No call-in orders. Period.

[Belari]

*ring ring*
Me: Deli, Belari speaking. How may I help you?
Lady:Yeah I wanna know about your trays.
Me: Are you looking for a sandwich tray or a meat and cheese tray?
Lady: Yeah that. The medium cheese tray. A small one with meat too.
Me: (what?? I said MEAT. Why would the name of it be "medium cheese tray" if it comes with meat and other sizes???) Ok well what would you like to know?
Lady: How much does it cost?
Me: $14.25 and it comes with 2 pounds of meat and 1 pound of cheese.
Lady: And that's the small medium cheese tray with lunch meat too?
Me: .... um... yeah.
Lady: So can I order one? I want-
Me: Actually ma'am, we don't take tray orders over the phone. But if you come on in we can take that for you.
Lady: Oh. Really? Well ok then. When do I have to order by for the 18th?
Me: We just need 24 hours' notice.
Lady: Ok. And I have to come in person?
Me: Yes.
Lady: Can I ask why?
Me: That's just our policy to make sure you get what you want and avoid miscommunication.
Lady: (Suddenly angry) But it's JUST meat and cheese!!
Me:I understand ma'am.
Lady: Well??
Me: That's still our policy.
Lady: Well FINE THEN. This is so stupid! You people suck.
Me: Have a nice day ma'am.
Lady: Whatever *click*


*sigh* It's a policy. I didn't make it. But I support it. Too many people used to call in their orders, then claim it was wrong and demand it for free. Making them write it themselves eliminates that problem. And in any case, why yell at me?? Just because I answered the phone doesn't make me Lord Of The Small Medium Cheese Trays With Meat and all things related. And seriously, did you honestly think that merely questioning my statement will automatically cause me to change the store policy? You're such an EW.

[malmalthekiller]

I can understand both parts, but I ultimately agree with you.

As someone that used to work holiday help in seafood and produce (making baskets and trays and all types of holiday things), I've been yelled at far too many times for someone else's supposed mistake from call-in or internet orders.

I had a lady come in 15 minutes before my section closed on new year's eve, said she ordered a large shrimp tray, and not a small one. She was the last order of the night, there were no more shrimp thawed to make her another one, not that I had time. She's pissing and moaning at me about it, so I call the manager (who was a bit asshole), told him the situation. He tried to get me to make another one, I told him, that was his problem, and punched out.

[Belari]

I can understand both parts, but I ultimately agree with you.

As someone that used to work holiday help in seafood and produce (making baskets and trays and all types of holiday things), I've been yelled at far too many times for someone else's supposed mistake from call-in or internet orders.

I had a lady come in 15 minutes before my section closed on new year's eve, said she ordered a large shrimp tray, and not a small one. She was the last order of the night, there were no more shrimp thawed to make her another one, not that I had time. She's pissing and moaning at me about it, so I call the manager (who was a bit asshole), told him the situation. He tried to get me to make another one, I told him, that was his problem, and punched out.

Yeah, I understand why she'd be annoyed. It's inconvenient. But no reason for her to be mean to me

[sixums]

Just because I answered the phone doesn't make me Lord Of The Small Medium Cheese Trays With Meat and all things related.

Yes, but that's such a catchy title!

[malmalthekiller]

Definitely not. I hate when people argue over store-policy.

I work at the service desk now, and I use that all the time.

Do you think a college-student can bend store policy for your whim? No, I don't think so.

I can call a manager, but they'll tell you the same thing.

[calulu]

what the hell is a 'small medium' in the first place?

I guess it's better than the pretentious sizing names at Starbucks, what with their tall, grande and venti.

[PepperElf]

Yeah, I understand why she'd be annoyed. It's inconvenient. But no reason for her to be mean to me

inconvenient? maybe... BUT wouldn't it be MORE inconvenient to make an order and find out later that what you ordered wasn't really what you wanted?

[cinema guy]

Yes, but that's such a catchy title!

But "Lord Of The Small Medium Cheese Trays With Meat and all things related" is kind of difficult to fit on a name badge.

[MannersMakethMan]

Excuse my asking, but would she have to come in to pick it up anyway? If so, I would have thought she'd have been grateful for the extra freshness with almost no extra inconvenience to her. Not to mention the extra 'supervision' she could give her beloved order.

[Bramblerose]

See, I would assume in-person ordering so you can get an in-person form of payment. The only reservation is a paid reservation.

[PepperElf]

But "Lord Of The Small Medium Cheese Trays With Meat and all things related" is kind of difficult to fit on a name badge.

LOTSMCTWMAATR

... even *that* is a bit long lol

[Belari]

But "Lord Of The Small Medium Cheese Trays With Meat and all things related" is kind of difficult to fit on a name badge.

We have ginormous name tags. I think I could fit that if I wrote it small enough. Hm...contemplating...I wonder how long it'd take my boss to notice my new name?

[Nakajo]

I get this ALL THE TIME. We used to take phone orders, but the same people who would order every time had their order magically screwed up by us, and because they had NO TIME to wait for another tray, they'd JUST HAVE to take the screwed up one, but oh, they wanted it for FREE.

Very common scam. It's why they need to fill out a form now, so we can prove any alleged screw up on our part before giving away ANYTHING.

[Belari]

I get this ALL THE TIME. We used to take phone orders, but the same people who would order every time had their order magically screwed up by us, and because they had NO TIME to wait for another tray, they'd JUST HAVE to take the screwed up one, but oh, they wanted it for FREE.

Very common scam. It's why they need to fill out a form now, so we can prove any alleged screw up on our part before giving away ANYTHING.

Same here! It was the same few SCs over and over, trying to get stuff for free by claiming we screwed up. Now they have to fill out a form themselves and we keep a photocopy of it in case they come back later to complain.

Sucks for the honest people who just don't have time to come down to the store.

I have this one lady, she's ordered about 10 cakes from us in the 15 months I've worked there. Every single time, she claims there's something wrong and demands to have it for free. After the 3rd time I talked to management and we developed a slew of new policies just because of her. Unfortunately, they can't only apply to her. So now because of one stupid lady, everybody who orders a cake has to go through bullshit to get it, including listening to our spiel about "the colors may not match exactly but we'll get as close as we can with the materials we have" and blah blah blah.

[PossJB]

I will admit, "meat and cheese" can sound a lot like "medium cheese" if you're not paying attention or if it is said fastly.