Lucky it was me...

Or were they? Today marks the second time I went to a particular store (KwikSpar, Observatory), bought vegetarian samoosas, and got meat ones. You'd think a loud complaint mentioning the various people whose religions or world views make it anathema to them to eat meat would have lit a fire somewhere. I mean, this is Observatory - hippy central. I'm sure every second person here at least pretends to be vegetarian (and innocently sneaks some bacon every couple of weekends).

Anyway, this time I didn't even bother with the deli manager, and went to a store manager. Who basically told me that people were scared to admit mistakes, even those made by others. So I asked him why he thought they were scared. I don't think my mention of a management problem went down well.

Of course, he wanted to know who served me. I suggested that whoever served me had no idea that the pile of samoosas clearly marked "Veg Samoosas" were not, in fact, Veg Samoosas. Somewhere around here, he said something about not being able to fire everyone. Uh, that's probably why they're afraid to discuss their lack of sufficient training with you!

So, he's walking up to the counter, and I can see how everyone behind the counter tries to be busy with other stuff. He manages to find one that's actually serving a customer, and gets them to open up a samoosa on the plate instead. It's a chicken one. Ok, so try one from the platter labeled "Chicken Samoosa". Oooh, the vegetable one. The labels are switched.

The look of non-comprehension when I suggest that's not a real solution to the problem was disheartening. Eventually they listen to me and open another samoosa on the newly-named Vegetarian platter. It's chicken. Only at this point does the manager consider that they're all mixed up.

So, he screams at a few people to get the platters cleared, and asks me whether I want something else, or a refund. I decide I've tried to instill clue enough, and head off.

I wonder if I walked past there a few minutes later, whether the platters would still be out there all mixed up...