Papa, Can You Hear Me?

When I was fresh out of high school, before I went to college, I worked in retail sales at a trendy clothing store called Merry-Go-Round. Looking back, the things I used to send people away with on their back were absolutely hideous, but it was the 80's. Everybody looked a mess, but I sold the hell out of those clothes.

I learned some very valuable lessons about, not only sales (we worked on commission), but serving customers. I learned how to care and to listen, always recognizing that each transaction and interaction was different and to treat customers as individuals, not just an addition to my paycheck. As a result, I have NO patience for poor customer service. It annoys me NO END.

I called in a Doomino's Pizza order for delivery on Tuesday, October 30. It appears that the orders are filtered through a call center in a remote locale and then dispatched to the local franchise. I was told it would take 30 - 40 minutes to receive my order. At least an hour later I called back and was patched through to the local franchise. I was informed, without apology or explanation, that the order was on its way.

A few minutes later a delivery person called to say that he was on the way and that I could meet him in the lobby of my building. I met him at the door, was handed the order, which was warm (not hot) and gave him my money. He told me that he had to go back to the store for change. I declined the change and sent him away because by this time I was just annoyed. I live in a 4th floor walk-up and I'm tired at the end of the day. Hell, that's why I called their asses!

I am disappointed at Doominos, a company that I formerly held in high regard. I am not an unreasonable person, but I can see this particular store from my front door. IT'S ON THE DAMN CORNER OF MY BLOCK!!!

I pecked out an email through their website. Y'all know I love to write a letter. A few days later I received an email from Tifani in "Customer Care" letting me know that my comments had been forwarded to the Manager of Corporate Operations for further investigation with his phone and email if I wanted to contact him directly. I very much appreciate the email and if contacted again will be very gracious, but I'm done. Unless another location delivers to my area or the one at the end of the block changes managment, I will be singing that Streisand song from "Yentl."

The view from my stoop