There we are, craving pepperoni with the works. We may be craving a full on vegetarian pizza pie or one of the many choices that Pizza Hut has to offer from their menu. Gathering the family around, we decide what we are going to have for dinner. The prices are really good and we have made our choice on a stuff crust pepperoni pizza and a liter of soda. I pick up the phone to call my local Pizza Hut location to make an order. I’m told by the Pizza Hut employee that they have stop delivering. I look at the clock and think “Are you crazy? It’s 7pm and you have stopped delivering?” The phone is politely put down and the family discusses a next plan of action.
We decide to call the next Pizza Hut that is only another mile away from the first location. I go through the motion of dialing the number. I ask the Pizza Hut employee if they are delivering. I feel blessed because they are delivering. I explain the mistake of the first Pizza Hut location to the employee. I’m then asked “What is your local cross-street?” I tell the employee my cross street only to be informed that they will not deliver to that location. I think my jaw hit the floor when I heard those words and immediately asked to speak with the manager.
The manager was already on the phone. Trying to keep my cool, I asked why they would not deliver to my location. The response is that I am too far from their location. While I’m on the telephone, I’m also looking at the location map on the corporate website. This Pizza Hut is too far from my location? They are not willing to drive an extra mile for customer satisfaction and a bill of $25? The manager responds with a definite yes.
I have to admit by then I didn’t care about the pizza. I craved customer service more than a three hundred calorie slice of pizza. I politely hung up the telephone and screamed. My next telephone call was to the corporate franchise office. I wanted the company to know what their Pizza Hut franchise owners were doing to current and future customers. I am connected to the corporate customer service department where Allen apologized continuously for the negative reaction that I received. Allen does an excellent job and calming my anger and taking my complaint.
I must admit that not all of this Pizza Hut location is negative. When the Pizza is delivered to us, it is always fresh, hot and made to order. The drivers for Pizza Hut really know about customer service. The uniforms are always clean, the hair is tucked into a hat, and they have a smile on their face. I always tip the drivers when I can and feel bad when I can not tip the drivers.
