Good Sandwiches, But A Remarkable Lack Of Lunchtime Flexibility
SITREP
Customer service is important, and it doesn't happen in a vacuum. Nor is "dismissive" customer service tolerated by choice - with it's increased time & frustration - when you make the effort to patronize a business but they do not serve you in a reasonable fashion, especially when other businesses options exist for you and who are vying for your dollar.
Gino's is already open - since they also serve a breakfast menu - and as it happened, I'm walking from meetings in one area of downtown back to my office which "fortuitously" takes me right past Ginos, a place I often grab sandwiches from time to time anyways.
However, it's 10:52am and I'd like to get back into my HQ office to catch a meeting and give a report - but the lady says they aren't going to serve lunch until precisely 11am, even though the prep-person isn't busy (or slammed like they are at 12noon), and they already have an array of lunch sandwiches out in the display (none of which I want since there is a fresh-made combo I much rather prefer).
It begs the question as well: as it's closing in on the 11am hour on a mid-weekday, is one more inclined to grab a breakfast item or a lunch item? Or at least be ready for both? And with respect to clock-time, a spot that is ALREADY open & doing business since the morning wouldn't need to be as restrictive as a spot just opening at 11am.
THE SETUP
Gino's makes good sandwiches. No question about that. Some other sandwich spots, I find better, such as Mr. Pickle and Dad's, but by comparison, require MORE time & effort to get to (especially if you have to bring a car into the equation).
So one *balances* out factors, such as 1. proximity, 2. travel-time involved, 3. price, 4. the last time you already patronized one business (because you want to shake up your routine and not fall into a rut), etc. etc.
Taking these factors - and other considerations (ie. lunch mates, digital coupons, etc.) - will drive your selections.
PEER-RESOURCING
The thing about peer-resourced reviews - such as they exist on TripAdvisor, Facebook, Yelp, and other platforms - it doesn't only allow for reviews about common experiences from one business - it also is applicable in COMPARING experiences among SIMILAR businesses.
When making this analysis, it makes me realize that other nearby spots are more customer service friendly and will continue to get - with an increase - of my lunchtime attention:
* Waffle Square or Old Ironsides (both at 10th & S)
* La Bou (11th & O),
* La Croissant Café (11th & P),
* Dad's Sandwich Shop (13th & S)
* the nearby CalPERS Café (4th & P), or
* even our downstairs cafeteria
Places that have decent (some better) sandwich options, with the added benefit that they aren't going to quibble with you at 10:52am, 10:45am or even 10:30am that it isn't 11am yet.
THE LOWDOWN
Being customer service savvy and ready for your customers when they are making the time to come to you makes a BIG DIFFERENCE. read more