Situation at Subway - was I wrong?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Yes. Restaurants close early when it is slow.
Further who wants the last food of the day? And who in their right mind pisses off people making food? Finally, is subway really that good? You coulda made a sandwich for a lot less.

All of these questions were addressed already, some of them more than once.

I get it now. You are an Ass Op.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Yes. Restaurants close early when it is slow.
Further who wants the last food of the day? And who in their right mind pisses off people making food? Finally, is subway really that good? You coulda made a sandwich for a lot less.

All of these questions were addressed already, some of them more than once.

I get it now. You are an Ass Op.

ummm.. OK. But I've addressed the same questions over and over again I've finally decided I'm tired of doing that and I'm an ass? OKIEDOKEI!! The answers are all here in the thread.

[Anonymous]

People can choose not to read the entire thread before commenting and posting questions. Fine with me, reading this entire thread would be too much for me too. But don't get pissy with me for not answering your questions when I have done so already, sometimes more than once in this thread.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I probably would have been annoyed that they had closed early but I would have gotten over it and just gone someplace else. They are the ones losing the business, and, potentially, since it sound like you're still mad about it, a customer. It is annoying to see them in there serving others and not be let in but the do have to close eventually and who knows, maybe it said 8:00 on their clock inside. Either way I think there are bigger problems in the world. It's not like it was the last place on Earth serving food ....

I probably would have done this, too. But I think it may not be so great that we're mostly so busy/pre-occupied/passive that we tolerate an unfortunate amount of mediocrity-- or even abuse. I think this was more mediocrity than abuse, but it's still a shame that a business wasn't fulfilling its schedule commitment to its clientele, and its clientele has bigger concerns, so the business will never be pushed to improve.

Mediocrity is their right, though. (Abuse is a silly word to throw around here.) And OP could speak to the manager or take her business elsewhere. The Bill of Rights does not guarantee the right to a late night 6-inch sub.

No-- this wasn't an example of abuse. But I used the word because some shortfalls in service do reach that low. I don't speak up about poor service often enough, myself, but I think that's a shame. With almost every other facet of the world as competitive as it is these days, with all the expectations that most of us have to meet (and exceed!), it's pure crap that business that fail to step up shouldn't suffer enough of a disadvantage to do something about it.

[Anonymous]

You did nothing wrong OP and you're not a jerk, the employees at that Subway and dare I say their defenders on this thread just have a poor work ethic.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I probably would have been annoyed that they had closed early but I would have gotten over it and just gone someplace else. They are the ones losing the business, and, potentially, since it sound like you're still mad about it, a customer. It is annoying to see them in there serving others and not be let in but the do have to close eventually and who knows, maybe it said 8:00 on their clock inside. Either way I think there are bigger problems in the world. It's not like it was the last place on Earth serving food ....

I probably would have done this, too. But I think it may not be so great that we're mostly so busy/pre-occupied/passive that we tolerate an unfortunate amount of mediocrity-- or even abuse. I think this was more mediocrity than abuse, but it's still a shame that a business wasn't fulfilling its schedule commitment to its clientele, and its clientele has bigger concerns, so the business will never be pushed to improve.

Mediocrity is their right, though. (Abuse is a silly word to throw around here.) And OP could speak to the manager or take her business elsewhere. The Bill of Rights does not guarantee the right to a late night 6-inch sub.

No-- this wasn't an example of abuse. But I used the word because some shortfalls in service do reach that low. I don't speak up about poor service often enough, myself, but I think that's a shame. With almost every other facet of the world as competitive as it is these days, with all the expectations that most of us have to meet (and exceed!), it's pure crap that business that fail to step up shouldn't suffer enough of a disadvantage to do something about it.

It goes both ways. Most of the people here in defense of OP's ridiculous behavior have been wholly disdainful of service workers. You have to give respect to get it. When I worked retail, an entitled attitude and level jumping, as in "Who is your manager?" within a minute of speaking with me, did not behoove me to serve you. A smile, a rational attitude, and some patience went a long way in helping me to make sure you got what you wanted. Once I offered a customer with an unreasonable demand a phone number to speak to a higher up. The customer actually stated, "I don't want that number. I just want to vent to you." Way to ruin my day, lady!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:
This isn't reasonable. Closing time is posted for the public to see. That makes it something of a promise to potential customers as well as those already served.

Some of you misunderstanding what closing time is. Closing time is not the last time you can enter a business, but when the business is closed, e.g. the lights go out, the place stops doing business. If you cannot transact your business in the amount of time remaining, then some businesses will not allow you to enter. It's very common for small businesses to close and lock the doors a few minutes early, when there is no longer time for someone new to enter, have food prepared, checkout and pay and still be out before closing time, so they close the doors because there is no longer sufficient time for a transaction. Those of you who feel entitled to walk into the door at closing time or a few minutes before and still be served are too used to chain businesses rather than small businesses.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:
This isn't reasonable. Closing time is posted for the public to see. That makes it something of a promise to potential customers as well as those already served.

Some of you misunderstanding what closing time is. Closing time is not the last time you can enter a business, but when the business is closed, e.g. the lights go out, the place stops doing business. If you cannot transact your business in the amount of time remaining, then some businesses will not allow you to enter. It's very common for small businesses to close and lock the doors a few minutes early, when there is no longer time for someone new to enter, have food prepared, checkout and pay and still be out before closing time, so they close the doors because there is no longer sufficient time for a transaction. Those of you who feel entitled to walk into the door at closing time or a few minutes before and still be served are too used to chain businesses rather than small businesses.

That should be "...used to large chain businesses..."

[Anonymous]

Oooh, additional characters (man with phone) for support. I like that. Carry on. What kind of training is your DC in?

[Anonymous]

I used to live in Germany and when a store closes at 8 - that means lights out, literally. Often, the lights go off automatically. At 8, the manager turns the key in the lock with all the employees outside. More than once, Americans were locked inside stores because they thought they could saunter in just before closing and start shopping.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:
This isn't reasonable. Closing time is posted for the public to see. That makes it something of a promise to potential customers as well as those already served.

Some of you misunderstanding what closing time is. Closing time is not the last time you can enter a business, but when the business is closed, e.g. the lights go out, the place stops doing business. If you cannot transact your business in the amount of time remaining, then some businesses will not allow you to enter. It's very common for small businesses to close and lock the doors a few minutes early, when there is no longer time for someone new to enter, have food prepared, checkout and pay and still be out before closing time, so they close the doors because there is no longer sufficient time for a transaction. Those of you who feel entitled to walk into the door at closing time or a few minutes before and still be served are too used to chain businesses rather than small businesses.

That should be "...used to large chain businesses..."

Like... Subway?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Arrived at Subway at 7:54 and the door was locked. They close at 8pm. One family was still seated and eating and one lady was at the counter ordering a sandwich. I knocked on the door and pointed to my watch. The two girls behind the counter looked at me and shook their heads no. I banged again and pointed at my watch. Then a man walked up with 2 kids and asked me what was going on so I told him they had the door locked and were telling me they were closed even though it wasn't 8pm yet. He looked at his phone and it said 7:55 so he knocked again and held his phone up to the door. One of the young ladies rolled her eyes and came to the door. She opened the door and told us they were closed. I said "but it's not 8pm" and the guy said, "c'mon I have two hungry kids here and it's not 8pm". She she huffed a little and let us come in.

They were visibly irritated as they had already put up all the containers of fixins. I was ordering a veggie patty and the girls started discussing how the oven was already turned off, how long is it going to take to heat up, etc. So I told them not to worry about it just heat the patty in the microwave. I then told them I was not trying to be a pain but it was 7:55 when I arrived. One of the girls then said that when it's slow their manager tells them to close early, that they are supposed to do that. I do not think there was a manager there at the time.

Somehow I find it hard to believe that they are to lock the door behind closing time, especially when there are people still in the dining area eating and another person at the counter ordering. Was I wrong for insisting they let me order my sandwiches. We told the girl off the top (both me and the man with his kids) that neither of us needed to sit down and eat there, we just wanted to get our stuff and go.

Anonymous wrote:Actually I worked in fast food my entire teenage years while in HS. Oh and no I am not entitled, but the thought is pretty funny. Thanks for the laugh. lol I'll give you the obnoxious comment though. Maybe I was obnoxious in insisitng they let me in. I dont think I was but I posed the question "was I wrong" because I am absolutley open to the possibility that I was. Thus, I wanted other people's opinion.

No I wasnt going to DIE without subway but I was pretty desparate. My son has training sessions that are 50 minutes from my house. The sessions are from 7:30 to 10pm. Usually I pack a dinner that he can eat on the way home since we dont get back home until 10pm. I was rushing and didnt have time yesterday so I decided to stop at subway since it's close to where he trains. So yeah, I was pretty desparate to get that subway sanchwich. We do not eat meat so other fast food places arent an option.

Typically I probably would have just kept it moving but because of the situation I really needed to get him a sandwich. When we leave his training we do pass a McDonalds on the way to the highway but none of their sandwiches would work for my son.

I wish there was a chipotle where we were, he loves that much more than subway!

So let me get this straight. You show up at Subway. They close at 8, but it's 7:55 and you expect to be served. The door is locked already. You have TWO HOURS until you have to pick up your son, but are incapable of getting back in your car and driving some place else so you pound on the door until they admit you and demand to be served? You've worked in fast food but clearly have forgotten how soul sucking a job it can be. You're driving in a car, why not get back in it, drive to a supermarket and get him something else like a tin of hummus and a veggie platter or stop at a convience store like a Wawa or 7-11 and get him something there?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:OP: You say you got your answer and that you're open to the possibility you were wrong. What have you concluded? Most people seem to think you were wrong even if they think the store should have stayed open.

Here's my view: You were acting like an entitled jerk.

Why entitled? Because sandwich shops are not there for your convenience. You have no right to a sandwich even if it's an hour before the posted closing time. The store is there to earn a profit. They are willing to sell you a sandwich if you're willing to buy it, but they can decide to close when it's slow if they choose. The consequence to them is that they don't get to sell you or anyone else who comes along a sandwich, and may lose you as a future customer, but they don't have to open just because they're normally open at that time and you happen to have planned poorly.

Why a jerk? Because even if they employees were not acting under their manager's orders, you put your convenience ahead of theirs. They were halfway closed an locked the door, yet you insisted that they let you in and give you food even though you had an HOUR before your son's training was done. Undoubtedly you are aware of one or two vegetarian options within 25 minutes' drive that would have gotten you back in time.

Actually, they are there for everyone's convenience. That's why they exist. That's one of the stupidest things I've ever seen.

You have a fundamental misunderstanding of the world that you would be well advised to correct. Nobody's saying "Hey, where can we put a Subway where people might just happen to show up and be hungry? Those people sure could do with a sandwich!" Some person decided to open a Subway because it appeared that enough people would buy sandwiches there that it would make a profit. The Subway has no other reason to be there.

You are just so incredibly strange and angry.

I'm not the one who thinks that stores are there for my personal convenience. The soap in the public bathroom? That's for your convenience. The store itself is there for the store owner. They can adopt the "the customer is always right" policy or not. "The customer is always right" isn't a law. It's what they do to get you to come back and not boycott the place. I'm baffled that people don't understand this.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Arrived at Subway at 7:54 and the door was locked. They close at 8pm. One family was still seated and eating and one lady was at the counter ordering a sandwich. I knocked on the door and pointed to my watch. The two girls behind the counter looked at me and shook their heads no. I banged again and pointed at my watch. Then a man walked up with 2 kids and asked me what was going on so I told him they had the door locked and were telling me they were closed even though it wasn't 8pm yet. He looked at his phone and it said 7:55 so he knocked again and held his phone up to the door. One of the young ladies rolled her eyes and came to the door. She opened the door and told us they were closed. I said "but it's not 8pm" and the guy said, "c'mon I have two hungry kids here and it's not 8pm". She she huffed a little and let us come in.

They were visibly irritated as they had already put up all the containers of fixins. I was ordering a veggie patty and the girls started discussing how the oven was already turned off, how long is it going to take to heat up, etc. So I told them not to worry about it just heat the patty in the microwave. I then told them I was not trying to be a pain but it was 7:55 when I arrived. One of the girls then said that when it's slow their manager tells them to close early, that they are supposed to do that. I do not think there was a manager there at the time.

Somehow I find it hard to believe that they are to lock the door behind closing time, especially when there are people still in the dining area eating and another person at the counter ordering. Was I wrong for insisting they let me order my sandwiches. We told the girl off the top (both me and the man with his kids) that neither of us needed to sit down and eat there, we just wanted to get our stuff and go.

Anonymous wrote:Actually I worked in fast food my entire teenage years while in HS. Oh and no I am not entitled, but the thought is pretty funny. Thanks for the laugh. lol I'll give you the obnoxious comment though. Maybe I was obnoxious in insisitng they let me in. I dont think I was but I posed the question "was I wrong" because I am absolutley open to the possibility that I was. Thus, I wanted other people's opinion.

No I wasnt going to DIE without subway but I was pretty desparate. My son has training sessions that are 50 minutes from my house. The sessions are from 7:30 to 10pm. Usually I pack a dinner that he can eat on the way home since we dont get back home until 10pm. I was rushing and didnt have time yesterday so I decided to stop at subway since it's close to where he trains. So yeah, I was pretty desparate to get that subway sanchwich. We do not eat meat so other fast food places arent an option.

Typically I probably would have just kept it moving but because of the situation I really needed to get him a sandwich. When we leave his training we do pass a McDonalds on the way to the highway but none of their sandwiches would work for my son.

I wish there was a chipotle where we were, he loves that much more than subway!

So let me get this straight. You show up at Subway. They close at 8, but it's 7:55 and you expect to be served. The door is locked already. You have TWO HOURS until you have to pick up your son, but are incapable of getting back in your car and driving some place else so you pound on the door until they admit you and demand to be served? You've worked in fast food but clearly have forgotten how soul sucking a job it can be. You're driving in a car, why not get back in it, drive to a supermarket and get him something else like a tin of hummus and a veggie platter or stop at a convience store like a Wawa or 7-11 and get him something there?

If you read the entire thread you will see that all of your comments and questions have been addressed.

[Anonymous]

You may not have been 'wrong' but yeah I have worked fast food as a teen and of course we hated to get customers a few minutes before closing. And yes at times the management would tell us to close early if things were slow. If the door was locked then I would have left and gone elsewhere. That's just me.