standing there. I then knocked a little harder, but again got no response. I was getting a bit annoyed at that point, so I proceeded to bang on the door a bit more forcefully. The employee then decided to come open the door.

WHAT?

That was the first thing the nice employee, who look liked he just woke up, said to me as he opened the door.

I told him I ordered a pizza online and I was there to pick it up.

“We’re not open”, was his reply.

I again stated that I ordered online, my order was accepted, and it gave me a time to pick it up.

“I don’t know why it said that. I’m the only one here, and it’s going to be a while before I can cook anything”

I pointed to the sign on the door which said they opened at 11:00am. He looked at me with an irritated expression as he said, “Not today, but I can make it in like 20 minutes.” I told him to cancel my order because I surely wasn’t going to wait any longer. I left hungry, resorting to eating assorted leftovers at home.

Thinking this experience was an odd anomaly, I decided to try again the next day.

I had the coupon still, so I needed to use it as not to let a free pizza go to waste.

Again I ordered online. I was given a confirmation and a time of 15 minutes to pick it up. I again arrived after about 25 minutes.

This time, the lights were on and door was open. I walked in, only to find myself standing at the counter watching the one employee present making a pizza. After ignoring me for what seemed like an eternity, he yelled over his shoulder. “I’m the only one here. I’ll be with you in a minute. At least five more minutes went by before he came to the register.

I try not to be overly judgemental of people based on appearance, but this man scared me. His hair looked like he stuck his finger in a light socket, his was missing most of his front teeth and he had a crooked stare that definitely implied he was not happy with his job. This is not the person I was comfortable with making my dinner.

He asked me if I already placed an order. I told him I did. He told me very bluntly, “I haven’t even started the order yet.”

By this time, it had been at least 30 – 35 minutes since I ordered. I asked why the website told me 15 minutes for pickup to which he replied, “Man I can only do so much. I’m the only one here. I can have it ready in like 15 or 20 minutes.” For the shear principle of the matter, I said, “No, I’m good. Forget it”, then left.

Horrible service, inconvenience, mediocre food…Why would I even think of going back???

I still had the coupon…

The next day, like money burning a hole in pocket, I felt determined to use the coupon. I went through the process again. I ordered online. The order was accepted. I was told 15 minutes. I showed up after about 25 minutes. I arrived to find the lights on. There were THREE employees working. I was actually greeted at the counter. I presented my coupon. I got the pizza. I went home.

Then I opened the box.

They got the order wrong.

After cussing a bit, I reluctantly ate the pizza, which not surprisingly, was not that great, reminding me why I choose not to eat there. After questioning my life choices as they pertain to pizza I realized, “Hey, this was free”, so I really had nothing to complain about. BUT, because of the shenanigans I endured over the past three days, I sat down at my computer and fired off a complaint letter to their corporate office with hopes of maybe getting a free pizza coupon in the mail for my time and trouble…

~ Marty ~

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