Posted on 06/06/2024 6:34:08 PM PDT by nickcarraway
A small pizza shop in Ohio was pranked into baking a lot of pizzas only to realize that the customer who called in the order never intended to pick them up or pay the huge bill.
Thankfully, another small business owner, who heard about the prank, stepped in and offered to foot the bill.
Rocky Keefer, manager of PizzAroma's Maumee location, said a woman called earlier this month to place a timed order of 16 large pizzas, eight cheeses and eight pepperonis, to be picked up the following day.
Keefer said there was nothing alarming about the order as the shop sometimes cater events.
The next day, Keefer said the woman called back to see if her pizzas would be ready to be picked up. Keeder told her the pizzas were in the oven.
The bill was $112, and Keefer expected the woman to pay when she arrived.
But as time went by, no one showed up to pick up the 16 pizzas, and they had to be tossed out because they had grown old.
"I'm just like, 'I can't believe this, you know?'," Keefer told FOX Television Stations. "I can't believe this happened because we took time out to make sure it was done."
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Keefer said the pizza shop traced the number back to an app that allows people to make prank calls using a fake number.
"I just don't understand why people can do that to somebody," he continued. "I don't think they would want that done to them."
"There's more good people out there than bad people," Keefer said.
Keefer said people don't realize the time, effort and added costs that go into a large order, especially for a small business. Also, the pizza shop had to delay other orders to fulfill the larger order.
The shop posted its story about being pranked online, and Travis Truesdell, a nearby small business owner and Army veteran, stepped in to help out.
Truesdell not only paid for the bill but also ordered two additional pizzas to share with his employees at True Aerial Signs in Toledo.
"It just automatically resonated with me," Truesdell told FOX Television Stations. "I understand how hard it is sometimes to make, make ends meet."
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"Doing the right thing is so easy, and it really makes a difference to other people," he added.
Keefer said the shop was surprised and greatly appreciated Truesdell's offer.
"It's nice that we have other small businesses looking out for us," Keefer said. "Small businesses looking out for each other and have each other's backs. It makes me proud."
The pizza shop said it has changed its policy. Customers ordering 10 or more pizzas will have to pay upfront either over the phone or in person,
However, Keefer still hasn't lost trust in humanity.
"There's more good people out there than bad people" he said. "I know that for sure."
So called pranks have morphed into a lot more serious crimes from when I was younger.
“”””If the pizza place was placed In financial jeopardy by the loss of $112 it probably going to go out of business soon anyway.””””
No kidding, In a pizza/Italian food restaurant I was one of the managers in, employees could eat what we wanted and the managers could drink all the beer we wanted, on duty, and the chain was growing and the manager I worked under had the best store in the chain.
An order of 16 budget pizzas shouldn’t be any kind of an issue accept for an annoyance.
“Besides, who takes such a large order without running a card?”
I had the same thought.
25% seems right - labor, energy, rent, feeding the local constabulary (oh, that’s donuts!)
I would guess that next time, the shop will demand 100% payment before starting working on the order.
Or only take orders only from known past honest customers.
AT my local Ginos a large one topping is $9.98
$7.00/pizza (large),
that’s a hellofa deal.
Even at that price it would come to $160.00 plus tax for 16 pizzas.
“Average”
There are a LOT of small pizzerias doing good business selling >$30 pies (and we’re talking as small as 12”).
My local favorite prices their 18” at just over $30 for 5 toppings for that combo.
Example for Portland area 12” pie pricing:
https://www.lovelys5050.com/dinein
(NOT a place I’d ever dine, but specialty pizzas have found their niche)
Just bought two large pizzas from Pizza Hut this past Sunday evening, one was pepperoni and onions, and the other, sausage and mushrooms, thin crust, order with tax a little over $42. Unreal.
Funny I don’t know their pizza size but I know it fills me up so hey it’s worth it.
4 Large 1 Topping Pizzas $31.99
I don’t need that much pizza so I just get the one topping for nine bucks.
Next time take their credit card # in advance
So, it’s the same there: Average around $20.
But even a large crispy roni original crust (single topping) at Papa John’s is priced at $19.04 (just now), so the $7/pie from the OP is simply crazy.
We pick up the “Signature” frozen pizzas at Safeway, usually on sale for $4.99 and sometimes $5.99. They aren’t large (maybe 13 or 14 inches), but they are darn good for frozen. We split a pie and that’s dinner. Not bad for $2.50 to $3.00 per person!
The department of INjustice are probably the creators of the APP.
Most all of the takeout places around here require a card for phone/internet orders over $25 if they don’t recognize the number/customer.
That sounds great. I don’t know what happened in the Walmart stores. There was Sam’s Choice, hands-down best frozen pizza. And they too were $4.99 for a nice size pie for two with leftovers. Now gone. Why? Who knows. Aldi’s fresh pizzas x-large are good for $8.99.
I went to Dominos last year and ordered a hand tossed Pan Pizza. I went to pay then realized I had forgotten my wallet.
I asked if I could pay by PayPal on my phone, the manager said no.
I said ok, let me run home and get my wallet. The manager, an older Mexican lady, said let me make it for you, you can pay me next time.
She earned a new customer.
"Grown old?" Pizza?! Nothing better than next day cold pizza.
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