Sometimes, there are free dinners!
There is a common English saying - “There are no free lunches in this world!” But I realized that there could be some free dinners sometimes!
It all started on Saturday. At office, we decided to try out the new Pizza Hut menu. The alluring leaflets, with discount coupons, dropped at my place were added incentive.
However, what started off as a routine ‘order placement’ call, some five minutes later,metamorphosised into a full-fledged verbal duel. The reason being - their adamant refusal at delivering to our office, as it was beyond their ’service area of four kilometers’. Now Pizza Hut outlet is very near my place so I was hundred percent sure that our office falls within their stipulated four kilometer radius; 3.8 kms, to be very precise- or probably lesser, as the outlet is some 500-700 meters away from my home.In any case, I argued, even if it wasnt within four kms, there is no reason why they cannot still service a kilometer or two extra, if the client is willing not to be bound by their time-frame clause. It’s not as if there is a ‘laxman rekha’ beyond which if Pizza Hut scooters cross, they’d be abducted by some horrifiying Ravans! But all my arguments fell on deaf ears. When the person on the other end (the shift manager) stopped harping on the four-kilometer clause, he started to give wishy washy arguments on how the area where we were didnt fall within ’serviceable’ limit. Now, I really blew my fuse. Agreed, we fall within that area, but our office - a landmark on its own - is right at the edge, on the main road, and accessible through wide open roads (as wide as they can be in Agra!).
The heat in the arguments from both ends rose to a palpable limit, with lots of strong words deployed, till the time I banged the phone down, in anger and disgust. In the same stroke, I went to Pizza Hut’s website and registered a complaint, mentally swearing off Pizza Hut for lifetime (though, honestly, my stomach and taste buds grumbled their protests - I really like their pizzas, however un-Italian they be!)
Two hours later, when I was quite cooled down, and had been satiated with a heavy lunch from their rival Dominoe’s Pizza, I received a call from Pizza Hut. It was their Asst. Manager - and in a meek voice he apologized for all that had happened. We spoke for some twenty minutes, in which he must have used the word ’sorry’ some twenty thousand times. He offered to rectify the error and send the order away immediately. But I politely declined, as I was already full - and moreover, on my way to Delhi. He also requested me to visit their outlet sometime, and I vaguely agreed.
I had totally forgotten about the incident by the time I returned from my short but extremely relaxing weekend. Amidst a pile load of work, I received yet another call from Pizza Hut - this time, from their Manager. Once again, there were several rounds of apologies and he insisted that I visit their outlet - anytime convenient. Since he was quite pressing, and since I like Pizza Hut pizzas, and since I live alone and don’t mind a dinner out sometimes, I agreed!
At the designated hour, I reached their outlet. From the moment I entered their restaurant till the time I left, it was an evening befitting a royalty. The manager was there to apologise ( we had a drink together), the shift manager (with whom I had the argument) did the same, and the waiters were all on call at the slightest turn of my head! After a delightful meal (their new Indian Menu is simply outstanding!), when I asked for the bill, they refused the same. ‘It’s complimentary from our side!’ they gushed.
Whether it was the slight intoxication of the smooth Forster, or the luxury of having being served with such impeccable finesse, or the sheer respect for someone who has apologized enough ( I am in sales, and have met enough rude customers to know!), or the effect of the aroma-rich, tasteful food, whatever it was at that time I was ready to do anything they asked for - and that was (as the shift manager meekly, hesitatingly and fearfully requested for) a mail to state that I had enjoyed the evening (which I understood was an euphemism to say that I no longer bore a grudge against them).
I am not entirely unfamiliar with the service standards offered by various organisations. But after yesterday, Pizza Hut’s service quality stands heads and shoulders above many of the bests! To say I am impressed with their service is an understatement! It is way beyond that. And now I have resolved to always be their loyal customer (and my stomach and taste buds gurgle in delight!)
Next Update: December 07th, 2006 at 1800 Hrs IST titled “Eight”
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December 5th, 2006 at 4:58 pm
me first! nwah kya story hai…kya convincing pizza hut ad hai yeh toh!
December 5th, 2006 at 5:07 pm
will get back for detailed comments and pizza hut story of my own …just wanted to claim the gold..
December 5th, 2006 at 5:24 pm
Kaushie - Bade dinon baad - Gold aapka
You woke up early morning and are on blogs - sachi bataana was it to check the comments on ur own new post? I suspect aisa hi hoga if so, then all i can say is join the club - some ol’ habits die hard!!!
Will await ur Pizza Hut experience too - yahan sunaoge, ya it will be on ur blog?
December 5th, 2006 at 5:55 pm
arrey sabse pehle…let me ask you about the Next Update…7th dec..titled Eight….hmmmm….already posted i guess..aur koi story lag rahe hai mujhe.
DJ, this is that time of the day…when I feel sooo damn hungry….sachi mein…& I try not to eat anything before dinner…& your post has made me …,well….grrrrrrrrrr
December 5th, 2006 at 6:30 pm
Mehak - The next update is written, but its not a story, its just a tag
LOL, i knew that would happen…but then their indian menu is really yummm…ok ok, i will stop now
December 5th, 2006 at 6:40 pm
Wow..that’s nice…no wonder people admire MNC standards. Can u imagine a similar experience in a Udipi restaurant?U’d probably have an idli thrown at u if u complained.Didn’t u ask for a ‘free-for-life-eat-all-you-can’ card?(Make hay while the sun shines,as they say)
December 5th, 2006 at 9:37 pm
you know me so well deej! hahaha…yup ol habits die hard..waise it was here only I was gonna talk about my pizza hut exp..the other day we ordered some pizzas to pick up in twenty minutes and we went..they were not ready..only 2 of the 8 we ordered were ready..I was so pissed off, I stood there at the counter until they came.manager came in asked waht was wrong and ofcourse I blasted him off about the delay. We got free drink and free cheesesticks and garlic bread HEHE
(ofcourse I threatened to shoot an email off to corporate)sometimes dont you just love being teh consumer? 
December 5th, 2006 at 11:18 pm
wow! freeee food.. luckyy u!! its great when u complain, n then these restaraunt ppl make it up too u.. but sucks when pizza hut disappoints!!
nice to see ya on my page!
December 6th, 2006 at 11:14 am
Ha ha! Yes, I would second this… the Pizza Hut in Mumbai took me by surprise by the hospitality of the staff.
But now u have given me some good ideas. Perhaps I should call up a Pizza hut which falls just outside the delivery limits…. (evil laugh)
December 6th, 2006 at 12:17 pm
arre wah, lucky you. let me pick up the phone and yell at Pizza Hut nearby. I have a Pizza Hut story too. Nothing do with free pizza but to do with a cute waiter. Kaushie has one too so I guess Pizza Hut is more a part of out life than we knew.
and I like Pizza Hut pizzas too, better than all others I think so now its final, next meeting is at Pizza Hut thik hai.
btw refreshing to see you back quickly this time.
December 6th, 2006 at 12:34 pm
Good to see tht they were actually sorry 4 all tht and they apologised v.humbly 4 the same.
Nice story…
December 6th, 2006 at 12:38 pm
Visited ur bolg 4 the first time … shall add u in my list
December 6th, 2006 at 2:06 pm
I have commented in the previous post.
I read this one but will come an post on it later on as there is an urgent call up.
December 6th, 2006 at 5:08 pm
hmmmmm… so you have got a free dinner…
Reading your post, might other Pizza Hots or other restaurants will offer you before you argue with them
. Bechara sab darr jayenge.
So eights is going to be there. Finally you have accepted… It’s good otherwise you would have…… gurrrrrrr kittttttttttttttt
December 6th, 2006 at 5:20 pm
I posted a post on 3Ds
Come and read.
But I’m afraid, if you would come up a post on 3Ks.
December 7th, 2006 at 4:18 pm
wow free food… mast hai…
December 7th, 2006 at 5:19 pm
AmitL- LOL, yeah i should have asked for that!
Kaushi - Of course of course - i love to be on the other side, and not be on the receiving end, which i m quite often!!!
Reema - But i think Pizza Hut more than made it up with their apology
Sure, I keep visiting whenever I can grab some time. You too keep writing in!
Apoorva - LOL , sure sure!
Priyangini - Aha - lusting after Pizza Hut boys
ha ha … sure, iss baar Pizza Hut sahi, but then I wudnt mind the ‘hookah’ at Mocha again 
And yeah, the surprise is that i will be back again very soon, as written in the last line of the post!
Urvi - A warm warm welcome to the blog! I didnt know I was still getting new readers. Hope you enjoy your stay here.
Juneli - Yep, I saw ur comment on the prev. post - wordpress sends a mail on each comment, so i always know who is commenting where and when
Well, you know i like to get good and prompt service 
Have read your post and already commented!
LL - Haanji, bilkul!!
December 15th, 2006 at 7:56 am
First things first…good to see you back with full josh. I used to visit the website almost every day hoping to read an update, but I guess you were absent for quite a while. Today when I came here…tou saw so many new posts.
Now…coming to your post. I think MNC’s have to maintain a set standard in terms of their products and customer satisfaction. Afterall they survive on word of mouth. So one disappointed customer could have lead to many more lost customers.
But sure enough…..there are free dinners in this world…aur free dinner ka tou apna hi maza hota hai.
December 15th, 2006 at 9:42 am
Mannat - Welcome back !
Of course, free dinners are so enjoyable, as i experienced LOL