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Crapplebee’s Redeemed?
Applebee’s finally got a hold of me in relation to my complaint.
They actually left me a voicemail a few days ago. I returned the call yesterday. The phone was answered by the assistant manager who took a message. He then called back about 2 minutes later, apologizing profusely.
“I’m sorry, I’m sorry. I didn’t realize who you were. I knew I recognized your name. After I hung up, I remembered talking to you about your letter…”
“Wait,” I interrupted, “you remembered talking to me?”
“Yes, didn’t we speak the other day about your experience here at our establishment?”
“Um, no… I haven’t heard from anyone at Applebee’s aside from the voicemail I received yesterday.”
“Oh! I’m sorry, I’m sorry! I had you mistaken with someone else…”
Needless to say, that wasn’t the best way to start a conversation regarding redemption for a night of crappy service and terrible food.
We proceeded to chat for a good 15 to 20 minutes. As I related to the manager what transpired that night, I was bombarded with numerous random interjections of, “I’m sorry, I’m sorry!” and “I’m apologize for that. I’m sorry.”
Obviously the guy felt bad.
Ironically, as I told him about the infamous Key Lime Pie Poop, he anxiously announced to me that he also hates it, and refuses to put it into his mouth. I just laughed. That stuff should seriously be served with a disclaimer. *Caution: May Cause Taste Buds to Commit Suicide*
As we winded down the conversation, the manager invited me back to the establishment where he would allow me to pick out some baseball tickets for the local baseball team for a game of my choice, and give me a voucher for a free meal.
In a nutshell, he gave me the tickets he should have given me in the first place and offered to feed me more crappy food. Thanks Applebee’s.
Here’s the kicker though. When we entered the restaurant last night to pick up the tickets and meal voucher (I went with my roommate who was a participant in the Crapplebee’s dinner), we were approached by multiple servers, one of which hollered at a significant distance, “Oh, are you guys here to use us for our baseball tickets?!”
“No,” was my simple response.
“Awww, come on. Admit it, you just want free crap.”
As my roommate and I left the building, he turned to me and pointed out that everyone in that restaurant probably thought the very same thing as that server… that we’re just a bunch of college punks making up complaints so we can get free stuff. Ironically, if I were 10 years older, nobody would have thought twice about my complaint or demand for better service.
Just because I’m young doesn’t mean you can treat me like crap, world! And these crappy baseball tickets and the free meal voucher are proof. Stick it stupid server. Stick it crazy manager. Stick it Applebee’s. Stick it world!
Applebee’s or ‘Crap’lebee’s? Another Letter to a Company I Hate
Dear Applebee’s,
Last weekend, my girlfriend and I along with 2 of my roommates and one of their fiancés went to the Orem, Utah Applebee’s for dinner. I was hesitant to attend because my last trip to Applebee’s almost made me throw up, but I leaned towards forgiveness and went anyway. Big mistake.
I’ll admit, our service wasn’t terrible. I have, however, had better. My real complaint, as with the last time I visited your place of purveyance, is more based on the quality of food. My roommates both ordered a 3 Course Classic, and I ordered the Zesty Ranch Chicken Sandwich.
My sandwich arrived after a long wait. It was lukewarm and had a look that screamed, “I was microwaved!” I lifted the bun to look for the ‘zesty ranch’ or ‘buffalo sauce’ that so enticingly described the dish on the menu, but it was to no avail. There wasn’t enough ranch on that sandwich to dip a baby carrot into, let alone spice up a dry, microwaved, processed chicken sandwich.
As I muscled my sandwich down with the hope that my stomach wouldn’t hit the ‘reject button’ and make me re-eat it in reverse fashion later that evening, my roommates forced their way through their sub-par meals.
The only hope of the evening was the dessert that might some how cover up the lingering aftertaste of twice precooked chicken. You can only imagine our dissatisfaction when the key lime pie ended up with the savory taste and texture of a giant, steamy turd. Don’t ask me how I know what a turd tastes like… I’ve never eaten poop. But, if I had, I would put money on the fact that it tasted better than the key lime pie.
As we waited for our checks, the manager walked past our crammed booth to the table next to us. He began to talk about the local semi-pro baseball team. He asked if anyone at the table was a fan, because he had some free tickets to give away to an upcoming game. Half of the guests at the table were too drunk to answer. The other half politely declined so that they could continue on with their dinner and friendly banter.
All of the members of our table, however, quickly became excited at the prospect of getting free tickets to see our local team play. The manager, however, awkwardly squeezed back past our table, avoiding eye contact and offered the tickets to other nearby tables while ignoring our hopeful gaze. We paid for our meals and as we walked out of the building, we saw the manager still trying to pawn off the tickets to tables on the exact opposite of the restaurant than where we had been (he had obviously been rejected by over half the restaurant by this time). If only he could find someone who wanted those tickets!
Overall, I was incredibly disappointed with our experience. How you continue in business while providing vomit-inducing food, sub-par service and complete indifference to your clients is beyond me. I hope something will be done to improve things at your restaurant for your future customers’ sake.
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