A Message to the Maine Business Where I Sent an Incorrect Order Back

First off, a quick note anyone that clicked on this article and is expecting some juicy drama because I swear 90% of us all thrive on watching/reading negativity that tears people apart --

Keep scrolling, because this isn't it.

This is actually a surprisingly, insanely positive experience -- one that I didn't ever expect. Not because I think this business is something other than positive and ridiculously hospitable, but because I've never sent an order back before. Until now.

So, now directing things toward the Maine business in question.

I'm not going to name you. Not what city or town you can be found in, not what type of service you provide -- nothing identifiable. I'm very much not a person that tries to tear anyone down or creating an opening for someone else to do so.

And even though this experience was a positive one, like a really incredibly positive one, there will still be people out there that will focus in on the fact that a mistake was made, and they'll go to the ends of the earth to exploit it and a besmirch a good name.

(By the way, can we take a second to appreciate how solid of a word "besmirch" is? Anyway.)

Simply put, I placed an order. You prepared said order. When said order was completed, you delivered it to me, and thankfully, I realized that there was something in the order that would've been a bunch of bad news due to food allergies I have. And by bad news, I mean the type that needs an EpiPen and life-saving measures.

This is where it got really awkward and uncomfortable for me, because I never -- NEVER -- send an order back. If there is something wrong with it (that doesn't involve food allergies), I won't send it back. If it's wrong, I won't send it back.

Honestly, even if there's a hair in it, I'll push the hair and that portion of the order aside and just continue like normal. Call it a mix of not wanting to insult someone who I'd think/hope put a lot of effort into the preparation, and mostly, after seeing the movie Waiting, don't trust what would happen if I sent the order back (if you know, you know.)

But I couldn't keep the order, because the mistake would legitimately harm me. So, in probably the most awkward way possible, I called an employee over.

Excuse me. Hi, hey, I'm sorry, I legitimately never do this and I hate to even do it right now, but there was a mistake with this order and it conflicts with my food allergies. I'm not trying to be that guy but I'm also not trying to have a health episode, and I know it was just an honest mistake, but is there any chance I could get a fresh order with that one ingredient switched?

(You see how awkward I was/am?)

Anyway, not only did you smile, apologize, and respond with, "Absolutely," but in what felt like lightning time, I was given the correct order with correct ingredients, along with an additional smile and apology.

And, honestly, the whole point of this, aside to thank you for being so incredibly cool with the whole experience, is to highlight to anyone that reads this note to you that it is possible for humans to make a mistake, not be torn apart for that mistake, but rather simply have it pointed out and for the mistake to be corrected.

We're humans. Our whole existence (if you do it right, anyway), is literally learning and growing from mistakes. So, again, thank you so much for being so cool and understanding about the situation, and keep churning out your amazing product.

Believe me when I say that I'll be back for more -- if not just for the quality of product, most definitely for the quality of service.