This is a shout out to the guy who made my day.

Although I usually take the time to write down what people do wrong, I feel that it is necessary that I interject my complaints with a positive note. It truly is rare when we get compliments at Panera, other than "wow, that was fast." You may think that it a compliment, but to us, a customer telling us we were "fast" usually implies you usually think we are slow. So, avoid that one if you really want to say something nice.

Today, I tell you a story of triumph.

A couple of weeks ago, on a steady Sunday night, my co-workers and I were scrambling to get orders done. The difference between a busy and steady day is that a busy day usually has a lull period where we can catch our breath and clean, while a steady day has a slow, continuous line the entire duration of the shift.

So, we were dead tired as it was near close and we weren't cleaned up at all.

A man ordered something like two bowls of soup and one of those infamous Chipotle sandwiches that takes a few minutes to grill. He stood by the counter...

(which on a side note: DRIVES US UP THE WALL. When customers stand on the counter and breath all over food, that's just nasty. Will blog on this later)

...and just watched us work, so I assumed he was probably impatient. After a minute or so, I told him his sandwich was nearly done and he looks at me, SMILES (nearly fainted here,) and says,

"You guys do a great job. I'm in no rush, so please, don't worry about it. I'm just happy you guys are open so I can grab dinner tonight."

You better believe that guy got the perfect Chipotle, and a genuine thank you and "have a nice day" from me.

It's the little things guys, that has seriously kept me positive that some people appreciate us, even if just a little.

I dare to dream others will display this appreciation someday too.

The White Noise from Your Cell Phone Gives Me a Headache!

This is going to be a short entry because I wish to address one thing: What makes people feel that they are SOOOO important that they have to stay on their cell phones while they order their food? I'm not just talking about the people who are reading orders back to their families at home... they don't bother me so much.

I am talking about those crazy kids who just haft to inform "Janice that there is a HUUGGEE party tonight... ('I'll have a You Pick 2 with broccoli cheddar and...') I know! Its going to be so big. like everyone will be there... ('and a turkey sandwich with chips')... hahahaha"

When I, as your confused and lost cashier try to interject on your oh-so-important call:
"Ma'am, would you like everything on that turkey? Ma'am, would you? Excuse me? HEY! DO YOU WANT EVERYTHNG ON YOUR FRICKIN TURKEY SANDWICH?"

Then, I am screwed because I get bad customer service scores, I have a headache because if you try reading what I wrote above... it takes you for a loss and ...you are angry because for whatever reason you didn't want mustard yet it is on your sandwich.

Simple lesson...let's try to blot out some of that bitterness by just keeping the important calls for the privacy of your home.

I just learned how "inefficient" I am as a cashier.

I couldn't believe it... but I actually got to do a closing cashier shift last Thursday. I was surprised that I was even allowed on a register after so many months of being away from one.

Despite all of my complaints of customer rudeness... I went into the shift with a positive attitude... knowing that I would not have to do cashier again for a long time.

The night started off great... people thanked me, smiled and said "have a good night" even before I could, despite a line out the door.

It was so busy that we started to run out of bread bowls, apples, Tomato Basil bread, paninis... basically, the popular stuff. Most customers were willing to compromise, but orders started taking a little longer to ring.

Then...after everything went so well, a customer drop her lemonade down the front of the register... right to the base of the computer system.

Fortunately, my fellow cashier ran to clean it up before it destroyed the computers, which would've called for the store to shut down. I kept taking orders while she cleaned.

Of course, we can't please everyone... so naturally the woman that was 2 people behind the girl who dropped her drink looks at me angrily while I'm taking someone's order. She decides it is necessary to taunt me and says "This is the most inefficient set-up I have ever seen. There is a line out the door. That girl needs to be ringing, not cleaning. Leave that to someone else. Where are the dining room people? I've been here forever...." Blah, Blah, Blah. Even her husband looked embarassed because no one else in line seemed to care.


Then after my co-worker tried to explain that someone would slip and the computer system might break down if we didn't clean up, the woman told her that she was stupid.

I understand that no one wants to wait in line, but c'mon--stupid and "inefficient?" That just seems a little over the top to me.