From noon on today I started thinking about fried pickles and basically counting down the hours (5-6) till I could go get some and give in to my crazy craving. Somehow skipping my workout tonight also seemed to fit into this plan and no less than 4 people tried to hold me accountable to working out tonight. But I did not cave in (unless you think skipping the work out was caving in). I didn't work out.
I shut down my computer and headed out from work around 5:20 and I was on a singular mission...Smashburger fried pickles. I also wanted to get home as soon as possible since the work out was already off the table.
I called Smashburger on my way out of the parking lot (no I do not have the number in my contacts...I looked it up on-line). First a recorded message and then someone in the store. "Can I place an order to be picked up?" But to my dismay "no, you have to come in." Since I was already on my way, decided not to make a big deal "okay" (but in my mind 'that's kinda stupid'). Arrive to the little store to see 4 tables occupied and no one in line to order.
"May I take your order?"she must be the one who wouldn't take my order over the phone. I ordered a burger and then asked for an order of fried pickles. She responded before I got my order out..."we're out of pickles." "You have got to be kidding me (I really said that out loud and then told her it was the only reason I came into Smashburger). Her response did not make it any better "I know right, I was totally going to order some tonight too." In my head, I rolled my eyes. I contemplated canceling my order all together and driving across town to the other location but then felt completely crazy so I said "Just the burger then." I was so hoping she would try to win me back over with a coupon for free pickles next time or a basket of fries to nibble on while I waited but she was too bummed about not getting to order fried pickles herself to think about customer retention at that point.
I took a seat with my number and waited. Four minutes later a server brought a bag out and set it on an unoccupied table that a number had been left at. Two minutes later the same server brought a to go bag to a guy who had ordered after me. One minute later I caught the server's attention "Might that first bag you brought out (that's still sitting at the unoccupied table) be mine?". "It's a single to go order" he says as if that has a hidden meaning I wouldn't understand. Yep, that's me, single and still have my coat on ready to go out the door. "Oh, sorry I must have messed up the numbers." I bit my tongue and did not tell him "that's okay" because I was so far beyond annoyed by this point.
Had the first girl taken my order on the phone when I first called in I would have known they were out of pickles...I took my 5 minute cooled down burger and headed to my car. Such a bad customer experience tonight. I probably should have gone to the gym...but I likely won't admit that to the 4 people at work who knew it from the start.
