Just Mike

A Glass of Water

// April 25th, 2010 // Uncategorized

I was recently at Washington Square Mall’s food court. I went through the line picking my meal’s components and then got to the cash register and waited.

The owner, I guess, was talking to the guy who took my order as I moved up the empty line. It seemed like he was admonishing him. I felt it was because I asked prices for different items and passed on the upsell. I don’t know why I thought this but I was a little frustrated that he as talking to him as my food was cooling. I like hot food hot and cold food cold. McDonald’s had that right.

He finally walked up and asked what I wanted to drink.

“Water.”

“Bottle?”

“No, just a cup.”

He stared at me for 5 seconds, which is a long time to stare at a stranger.

“Did you know that water is our best seller these days”

“Uh..”

“See all of these closed restaurants in here?” There we’re quite a few. “I bet water was there best seller too. Did you know this is the highest $ per square foot in the state.”

I was truly dumbfounded that this conversation was happening.

He could have said there was a charge for cups. Fine, I get that. Theaters don’t give them for free and neither does 7-11 I think.

I just stared at him blankly; annoyed that I didn’t know what to do and that he put me in that spot. I gave him my money and he gave me change.

I have to imagine (hope) that he doesn’t say this to everyone. I hope he snapped at it was done. Maybe he got a bill or the rent was due. I have had businesses and I get it. Either way this was on his mind and he should have adjusted. I won’t go back just because of how odd it all was but in truth I only go there a couple of times a year.

Another missed adjustment. I was frequenting Pizza Schmizza quite consistently at the end of ‘09 because they had a 1/2 price pizza slice Happy Hour. It fit my schedule that I was going there way to often. When the New Year hit they dropped it saying they were losing money on it.

They could only lose a significant amount of money if it worked. Going from 2-4pm there was little chance of eating into lunch sales. Obviously it worked and people were enticed by the discount. What if they did 25% off or the classic, buy a slice get a drink? They had the eyeball’s, or rather mouth’s, attention and lost it. Would love to see how the numbers changed.

Moral: Adjust

Written on my Phone, ignore the typos.