YOU CAN'T PLEASE EVERYONE...EVEN WITH PIZZA

Lessons learned from real reviews, real moments, and real life behind the oven.

This blog title really says it. You can't please everyone. You could try, but there will always be the person who complains even when there's nothing to complain about. You know the type, "There wasn't enough sauce on my pizza." even though they asked for light sauce. "I asked for ricotta on my pizza." It's in there, we mix it with the sauce. "Well I don't see it." It's in there, we mix it with the sauce. "Well I guess I have to believe you." Why would I lie. Then there's the person that doesn't like burnt pizza, ok that's on me. I try and check the bottoms of all the pies but if we're super busy I might miss it. I'm sorry 😕

We live in a different time now. If someone doesn't like something they write a review and give you one star. Like the man that gave me one star and said, "Buy a quieter generator, the one you bring to the farmers market is obnoxiously loud. You realize that sell quiet models?" (sic) Yes I do realize that sir, maybe I should give you one star for your grammar. He didn't even buy a pizza but he felt comfortable enough to give me one star.

Then there's the lady that gave me two stars because she claimed I was rude to her husband. "GREAT PIZZA but very RUDE OWNER! My husband complimented him on the tasty pizza and his response was “thanks, is this event over at 8pm?” Very disappointing! If you can’t even be kind when receiving a compliment, you should not be working in customer service. 👎🏼" How did she know what I said, she wasn't there. It was after the shift and we're doing our clean up. There were still a few people milling around. I thanked the man, and asked if the event was really over at 8. He was also a vendor. I didn't think I was rude. He didn't seem to think I was rude. His wife did.

You’ve got the classics: not enough sauce after asking for light sauce, ricotta “missing” even though it’s mixed in, or someone upset about char when we’re slammed. Sometimes that one’s on me—and I own it. When someone reaches out with a real issue, I respond. I ask for details, offer refunds, and try to fix it. When there’s no follow-up, there’s not much I can do—but I always try.

I had a boss who used to say, “If it isn’t in writing, it didn’t happen.” I take a similar approach—send me a photo so I can understand what went wrong. I’ve had people send pictures of two slices they say they couldn’t eat because it wasn’t what they ordered. I get it, and I’m sorry we messed up—but I do wonder what happened to the other six slices.

I know we're far from perfect. In fact if someone gave me one star because I wasn't perfect I would gladly accept it. However, if you come to the truck and expect pleasant conversation from me while I'm in the middle of service and the flame on the oven keeps going out because there's a 20MPH wind blowing through the window, you shouldn't give me two stars because I closed the window. I'm trying to keep the oven lit!

Here's what I think you should do if you're going to base your decision on reviews, read them all. Then come down to the trailer and get your pizza and see how delicious it is for yourself. I've had dozens of people tell me how great our pizza is. They don't write reviews, but they do tell me. Then I thank them as pleasantly as I know how, and smile (to myself). I don't like to ask for reviews, actually I don't like to ask for anything. I think stuff should come organically, good or bad. You know what they say (who ever they are) "Every bad situation will have something positive. Even a dead clock is right twice a day."

So, in summary. Find out where we're at https://www.papispizzaaz.com/ grab a pie and some bread sticks, with a soda. If we're good write a great review. If we're bad, let me know. I'll try and fix it.

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