Every Saturday I want to write this.
My working week is finally done.
For SOME REASON, Saturday at the Cafe is always not-too-busy, UNTIL 3:30pm.
An hour and a half before the Cafe closes.
EVERYONE IS THERE!!! EVERYOOOONNNEEEE!!!!
WHY WHY WHY WHY WHY?!?!?!
It happens every single Saturday without fail.
Sometimes I'll ask a customer why this is.
Why do you come in so late on a Saturday? Why not come earlier?
Why come at all?
Why not stay home?
A guy once told me it was because the kids want a special treat late on a Saturday, they spend all day at home and deserve a special treat. AND THE MUSEUM IS THAT TREAT.
But the people who show up at the Cafe late on a Saturday aren't just parents, so the "Kids need a treat on Saturday" theory doesn't always work.
Can anyone who is reading this please tell me what's going on???
Because I work in hospitality I don't think like your average Cafe customer.
I don't understand why people come to the Cafe and I really want to.
Today was especially bad. Busy enough day, but come 4:30pm (half an hour before closing) ALL THESE PEOPLE SHOW UP!!! THERE ARE ONLY TWO OF US WORKING AND WE CAN'T KEEP UP!!!! AAARRRGGGHHH WHY IS THIS HAPPENING?!?!
You get the jist.
If you have any theories for me,;please share.
Hospitality is hard. Understanding won't make Saturday afternoons any less busy, but at least I'll feel a bit less angry and frustrated about it.
That's all part of the game Martz :) But I honestly know how you feel. There have been days when I've been out of the kitchen at 10pm and it hasn't been a problem, but there have also been days where I'm about to step out of the hotel to go home when some guests arrive later they had planned and are hungry and sometimes have cranky kids with them. We're hospitality workers, we have to go above and beyond to keep customers happy, no matter when they turn up - after all they pay your rent, power and buy your food ;)
ReplyDeleteIf I were to walk into a busy cafe at 4:59, I'd walk back out because I know they're already busy as it is and me ordering 2 skim flatwhites and a moccachino won't help them get home any quicker. But that's just because I know what it's like - for me, the equivalent is having a guest walk in at 5 to 10 and order a well done steak. That usually takes a good 20 minutes.. But it's my job to serve them, and because they ordered before 10pm, I'm going to serve them cause it's in my contract.
Don't get me wrong, I'm not having a go at you, merely saying that as long as your doors are open, customers are going to come in :) Purely because they can ;)
I KNOW WHY!!!!
ReplyDeleteBecause after 3pm it is almost IMPOSSIBLE to find a cafe open in Dunedin. I bet McCafe also has a post-3pm surge. ;) And also....3:30pm is just really when you want a coffee :)