The Pet Peeves of a Pizza Cook: Unavoidable Frustrations in the Kitchen
As a pizza cook, my biggest pet peeve is the constant stream of customer complaints and re-orders, especially when the store is at its busiest. These frustrations stem from the inherent inefficiency and unnecessary delays that such actions can cause in a bustling kitchen environment. Let’s delve into some of the common pet peeves that frustrate pizza cooks and disrupt the workflow of a busy pizzeria.
Impatient Customers: A Manager's Frustration
Recently, a manager I interact with shared a personal anecdote that highlighted the frustration associated with impatient customers. At Dominos, where she is both a manager and a pizza maker, she often finds herself in situations where customers complain about the long wait times. Despite the logic that the managing pizza cook is the same person who would be making their pizzas, many customers fail to grasp this and continue to grumble. This behavior not only adds to the stress levels but also slows down the entire process
While it may seem trivial for the customer, every minute spent addressing complaints means one less pizza that is being prepared and cooked. This is a critical point for a business that operates on tight margins, and any interruption can lead to significant financial losses. Imagine the scenario from the manager’s perspective: if a customer pushes her to make a new pizza because they just realized they want a different topping, it not only becomes a waste of time but also an unnecessary expenditure of resources.
The Barber’s Comment: A Personal Insight
One memorable moment was when my manager confided in me about feeling frustrated with customers. She made a candid remark: “I still hate people.” This statement, delivered in a low whisper, reflected her deep-seated frustration and the toll it took on her during busy periods. Her remark served as a reminder that the inefficiency caused by these interactions is not just a workplace issue but a personal one as well.
While it’s unlikely that she was joking, the comment encapsulates the emotional and physical toll that these pet peeves can take on the staff. It’s not just about the workflow; it’s about dealing with the human element in a highly pressurized environment.
Re-Orders and Call-Backs: A Recipe for Delays
A substantial pet peeve among pizza cooks is the practice of re-ordering and making changes to orders that have already been prepared and processed. For instance, a customer might call back saying, "Oh, I’m sorry, you only wanted sausage on half of that pie. You should have told us earlier!" By the time the change is communicated and applied, the pizza might be halfway through the cooking process. Now, the cook has to make a new pizza, which can be incredibly time-consuming and frustrating.
In a slow day, such an additional task can still be bearable, but on a busy day, every minute counts, and re-making a pizza can be a financial disaster. On an exceptionally busy day, one re-ordered pizza might be the difference between making a profit and operating at a loss. The financial implications can be significant.
From a purely logical standpoint, a pizza cook’s job is to prepare and cook pizzas as efficiently as possible. Each minute spent on re-orders means one less pizza that is being prepared. While the impact might be small on a slow day, it can have a substantial impact on a busy one. The sheer number of re-orders and changes can add up quickly, leading to significant inefficiencies and wasted resources.
As a result, pizza cooks and their managers often find themselves caught in a web of inefficiency, where customer complaints and changes to orders can lead to more than just a few extra pizzas being made. It can be a significant strain on the kitchen workflow, and ultimately, on the business’s bottom line.