Rude confrontation with a senior member of your management.

Did you look at the expiration before you presented it to the server?
Did you order 4 pizzas because you thought you were getting them free
with your thankyou card? Because if you did honestly that is your
error because it was expired. I think id be more emarrased over
arguing that you were right and thinking that you should receive a
75.00 giftcard to tempt you to dine back there for your bad
experience.

"I informed him of my situation and he sternly replied that he will
NOT accept the promo card because it was unlawful. I asked if
he can make an exception and simply discount the meal since my group
was very hungry and excited to dine here." emphasis added

I don't know what the State Laws in CA are, or city/county laws, but
this should have ended the discussion right there. This person in
high-level management informed you it was against the law, and you
persisted.

Expired is expired...and unusable. If you intended on using the
coupon, the least you could have done is ask BEFORE you ordered if
they would take the coupon. Do you go to stores expecting to get
Black Friday Pricing on the day before or a week later? I doubt
it...well...maybe you do since I've seen enough people try it anyway.


Just because you frequent a place doesn't make you any more special
than anyone else who pays money for services or goods. You should
hang your head in shame for even attempting to make a scene about
this. Hopefully you didn't have children around to take in the lessons
you would have been teaching them. If I were your guests, I would
have really been questioning your judgement and been terribly
embarrassed that someone was making a big deal out of something they
knew wasn't right.

This letter/post is droping so I am trying to BUMP it UP!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Am I the only one who would like to know where David's franchises are
so I can scout for expired coupons, present them and when his
employees reject them, make a giant scene annoying every customer
around so I can then post stupid whines online and demand a gift card
for a full meal.

FYI if your kids' homework is 3 days late in my class it will not be
accepted without a doctors note for a serious issue. Hope you do not
expect to get tuition moneys back.

Really? This is still in the top 25? Really?

This is the post that doesn't end
Yes, it goes on and on my friend
Some people started writing it not knowing what it was
And they`ll continue commenting forever just because...

This is the post that doesn't end
Yes, it goes on and on my friend
Some people started writing it not knowing what it was
And they`ll continue commenting forever just because...

I realize this post is over two years old, but I'm new to PFB and just
wanted to say this. I manage a restuarant in Ridgeland, MS. It is a
locally owned franchise. From time to time corporate puts out coupons
for people or for specific promotions. Our owner insists on honoring
coupons, regardless of when they expired. Some money is better than no
money, in his eyes, and when you make someone happy, like honoring an
expired coupon, they are greatful and will often return to your
establishment again. If we can honor a coupon that has been expired
for two months, he certainly could have honored a coupon that was only
expired for two days. Problem is, most of them act like you're just
trying to get something over on them. They don't care about repeat
business and customer service, they just want to be right. Whatever
happened to the customer always being right?

Wow! This happened over 2 years ago and the letter is still in the top
25.

girls nite with the coworkers---nine of us girls after at 4PM today
and ate at CPK---great service, friendly and even a discount because
two orders were slow out of the kitchen WITHOUT us asking for a
break.

How desperate can the management be to sell their business at a huge
discount..

California Pizza Kitchen Inc. (CPKI), the restaurant chain being taken
over by Golden Gate Capital Corp., was sued today in Delaware Chancery
Court by an investor who contends the company is worth more than the
$470 million, $18.50-a-share offer.

You were trying to use a promotional card that had expired. Had you
told them that you were going to use a promotional card BEFORE you
ordered, I am sure they would have informed you at that time. Since
you decided to tell them midway through the meal, that’s when they
tried to take care of it.

The server, who you said was kind, was probably gone for ten minutes
seeing if an exception could be made on your behalf. He took it to
where he should have-his manager. That manager asked senior management
for an exception, and that person denied it.

While businesses need customers to do business, they certainly don’t
need customers that are trying to get something for free. You honestly
tried to use your business experience to argue with them? What does
that have to do with anything? The point of coupons is not to give
people warm and fuzzy memories-they are to get them in the door and
try to figure out how to get them to spend money on something other
than what they’re getting discounted or for free (like ordering
drinks, for example.) YOU, as a business owner, should know -that-.
While they probably could have made an exception, they didn’t feel
your business warranted it. If you disagree, then I wouldn’t return
there.

chibi

California Pizza Kitchen Inc. has agreed to sell itself to
private-equity firm Golden Gate Capital for about $470 million or
$18.50/share or an 11% premium, according to a person familiar with
the matter.

Total Revenues. Total revenues decreased $0.7 million, or 0.5%, to
$156.0 million in the first quarter of 2011 from $156.7 million in the
first quarter of 2010 as the result of a $0.9 million decrease in
restaurant sales, partially offset by a $0.2 million increase in
domestic and international franchise revenues. The decrease in
restaurant sales was primarily attributable to the $0.7 million
decrease in supplemental gift card revenue which resulted from the
cumulative adjustment recorded in the first quarter of 2010 when the
Company first began to recognize such revenue. The restaurant sales
decline was also related to the 2.1% decrease in full-service
comparable restaurant sales. Domestic franchise revenue increased
13.1% and international franchise revenue increased 9.7% as the result
of stronger comparable sales and additional revenue from new stores
opened in 2010.

Wow,
So this is down to number 22 out of 25. Seems shameful that it will
soon be off the list!!

California Pizza Kitchen, Inc.today announced that it will release its
first quarter 2011 results after the market closes on Thursday, May 5,
2011.

California Pizza Kitchen's QSR (quick-serve restaurant) concept is
fizzling. Last year saw the closing of the CPK ASAP adjacent to Angel
Stadium of Anaheim. Now it's the turn of the CPK ASAP in the South
Coast Plaza annex (you know, hipster central, where the H&M, Crate &
Barrel, and the Apple Store are

Highlights for the 52-week fiscal year 2010 relative to the 53-week
fiscal year 2009 were as follows:

Total revenues decreased 3.4 percent to $642.2 million. Total revenues
decreased 1.2 percent excluding the additional week in the fourth
quarter of 2009 .

Full-service comparable restaurant sales decreased 2.4 percent.

I really do have to wonder David T...if your logic is correct, then
any company that chooses to uphold company policies and doesn't bend
them for anyone (because you know, being equal is so passe these
days-I was being sarcastic) should be going out of business. I give
you the fallacy to that logic-an Australian business known as
Woolworths. One of their biggest policies is not to give customers
multiple coupons that lets them save some money on fuel (this includes
loyal customers as well). By that logic, the company should be going
out of business or shutting down. How is it then, that they recorded a
growth of 2.1 billion in profits last year? I'd love to see your logic
apply to that situation. Oh and by the way, what's the name of your
business? I'm a little curious actually.

Once in a while Dr Phil, Maury, or Oprah will do a show about
unhealthy compulsive obsession over mundane things. They'll have
guests on the show who have dedicated all their energy, time, and
effort far past what anyone would be considered normal or healthy.

Every time I see one of those, I can't help but wonder to myself "How
did this happen? What happened to this person over the years that
caused this person to lose their grip on reality in such a way?"

Thanks to this page, I now know.

Sorry David, but you and your family are not so exceptionally special
that you are entitled to use an expired coupon. See, if the manager
does that for you, other people will hear about it and assume that
they're special enough for an exception too. They find out they're not
and may do any number of things, from walking out on their bill to
screaming to corporate until they get compensation for their
"distress" or coming here to complain that the rules were not bent
just for them.

Coupons have an expiration date for a reason. If you can't use the
coupon when it's still good, then oh well. If you buy a dozen eggs and
don't eat them before they expire, do you take them back to the farm
they came from and ask for more eggs for free because you couldn't be
bothered to use them before they went bad?

California Pizza Kitchen announced that for the fourth quarter of
2010, it expects service comparable restaurant sales to be between
negative 1% and 0% and earnings to be in the range of negative $0.01
to $0.01 per diluted share which includes an estimated negative $0.06
per diluted share impact from a high fourth quarter effective tax
rate. According to Reuters Estimates, analysts on an average were
expecting the Company to report EPS of $0.11 for the fourth quarter of
2010

http://www.reuters.com/finance/stocks/keyDevelopments?rpc=66&symbol=CP
KI.O×tamp=20101111210500

California Pizza Kitchen Sees Earnings Below Estimates
Posted on: Thu, 11 Nov 2010 16:11:50 EST

Symbols: CPKI
Nov 11, 2010 (EarningsWhispers Guidance Summaries via Comtex) --

California Pizza Kitchen, Inc. (NASDAQ: CPKI | PowerRating) said it
expects fourth quarter earnings of $0.05 to $0.07 per share, excluding
a one-time item of $0.06 per share. The current consensus earnings
estimate is $0.15 per share for the quarter ending December 31, 2010.

This earnings guidance summary was provided by EarningsWhispers, a
leading provider of earnings expectations - including corporate
guidance announcements and analysts' expectations that differ from
published estimates.
http://www.earningswhispers.com

True confession: back when I moved to Atlanta in 1997 I was excited to
try my first California Pizza Kitchen. We were at Lenox Square and
willingly waited 45 minutes for a table.

.... That may be why it took 13 years for me to return

From Comments:

Reds: ... the Thai Peanut pizza… but it tastes just like the frozen
CPK one you can get at the store. I pass CPK in general.

KoPP: ... From other visits, the BBQ sauce on the pizza is waaay too
sweet,...

James: ... They’re definitely heavy handed with the sugar. Then
again, sugar sells… The menu is hit or miss ... I can’t take their bbq
sauce, nor can my pancreas.

jonnymack: I only eat here in emergencies. It’s not one of my favorite
chains

Kaye: I go to CPK once every few years ... once the price moved north
of $10 for 4 slices, I realized that places like Ippolitos offered
pizzas that were just as good, if not better.

wino: I’ve eaten at CPK 3 times, 3 different locations, 3 different
cities, and I wanted to like it, but something just doesn’t work for
me. It’s like they are trying to do too much without doing anything
really well.

Jim R: Three words…Salt,Salt Salt….Good ingredients..Points for
service and originality..But like most chains way too much of the ol’
sodium chloride.

http://blogs.ajc.com/food-and-more/2010/11/11/chain-reaction-californi
a-pizza-kitchen/?cxntfid=blogs_food_and_more

Amazing! I see a well-written, clearly worded letter with a
reasonable request, and it's getting slagged by a bunch of "Deal with
it" people.. this site used to have a pretty good reputation for
keeping people honest (both submitting and replying) but now it seems
like it's been taken over by people who like to trash other's
complaints.

What makes you think you wouldn't feel the same way were you in the
same situation? Ah, sorry.. forgot you were all perfect.

I, and I am sure many others, wish that they had a life where they
were able to devote so much time to such a small thing. How nice it
must be to have no other worries, issues, or pressing matters that you
can devote so much time and energy to your slighted feelings over a
PIZZA COUPON.

David....can you stop for just moment and imagine what you could
accomplish if you used all of this time, dedication and
single-mindedness for good? Or what a difference you could make if you
took all of the time that you spend researching, commenting and
obsessing over CPK and did some volunteer work? In all of the time
and effort you have used up over the past year, you could have taught
several children to read, delivered hundreds of meals to shut ins,
collected canned goods for a local soup kitchen, or started a Coat
Drive. Or, if you are not at all servide minded, you could have just
simply moved on with your life. Truly, it boggles the mind.

I don't know about everyone else, but this letter and David T's
obsession with CPK's demise make me want to go spend huge sums of
money at California Pizza Kitchen. Wish we had one here in the Toledo
area, I guess I'll have to stick with the frozen ones.

“Looking ahead, we plan to drive traffic and comparable sales through
menu innovation and by providing an exceptional dining experience for
our guests,” Rick Rosenfield and Larry Flax, co-chief executives of
California Pizza Kitchen, said in a statement. “We are implementing
strategies to further control expenses and identifying leverage
opportunities to strengthen our full service platform.”

Did you get the BIG JOKE. HAHA, what a crackup.
"...providing an exceptional dining experience for our guests,” Rick
Rosenfield and Larry Flax, co-chief executives of California Pizza
Kitchen, said in a statement.

California Pizza Kitchen Inc. swung to loss in the third quarter, the
company reported Thursday, on impairment charges, store closure costs
and a legal class-action settlement.

For the quarter ended Oct. 3, CPK booked a net loss of $7.5 million,
or 31 cents per share, compared with a year-ago profit of $5.8
million, or 24 cents per share. The write-down of 10 full-service
restaurants totaled $18.7 million, while store closure costs and the
legal settlement together totaled more than $6 million.

Total revenue fell 0.2 percent to $164.5 million.

http://www.nrn.com/article/cpk-swings-net-loss-3q?ad=finance&utm_sourc
e=MagnetMail&utm_medium=email&utm_term=rocksolidpower@hotmail.com&utm_
content=NRN-News-NRNam-11-12-10&utm_campaign=Red%20Lobster%20looking%2
0to%20lower%20price%20points

David- Almost a year and a half later... and this is STILL bothering
you?

Regardless of the validity of your complaint, just drop it. if CPK
hasnt gotten back to you yet, i doubt they ever will.

You need to realize ONCE AND FOR ALL that YOU are in the wrong here,
you tried to use an expired coupon and it was declined. It happens.

Thank You Card program, a sort of frequent-diner plan that helped
boost business in spring 2009. The company, which has 257 locations
worldwide, now says it will reinstate the program in the third
quarter.

But Jeff Farmer, who follows CPK for brokerage Jefferies & Co.,
questioned how management could have been so far off last month in
estimating the sales decline from the termination of the Thank You
Card program. The company’s revised forecast suggests “there might be
an operational issue” at the chain, Farmer said in a report.

NOTE: “there might be an operational issue” at the chain, Farmer said
in a report.

You think....?

Investors who jumped into shares of California Pizza Kitchen Inc. in
early April, after the company said it might sell itself, now are
wondering if they set too high a bar for a potential buyer.

The L.A.-based restaurant chain’s shares plunged 11% on Monday after
the company warned of disappointing second-quarter sales and
earnings.

http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/money_co/2010/06/cpk-california-pizza-
kitchen-sales-forecast-stock-sale.html?utm_source=feedburner&utm_mediu
m=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+UpToSpeed+%28Up+to+Speed%29

I will pay everyone fifty cents to make this GD letter go away once
and for all.

Even after over a year I still can't get over the fact that you tried
to argue 3 people into giving you a expired discount. It was your
responsibility to check the date! Also it get's me how you write them
that they let the food go to waste which in turn means you got up and
left and didn't pay. Did you really think they would send you a gift
card?
Sorry but if I would have been a customer at the table next to you I
would have felt sorry for them. Oh wow look at that crazy guy trying
to tell them how to run their marketing by arguing about a expired
coupon!
The right way to handle this would have been to eat your food, pay
your bill and then write a complaint about the rude guy. Pretty sure
they would have looked at it in a different light.

Total revenues decreased 4.6% to $163.1 million, Comparable restaurant
sales decreased 5.9%, Net income of $4.2 million, or $0.17 per diluted
share

This is a rather long discussion with quite a number of issues being
raised which go beyond the OP's original complaint about bad service
at California Pizza Kitchen. They don't have any locations where I
live, so I've never eaten there before.

I'm still not entirely clear as to why the restaurant manager couldn't
just make the call and stand with it. It probably made the situation
worse to say that the regional manager is here and that he might make
an exception. Then it puts the regional manager on the spot and takes
the heat off the location manager. It's also unclear whether the
regional manager was there on official company business or if he was
just on his own time having dinner with family or friends.

I think the arguments whether it was a coupon or a contest are a red
herring, as well as the idea that an expiration date must be set in
stone. That may be true in legal and bureaucratic matters, but I
don't think that businesses can really afford to be so intransigent
and inflexible in such matters.

As for CPK's current business woes and losses, it's not a surprise if
they've maintained a culture of spineless management and poor customer
service. To blame the poor economy is a bit of a cop-out, because all
it really means is that the competition is much fiercer nowadays.

I think what's really happened is that the economy has been so good
these past decades, a lot of businesses have gotten spoiled and
developed a "screw the customer" mentality because there were always
more customers lined up outside their door. They could afford to give
marginal service and take the "my way or the highway" approach with
customers, since there were plenty of dollars floating around the
economy anyway. Now, times are not so good anymore, and businesses
are falling by the wayside because their management can't keep up with
the times. Being penny-wise and pound foolish just doesn't really
work in the long run.

I think the OP has made his point quite well. I can understand how
some people might be put off by his stridency and persistence in
pressing this particular matter, but that doesn't necessarily change
the nature or the validity of his complaint.

Sure, the business owner has every right to stick by their expiration
date and refuse to make an exception. Technically, they have the
right to refuse to serve anyone, if that's what they choose to do.
It's their property, their business, their right. Nobody has
questioned this at all. But the question is, is it a wise business
decision to make? Is that the kind of attitude that businesses should
take, particularly if their business absolutely depends upon the
goodwill of the customer? In terms of dollars and cents, the business
lost money from this. Businesses are supposed to make money, not lose
it.

The bottom line is, if I own a business and it loses money or goes
bankrupt, then it would be my fault. I can't blame others by saying
"it's the customers' fault" or "it's a bad economy." We have a bad
economy because too many people have been slacking for far too long.
That's the impression I get from reading all these complaint letters
around this site. I've also felt it while a customer myself and
getting bad service.

It's not due to any "sense of entitlement" on the part of the
customer. That's another cop-out I've noticed throughout these
comments. It seems more of an indication that the true sense of
entitlement is on the other side, and as this attitude seems far more
prevalent these days, it would explain the overall decline in customer
service in recent years.

I think that there may be some cultural and generational differences
between the different philosophies of business. I've noticed that in
recent decades, businesses have tended to look less and less at
long-term considerations and, instead, they focus more on short-term
gains, leading to the primacy of the so-called "quick buck artists."
There's been this mentality of trying to make as much as possible in
the shortest amount of time, and who cares if we're in business 20
years from now? It's the idea of instant gratification and "me
first."

This has obviously permeated into the corporate culture, where those
of the old school mentality have been slowly eased out. This is why
older people might be more inclined to complain, since they were used
to things being done differently in their time. 30-40 years ago, this
likely would never even have been an issue. Most places would just
let it slide if it was a few days past the expiration date. It's
only been in recent years that businesses have adopted a culture of
being intransigently anal and bureaucratic about these things. It's
like the entire service industry has been taken over by "Soup Nazis."


And I say this because I AM a customer and I have received pretty
rotten service on a number of occasions. I'm not just taking the OP's
word for it here. I don't have any feelings of entitlement, nor do I
go into a place of business intending to start a confrontation or make
a scene. Usually, I'd be more inclined to just walk out and leave
rather than waste time trying to argue with someone who seems more
intent on winning the argument than winning the customer.

This is how CPKI is such a messed up company. Even after one year and
still losing millions, CPKI corporate up for sale, can't find a buyer,
stocks dropping like a tank, and they still have bad customer service.
A lot has happened to CPKI in one year and it does not look good.

The negotiations between California Pizza Kitchen Inc. and American
Securities Capital partners have broken down, according to the New
York Post, which first reported talks between the two companies last
week.

The Post cites a source "close to the process" in saying that "the
likelihood of the two sides reaching a deal is unlikely."

California Pizza Kitchen (NASDAQ: CPKI) has been seeking a buyer for
several months.

News of the deal falling apart caused a drop in the company's stock
price. In late-afternoon trading, the stock was at $15.97, down $1.67,
or 9.47 percent.



Read more: California Pizza Kitchen buyout talks break down - Los
Angeles Business from bizjournals

http://losangeles.bizjournals.com/losangeles/stories/2010/08/02/daily1
8.html?ana=yfcpc

Expiration date. Look up the definition of EXPIRATION DATE. They did
not have to accept that card.

I waitress and unfortunetly I run into this problem often. I agree
that they should not have been so rude, however I wish people would
look at the expiration date. Promos are promos and do not last
forever. It doesnt matter if it is 2 days or 2 months expired, it is
expired. They should not have embarrassed you and the server should
have checked sooner, but ultimitely it is the customers responsibility
to check and see that their promo coupons are valid. I would also like
to ask why you feel you deserve compensation? you tried to use an
expired promo card, is that the restaurants fault? why should they
have to pay you. I have read multiple complaints and almost every one
demands compensation. You were not physically hurt, they did not steal
from you, because you cant read an expiration date they have to pay
you? This is why america is so sue happy every one thinks they are
entitled to compensation for something that was so small and
unimportant.

California Pizza Kitchen Inc. reported a 31-percent dive in
second-quarter profit

Read more:
http://www.nrn.com/article/california-pizza-kitchens-2q-sales-slide?ut
m_source=MagnetMail&utm_medium=email&utm_term=rocksolidpower@hotmail.c
om&utm_content=NRN-News-NRNam-08-06-10&utm_campaign=August%206,%202010
%20-%20California%20Pizza%20Kitchen's%202Q%20sales%20slide#ixzz0vqMwvB
kY

IT EXPIRED TWO DAYS AGO!!!!! It's your responsibility to read the
card.

Its really sad to me that David T eagerly awaits this companies
demise, leaving hundreds and hundreds of people out of work all
because a manager wouldn't accept his expired coupon.

Has there been one? Please say yes.

They'll have a field day over this. Something I will be considering
withing the next few days.

Being rude to customers and have executives (the founders Rick
Rosenfield and Larry Flax) support this behavior will not make a
successful company. You have lost millions over a $75 incident. Shame
on you.

http://www.planetfeedback.com/california+pizza+kitchen+inc/employees/r
ude+confrontation+with+a+senior+member+of+your+management/index.php?le
vel2=blog_viewpost&topic_id=319738&reply_expand=1

When California Pizza Kitchen Inc.’s founders hung out the “for sale”
sign in early April, the L.A.-based restaurant chain’s shares quickly
surged to a three-year high. But less than three months later, more
investors seem to be giving up on the idea that a deal will happen.

The shares, which have fallen in 10 of the last 11 sessions, now have
plummeted 38% since reaching a peak of $21.30 in April on buyout
hopes. CPKI is a firm facing “foundering auctions that appear close to
collapsing.” The story didn’t get more specific.

DOWN WITH CPKI FOR DISRESPECTING THEIR CUSTOMERS!!!

http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/money_co/2010/07/california-pizza-kitc
hen-buyout-shares-restaurants-cpk.html

I feel REAL SORRY for those that purchased CPKI shares. Let it not be
said that I warned all of you. They have carppy customer service and
their executives support it. Who ever buys this company will be in a
load of pain.

Only a few more days until the 1 year anniversary of this unfortunate
rude confrontation.

This letter should have died a long time ago.

Why keep mentioning "10 minutes" as if it were such an incredible
length of time? It was a busy and chaotic 4th of July weekend and
besides, while the server had the card ten short minutes, the OP had
the card two full days after it expired. Please stop feeling "sad" and
crying how unfair it is they didn't honor the coupon. Pull up your
man-panties and apologize to your group for arguing over a coupon and
embarrassing everyone.

I think we have another "John McCain" letter, take a look at the date
up top!

On Monday, April 9, 2010 the chain said same-store sales, a key
indicator of a restaurant’s financial health, dropped 2.7% for the
first quarter. The decrease is an improvement from last year, where
same-store sales fell 5.9% for the same period.

CPK up for sale?: In other CPK news, the chain confirmed reports that
it is looking to boost shareholder value by seeking a possible buyer.
No deal has been made. CPK has hired an investment bank to investigate
“a possible sale, merger or other business combination.”

http://www.marketwatch.com/story/california-pizza-kitchen-inc-to-revie
w-financial-and-strategic-alternatives-2010-04-12?reflink=MW_news_stmp


Selling a business that is digging its grave. Interesting. Well, all I
can say is that they are NOT getting any business from me, my wife, my
family, my guests, friends, soccer team, and anyone else I can tell
this story to. They think their business practice is great by treating
us so horribly and I can’t believe they are so smug about it.

What’s interesting is that so many people think it’s ok for businesses
to mistreat their guests. The power belongs to the people, not the
businesses who think a small minority that will speak up is not threat
to them. Go BJ’s Pizza and all the other pizza restaurants that honor
and appreciate their customers and treat them with respect.

As a previous owner of franchises, I think that you would be aware of
valid dates on coupons. Perhaps special pricing had been extended from
vendors. I am sure this is a matter of principle with you but most
likely proved an embarrassment to your guests. Over what; a few bucks!
In the long run "they" could/should have honored the expired coupon
but chose not to. You, being the customer, is it really their loss or
an opportunity to seat a more pleasant client?

Coupons like this are a great tool to gain loyalty. The majority of
the time, when a situation like this happens, management at a "good"
company usually has a lot of discretion about making exceptions - and
often times do. However, having been in management myself, no matter
how "service oriented" a manager may be, a lot of times it comes down
to the way a guest speaks to them or other employees. The problem
here was that you had an "expectation" of an exception being made,
when they didn't have to. If you were more polite about it, and
didn't begin to talk down to him about how you owned pizza
restaurants, the purpose of marketing, and why he should make an
exception, perhaps it could have ended differently.

On another note, I realize that you are the same person who posted
about having an issue at Target with a return without a receipt. That
posting was huge and I won't get into it too much, but you spoke with
them with a sense of entitlement too. You attempted to return $40
worth of items, and again EXPECTED an exception. By the end of your
letter to them you felt a $100 gift card was an acceptable solution -
which is pretty ridiculous. Perhaps if you were able to have a more
pleasant attitude, and not a holier than thou one, you may get
somewhere. You may feel that it's okay to speak with people like
that, but it really comes off as snobby and makes them much less
likely to make an exception for you. You might even find that some
employees actually enjoy helping people. When something goes wrong,
you don't always get a free lunch!!

wow... sad memories? Really?

How will you ever find the strength to go on?

Having written several letters myself to different companies on Planet
Feedback and seeing great success hearing back from companies - I hope
you hear back from you.

I have not read the other posts and am sure you have already responded
to this - but did you know that your thank you card expired before you
walked in?

I have never owned a restaurant and am unsure of the specifics with
costing and marketing and what not - but I am sitting here wondering
why you felt an expired card needed to have an exception?

I always believed there was an expiration date on coupons for a
reason. Not only have I rushed out to stores on the last day before
they were no longer valid, but I have also thrown out coupons for
stores I unfortunately missed the deadlines.

Furthermore, I am unsure as to why you feel that a $75 gift card is in
order. I am not sure how much your other coupon was for, but certain
when you used other coupons (and they were valid) you had a good time
at their restaurant.

Perhaps in the future, should you chose to go back, take a valid card
and let the good times roll!

And they will come back. Take care of them as much as you can and they
will return the favor several folds. Marketing costs are expensive,
marketing by customer referrals and return visits is priceless. It
astounds me that California Pizza Kitchen’s management does not
understand this simple concept.

My brother in law recently franchised a chain restaurant. Well in the
coupons it says only valid at participating restaurants. In big bold
lettering he has a sign in the store saying they dont participate in
chain promotions. Yet constantly people are arguing. If he gave into
everyone he'd be out of business.

You knew it was out of date and still decided to use it anyway, you
run the rick of them saying no which they have every right to do. Why
should you get an exception?

I don't see how this situation warrants a complaint letter. You asked
to use an expired card and they said no.

But I would like to mention how fundamentally silly that is for a
business to do that. I could see the server saying no...MAYBE the
manager (though I never would refuse it) but to go all the way to the
regional and they think it is better business to refuse it? Come
on...just stupidity in my opinion. But they do have that right...I
think it's wrong to write a complain letter about it. A suggestion
would have been better.

I have not dined at California Pizza Kitchen since August 2009 and my
friends have not either. In fact the entire soccer team have decided
to dine at another local pizza shack: they have way better pizza and
they’re way cheaper too. Is this why their stock is plummeting? WOW!
http://finance.yahoo.com/echarts?s=CPK#chart1:symbol=cpk;range=2y;indi
cator=volume;charttype=line;crosshair=on;ohlcvalues=0;logscale=on;sour
ce=undefined

CPK is loosing millions over a $75 issue. Now, how does that compute?
Some companies are such knuckle brains. They spend millions on
marketing, trying to get us into their stores, then, disrespect their
customers if there’s a small issue and refuse to right what’s wrong.
CPK does not know how to delight their customers.

Shame on them. Their management needs a spanking.

WOW.. That's all that I can say.

So the gist of your message is that you are mad at them for refusing
to honor an expired promotional offer? The only peson here who is not
being reasonable is you.

From my reading of this complaint and other replies about it, you
embarrassed yourself.

I can understand asking for the exception, but you should not expect
one if the answer given is no.

You made a scene, not them.

From your posts, I think it is fairly reasonable to assume that this
is not this first time you have had run ins with people.

Being in the customer service field myself, I would have accepted it
and I do understand your reasoning, although I do think you more than
over estimated your costs on gaining loyal patrons and having them
return.

Multi-million dollar industries such as Insurance do not pay an
average of $2000 per person to get them to call in for quotes, let
alone a pizza franchise.

It looks like you are trying to get something for nothing to me.

I love it when people have something that is expired, still want to
use it and get bent out of shape because it's refused.

On top of that they get high and mighty and complain about the person
refusing it.

In a recent post below, he says that they gave the coupon to the
server before their order was placed. But in the letter he states:

"A pleasant female server asked for our order and my friend , her 2
teenage daughters, my wife and I ordered a complete meal. We handed
the server our “Thank You” card and waited for the order to arrive."

So you ordered, THEN handed her the coupon?

Interesting.

My business is so busy I can only respond approximately once or twice
per week. I’ve answered all of your curious question. CPK’s
cofounders still have not contacted me. What cowards.