Pizza Express - Merry Hill... Disappointing

db21111

So sunday, my mother and I decided to eat at Pizza Express in Merry Hill. I didn't fancy the food court because it was really busy and I just wanted to chill out a little bit more.

At the entrance we noted an offer for a classic pizza and drink for £10 and also a promotion for a new leggera salmon superfood salad. So we decided to go in and eat.

Getting to the table was fine. But when I said I'd like the classic pizza and drink for £10 I was told I had to get a code by leaving the restaurant and getting it. Problem number 1.

So Reluctantly I left my seat and went outside to the table with the leaflets and promotions. The classic deal had no leaflets but a code was on the actual board.

After getting back to my seat this was accepted. Then having ordered our meals and drinks the poor waitress was sent back to say we could not have an Americano with the classic pizza deal. This was problem number 2. (plus this coffee would profit them more than a soft drink)

Then after we resolved that, I asked if we could pay separately. Myself the classic deal and my mother for her salmon salad, drink and probable desserts.

The beleaguered waitress came back and said the manager has also declined this as she won't allow to pay separately. She said we can't use two promotions on one table.

At that point I was tired and hungry and fed up of the ridiculous decisions of this manager. We didn't have energy to argue with her, she was rude and abrupt. We could easily have sat separately therefore losing them a potential 2-4 extra customers.. for the sake of a tiny discount she wanted to risk.

She was willing to lose £30-40 of business on a day with empty tables in the restaurant to a son and his mother both in business attire. And without acceptable explanation. Three problems is too much for any customer to be content with.

The waitress was friendly throughout but it was evidently out of her hands.

Their customer services insisted on calling me on my phone instead of by email. They gave all the jargon and blurb about promotions and only at the very end apologised for the way it was handled. They also claim to be sending me a £15 gift card.

Not that I'm keen to go to that particular Pizza Express again.

dealer_wins

I feel sorry for the waitress!!

sweetstudent

You must have had a terrible experience, whenever we go to Merry Hill Pizza Express we always have wonderful service - even to the point where we have ordered off a specials menu and been able to use our Tesco vouchers.

Perhaps you just had a grumpy server?

bargainbetty

So, you wanted to use a deal, and were told that you had to get the code yourself.

Then you asked for something that wasn't included in the deal (coffee) and were refused it.

Then you asked if you could use more than one offer and were refused, despite most places clearly noting that all members of a party need to be using the same deal. (Not in conjunction with any other offer)

So far, I can only really see that you wanted things you couldn't have, and didn't get them. The emptiness of the restaurant and your attire make no difference whatsoever.

Do you like Subway?

DCFC79

db21111 wrote: »

So sunday, my mother and I decided to eat at Pizza Express in Merry Hill. I didn't fancy the food court because it was really busy and I just wanted to chill out a little bit more.

At the entrance we noted an offer for a classic pizza and drink for £10 and also a promotion for a new leggera salmon superfood salad. So we decided to go in and eat.

Getting to the table was fine. But when I said I'd like the classic pizza and drink for £10 I was told I had to get a code by leaving the restaurant and getting it. Problem number 1.

So Reluctantly I left my seat and went outside to the table with the leaflets and promotions. The classic deal had no leaflets but a code was on the actual board.

After getting back to my seat this was accepted. Then having ordered our meals and drinks the poor waitress was sent back to say we could not have an Americano with the classic pizza deal.

So this classic pizza deal, what pizzas were included ?
Was the Americano included ? If not then I cant see the issue.

This was problem number 2. (plus this coffee would profit them more than a soft drink)

Then after we resolved that, I asked if we could pay separately. Myself the classic deal and my mother for her salmon salad, drink and probable desserts.

The beleaguered waitress came back and said the manager has also declined this as she won't allow to pay separately. She said we can't use two promotions on one table.

Or you could have just decided to pay and your mum paid you back.

At that point I was tired and hungry and fed up of the ridiculous decisions of this manager. We didn't have energy to argue with her, she was rude and abrupt. We could easily have sat separately therefore losing them a potential 2-4 extra customers.. for the sake of a tiny discount she wanted to risk.

She was willing to lose £30-40 of business on a day with empty tables in the restaurant to a son and his mother both in business attire. And without acceptable explanation. Three problems is too much for any customer to be content with.

The waitress was friendly throughout but it was evidently out of her hands.

Their customer services insisted on calling me on my phone instead of by email. They gave all the jargon and blurb about promotions and only at the very end apologised for the way it was handled. They also claim to be sending me a £15 gift card.

Not that I'm keen to go to that particular Pizza Express again.

Just a few questions

Lavendyr

I think he means the coffee Americano, not the pizza Americano!

OP - I think they are being generous in offering you a voucher, to be honest. Pizza Express deals are usually pretty clear-cut and only offer limited things, and I too pity the poor waitress!

hollydays

I think you were expecting too much. Basic pizza restaurant, average service-cheap deal-it's not the ritz.

ivavoucher

I love pizza express & Tesco :-)

dibuzz

bargainbetty wrote: »

So, you wanted to use a deal, and were told that you had to get the code yourself.

Then you asked for something that wasn't included in the deal (coffee) and were refused it.

Then you asked if you could use more than one offer and were refused, despite most places clearly noting that all members of a party need to be using the same deal. (Not in conjunction with any other offer)

So far, I can only really see that you wanted things you couldn't have, and didn't get them. The emptiness of the restaurant and your attire make no difference whatsoever.

Do you like Subway?

I read the first 2 sentences and just knew what the last one would be :rotfl:

db21111

bargainbetty wrote: »

So, you wanted to use a deal, and were told that you had to get the code yourself.

Then you asked for something that wasn't included in the deal (coffee) and were refused it.

Then you asked if you could use more than one offer and were refused, despite most places clearly noting that all members of a party need to be using the same deal. (Not in conjunction with any other offer)

So far, I can only really see that you wanted things you couldn't have, and didn't get them. The emptiness of the restaurant and your attire make no difference whatsoever.

Do you like Subway?

I imagine you just came to argue. :beer:

db21111

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