Sainsbury's cafe

[SpoonBender]

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!

This thread is a subliminal conspiracy by either:

The Toast Marketing Board - whose aims are to increase toast consumption, therefore also sales, across the nation, particularly targeting the all important under one demographic (wean them onto the wheat teat...their slogan, my copyright).

Or

Morrison's cafes - clearly just drumming up trade in order to pay for more upmarket trolley sheds. Obv.

I am eating some toast, considering where my nearest Morrisons is so I'm struggling to decide who is more likely to have placed it. In terms of physical success toast clinches it (as toast has been consumed) and I'm only thinking about the cafe. Of course that ignores two facts - I did not buy this toast (the bread marketing board is a very different affair) and there is a chance the opposite party placed the thread but it was wildly unsuccessful and has promoted something different to intended. How would I know?

This is probably going to be a 2 slice problem, possibly 3 slices. White. Farmhouse. Salty butter. Oh yes.

Neither of you were unreasonable tbh. You asked for something easy to make but she was following the rules. However, I detest places that have these silly pernickety little rules and something like you have described would really have annoyed me and put me off going back.

Where are these Morrisons folk are attending? I've been to two recently and everything is limp and grey and the kids meal was vile slop; also no water/milk options for a drink.

Sainsbos on the other hand does a pot of tea for a £1, very nice coffee, lovely cakes and their meals look a lot more edible (I'll admit I've not actually eaten one there), bit more choice for snacking little uns too. Strange at the differences.

On the other hand Morrisons had the ace baby changing area here but the sainsburys one is just a shelf in the ladies; my cleaner tho.

Sorry off topic, yabu to order 'off menu' it's not a 5 star restaurant it's a large chain cafe. If they aren't up to a whole meal, share with you or nip back into the shop and buy some rice cakes or something

Theas18
"Sainsbos will not do just toast at lunchtime to stop people taking the P and nursing 1 slice of toast for hours over peak food selling time."

Do people actually do this? How much pleasure can there be in sitting around in sainsburys cafe mid afternoon?

Yabu. I'm surprised they didn't throw you out through the door when you asked for some nommy!? toast for the baby to 'munch on'

9 pages! For

Bernard

Maybe Morrison's and Sainsburys will give us MN discounts now?

I used to work in a cafe.

When we finished serving toast the toaster was switched off and the inner plate taken out for washing (which may or may not happen immediatly dependant how busy we were)

So to 'just' make a slice of toast we would have had to wash that plate, reassemble the toaster, wait for the toaster to warm up (10 mins) cook the toast and then let it cool and start the cleaning process again. At the same time as ensuring other customers got their dinner and weren't being left for too long.

" 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."

In what way was this rude? Did it go like this...

"Can I have some toast?"
"Fuck off, it's 1 o'clock. Breakfast finished at 11.30, you prat."

Or:
"Can I have some toast?"
"No, that's a breakfast item and we stop those at 11.30, it's 1pm now."

And did the next bit of the conversation go:

"But it's for my DD!"
"I don't give a shiny shit. No toast for you, tit head, or for the milk guzzler."
"Why not?"
"It's company policy, you wank badger."

Or:
"But it's for my DD!"
"No, I can't, I'm afraid."
"Why not?"
"It's company policy."

Getting entitled over toast - have heard it all now. They're a business, they can serve what they like when they like for virtually any reason, if you don't like it suggest improvements but don't get stroppy! If they'd refused to do toast because it was for a child or something discriminatory then complain but that didn't happen. Yabu.

Re: Morrison's trolley sheds - can you not put the toddler IN the trolley in the manner of a large sack of spuds, and corral both for £1? (Disclaimer: am obviously joking.... I think)

And, as Apple said, breakfast items typically are at lower margin than lunch items (case in point - local cafe does bacon roll for £2.50 but ham bap at lunchtime for £3.50) and the cafe will be targeting different profitability for different day parts. Which is one of the reasons the menu varies throughout the day.

And, as Apple said, breakfast items typically are at lower margin than lunch items (case in point - local cafe does bacon roll for £2.50 but ham bap at lunchtime for £3.50) and the cafe will be targeting different profitability for different day parts. Which is one of the reasons the menu varies throughout the day.

Funny the OP never came back.

It could have all be averted with instead of falling back on company policy.

Sorry love, breakfast finished at 11 and the toaster pan is on the wash - do they fancy a yoghurt/banana/ backey spud?

I think I certainly expect a higher level of customer service than previously. A staff member who couldn't be bothered or was openly rude would not be poor it would be atrocious.

One that went the extra mile and bunged on a bit of toast because of horrendous morning sickness would have my eternal gratitude, staff compliment letter and me popping in frequently!

Of course I could be labeled as entitled as making a perfectly reasonable request too

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

It's not is it.

This is how that conversation would go for 99% of the population.

Normal person: could I have some toast as well please?
Sainsburys: no sorry, we don't do toast after 11:30 as its a breakfast item.
Normal person: ah ok, can I get a cheese sandwich then?
Sainsburys: yep, that's £6.80 then please.

To be absolutely fair, I would inwardly think it was a bit strange that they couldn't stick in a bit of toast. That thought would last for about 0.7 seconds. Then I would get on with my day.

A 'backey spud'?

Lol at this thread

One that went the extra mile and bunged on a bit of toast because of horrendous morning sickness would have my eternal gratitude, staff compliment letter and me popping in frequently!
But they don't want you popping in frequently for out of hours toast, timeforabiscuit. And the compliment letter would probably lead to the staff member being spoken to about not adhering to store policies...

The thing is, in a big chain cafe like that, the staff member doesn't have any autonomy to give you something that isn't on the menu - it doubtless won't be able to be entered on the till, so they'd have to give it to you for free, and they aren't allowed to make that decision.

Whereas someone who owns their own cafe can make that decision - their customer service (or lack of it) is up to them; in a chain it is pre-ordained by head office.

Sainsbury's cafe is cheap and convenient, but you can't expect individual treatment there, that's just the way it is. They have to run on a strict, inflexible model, that's how they keep their costs down and manage to serve lots of customers.

My local, family run restaurant has a little note on the menu saying, if there is anything you would like that is not on the menu, please ask and we will try to make it for you. They can do that because they are a small place, if they had hundreds of customers they wouldn't be able to keep it up. I once asked if they could serve milk to drink when DD was little, and saw the husband nipping across the road to the shop to buy a pint of milk for her!

This is giving me such a craving for toast. Lovely,buttery toast, made with white bread- none of this wholemeal shit

Yes, complain, but in a

"would you considering selling toast at lunchtime "

They are a business they need to respond to demands of the customer

This is hilarious. We've had people on who work in cafe explaining how the toaster is most likely an industrial one that may need heating or has been lifted and put away because of space, yet people are still slating the cafe and say they were unreasonable. Are they not reading the thread or do they still think their wants over ride the cafés inconvenience? So if they make you toast on this occasion, would you then demand toast every thine your in because they made toast last time out of niceness? So they would have to get the toaster out every time you came in.

mrs Bell you would love the little cafe near me. They serve tea in flowery, china teapots and delicate little mugs. They also have the most delightful selection of scones and pastries, made on site and on the rare occasion children are there, they are beautifully behaved and well looked after by staff. I think the lovely ambiance is also due to the fact no loud music is blaring out. Oh I forgot to add that they have big squishy, fabric covered chairs to site in. It's a really naice cafe. Ohhhh that's really put me in the mood for going there today. I don't know it he do toast though.