Pizza Hut

I will say this, over the many years that it has been here, our local Pizza Hut has proven itself from being far from perfect at times. However, with that being said, our Pizza Hut is pretty dern good. True it can sometimes be a bit greasy. And sometime the clientele that comes to either stay or simply clog up the take out aspects of the Hut can be a bit grating. But I will state this, that’s a hard working bunch that holds it together. Constantly cooking. Constantly delivering. Constantly on the go. And given the general pressures of my weirdly wonderful Cheraw, SC, I feel they do a pretty solid freaking job.

So, I called in a carryout order and was told 20 – 25 minutes. I arrived at the 20 minute mark, wanting to get the pizza hot out of the oven because I live 15 miles away. I wait another 20 minutes before my pizza comes up… this doubles the estimated time. They are busy so I can deal with this.
I do notice during my wait that they are still giving the 20 – 25 minute ready time, and I feel bad for the unsuspecting schmucks who show up to pick up pizzas that clearly will be at least an hour before ready.
Now it’s time for me to pay, and the girl keeps swiping my card. Concerned, I question if I am being charged each time she does this. She assures me that the «system» has been acting up all day, and she does not want to have to call in for an authorization code. Apparently, her hope was to repeatedly swipe my card until the «system» was fooled into working properly. This was not to be the case. (Pizza sitting there on the counter getting cold.)
The manager in a stroke of brilliance, decides to try it at the other register. It turns out that the «system» doesn’t like that one either. Again I am assured that this has been happening all day. At this point, I ask why they aren’t letting callers know that their card system is down. I would have been more than happy to stop and get cash had I been informed. Manager tells me to move aside so CASH paying customers can be served. (Pizza getting colder.)
I am a pretty patient person, but I balk at this. I am a paying customer. All she has to do is call the 800 number for the flipping authorization code. This is a manager. (Pizza nearing room temperature. WTF?)
She insists that I pay another way. I tell her that I cannot (miraculously I have not raised my voice). I remind her that I could have gotten cash had I been informed of the technical problems, but I was not about to drive around town looking for an ATM while my pizza sits there dying a slow death. She started to write my card number down on a piece of paper so she could run it «later». I said no. I asked her to just call the number so I could go. She took the pizza, slung it to the back counter and said «That’s it then.» (Cold pizza thrown away.) Oh, and did I mention that the General Manager was right there, doing nothing, allowing this to happen?
I was dismissed, by a manager at pizza hut, and my husband had to microwave a hot dog for dinner. FML
Needless to say, calls were made. I am expecting a call back from the District manager. I will update my review with the results.