During mid-adolescence I worked at a dine in or carry out restaurant. Pizza and subs mostly, but a cut above your standard pizza place in both quality and price. Whenever someone came in to pick up a pizza, the box would be marked with the toppings and taped so it stayed shut during transport. Nobody ever had a problem and we went out of our way to make sure they received what was ordered.
On a particularly busy evening a woman in her early 40s wanted to see her pizza before paying. She mumbled something about places getting her order wrong all the time. I opened the taped box and displayed the pie containing the two toppings marked on it. I believe they were sausage and onion. There were only two people behind her in line so I took a few seconds to tape the lid. Understand, this was over three decades ago and I don’t remember the exact words, but she said something like this:
“I’m not taking this one. Make a fresh one and I’ll take that.”
Not only did her statement seem ridiculous, but she just stood there preventing anyone else from picking up their order. I had no idea what to say. Actually I knew exactly what to say, but “Are you out of your fucking mind?” would not be the most courteous response. Within three seconds of her demand, she proceeded to question my intelligence and express a desire to speak with the manager. I politely asked if she would move so the other customers could pick up their orders. No response except folding her arms and holding her head high. Thankfully, the manager was in the kitchen and I gladly dropped the problem in her lap.
Customers waiting behind her count: 3. After commenting on how rude and stupid I was, plus some other meaningless statements, she finally explained why the pizza was not fresh. Because I opened it so she could check the toppings. Her voice got louder as her body language became more animated. If there were no diners or people in line, I would have told her off. That would have caused her to overreact and be asked to leave. If she didn't, a call to the police.
“Fine, I’ll take this one, but I refuse to pay for it because it isn't fresh!”
Customers waiting behind her count: 4. Not only was this woman rude and obnoxious, she was trying to scam a free pizza. I could not let it happen. Before the manager said a word, I pulled her back from the counter and asked if I could handle this. The devious look on my face was all she needed to know I had an idea. Returning to the counter I let the woman know that not only would we give her a fresh pizza, but it would be no charge if she would let the other customers pick up their orders. She agreed with a smug sense of satisfaction on her face. Within five minutes I returned from the back with a warm and sealed box. She walked out the door proud of her accomplishment.
The manager knew it would have been impossible to make a new one in such a short time and since the original sausage and onion pie was still there, asked me what I gave her.
I had our chef throw an empty box in the oven for a minute and then write the toppings on top. While the box warmed up, I took eight left over slices from the dine in crowd out of the trash in back along with some special toppings from the ground. Placed them in the box and taped it up good. I would have loved to see her expression when opening the box. She had no recourse because it was free and according to her definition of fresh as the box not opened, I didn't lie. We never heard back from this rude pizza con artist who got exactly what she deserved.