Made a polite complaint, company now going crazy!

ILW

I am sort of with the coffee shop on this one.
A customer that costs you more than you make from them is not worth having.

Fuzzy_Duck

Wow, there's no way I would go there if I saw that rude response in the window! If there's stupid enough to think that'll help business they may well be stupid enough to publish your details too. Here's hoping they haven't though!

polr

OK, I'm re-reading this today and I could probably have worded it better...I guess I was trying to say that it could alienate people who may become regulars (as we would have again). Yes, people will always take the p*** but it was quite a harsh warning to be shown on your first visit and it's somewhere that I would like to use (or would have...)

I was in the cafe attached to your driving range this morning. I was enjoying a coffee while waiting for two people to use the driving range. I noticed a sign on the table (attached) which I found to be pretty rude and insulting - basically saying thanks for the money but off you go now. The last line in particular is very badly written! // It said 'thanks for not staying long'

I realise this may be nothing to do with your driving range but I wanted to alert you to the it and the fact that it is quite off putting. // There were no contact details/website etc for the coffee shop so no other way of getting in contact other than heading back down there but as I said, I'm 8.5 months with rising blood pressure! I also assumed it was a concession as the range has been the constant while the coffee shop, which is situated in the range building, changes a lot.

I felt I had to drag out my coffee to the point it was cold for fear of being asked to leave before the two people I was with were finished. // I explained this point in my last post. I also felt particularly uncomfortable as I was planning my weekly diary during it and felt I fell into the 'meeting room' issue they have while I 'waited' - left me feeling very awkard, so much so that we went elsewhere for lunch as we felt we'd outstayed our welcome. // Sign said 'we are NOT a meeting room or a waiting room' - I feel I was doing both and I know they noticed as I saw them look at what I was doing then whisper to each other.

When it was the previous coffee shop I was down a lot while my Husband played (if I wasn't) but it's making me think it's not a welcome thing to do anymore so it feels like the only option for me to enjoy a break while my Husband plays is to go to the World of Golf when I would much rather support a local business than a chain. // Probably shouldn't have compared but I was trying to highlight that it's not a far stretch that someone may sit and wait while someone else is on the range and that surely they should compliment each other.

I just thought it was worth mailing you with this as I feel it plus the general attitude of the place could put others off (some were asked to move this morning for daring to sit at a table of 4 for instance) and I love that we have a driving range so close - it would be wrong for people to be put off by such a petty attitude of what I assume to be a concession. // Yeah, it wasn't a concession, my mistake AND I now realise I used the word petty first (though only once I might add) - think this may have severly peed them off and yeah, could have thought of a better word!

polr

ILW wrote: »

I am sort of with the coffee shop on this one.
A customer that costs you more than you make from them is not worth having.

But is having a coffee that lasts 30-40 mins followed (or would have been) by 3 lunches "not worth having"? Let alone the fact we were (before an accident) regulars at the past version of it and would have become again. It's my opinion that they were being very short-sighted there.

peter_the_piper

Went to a cafe in London once, ate first course and cleared away. Whilst waiting for waitress to take order for pud, manager type came up to us and askedus to leave as we were blocking table (cafe nearly empty) told him what we were waiting for and he still said to go as soon as finished. I can see both sides of the argument but if thats the way staff go on I'm not surprised it was nearly empty.

gildius

Like the op, I can see exactly where the coffee shop is coming from. However, I don't think them writing an ESSAY in response to the complaint is necessary. We all get the point - if the original sign didn't put customers off, this lengthy tract of defensiveness surely will.

aliasojo

I think this is all solely down to poor communication (on both sides) and nothing else. If things had been worded differently, I don't think this situation would have evolved.

I can understand the stance that the shop took, I know of several small cafes that have signs such as 'lunches only between x and y' simply because they would go out of business if coffee drinkers took the place of lunch eaters iyswim. And to be fair to the coffee shop, they weren't to know you were intending to order lunch or that others were joining you.

I think my biggest issue with all this would have been their decision to display my complaint. I feel that sits in nicely with their questionable communication skills.

polr

aliasojo wrote: »

I think this is all solely down to poor communication (on both sides) and nothing else. If things had been worded differently, I don't think this situation would have evolved.

I can understand the stance that the shop took, I know of several small cafes that have signs such as 'lunches only between x and y' simply because they would go out of business if coffee drinkers took the place of lunch eaters iyswim. And to be fair to the coffee shop, they weren't to know you were intending to order lunch or that others were joining you.

I think my biggest issue with all this would have been their decision to display my complaint. I feel that sits in nicely with their questionable communication skills.

Yeah, I could definitely have worded it better - think I got a bit 'emotional' as my husband calls it...

Should also say, I arrived at 11 so not over lunch time it's more that by the time they were finished it would have been a good time to have an early one. I think I'd actually prefer a single sign saying what you suggest or one saying something along the lines of 'if you're here for more than an hour we ask that you order another' - words to that effect anyway! I think if they had a sign somewhere they could draw p***takers attention too without tarring everyone with the same brush it might be more effective.

I'm not too bothered with them displaying the complaint and their reply so long as it's the full lot and not edited in their favour! It's more if they are daft enough to include personal information.

woohoo_postingid

There's always Trip Advisor and the like...

Not to mention Facebook...

aliasojo

Oil on troubled waters? Not a good idea imo.