Time for an Update
Maybe you are wondering about Pizza Hut. Are you? Did you wonder if they tried to reach out to me? I’m just a measly little blogger after all…why would a huge corporation like Pizza Hut care what Susan Whetzel has to say?
I’ll tell you why. Social Networking.
In the old days (you know, circa 1992, pre-in home internet, pre-Twitter, pre-Facebook) if you had an unpleasant experience somewhere, you told your friends. All 5 of them. And maybe they told someone else somewhere down the road. You may have been able to reach 17 people with your displeasure. But oh no, not today, folks.
If you are like me, and have a big mouth blog, the blog alone can reach thousands. That Pizza Hut Post I wrote? It got over 4000 views alone. I posted it on Facebook, which conjured up some interest…but the kicker was Twitter. Based on my best math skills, thanks to my original Tweet and then the subsequent Re-Tweets, my Pizza Hut experience went out to just over 100 THOUSAND Twitters. That is HUGE. So thank you all, those of you who read, who commented, and especially, those who Re-Tweeted my message – something big happened here.
First thing that happened? Pizza hut kindly asked me to remain calm and please refrain from my outrage on the Twitter Front. “We are working very hard to remedy the situation.” They requested my name. My address. My phone number. I got a call from the Pizza Hut Headquarters, who in turn had my local higher-ups call me.
So I am napping, when I get this call from the owner of the area 36 Pizza Huts. Same owner as when I used to work there. He is very cordial, even comments that he remembers my name. True? I don’t know. Maybe. I was a super employee. (Yeah, right. I did show up for every shift, though, so maybe that counts for something.) He made some small talk, asked me about Seven’s Name, yada yada yada. He has the DM on conference call with us, who says very little. That’s okay…I hurt his feelings. So I take back the lazy part of my rant…I was mad. I had a right to be mad, and the letter I received led me to believe that he was an idiot.
I turns out that the illegible, horribly written note was not actually from HIM. He says he wanted the store manager to step up and do some work, realize that there are consequences to their actions. He says he should have proofread the letter. That the manager of that store seems like a smart gal, but this has opened his eyes. All well and good – what’s done is done.
So I think everything is over. I got my call, I got an apology. I anxiously await my NEW letter in the mail. But while I am in New York, putting on makeup in my hotel room, I get another call. From the DM. More apologies, but needs my address again. Okay. Fine.
Then again, on the way to the Martha Show while I am in the Taxi.
Then again, this time a message (because I don’t answer), telling me that he was wrong about the Two Fer Tuesday Special. It’s different than he thought. What. Ever. At this point, I DON’T CARE. I’m over it. I’m going to stop Tweeting…leave me be, please. I just want to enjoy walking around Times Square and eat my freaking Junior’s Cheesecake.
So I get my typed letter in the mail, complete with letterhead and coupons for 2 free pizzas. Only one misspelling, but I’ll give him a break – it was a difficult word. Hooray! – it’s over! But it isn’t. It’s way bigger than just me.
As of Saturday, my Pizza Hut is now offering ANY Pizza, ANY Size, ANY Toppings for $10. 10 Bucks! Complete with a letter from the Manager guaranteeing satisfaction. To “Make our community aware that we are here and do things Right.” UNTIL THE END OF THE YEAR. Whoaaa.
Power to the people, ya’ll. We did something good.
Now I can get a pizza at the right price and my satisfaction is guaranteed. And I’ll do it! I’ll order! But you can bet your sweet ass I’m not ordering it in my own name. Not for a good, lonnnng time.
Enjoy your cheap pizza, locals!
You can thank me later.
