For more than 20 years. I’ve been ordering Chinese food from the very same place. When I was a student, I used to run into “our” little Chinese take-out place with my then SassyBoyfriend with the change we found in the couch cushions and order a Dinner For One and an extra side of rice. For about $8.00 we could end up with a “gourmet” dinner for both of us, a super cheap date night, and we felt all kinds of grown up. It was dreamy and delicious.
Fast forward 20 something years, and a few things have changed. SassyBoyfriend is now SassyHubby, and that Chinese Food Order is closer to $80.00 bucks than $8.00, but still worth every penny. We’re now feeding a crew of at least four, usually more when our girls have friends over. Plus with Chinese food, we always order extra, leftovers are King!
So about once a month we treat ourselves to an overpriced Chinese Dinner, delivered right to our home, it’s always been worth it, until this past weekend. This weekend I made my standard order and enjoyed a crisp glass of Prosecco as we waited for the Delivery Guy. The two greasy bags arrived in just over an hour, and we dove into the containers like starving children. But wait! Two bags? We were missing an entire bag of food! No worries, I would just call the Chinese Restaurant and explain there had been a mix-up. Could they stop their driver and get him to turn around? We were missing Chicken Balls, Chicken Soo Guy and an order of Spicy Chow Mein Noodles.
What I expected to hear was “Of course, no trouble, we will track down your missing food and get it to you as soon as possible.” What I got was. “Are you sure you missing food?” “How many red boxes are on your kitchen counter?” “You need to check again because it was all delivered.” “We do not think you are missing any bags.” WHAT??? They thought I was lying?
I won’t go into the hand shaking, voice trembling, rage inducing conversation that slowly went from polite to…ARE YOU KIDDING ME….except to say that this is the first, and I suspect the last time I will ever be accused of stealing chicken balls. Guess I can check that off my bucket list?
In the end, replacement chicken balls were sent to my home as was the rest of the food. It arrived long after our dinner was over and my girls were in bed. For the price of three containers of Chinese Take-Out this restaurant lost a customer of more than 20 years. Yup, apparently I am now that girl. The holding a grudge against a restaurant girl because they accused me of stealing their chicken balls. Absurd.
Note to the world; if you accuse a customer of stealing chicken balls, they probably won’t order from you again, ever.
Guess I better find a favourite Thai place to give my money to.
Life, even in the suburbs, it’s never boring!
What an insult,i would never go back
I hate experiences like that! It’s so insulting! But I try to remember that they’ve probably seen it all…doesn’t much help though!
I know exactly how you feel and hope that your new Chinese restaurant provides good service for years to come. I had the same sort of experience with my car, took it in for an oil change and service, drove home and the next morning there was no oil in my car! Phoned them, they said to come right back so I did. Done they said so I set off on my 300 km journey and just as I turned into my daughter’s street the oil warning light started flashing again! Called the same company in this town, had to pay up front as this well known firm works as a franchise. My oil filter had been cracked they told me. Back home I went back to the first place and told them what happened. After much back and forth the manager did refund me and said sorry but with little real meaning to the word. There was absolutely nothing else they were prepared to do for me. I found it too little considering what could have happened. I never went back to the place again so they lost a customer.
Chinese food is outrageously over priced but I can’t believe they gave you a hassle. I’ve quit restaurants for whatever reason like food took to long to be delivered or didn’t send proper food. But sometimes I miss those places but I’d never go back.
Find a new place
hell hath no furry like a misplaced order of chicken balls 😀
How annoying! I can’t believe they were doubting that you hadn’t gotten them!
That’s awful. Always give the customer the benefit of the doubt ESPECIALLY a customer of 20 years! Morons! I hope you find better Chinese Food elsewhere.
Oh no 🙁 that is just plain horrible! you would think that 20 years of patronage would matter, but sad that people don’t provide quality customer service anymore. I have been going to this sushi place for years, but service has gone down hill, so much so that I am willing to drive an hour away to get good quality sushi now.
hard to imagine for the length of time you’ve been a customer they would do what they did – they didn’t get the memo that customer service has become front and center, and at that, just plain decency! If there food was that good, I’d protest for a while, but would probably go back again, this time making sure every order is complete before starting to chow down.