Oct 08 2008
Midweek Anecdote 8: Rules are there to control the fun.
Even though it’s against my traveler’s code to each at a big chain when I’m away, as I see it as the waste of a chance to discover something new, on that particular Wednesday I was out of time and out of luck. With only half an hour to spare between appointments and no accessible local restaurant or café in the area, my choices for lunch were Subway or McDonald’s. So, it was off to Subway for lunch.
You didn’t really think I was going to eat under the golden arches did you?
As an aside, another reason I’m not keen on fast food chains is that their counters are quite high, so I feel dwarfed by them. I swear they’re higher than the ones in regular self-service locales.
Anyway, looking at the menu, I noticed that if I got the sandwich, a drink and potato chips, it was only ten cents more expensive than getting a sandwich and a drink, and as I learned living in the US, one must have carbs with one’s carbs, so I decided to go with that option. I ordered the sandwich, went to the register, and grabbed a bag of chips and a small cup.
“That’s €5.49 please.”
Thinking I’d misheard, as I still find the numbers in German are difficult to follow, I asked “€5.49 did you say?”
“€5.49.”
“Shouldn’t that be €4.59? the…” I looked up at the menu to check “…chips menu.”
“No, the chips menu is with a large drink. This is a small drink cup. You can’t have a small drink with the menu.”
“Does it matter?” I asked, and realized that I might as well have asked if I could get the whole meal for free. The look of disdain on the lad’s face would’ve done an English butler proud. I must have forgotten for a moment that I was in Germany, where, according to stereotype, rules and order are paramount. You couldn’t just go changing things because you wanted to.
Still looking at me, he forcefully and pointedly cancelled the sale, and rang it up again, as a menu. Then he handed me a large cup from the stack. “Enjoy your meal,” he said, mirthlessly.
I thought for a moment that I’d just quarter fill the cup to see if he’d react, but then I realized I was just getting my logic in his rules, so I left him to it and ate my lunch quietly.
6 Responses to “Midweek Anecdote 8: Rules are there to control the fun.”
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Don’t you love the customer service these days? Great story.
It’s always interesting dining while traveling especially in another country. Great post.
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Congratulations on being the featured blog! You deserve it, and have put up many I feel were worthy. I am proud to call you my friend! KEEP ROLLING!
James
Logic in the way of rules? NO, really? LOL
Hey want to blogroll add/swap with a fellow roller?
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Tracy, thanks. Customer service can be a joy or a pain, depending on the interface of training and common sense.
Joda, thanks. Dining out in other locations is one of the reasons I enjoy traveling, both for the food and the stories.
James, that’s sweet of you. Thank you.
Mike, I’d love to blogroll swap with a fellow roller. I’ll add you this afternoon to my new look blogroll that I’m putting together.
Grace, I’d love to hear the stories. Please do write them up!