Editorial
Front Page - Friday, October 30, 2009
View from the Cheap Seats
Heads I win
Bill James
WmJamesJr@aol.com
A while back, I complained about the manner in which certain restaurants have created money saving menus in order to entice consumers to visit them. Small prices and even smaller portions. I find it hard to believe it has a long-term benefit to the business. On the other hand, it may be that some of the eating places are simply trying to get through the recession and will worry about customer loyalty at a later time.
The other night I was “babysitting” my youngest and oldest children and they expected me to feed them. After contemplating the idea of cooking, I suggested that we go out to eat. We decided to go to Shorty Smalls. We had not eaten there in a long time and it was right in front of us when we decided we would eat out.
As we walked up to the door, I noticed several signs advertising the different specials each week. This particular night was a Wednesday. The Wednesday special was advertised as something to do with flipping a coin for 50 percent off your ticket. Sounded fair enough. We went in and asked the hostess to explain the special as she seated us. It turns out it was exactly what it was advertised to be. At the end of your meal, the manager comes by and flips a coin; and if the side you call is showing, you win.
We ordered our food and didn’t think much more about it until it came time for a table near us to flip. I saw the flip but was not sure what happened. After the manager left the table, I asked the lady whether she won or not. She looked at me with a half smirk and said “we lost and he wouldn’t even show us the coin.” Being cynical by nature, I began to smell a rat. How could they flip and not show you the coin? I began to develop my arguments for demanding to see the coin should the same thing happen to us.
With the meal wrapped up, I became anxious waiting for our turn. The waitress came to check on us and we told her we were ready to flip. The manager came over and showed us the coin and told us to call it in the air. I told William he could have the honors. The coin went in the air and as it spun William yelled out “heads” and the coin was caught flipped and shown to us. It was heads. We won.
The table broke out into an immediate celebration of whooping and hollering. William did a victory lap around the restaurant. Blair came back to the table and asked what happened. We told her and the celebration repeated itself in its entirety.
As I waited for the reduced ticket to arrive, I thought about how much happier I was with my meal now that it was 50 percent off. When the ticket arrived, I decided that I should tip based on what the meal would have cost. After I calculated the tip and added it to the reduced total, I found myself a little disenchanted. In my mind, it was still too much. Instead of enjoying my winning, I found myself whining. Some people are never satisfied.
Looking back, it was a good meal. I think I will take the family there this Wednesday to see if I can win again. They do have good cheese sticks. Winning isn’t everything, but it sure is nice when it does happen.
I wonder if those people who lost at the table near us will be back this week. They didn’t really lose, they just didn’t win.
They won’t win that particular game if they don’t play again. Being willing to win is sometimes the most important thing in life. That is especially true in the CHEAP SEATS!
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