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What do you mean it wasn't "in person"? The OP said the employee was standing at the counter.
Sorry, this discussion here in this thread is NOT in person, therefore she is a bit bolder in asking the question verses saying "hello?" in person. There is a lot some people can't do until they are in the guise of anonymity or remain unidentifiable. People have been known to be scared silly about things like this.
I would of said hello is anyone working. Made a noise done something to attract his attention. Management not returning your phone call says a lot about the place as well.
Go back, get the name or at least a picture of that employee. Go to the corporate website and click on "contact us" and look for complaints or feedback, and tell them exactly what happened. Mention that your phone call to the manager was ignored as well.
At the very least, you should get an apology. As someone else pointed out, you may also get a couple of coupons. If you do, bring the coupon to the store on this idiot's shift and after he fills your order, mention why you got this nice coupon.
That's when you lean over the counter and start grabbing the drink cups . . . :-) When he looks at you in alarm, you can say, "Oh, since you were ignoring me, I thought you guys had changed to 'help yourself'. OK, never mind, I'd like an Egg McMuffin, hash browns and a coffee, please."
It's impossible to know if he was being "sexist" ... or if it's simply just a difference of opinion. Your opinion of how long "waiting forever" is ... -vs- his opinion of "patiently waiting" for someone to finish an important phone call?
You mentioned that he looked up at you? He may have simply misinterpreted your facial expression as; "You're fine, go ahead and finish your call." If you smiled, nodded, raised your eyebrows, etc. There's a strange kind of a non verbal communication we all use nowadays when interrupting someone on a phone call. It's awkward, and can easily be misunderstood.
Heck, for all we know, he may have started a thread on the forums here ... about the very impatient American lady that was so rude and racist to him last week. She stormed out of the restaurant because he was on a quick, important call, speaking in his foreign tongue. He's certain that she's racist, because it was just a quick call, and she had originally acknowledged him .... before she realized he was speaking in a different language.
It's all about how you both interpreted the situation, and both of your individual accounts could be completely different. Your interpretation is that he may be sexist and he ended the phone call just because a man walked in. Isn't it possibly that the phone conversation simply ended as you walked out, and a man walked in? Or perhaps your 'walking out' made him realize he'd kept you waiting too long?
Of course, I'm just playing devil's advocate here, and the real answer is ... he shouldn't be talking on his phone in the front of the restaurant. Period.
Although, it would probably be a good exercise for both of you ... if you went back in and politely confronted him about it. Don't make it a big deal. Just casually ask him if he realized you left the other day because he didn't acknowledge you quick enough.
You'll probably find the explanation (or apology) that you're looking for. It will also remind him how important customer service is, and hopefully enlighten him about talking on his phone in the front of the restaurant.
It will also empower you, since it's something that bothered you enough to start a thread about it several days after the fact.
Who knows, you may even get a free cup of coffee out of it. ;-)
Hi! I'm not sure which category to put this under, so I chose this one. Last Friday morning, I entered a well-known fast food restaurant. The only employee working at that time was on his cell phone. He looked at me yet continued talking. I stood there forever and he just kept on talking. So I left.
Yet, as I was getting into my car, I noticed another [male] customer walk in, and the employee quickly got off the phone and served him!!
I never, ever yell sexism, but wow! To me, it seems like that's what this was. Thoughts?
Thanks in advance for your comments
Hopefully he realized he just lost one customer -- who he thought might call his manager -- and he didn't want to lose another. Who knows though? Similiar things happen to me and I'm a dude. The employee can be either gender, any nationality, it seems. Sometimes they will be in the back talking nad laughing. I have a 20 second rule. If it's obvious you have better things to do than serve me in 20 seconds, I leave to spend my money elsewhere.
I might can be a bit passive/agressive. one time I walked into a fast food place and the employee walked up to the register. I was expecting a "Hello, how are you?" or at least a "Is this dine in or carry out?" But instead all I got was tired eyes and a long face. She didn't say anything. I didn't say anything. She looked at me. I looked at her. Then I said, "See, I'm the customer. I pay you. Therefore, you should at least try to make me feel welcome." She just looked at me again. I turned around and walked out.
It's impossible to know if he was being "sexist" ... or if it's simply just a difference of opinion. Your opinion of how long "waiting forever" is ... -vs- his opinion of "patiently waiting" for someone to finish an important phone call?
He's on the clock to serve the sustomer. There is no phone call important enough to trump that. Or, at the very least, if there was, it better be important enough that he has to leave right away to tend to a family emergency.
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