Something a business should NEVER say to a customer

[mugs]

1. They were unreasonable to say that you couldn't use the discount card when they told you that if you had called in 5 different reservations you wouldn't have had a problem. They're splitting hairs, and you were splitting the bill, and if it's $25 a person you were really only getting 5% off anyway. Or was $50 the max discount?
2. He was lying to you when he said they wouldn't make money if they gave you the food for 20% off. They'd just make less money than if those tables were filled with people who paid full price.
3. There's nothing wrong with his saying that he wouldn't make money (aside from the fact it was true), and you're unreasonable for flipping out because he said it. You obviously have a combative attitude toward businesses, and it doesn't surprise me that they weren't very accommodating with you.

 

[Suspicious-Teach8788]

Originally posted by: Capt Caveman

Originally posted by: KevinCU

Originally posted by: DLeRium
But once again this isn't about whether we should get the discount or not. It's about telling customers that they don't make enough money. I'm saying that the line shouldn't be used EVER.

And everyone else is saying that you're an immature whiny cheap ass bitch. Get a clue.

Fixed

Okay, you guys keep making an issue about the discount but like I said I was fine either way. 80% threads on OT are complaint threads. Get a clue. If you don't like it, don't read it.

 

[EricMartello]

Originally posted by: DLeRium
But once again this isn't about whether we should get the discount or not. It's about telling customers that they don't make enough money. I'm saying that the line shouldn't be used EVER.

I'd agree with you on that point...businesses that try to evoke sympathy from their customers by saying things like that come across as unprofessional and desperate. Even if they are both unprofessional and desperate, they shouldn't advertise that.

Next time maybe you should head over to PF Changs if you're in the mood for asian food.

P.S. - You just think that was "beef", "chicken" and "pork" in your meal. They don't make any money selling beef, but the margins on dumpster rodent is sky high! I've always thought shrimp look a lot like insects...like locusts, actually. If I was trying to boost profits I'd probably deep fry...um...

 

[Suspicious-Teach8788]

Originally posted by: EricMartello

Originally posted by: DLeRium
But once again this isn't about whether we should get the discount or not. It's about telling customers that they don't make enough money. I'm saying that the line shouldn't be used EVER.

I'd agree with you on that point...businesses that try to evoke sympathy from their customers by saying things like that come across as unprofessional and desperate. Even if they are both unprofessional and desperate, they shouldn't advertise that.

Next time maybe you should head over to PF Changs if you're in the mood for asian food.

P.S. - You just think that was "beef", "chicken" and "pork" in your meal. They don't make any money selling beef, but the margins on dumpster rodent is sky high! I've always thought shrimp look a lot like insects...like locusts, actually. If I was trying to boost profits I'd probably deep fry...um...

Thank you for understanding. Heh. PF Changs is a total ripoff. I went there once with my gf and we spent $50+ easily for just 3 dishes with barely any leftovers. Authentic food is probably $20 less with even more portions. But it is a romantic place I'll give you that. Lunch time is awesome though. $8 is reasonable for fake Chinese food =).

 

[txrandom]

Originally posted by: Crusty
Wait... so instead of letting you use 5 cards, 1 for each table, they were willing to let you use one card for the whole group? You do realize that's the same amount of discount right? If they were saying you flat out can't use the card then that's BS.

20% with a max of $50.

$1150 - $50 = $1100

or

46 / 5 * 25 = $230 per table - 20% = $184

184 * 5 = $920

Quite a difference.

 

[krylon]

:camera: of girlfriend

 

[MagnusTheBrewer]

Originally posted by: DLeRium

Originally posted by: EricMartello

Cliffs:

- Cheap businesses need to die.
- Consumers don't give a rat's ass if you're losing money on this transaction or not.

Do you realize that if all cheap businesses die there will be many asians without pride?

I think that if a business generates interest in its product or service by using lucrative discounts, it should honor them...but at the same time there are always people who ABUSE the promotions and try to milk businesses. From what you say it sounds to me like you were basically trying to abuse the 20% off promotion. Simply splitting the bill 5 ways does not change the fact that you are all one party, you all knew each other and presumably shared the same table. In fact, by claiming that you are SPLITTING one bill rather than having each party with a coupon make their own reservations for which they'd receive their own bill, you are essentially admitting that you want to abuse the promotion. The restaurant was perfectly in line with the way they handled this matter.

TBH, I didn't even know about a $50 cap. I didn't divide it up so we could max out our discount. We're 5 different groups united under one affiliation but had this been any other restaurant we would divide up too. The restaurant brought up an example of 40 people coming in with 12 discount cards, and when we said that it's not what we're doing they said "Of course, we know that this is different, and you're 5 entities essentially." Like I said, I believe that we should've gotten the discount because it's not like we took a table and split it in 5 to get a discount. We were at 5 DIFFERENT tables, some of us on the other side of the restaurant.

But once again this isn't about whether we should get the discount or not. It's about telling customers that they don't make enough money. I'm saying that the line shouldn't be used EVER.

You're right that the line shouldn't be used ever. You are incorrect in that you expect a restaurant who accepted a reservation for 46 people should allow the group to act as if they were 5 separate groups.

You did not want the hassle of dealing with collecting funds from all 5 tables to pay one ticket so, you're stuck with the restaurants decision. Next time make a reservation in five different people's name.

Finally, as a food service professional for the last 35+ years, you are CHEAP! Quit trying to scam restaurants on service. You'll get poor service and have a poor experience. Learn from this one.

 

[JS80]

Originally posted by: DLeRium

Originally posted by: mxyzptlk
god you're a dick. I wouldn't want you or your party at my restaurant. Quit being such a penny pinching tightwad. If it's too expensive for you, then stay the fuck home. Let me cater to my full paying customers.

You just want people to pay you as much as you want. Discounts are tricky, and so when people make stupid discount cards that have no fine print no terms, businesses should either just discontinue them or not make up stupid terms on the spot to make it trickier for the consumer. It's really the business' fault for doing something stupid like that.

Watch The Office? Remember when Michael Scott made his golden tickets? 50% off their largest client? If you do something retarded like that then you gotta pay. You can't tell them that it's invalid all of a sudden.

No, you don't. Yes you can. Sometimes mistakes are made. Obviously this coupon wasn't meant for a 46 person party. It was meant for 1 party in hopes that they become repeat customers in the future. You were just simply trying to game the coupon system.

 

[krylon]

Another fine example of recession begging.

 

[Howard]

Originally posted by: AccruedExpenditure
tl;dr

 

[JS80]

Originally posted by: DLeRium

Originally posted by: hungfarover
?Yeah sure you and 45 of your friends can all eat essentially for free??

What do you think their margin is, anyway? lol

Does it matter? If 50 people each weighing 200 lbs (not overly fat so the plane can definitely fly no problem) book the next Southwest $49 funfare deal, can the airline call them back and say well the total weight is so much that we have to add so much fuel that this flight will be a net loss? I don't think that's the correct business practice. But they setup their business that way. Can it happen? Maybe, but probably not. But should you as a business be ready to encounter this? Yes.

The $49 funfares would be gone before 50 people could book it. Horrible analogy.

 

[Eli]

Read most of the replies, harsh.

I agree with you. I don't give a flying fuck if you're making money on this particular transaction or not. Further, I will do my best to minimize your profit, decreasing my cost. Don't like it? Don't make coupons or other such promotions.

Simple.

 

[Suspicious-Teach8788]

Originally posted by: JS80

Originally posted by: DLeRium

Originally posted by: hungfarover
?Yeah sure you and 45 of your friends can all eat essentially for free??

What do you think their margin is, anyway? lol

Does it matter? If 50 people each weighing 200 lbs (not overly fat so the plane can definitely fly no problem) book the next Southwest $49 funfare deal, can the airline call them back and say well the total weight is so much that we have to add so much fuel that this flight will be a net loss? I don't think that's the correct business practice. But they setup their business that way. Can it happen? Maybe, but probably not. But should you as a business be ready to encounter this? Yes.

The $49 funfares would be gone before 50 people could book it. Horrible analogy.

I'm saying it could happen, and as Southwest you should be cancelling the flight only if 200 lbs * plane capacity > max takeoff weight. If your reasoning is that the fuel needed for this plane of hamburger eaters will make the fares look like a joke, then that's your business' fault. Not the fat person's fault. That's why I said it's unlikely, but it could happen, and if it does happen, I'm sure the plane could handle it, and Southwest would honor it.

 

[JS80]

Regardless, the intent of the coupon was not in the way you tried to use it. They have every right to refuse it.

 

[Bulk Beef]

Losing a money losing customer is almost as good as making money.

 

[alkemyst]

Originally posted by: Eli
Read most of the replies, harsh.

I agree with you. I don't give a flying fuck if you're making money on this particular transaction or not. Further, I will do my best to minimize your profit, decreasing my cost. Don't like it? Don't make coupons or other such promotions.

Simple.

I think the harshness has to do more with the complexity they created more than likely disturbing other patrons.

This is much like insisting on a separate check for each person at the table on a more complicated scale.

My question really is though if this was booked like he said as five separate reservations, I don't know why there was any issue. If they all joined tables then created confusion then that is probably where it went south.

I don't see this as any other way than to maximize the coupons and I wouldn't be surprised if each table tabbed out around $50.

Personally I think splitting up a check at a table very high school in nature. When we go out with a mixed group we just divide down the bill equally.

 

[rh71]

very few asian businesses will put customer satisfaction over the bottom line.

 

[alkemyst]

Originally posted by: rh71
very few asian businesses will put customer satisfaction over the bottom line.

The chinese pllace I worked for in college/high school did this. They'd downright ban people. They banned all cops for a while when the stockade started ordering small orders left and right and then demanding the free soda 'because he have ordered more than $20 now'. Also whenever we got there with the food it was a good 20-30mins waiting for all the money to show up and then it was always exact often without even tax added in.

They finally got their act together.

 

[Cuda1447]

I got an idea, don't eat there. They can run their business however the *large* F they want. If you don't like it, don't be a customer.

 

[spidey07]

Originally posted by: rh71
ANY/ALL businesses will NOT put customer satisfaction over the bottom line.

Fixed. They're not a charity nor are they there to make you feel good. I think if I was the owner of that restaurant I'd throw the OP out and tell him to never return.

 

[AreaCode707]

My husband and I eat out a lot using discount deals like that, and the restriction of one coupon per table, even if you're paying separately, is very standard. Otherwise it's basically a license to screw them over. I get that you're disappointed, and I do think they should have had it in their fine print, but I think your response is a little out of proportion. Didn't you have a "buyer beware" inkling ahead of time that this was going to occur?

 

[RbSX]

Long story short the OP is a cheap fuck and area code is 100% right.

 

[silverpig]

Hi Mr. Manager? Yes, I'd like to split the bill 46 ways. Oh, we ALL have coupons.

They called your BS, you complain.

 

[theblackbox]

whats the point of eating out with a group of 45 people?

 

[her209]

What's the difference between applying the coupon 5 times for 1 party versus applying the coupon 1 time each for 5 parties.

Am I right?