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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

To think she should know my order by now?

133 replies

KatyTheCleaningLady · 24/05/2013 08:26

(This is sort of lighthearted. I'm not actually bent out of shape over it.)

Every morning (well, about four out of five weekday mornings) I go to my local Greg's and I order the exact same thing. I smile and I say:

"Good morning! I'd like a bacon roll with a little bit of brown sauce, a chocolate eclaire, and a white coffee with three sugars, please."

Most mornings, the same woman takes my order and, even though I've probably said these words to her two dozen times over the past few weeks, she always looks at me as if she's never seen me before, and she has to ask at least once while preparing my order a question like, "Do you want sausage?" or "Do you want brown sauce?" or "How many sugars?"

There's another woman who works there who does seem to remember me, even though she rarely takes my order. She also offered me a loyalty/reward card thing where you get stamps for a free coffee, because she recognized that I'm a daily regular. I must have been in there a dozen times (served by the forgetful woman) before I even knew they existed.

Is the forgetful woman winding me up? Or am I just deluded to think that someone should remember me (the really tall American who has the exact same thing every morning)?

Also, if Greg's is on your Bingo card, you're welcome. I'll try to come back and drip feed something about parking in here, later.

Ta!

OP posts:
FringeEvent · 24/05/2013 10:48

This thread has brought back memories from when I used to work at Maccy D's as a student in 1998. There was a lad who used to come in frequently with his dad, he'd always order the exact same thing: 3 hamburgers with nothing but ketchup, a large fries, and a large still Fanta with no ice. Someone would always spot him waiting to cross the busy road opposite us and get his order through to the kitchen, I often wondered if he was baffled to find his order ready waiting for him when he reached the counter! Never discovered his real name; we all knew him as "Three Hamburgers Only Ketchup".

lougle · 24/05/2013 10:48

YABU. For you, it's part of your routine. To her, you're a customer to serve and you have a right to choice (even if you know that you'll choose the same thing).

P.S. We don't have 'handicapped spots' here. We have designated parking spaces for blue badge holders, or 'disabled parking spaces'. Handicapped is offensive to many disabled people and 'handicap' only belongs on the golf course Wink

KatyTheCleaningLady · 24/05/2013 10:49

I'm pretty sure I'm wasting my time saying "a little bit of brown sauce," too. It's just an American habit to order exactly what I want. But I know that I am getting the standard squirt of sauce, regardless. Grin

I don't think it's just a tipping thing in America. Customers simply expect to be made to feel special.

I don't think service is actually bad in the UK. There's less singing and dancing, but I get what I want.

I don't accept anything less, though. I specify what I want, and if I'm going to pay, I insist on getting it.

I'm nice about it, and I'm a good tipper. But I won't just sigh, grumble under my breath, and then pay if I haven't gotten what I asked for.

This lady gives me what I want and is friendly enough.

OP posts:
gallifrey · 24/05/2013 10:50

I used to work on a deli counter and a man would get the same stuff every week. one day we saw him in the shop and did his stuff for him and just put it on the counter ready when he got there. We thought he would like it but he seemed really annoyed!

StepAwayFromTheEcclesCakes · 24/05/2013 10:52

erm we prefer to use the term disabled rather than handicapped in UK, just sayin

KatyTheCleaningLady · 24/05/2013 10:58

Thanks for pointing that out. I think I say disabled badge, but still have the habit of saying handicapped spaces. I don't see the inherent difference between the two terms, but if it jars or offends, then I will be more careful.

I guess it's like calling Chinese /Japanese, etc. Oriental. That would be offensive to Asians in the US.

OP posts:
Belmo · 24/05/2013 11:01

Everyone does yeah, staff get a 50% discount. I've lost 2 stone since I left!! It's impossible not to just grab a cake on your break if you're greedy like me.
Cheese and onion pasties, probably (I'm veggie) but I haven't had one since I left, it'll be years before I can stomach another one!

ephemeralfairy · 24/05/2013 11:02

Also a lot of the time these big chains live in constant fear of the 'mystery shopper; a Stasi-esque figure who is sent by Head Office and will mark stores down if their staff don't stick to a very formulaic interaction with the customer.

StuntGirl · 24/05/2013 11:25

It's Greggs. She will serve hundreds of customers for the breakfast rush alone, many of whom will also order the same thing every day. Is she supposed to remember every single one of them too, or is it just you who is special?

It's not a cafe or a restaurant, and she's not a waitress. It's a conveyer belt where she churns out hundreds of pasties, sausage rolls and doughnuts every day.

Perhaps her manager doesn't like staff making assumptions about customers orders. Perhaps she did it once and a customer wasn't happy. Perhaps she thinks its polite to ask everyone. Perhaps as fairy says she's simply following the script so if she gets mystery shopped she'll pass. Perhaps she's a jobsworth who couldn't care less. Who knows?

KatyTheCleaningLady · 24/05/2013 11:31

I think all customers are special, and should be made to feel as such. Obviously, if she can't remember something, no big deal.

She's not following a script. There's no general script for the others that I can see.

I've done similar jobs, both waitress and carry out counter. Also various retail. Remembering everyone's order isn't expected. But, asking five seconds after someone orders bacon for the umpteenth time if they want sausage is kinda weird.

OP posts:
justmuddlingalong · 24/05/2013 11:38
Biscuit
Sirzy · 24/05/2013 11:43

Nothing weird about up selling. It is what is expected in these places because they are working to targets.

KatyTheCleaningLady · 24/05/2013 11:44

justmuddlingalong I ordered an éclairs, not a fucking jammy dodger.

OP posts:
KatyTheCleaningLady · 24/05/2013 11:45

She's not up selling. She's asking if the roll I ordered is sausage, or gets brown sauce.

OP posts:
KatyTheCleaningLady · 24/05/2013 11:46

Oh, I guess I want multiple éclairs.

Yummy!

OP posts:
Jan49 · 24/05/2013 12:06

I'm a bit shocked that you eat that daily and eat it in a car. A chocolate éclair is not just a 'pastry' is it? It's chocolate and cream and pastry. Are you quite young? Just asking because some people get away with rubbish food in their 20s-30s but then start to pile on weight if they continue that kind of diet.

Is it possible she asks about the sausage because it would be more expensive if you had that as well, just trying to sell you something extra? I think you should change your order, if only to see what reaction you get. You could confuse her by saying "no sugar in the coffee, I don't take sugar".Grin

Sidge · 24/05/2013 12:12

I've never been to a Greggs

What am I missing?

KatyTheCleaningLady · 24/05/2013 12:14

No I'm 43. I am a healthy weight.

I won't claim it's a nutrient-rich breakfast, but it's not poisonous. A lot of sugar, sure, but I burn it off. Not sure why eating in a parked car is worse than at a table.

I don't eat much the rest of the day.

OP posts:
OrangeFootedScrubfowl · 24/05/2013 12:18

I am more surprised that you have the same thing every day. Don't you ever fancy muesli?

KatyTheCleaningLady · 24/05/2013 12:21

I have it four times a week. If I want something else, I go somewhere else, and if I'm not working, I eat at home.

OP posts:
squeakytoy · 24/05/2013 12:25

hmmm lets see.... choc eclair or muesli..... I think I know which I would prefer.. Grin

Trill · 24/05/2013 12:27

I am clearly too late but I wanted to say read the OPs name - TheCleaningLady and point out that you need a lot of calories to do lots of cleaning (plus I know you are a proper elbow-grease kind of cleaner).

ZacharyQuack · 24/05/2013 12:34

Your breakfast sounds delicious. Bacon, cream, coffee, three of the main food groups covered.

Beamae · 24/05/2013 12:40

My sandwich guy used to see me through the window and would put a jacket spud in before I even got to the door. He made me feel like the queen of lunch.

SacreBlue · 24/05/2013 12:46

Your usual sounds delish :)

DS and I eat out a lot, it's our 'thing' rather than holidays, cinema, night out etc, and we have a few 'usual' restaurants

They not only remember our unusual ordering habits but our names and what events we last talked about and ask for updates. and we are in Ireland

We do tip always as we get great service so I know that may be a factor but it is just so lovely to be remembered and have your regular custom appreciated.