Good customer service

You know, I have found myself caught up and even participated in the wonderful season of giving.  Giving my money and all of my patience to one company and hardly seeing much in return.  Well at least my bruised and battered feelings feel like that right now.  The company will go nameless.  Unless you ask, and then I would say Microsoft.

On the flip side of the coin, there is light at the end of the tunnel that I just wanted to take a moment out of my life and share with one and all.

I didn't bring lunch in today,  sometimes it's a treat I get to enjoy.  Fridays welcome the treat to go outside, get away from work and grab a bite to eat outside the norm office lunch room.

I noticed that the drive thru line at the local Wendy's was not too full of other lunch goers so I decided that would be a good decision and it's also close to work.  I quickly looked at the menu and made my order and pulled up to the car right behind the pay window.  I went through my wallet and realized that I didn't have enough cash to pay for lunch so I whipped out my debit card.  Man do they make it so easy to not have to carry cash anymore!  I pull up to the window, the guy asks for my payment.  I hand him my debit card and he looks at me and says "Sir, did you see the sign?".  I replied with "Umm, no I didn't, why?".  He responded with "Our comptuers are down and we cannot process anything electronic.".  "Ok", I said. 

There was a gentleman right behind him on the phone,  he chimed in and asked "Do you not have enough cash for this order?".  At first I thought the guy was going to give me crap about not having enough cash.  I'm used to that kind of negative attitude when I lived in Los Angeles, but didn't think i would fall victim to that kind of brutal behavior in central Ohio.   I replied with "I'm sorry, I just don't have enough cash for my order"  He responded with "You know what, It's ok.  It's on me."

What?   again WHAT?

I was immediately awestruck!  I asked him right away "Are you serious?". He was almost slightly insulted that I would ask him that but he responded with "Yes, I'm serious, It's ok, it's on me.".  I was just speechless.  I didn't know what to say beyond "Thank you very much!  I want you to know that is very kind of you and I do appreciate it.".  The drive thru guy said "Go ahead and pick up your food".  I looked at him and thanked him.

I drove out of the drive thru actually 1/2 prepared to just go somewhere else and get food, and the other half probably with my mouth open.  I was actually pleased that instead of them just throwing my order out anyway.  Which I know they would have done.  They chose to take the loss, but keep me happy.  Well it worked.  My image of Wendy's just went up a large amount.  Couldn't be a better time as I'm losing faith in the good 'ol American system called Customer Service.  Something everyone wants but is slowly being phased out. 

Thank you Wendy's. 

So keep in mind all! When you deal with customers and you go out of your way and do something nice.  You are making a difference.  And for those of you who take granted of kindness..  well you know your place in the world.