Friday, July 25, 2008

The Gift Card Wrangler

Last night was a busy night...one of those that caught us off guard. On nights like that, my job is to be EVERYWHERE!!! I was at the front door when a man walked in. We welcomed him to our establishment...we then asked him how many were in his party (he had his wife and two kids)

He then told me he had a $15 gift certificate for here and a $25 gift certificate for an establishment up the road. I looked at Nelly, she looked at me...and we both said at the same time...HERE...all day...

that wasn't what he was asking

He then proceeded to tell us that he lost his job and he was trying to save some money...so he wanted to get some cash. I told him that the gift certificates were not redeemable for cash, but he could feed his kids very well with $15. And he and his wife could eat at the other place.

He asked to see a menu, so I gave him a regular menu and a kids menu. I also made some suggestions of how to most effectively use his $15.

He was sitting on a bench in the front when I heard an outburst. "What are these people thinking"

What are we thinking...what are you thinking???

So I asked him if he had some questions about the menu...he pointed to the kids rib...and questioned the $6.29 price. I said yes sir, that includes the 4 bone ribs, a side, and a drink...he then looked overwhelmed

OUR FOOD IS REASONABLY PRICED

So after looking at the menu for a few more minutes...he handed me the menu back and said that he thought he would just go wrangle someone in the parking lot and see if they would give him $15 cash for the card...

ok that was creepy...and the last thing I want is my customers getting hassled by some creeper in the parking lot.

So I said, sir I would rather you didn't, let me go ask one of my servers if they would give you cash and redeem the gift card at a later time.

I took the card and checked the balance...I mean, if a guy is willing to "wrangle" someone in the parking lot, and tell me about his recent financial state...I would not put it past him to try to get us for $15...maybe my mother just raised me to be skeptical...

The card checked out, and a server gave me some cash.

So I sent the wrangler and his posse on their way...I wonder if they wound up eating at the other place, or doing some more wrangling there????

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