Rainman Jr.
A few days ago I hit the local Little Caesars (the beautiful wife wanted crazy bread and we were having some friends over and pizza seemed like a nice quick meal for all) and found a special type fellow there.
A bit of background first. I ordered a sausage pizza. That of course is a special order. It took 30 minutes for them to make it as the manager (who took my order) forgot to put it in. When they finally got it done and had my order ready I pointed out that they had shorted me one of my 3 crazy breads I had ordered. They assured me I had only ordered 2. Oh well, at that point I just wanted to get out of there so I took my order - minus one of the crazy breads I had ordered - and got out of there.
I shared the previous short story to explain that I had ample time to observe the comings and goings and operation of this particular Little Caesars. Apparently before I arrived someone had ordered 13 pizzas - 7 cheese and 6 pepperoni I learned. That would normally not be a issues as both of those pizza types are stock - ready to go - items at Little Caesars. The problem was that the customer wanted the pizzas cut into 8 slices instead of the normal 10 that Little Caesars cuts them into. That is why the person called in the order where it could be done and done the way they wanted when they arrived.
Well the disorder that seemed to thrive at this LC was only expanded with the issue of special slicing. Enter Rainman Jr. This is the guy who has to cut the pizzas after they come out of the oven and put them in the box. I watched him pull pizza after pizza out and then try to cut only 8 slices (I assume that would be one cut down the center, another to make it quarters, then two more full cuts and bam 8 slices).
Well Rainman Jr would cut the pizza, count the slices, sigh, and then try again. When the customer arrived they had 13 pizzas ready but only 3 cheese and 3 pepperonis were right. The rest were cut into 10 slices. Rainman Jr had tried to cut at least 20 into 8 slices though. The manager offered to make the lady some more. She said she did not have the time and took them as they were. After the customer left the manager sent Rainman Jr out with the signboard and a guitar cut out to stand next to the road to drum up business. Wow that speaks volumes about SOME employees out there.
Before anyone comments about how this may be a special needs employee, etc, he was not. He had no notable handicap, he spoke and interacted normally. His only issue seemed to be his inability to cut 8 slices instead of 10 on a pizza. I refer to him as Rainman Jr as it seemed that any disruption of his schedule seemed to disturb him tremendously. I am fairly sure that he was not diagnosed as Autism either as he seemed to interact normally with employees, etc. Understand, I mean no slight to those that are dealing with Autism, this guy however was just way to apathetic and pathetic as a employee to leave unmentioned. Of course the managers inability to enter orders and maintain any sort of control over the workspace only allowed Rainman Jr. to thrive in his below par work effort.
I went into a Subway with a 50% off coupon. I placed my order and noted standing behind me this tiny old lady with a pleasant smile. She looked like she’d been cast as “Grandma #1″ in some movie script. Just as sweet as could be.
The cashier rang up my meal. The total came to a nice even number, $6.20. But after the cashier took off the coupon, she proudly announced, “That will be $5.55.”
“That’s not right, ” I noted calmly, “It should be $3.10.”
She rang it again. “Nope, it comes up $5.55.”
I asked her what half of 6 was, then half of 20. She said 3, then 10, then noted, “But the register says $5.55. That’s what it has to be.”
I asked her to ring it again, and this time I saw what the problem was: she wasn’t subtotaling the entire sale before she took off the coupon. The last item was the $1.30 drink. The register showed $6.20, but that was just the sum before the subtotal. By failing to subtotal, she was effectively giving me half off the drink. That accounted for the $5.55 price.
By now, a large line had formed, and the cashier was absolutely mad as heck at me, especially after I explained how she was making the error. At this, the manager came over, re-rang the meal, and came up with…$5.55.
At this, the old lady, that sweet tiny woman, tapped me on the back. I turned around and she motioned for me to lean down. When I did, she said into my ear, “These people are morons.”
It took every ounce of my self-control to not burst out laughing.
Eventually the exasperated manager got it right, but I swear ten minutes had gone by just because two people could not think on their own and come to the conclusion that “50% off” $6.20 was $3.10.
Comment by
DLE — 9/19/2007 @ 8:17 pm