Abused by Pizza Store Manager

kuikui on 17/07/2015 - 08:51
Last edited 17/07/2015 - 09:32 by 2 other users

Hi OZ,

I would like to get advice for the incident happened to me in on of pizza company's (don't want to say the brand name) store.
A long story in short… I got pizza company's voucher from another gift card company to use online order ( not a free voucher, I paid for that). I used those voucher (almost 11 times) to order pizza to pick up in same store which is close to my home. I went to store to pick up my order and the store manager told me that every time I got pizza for free (order total amount because $0 when use those voucher) and he will not make a pizza for my order. I tried to explain to him about voucher but he did not wants listen to me. He abused me verbally (used dirty words) and forced me to leave the store and he don't want to see me in the store again.
I have recorded entire conversation in my mobile phone for evidence.

Few highlights for you guys..

  1. Why the order shows as a free pizza in store order management system even I paid via voucher?
  2. As long as the order paid by anyway why did the store manager refused my order?
  3. Why did he abused me and forced me to leave the store? ( he was acted like a independent store owner)

I would like to get honest advise from your guys…
Can I sue a pizza company?
Can I take legal action against the store?
Where do I log a complaint?

Note: I have recorded entire conversation for evidence.

Thank you…

Poll Options

  • 216
    Can I log a complaint to pizza company about the incident?
  • 8
    Can I sue a pizza company (via fair work QLD or ACCC)?
  • 10
    Can I log a case in court ?
Food & Grocery

closed Comments

  • holdenmg on 17/07/2015 - 08:57
    +26

    Youtube it.

    • pointless martyr on 17/07/2015 - 11:31
      +77

      Agreed. That is all the 'evidence' is good for. for your own pizza mind, just move on.

      • rompastompa on 17/07/2015 - 11:34
        +2

        Depends on the content. They may see it as defamatory depending on what you do with the evidence. Eg. OP may have stirred the manager up and abuse them, and then recorded their reaction to publicly shame them.

        Edit: But it's not me, so youtube it. I just like to see the world burn. ;)

        • patinadiary on 17/07/2015 - 16:41
          +1

          @Davo93: I reckon there must be some kind of exclusion clause on whether you can use a secret recording as evidence. From memory you have to let the person whom you are recording know about it, if he chooses to still go ahead and abuse you then that can be used as evidence.
          As for going back there, have a look at this video and decide if you'd like to go back there again.

        • psyren89 on 17/07/2015 - 21:43
          +2

          @gaurav1504: As far as I know, if you are in a public place with no expectation of privacy, you don't HAVE to let people know you're recording them. One would argue the inside of a shop is not exactly a public place as the owner/manager can throw you out. Then again, I'm no lawyer.

        • Shiezy on 18/07/2015 - 08:45
          +6

          @Davo93: What "Halal" has to do with described incident???

        • nikey2k27 on 18/07/2015 - 08:54
          +2

          Contact head office. i know i did big name store play them recording or email to them.

        • FittyFitty on 18/07/2015 - 09:25

          @Davo93:

          Don't think so, but the pizza guy seems a bit of a bigot…

        • [Deactivated] on 18/07/2015 - 10:41
          +1

          @gaurav1504: Nope, pretty sure you only have to ask permission to record phone calls. IRL: go for it!

        • RI4V4N on 18/07/2015 - 16:47

          Defamation usually only applies to false statements.
          Recording a conversation can have privacy issues, but in a public area like a restaurant its less likely to be an issue.

          I'd ring up management of the chain and talk to someone there, you can probably get some free stuff too.
          I dont think you will want to sue, unless you paid multiple thousands of dollars for the gift card - court cases are expensive. You can report it to the ACCC or state relevant commericial complaints authority, but usually does not do much.

        • alizzan on 18/07/2015 - 17:56
          +3

          @RI4V4N: If you get free stuff, might want to buy from a different store.

        • surethang on 19/07/2015 - 03:08
          +1

          The laws for recording private conversations vary for each state/territory. For example, in Queensland it is not illegal to record a private conversation that you are involved in. But in NSW it "generally" is.

          Also, what constitutes a private conversation can vary. Usually a conversation is not considered private if the people involved reasonably expect that someone else could overhear it (eg., raised voices at a pizza retailer). But in some states, a conversation can still be considered private if a third person overhears it, as long as those involved in the conversation know that the third person can hear it.

          Even if you are allowed to record the private conversation, what you can then do with it also varies.

          Phone conversations are a whole different matter and covered under national law.

          Note: my knowledge on this may be out of date, but hopefully you get the idea that blanket statements rarely apply. If in doubt, get legal advice.

          (I'm not a lawyer. This is not legal advice :)

        • ozzybee on 20/07/2015 - 16:10
          -1

          @RI4V4N: A restaurant is a public place? This is why you don't source advice from Ozbargain.

        • McFly on 20/07/2015 - 17:01
          +1

          @ozzybee: Do you go to a restaurant in your undies (or nude?)

        • jaybmate on 21/07/2015 - 11:30

          @woolfenstein: On phone calls, only one participant needs to know that the call is being recorded. Which would be you, so you don't need to tell the other person.

          In this case, it would depend on whether it is considered public area or not.

  • 2pro4sho on 17/07/2015 - 09:14
    +3

    You should definitely sue….however you might bite off more than you can chew

    • Baysew on 17/07/2015 - 09:18
      +28

      If you do sue just make sure you have more dough than they do.

      Contact the gift card company and explain that voucher was not accepted.

      • kuikui on 17/07/2015 - 09:35

        Thank you for your response. The voucher is valid and I could submit the order successfully in online but the store
        got received my order as free pizza order. So I don't think that the problem with gift card company.

        • Baysew on 17/07/2015 - 09:38
          +34

          It is the gift card companies problem !
          If you report it to the gift card company they will contact the Pizza company.

        • kuikui on 17/07/2015 - 09:39
          +1

          @Baysew: Ok.. thanks for that..I'll contact them

        • Scrooge McDuck on 17/07/2015 - 14:36
          +104

          Can I log a case in court ?

          I think you definitely have a strong case to bring before the Food Court.

        • McFly on 17/07/2015 - 14:45
          +14

          @Scrooge McDuck: Judge Foodie presiding.

        • Scrooge McDuck on 17/07/2015 - 14:51
          +11

          @McFly:

          "All rise, from your tables and chairs, this Food Court is now in session."

        • pointless martyr on 17/07/2015 - 15:57
          +2

          @Scrooge McDuck: all rise for the honorable mayor mccheese, presiding judge of the food court

        • McFly on 17/07/2015 - 16:20
          +5

          @pointless comment: Bailiff Byrdseye: "Judge, the parties have been given menus. You may be seated."

        • Baysew on 17/07/2015 - 18:16
          +9

          @McFly: Judge Foodie: Err these menus don't appear to have any prices on them. For instance, how much is a bonut ?

        • 42 on 17/07/2015 - 19:01
          +4

          @Scrooge McDuck:
          logged on just to give that a +1

        • lilchonk on 18/07/2015 - 01:30
          +4

          @42: logged on just to give that a +1, 42.

        • McFly on 18/07/2015 - 19:26

          @Baysew: There's no legal requirement to put the price on the menu. Anyway, maybe the price is under the bonut.

        • Musing Outloud on 19/07/2015 - 12:50
          -1

          @Scrooge McDuck: Wot - the food court at my local Westfields?

        • GnarlyKnuckles on 20/07/2015 - 21:10

          @pointless comment:

          "… presiding judge of the food court"

          Surely there'd be three judges in the food court; George Columbaris and those two fat dudes.

        • pointless martyr on 20/07/2015 - 21:35

          @GnarlyKnuckles: dont know who ur talkin bout but sure, if u say so- the more the merrier

        • McFly on 20/07/2015 - 21:41
          +1

          @GnarlyKnuckles: No, you're thinking about the upper food court.
          (Actually I've always preferred the lower one at Chaddie.)

        • Baysew on 21/07/2015 - 10:50
          +3

          @McFly: The Super Supreme Court ?

          What is the take away on this post.

        • [Deactivated] on 21/07/2015 - 22:55

          @Baysew:

          The Super Supreme Court ?

          +1

        • [Deactivated] on 21/07/2015 - 23:24

          @McFly: Oh, I didn't see that lol. Ta.

    • frinik on 19/07/2015 - 15:22
      +2

      Sue for what?…thats the problem with this world..everybody wants to take legal action at the drop of a hat.
      Legal action costs money and time… seriously stop being butthurt and just forget about it, lifes too short to worry about such trivial matters. Granted the verbal abuse by the manager is probably unfounded but its a pizza for christ sake. As a business they're probably entitled not to serve you as a customer which means you'll have to take the issue up with the giftcard company.

  • npc on 17/07/2015 - 09:23
    -7

    Order 10 pizzas online every day in this store and never pick them up / pay. "A:=1; B:=2; Repeat until A==B"

    Edit: come back with your voucher when the owner will change. Won't take very long.

    • GnarlyKnuckles on 17/07/2015 - 10:06
      +6

      "Order 10 pizzas online every day in this store and never pick them up / pay."

      Don't do this. You would lose the moral high ground, and you could even be deemed liable for the costs of all the pizzas you ordered but didn't pick up (plus some additional costs), in the unlikely event that the manager/company could prove who you were and decided to pursue it. It's ridiculous advice… or was it intended as a joke?

      • npc on 17/07/2015 - 11:21
        +4

        Sense of humor incompatibility I guess. It Was a Joke in case someone else is not sure as well.

        However I really disagree with your statement about "moral high ground", it is ridiculous to worry about own moral in the topic starter's situation.

        • Skinnerr on 17/07/2015 - 20:02
          +5

          It was a crappy joke, halfway between sarcasm and advice and went over my head too.

        • gimli on 17/07/2015 - 20:34
          +1

          @thedude23:

          it was only five-eighths of the way between sarcasm and advice

        • deal seeking missile on 19/07/2015 - 14:41
          +1

          @jubba: dat observational skills tho

      • bezanel on 20/07/2015 - 20:55
        +1

        VPN

        • McFly on 20/07/2015 - 21:39
          +1

          Virtual Pizza Network

      • bezanel on 20/07/2015 - 20:55

        public phone booth if they still exist.

    • thirtysixd on 17/07/2015 - 16:14
      +7

      its a great idea!
      find a vpn/proxy and fire away

      Use names like 'vouchers mcgee' so he knows its you but cant prove anything

      • nahi11 on 17/07/2015 - 16:34
        +1

        Yea but then they wont make it

      • Serapis on 17/07/2015 - 19:25

        Was that an anchorman reference by chance? =P

  • DarkOz on 17/07/2015 - 09:24
    +40

    You could report the problem to the gift card company that issued you the pizza company voucher and say that they are invalid. The pizza company manager may or may not be right because he didn't issue the vouchers to you. It's for the gift card company to sort it out for you.

    When your gift card company proved that the pizza company manager is in the wrong. You could demand extra free vouchers or else you will report him to the head office. But don't go too far though. He cooks your pizza and you are going to eat it!

    • Scrooge McDuck on 17/07/2015 - 14:19
      +41

      PROTIP: Don't aggravate someone BEFORE they prepare your food.

  • kuikui on 17/07/2015 - 09:35

    Hi guys,

    Thank you for your response. The voucher is valid and I could submit the order successfully in online but the store got received my order as free pizza order. So I don't think that the problem with gift card company.

    • DarkOz on 17/07/2015 - 09:46
      +27

      When the pizza store manager overruled your claim on the vouchers it made the vouchers invalid. Tell the gift store that the pizza manager refused the claim. It's up to the gift store to sort it out with that pizza store manager or else the gift store should compensate you for what the vouchers are worth.

      • Scrooge McDuck on 17/07/2015 - 14:31
        +4

        or else the gift store should compensate you for what the vouchers are worth.

        In RRP.

    • kungfupanda on 17/07/2015 - 16:24

      Nm.

    • andyken on 17/07/2015 - 23:18
      +3

      you still dont get it, there is nothing wrong with the gift card company when you pay via online but the pizza store wont give/make the order for you because you pay using the giftcard, therefore you should write your complaint to gift card company, not pizza company

  • enidan on 17/07/2015 - 09:45
    +5

    Contact both the pizza company and the gift card company via e-mail and let them know what has occured. Ask for an explanation as to why something you paid for is being rejected.
    When you contact the pizza company, tell them what the manager told you, but I don't think you should mention that you recorded the conversation as there's a chance it could have been illegal for you to have done so (recording on private property). Also make sure you tell them which store, date and time (if possible) and any names if you know them.

    If you don't receive any responses, send a private message via Facebook to the pizza company and gift card company, then escalate from there.

    • kuikui on 17/07/2015 - 09:52
      +3

      Hi mate,

      I'll contact pizza company and the gift card company as well. I told to the store manager that I have recorded our conversation, he said that he was not worry about the record and he showed his name batch for compliant to head office if I wish. How rude he was…

      • enidan on 17/07/2015 - 09:57
        +4

        Take him up on it and provide the details to head office. Give them the info on the gift cards and what occured between you and the manager. Ask if the manager was allowed to reject the order, despite having made orders in the past successfully. Ask if it was also okay for the manager to verbally abuse you. Let them know you're also contacting the gift card company about this as the gift cards were bought from them. By the way, what exactly did the manager say to you?

  • shaiguy on 17/07/2015 - 09:57
    +2

    Just be careful as the video evidence may not be admissible.

    Follow what's recommended above and if nothing is done then go on ACA!

  • pyramid on 17/07/2015 - 10:02
    +11

    Out of curiosity, did you use same voucher 10 times or 10 different vouchers?

  • beefarmer on 17/07/2015 - 10:10
    -5

    Maybe a more healthy dining experience in future is advisable

  • kuikui on 17/07/2015 - 10:11

    No.. it was a different voucher every time. I paid for those vouchers.

    • Satoria on 17/07/2015 - 12:59
      +11

      Usually how it works is that the franchise is refunded by head office, so even though it shows up as $0 at the time of the transaction to them, they're not really making a loss. However, they might not know that.

      • 01011010 on 20/07/2015 - 08:35
        +6

        if the manager doesn't know that then he doesn't deserve to be a manager.

  • Kawaii69 on 17/07/2015 - 10:14
    +3

    I had dominos coupons from a competition, for a free pizza and 2 garlic breads, I had about 6 and everytime we would go to pick the pizza up before they would give it to us they would ask where we got the voucher from and how it works but not in a friendly manner, after about 4 times we just contacted their headoffice and complained and after that there were no more questions asked when we picked up the pizza. So if it's a franchise store like dominos or pizza hut just call their headoffice and complain. I'm not too sure about the legal viewpoint on the matter.

    • kuikui on 17/07/2015 - 10:15
      +1

      It's not only a look, he abused me in front of customers.

      • RI4V4N on 18/07/2015 - 16:50
        +5

        When you ring the head office of the chain, make sure to mention you are emotionally distressed by the way you were treated in a public place by this person. They may offer some compensation for that as well. Not nessecarily large sums of money, but additional pizzas. Most companies want to maintain good PR with their customers.

        • Praeto on 21/07/2015 - 00:26
          +1

          They compensate him with pizza vouchers.. What could go wrong? :)

    • spackbace on 17/07/2015 - 10:18
      +1

      I was wondering if it was from this promotion. Vouchers are still for sale on Gumtree etc, and when put into the system there's no charge.

      • kuikui on 17/07/2015 - 10:28

        Not this one. It's paid voucher.

        • spackbace on 17/07/2015 - 10:30
          +7

          But from what I can see there's no 3rd Party sites selling Dominos/Pizza Hut vouchers…

          What is the voucher you're talking about here?

    • phoenixx on 17/07/2015 - 10:17
      +27

      Spoiled your reputation?

      I also think you have a pretty flippant use of the word "abuse".

        • spackbace on 17/07/2015 - 10:19
          +61

          Do you know everyone in your town? What is this, Ramsay Street or Summer Bay?

        • pyramid on 17/07/2015 - 10:20
          +6

          So you don't go that store next time. Their loss not yours..

        • cozmo on 17/07/2015 - 20:33
          +8

          OH … its you they're all talking about!!!! Heard the local member of Parliament is thinking bringing back the boot to deal with you.

      • Skinnerr on 17/07/2015 - 20:06
        +20

        'Now I can never have the pizza again, for I bring the shame to family and pizza reputation is ruin. They starve forever until I go to the macburgers driving through'

    • pyramid on 17/07/2015 - 10:19
      +22

      OP, move on mate. You don't accept apology then what else do you expect. Looks like you are after some benefit (may be monetary) from store because of this incident.

        • pyramid on 17/07/2015 - 10:25
          +41

          And what will you do with that? Frame it and hang on wall as wall paper?

        • kuikui on 17/07/2015 - 10:26
          -8

          @cniminc: just imagine from my situation. How would feel.

        • pyramid on 17/07/2015 - 10:28
          +14

          @surekumr: Honestly, i would have moved on to next store. As i said its their loss.

        • dragonfly090 on 17/07/2015 - 10:30
          +12

          even if he says sorry, do you think he will stop bad mouthing about you? he will continue it and will add more to things that never happened. Would this increase your reputation.

          I totally understand your frustration and is valid. Remember this incident, vengeance is a bad option when angry. u r bound to be hurt again.

          Remember this incident, person, shop and use an opportunistic time to get it out legally. Bite your teeth until then.

          Ask the franchise to send you an apology email and may be mark a copy to the store. Politely walk back into the store, hand over the print of email and ask him to be gentle next time.

        • kuikui on 17/07/2015 - 10:40
          -1

          @deepudips: Love your comment. waiting for further update from pizza company.

        • Scrooge McDuck on 17/07/2015 - 15:04

          @deepudips:

          hand over the print of email and ask him to be gentle next time.

          The store manager should ask Bubba to be gentle next time, clearly deserves some hard-time over this!

        • patinadiary on 17/07/2015 - 16:27
          +4

          @Scrooge McDuck: Besides id be worried whether they spit in your pizza or applied the 10 second rule or anything nasty.

        • User_153999 on 17/07/2015 - 17:29

          Keep dreaming mate! You are typical pain in the arse kind of customer. Why did you use the voucher from the beginning? Im assuming because you get it at discounted rate. Those gift card companies squeeze those pizza shop as much as they can in favor of advertising. Most restaurant or shops limit the use of voucher for one time only but you used it for 11 times. For example, groupon ask shops to offer %50 discount on their normal price and then they take another +-%50 of the sale price which lead shops to end up with only %25 of their original price. Im assuming the store is not getting any money for the pizza they gave to you because the system is saying FREE, the money most likely going to the vouchers company or brand management. Think about those franchise owners who tries to make some return for their investment and time.

        • jonathonsunshine on 18/07/2015 - 01:46
          +1

          @cniminc:

          if they don't have to give out anymore free pizzas, i'd say it is there gain…

        • Magpye on 19/07/2015 - 22:57
          +6

          @MilfHunter: Whilst you raise a valid point, no one forced the pizza company to accept that deal - they obviously felt it would bring in extra business to franchises and conceded to those terms.
          The franchises will have agreed to those terms when they came onboard, and as the head office has sanctioned the deal, taking it out on the customer is only going to end badly for them.
          If the franchise owner is trying to back out of his customer agreements, then maybe he should look at some other line of work, because this one seems to aggravate him.
          His discontent should be directed upwards, not outwards.

          The OP could have easily put the video clip on Youtube, alerted Fairfax media, and it would have been national news for a day or so, with the entire franchise suffering for it.

          Fact of life: Customers are usually a pain in the arse.

        • 01011010 on 20/07/2015 - 08:38
          +1

          @cniminc: he's got to show it to all the town people to raise his reputation.

        • WhatWouldBiggieDo on 20/07/2015 - 14:08
          +1

          @deepudips:

          Bite your teeth until then.

          Please don't bite your teeth. Might have the same effect as dividing by zero. You never know what could happen

        • WhatWouldBiggieDo on 20/07/2015 - 14:09

          duplicate post

    • enidan on 17/07/2015 - 10:35
      +13

      Hold up buddy- if you're not happy with the response, you can ask that you receive a formal apology from the store manager. Doesn't mean that you're going to receive it though.

      And what are you five? You strutting down the street with your free pizza held high, gangsta music playing and a gold chain around your neck while the local elderly person using a walker shuffles out of your way while staring up at your pizza in amazement? Get off your high horse princess- it's just pizza that you paid for.

      • ankor on 18/07/2015 - 14:33
        +5

        But it's not free pizza, it only shows up that way on the franchise store's system due to lazy coding.

    • Ughhh on 17/07/2015 - 11:05
      +7

      Lol at reputation. Unless you're famous or someone important to the community, no one gives a crap. You didn't save the world. Move on.

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