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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

Sainsbury's cafe

272 replies

SpoonBender · 15/07/2014 16:51

Was out shopping today with DD at our local Sainsbury's when decided we would have some lunch in the cafe. I ordered my DD who is only 11months old some toast to munch on. The lady rudely told me that breakfast had stopped at 11.30 and as it was now 1pm they couldn't do toast. I calmly explained that it was for my dd. She point blank refused, and when I ask why she said it was company policy. I was fuming that they couldn't put some toast in...it wasn't like I was asking for a bacon cob!!! We left and went to morrisons where they happily provided DD with some toast. Would it be ok to ring and complain. Still mad now!

OP posts:
HaroldLloyd · 16/07/2014 10:03

When I go in a cafe I want what I want.

Of course I do!

And I want toast.

ArcheryAnnie · 16/07/2014 10:04

Agree with the person who pointed out that the breakfast stuff may well have been cleaned and put away. What is easy at home may be a PITA for someone who is already serving a busy line with the stuff that is meant to be served then.

Also - it's not like the OP's DD is the first and only child to have ever graced Sainsbury's cafe - the "it's for my DD" bit made me laugh. Our children are special to us, but to nobody else, for the most part. A lot of these situations would disappear entirely if we only remembered that.

HaroldLloyd · 16/07/2014 10:06

Seriously though OP does sound way to disproportionately whingey, and if they had big machines that had to be out away fair enough (but I think sains do an all day brunch don't they? So possibly not)

It's a CAFE and if I was ordering a meal I might ask for some toast for DS as he won't eat much.

Mind if they said no I would just get something else, but it wouldn't kill them ey.

queenofthemountain · 16/07/2014 10:09

do you think your dd is some kind of demi god that rules don't apply to?

Staywithme · 16/07/2014 10:09

harold

^When I go in a cafe I want what I want.

Of course I do!

And I want toast.^

Grin I'm a vegan and usually end up sitting over a coffee while every one eats round me. Even the naice cafe my DH and I go to has nothing for me to eat but I go for the ambiance, sad I know. Blush I couldn't be arsed to make things difficult for already busy staff.

HaroldLloyd · 16/07/2014 10:19

my DS is a Demi God he can destroy a cafe in 10 mins.

GIVE ME TOAST OR I WILL SMITE YOU

Staryyeyedsurprise · 16/07/2014 10:19

I get you're a bit Hmm atthem not just doing a single piece of toast, but other posters have given plausible explanations of why that might be.

But I'm a bit Hmm that you left and went to morrisons where they happily provided DD with some toast because I either would have said "ok, bit odd can I have a banana instead please?" or just gone home if I was really hacked off. Balls to hauling my butt to another supermarket after already having been out shopping. You've more righteous indignation energy than me OP.

OwlCapone · 16/07/2014 10:27

Is it really that big a deal asking for a bit of toast for a nipper?

Is it really that big a deal asking for a bread roll for a nipper when toast is not available?

HaroldLloyd · 16/07/2014 10:33

Did I say it was?

LittleBearPad · 16/07/2014 10:39

Where's the OP, staging a protest outside Sainsburys. Preparing for her DM photo looking outraged with a sad baby and a slice of bread.

StoneTheFlamingCrows · 16/07/2014 10:40

I get pissed of with sainsbos cafe sometimes - dd always wants their lunch bag, nothing else, but often they have run out of cheese sandwiches to go in them. As dd is vegetarian it's all she can have. Every time this happens they make a massive fuss about how they are not supposed to make one up themselves (why?!) but they do it anyway. I am grateful to them for doing it anyway, but they always have to go on about it forever how they are bit supposed to, and I wonder why the company has such ridiculous rules.

I understand it might be because of allergies etc, but as her mother I know she doesn't have any, so one made fresh in the kitchen instead if the dry packaged thing in the fridge will do fine thank you.

I think yanbu actually, kids are creatures of habit and can be fussy,and it wouldn't have been much effort for then to do you some toast. I have worked in catering and I always try and do what the customer wants within reason.

Staywithme · 16/07/2014 10:49

I have worked in catering and I always try and do what the customer wants within reason

So would you clear away the space that is now being used to prepare other things, possibly pissing off a co-worker and keeping other customers waiting, in order to heat an industrial sized toaster? Then after making the single slice of toast would you then clean up toaster, put it away then permit your co-workers to continue preparing food on that counter for the other customers? Now, neither you or I know if this is the reason she was refused, but having worked in cafés in my youth I can see this being the reason the toast wasn't available. I'm not trying to be a smart arse, I'm genuinely curious as to wether you would class that being within reason?

HaroldLloyd · 16/07/2014 10:52

Well no, but equally there might just well have been a toaster sitting out.

We just don't know do we, might be understandable or just a bit pedantic.

Wh could always email sains and ask? Grin

StoneTheFlamingCrows · 16/07/2014 10:55

As a Pp already said, sainsburys do all day brunch, that includes toast, I have had one before.

The woman was just being difficult. And in all the places I have worked the big industrial toasters are not "put away" they are just turned off, they take seconds to turn on again and really don't take long to heat up.

StoneTheFlamingCrows · 16/07/2014 10:59

Oh and if I couldn't do domething, I would explain to the customer.

Sorry we can't do your toast we have ran out of bread/put the toaster away/had a power cut/having a wheat shortage (or whatever other scenarios posters may dream up), can I offer you xyz instead?

Not just point blank refuse like this woman did. I know there needs to be rules. I wouldn't expect an egg mcmuffin at mcd's at noon as there is obviously a lot more that goes into that. But a bit of toast?

Gileswithachainsaw · 16/07/2014 11:00

Aaah right so it did include toast?

That puts whole new spin on things doesn't it.

EarthWindFire · 16/07/2014 11:04

Don't of the all day brunch at my local one.

Can't believe there are 10 pages of toast discussion Shock

Gileswithachainsaw · 16/07/2014 11:06

And agreed stone

I've worked in catering to and always tried to give the customer what they wanted if possible or suggest alternatives where it wasn't.

And shoot me, I've even been known to sort out a bowl of Ice cream for kids when kitchens been closed and they hadn't realised.

WhatTheFork · 16/07/2014 11:10

When my PFB was that age I carried her cheesy toast soldiers with me from home.

DH were Xmas shopping last Xmas and stopped at a cafe for a break. We both fancied bacon rolls but the cafe didn't do them. We ordered bacon cheeseburgers, holding the burger and cheese, no problem!

WhatTheFork · 16/07/2014 11:11

*DH and I were Xmas shopping

Gileswithachainsaw · 16/07/2014 11:13

Arf yes the "no we dont do cheese salad rolls but the sandwiches all come with a salad garnish" senario.
Sometimes there's just no thinking.

Staywithme · 16/07/2014 11:14

Wh could always email sains and ask?

Grin how about a petition?

kali110 · 16/07/2014 11:14

My place all toasted items went in the same heater so you could be waiting 15minutes onwards for food if lots of people had ordered before as it was first come first serve. She couldhave been waiting along timefor toast!that maybe why they stopped serving it at lunch too many complaints as people cant understand why they have to wait so long.

Gileswithachainsaw · 16/07/2014 11:17

Maybe the lunch time staff haven't had the toaster training yet :o

They can only use the microwave or deep fat fryer :o

Staywithme · 16/07/2014 11:18

We ordered bacon cheeseburgers, holding the burger and cheese, no problem!

I think it may have something to do with pricing, though I could be wrong. If I want a salad sandwich and it's not on menu, but they make one for me, I'm usually charged the same as if I'd chicken sandwich. I suppose it saves staff wasting time trying to work out a 'fair' price.