I am boycotting Domino's Pizza from Today

I’ve been a regular unhappy customer of Domino's pizza. I have been fine with their pizzas, their non-spectacular taste, the fact that they don’t provide cutlery for the fact that they are somewhat cheaper on the pocket.

The thing that riled me (repeatedly) is their worst customer service. I have visited many outlets in Chennai and in Bangalore and have noticed that the best of their service is being indifferent.  

And of all the outlets, the Mylapore one in R.K Salai, takes the pizza (or the cake if you prefer).

First, If a customer enters to order, he or she is completely ignored. For how long – entirely depends on the whims and fancies of the staff.  For the most part they are busy arguing, joking, jesting among themselves or discussing some very useless matters. In fact, for the most part, the customer has to call to make himself visible to their presence and most of them do that after waiting for the decent amount of time.

Second, in 9 out of 10 times that I’ve had there, they have not had coins for change. Invariably you will be told that the change will be given along with the order and invariably it will be forgotten. The ploy here is to embarrass the customer to come back and ask for small change and if he does not, then pocket the same! What a way to earn your profits!

Third, you just have to wait out your order. I do not think the employees in this place understand that the are working in a place where customers are waiting for food. Again their attention is all on other things and invariably the customer has to come and ask for orders that would’ve been taken out of the oven and sitting on the shelves.

What broke the camels back (or my stomach) was that for the last two consecutive times they forgot to even put my order in the oven. The first time, it was plain forgotten and after I reminded them 20 mins after the order, the dough entered the oven and I got the pizza. The last time, my order was actually given to another person who ordered after me. The staff realized this and then without telling me anything put the dough on the oven. This is again 20 mins after I ordered. After all this, I again had to do step three above, i.e. ask them to pick the ready pizza from the shelf and give to me. It was 35 mins before I had my lunch on that hungry day.

The only person who works in this place are the 2 cleaners that I’ve seen over the last 6 month period. The others are a bunch of boorish, totally non-customer friendly crew.

And here is their CEO announcing his plans to open a 100 more stores in India.

I shudder at the thought of having 100 more stores and 1000 more customer unfriendly souls flooding our lives!

Hence my boycott of Domino's pizza until I hear that they take their customers and customer service seriously. I am sure it does not make one difference to them, but if you also feel and have the same experience, I would recommend and request you to add your comments and then boycott yourself. Hopefully it will give them some reason to change!

  

Tintin, The noble hero & Tintin, The truthful movie

What I like most about the Tintin stories is that Tintin is an Ideal, Noble, No frills adventurer unlike the regular fare being treated out with the American adventurers and super heroes where female angles, sob stories are an integral part of the mixture.  

Got to watch the Tintin movie today. I did have some apprehension after reading a few reviews. The movie has captured the spirit of the Tintin stories well – It is fast paced adventure, Clean comedy, No blood shed or ripping of guts etc, Noble characters that stay true to their characters. Although some complain that the spirit of the captain Haddock and Bianca Castafiore are a bit subdued, I feel that on the whole, it is the best way the clean adventure could’ve have been handled. I am sure Herge did the right choice in handing over the rights to Spielberg. I have decided that in future, I would read the half baked reviewes with a pinch of salt and have more trust on Herge and Spielberg.

I think the end scenes capture the characters in true light. 

Tintin is happy that the adventure is over and is looking forward to the next tone. 

Captain Haddock is filled with pride and struts with his ancestor’s hat. 

Nester is happy to be back with his original Masters.

No one is overly interested or focusing on the Jewels or the Treasure. What a team!

Kudos to Herge on creating the Hero(s) and Kudos to Spielberg on bringing the best of the story and Characters.

If you are even remotely interested or want to show a good, clean, noble movie to your friends or kids (even to neighborhood ones), do them a favor by taking to the movie.