The cafe example is a bit much, but these kinds of showdowns are the ONLY things that move some companies.

Hopefully the guy was just having a laugh and will now turn around and donate some monies or return the cheque to Pret A Manger and tell them they are awesome and be a lifelong customer.

I would :)

I just signed up for Comcast. They're coming on Saturday morning between 8:00 and 10:00am. I'm hoping it doesn't end up being a day long "sit 'n wait." AT&T's DSL service (or lack thereof) finally pushed me over the top to switch, and Verizon's offerings aren't feasible.

*crosses fingers*

We'd all like to be paid for jerking off...

First, it would have to be a boutique type place, a local or regional shop. I can't see many large franchised shops having the sense of humor or setting a precedent like this.

Second, the invoice was probably pretty funny too, in a dry British way. So the humor would have to be reciprocated.

Third, it would have to be for a small sum of money. Billing them hundreds or thousands would get you no where. While his rates seem excessive (44 pounds an hour, that's like $60 an hour which is either a lawyer or what my company says I make when they bill their clients) it wasn't for much money.

If you've ever been to "buckhorn" here on the west coast, they have a standing policy that if it ever takes more than 7 minutes from the time you order your food to the time you get it, its free. I've never timed my meal prep time, or tried to redeem this, but I've heard of people who have had their meals delayed in minor ways, upon which the mgr preemptively refunded the purchase price.

I miss them hugely! Used to get sandwiches (and soup... and salads... and all kinds of deliciousness) there lots of times a week. I've seen a branch or two in New York, but that doesn't help me much now I live in Ohio.

Pret's customer service is great, seriously. Over the course of the years and years I ate there, I emailed them a couple of times about extremely innocuous "issues". The ones I can remember being missives intended to convey the following: "oh no, I can't believe you've expanded your line of cakes but stopped selling coffee cakes, how could you?!", "I am utterly devastated that you changed that amazing pasta/pesto/rocket salad", "what did you do with the heavenly Thai red curry chicken sandwiches, please?" and "damn it, people, I bought a pain au chocolat but opened the bag at my desk to find a croissant filled with that icky, revolting yellow custard stuff that makes me puke". These are clearly not EECB-worthy Consumerist-level "complaints", but all were issues mildly important to my Pret-adoring self, so I sent 'em via the email link on their site.

Each and every one was met with friendliness, apologies for their having the temerity to make changes to their own menu, and an invitation to head over to whichever branch took my fancy to get my next breakfast/lunch on them. Pret are truly awesome.

Oh, another thing about Pret... if you happen to walk into a branch with a coffee bought elsewhere (which I innocently did one day, when wandering down the street with a Starbucks coffee and then deciding I absolutely must get a Pret sarnie for lunch), they will - at least, in my experience, they used to - absolutely INSIST that you have a cup of their own coffee to try out and see how you like it. Even if you insist right back at them that you like their coffee just fine and don't need converting...

Yup, Pret is great. I love Pret. Pret, please come and expand your US operations to Ohio, please, thank you.

Read the section on "Staff" in particular. Current employees voting new hires in? Sounds like lots of American businesses could learn from this.

Julian Metcalfe, FTW!!

I once invoiced a scammy local comedy club (You've won 8 free tickets! 3 (10$) drink minimum!) for the time I spent answering their phone calls and listening to their voice messages. This was only after I'd asked them over the phone and in writing to take me off of their call list (as well as informing them that I was on the national do-not-call list) a minimum of five times.

Sadly, no response AND no check D:.

Also, I missed this becasue of the Cash4Gold story! For some reason, it being "tied" to the top of the page messed up all the other stories for me, for those few days.

Responding to the letter in this manner was a huge win for Pret.
And I think the guy who wrote it is a dick.

@xtc46 - thinksmarter on twitter:
they didn't pay for it: they paid McCrudden with no guarantee of advertising--they got the advertising free.

@MostlyHarmless: It's only because I know the place, I call it by its proper name "Pret-ah-mahnjay"

The owner should;ve given him extra money in the check then tell him that if he coud please wire the excess money back to them.... (you know how that goes)

I think what this douche doesn't get is that if he wants instant service everywhere, then that will cost him more money which will cost him more time to earn. If his time is too precious to wait in a queue than he can hire someone to go get his lunch, wait at the PO, etc. So his time is worth a dollar amount but it's up to him to figure out how to trade it. He doesn't get to hand that value to the rest of the world and have it be accepted.

@Kimaroo - 20% More Kitty Added!: It's a tad pricey, but terribly consistent food, and the employees are super-friendly and have a good sense of urgency.

I understand your time on the planet is valuable and I am indeed sorry you were not able to spend more time in my competitors' establishments.

I think he's most definitely encouraging him to go elsewhere.

As funny as this response is, this guy is a joke. He says he would rather spend his time elseware...so why doesnt he? He doesnt HAVE to wait for a sandwhich, see a moive, or any of the other things he did, thats obsurd.

I can understand being pissed if a company just outright wasted your time, like cable companies not showing up for appointments, and things like that, but when you are making a choice to stand in a line or do something that you benefit from, you include that as oppertunity cost for the product and take it into consideration.

For instance, when i go to lunch each day, part of my decision is based on how much time I feel like being away for. If im busy and want to eat at my desk, I may bring a lunch (assuming i know ill be busy) or head to the place thats downstairs. If I feel like going for a walk, I may head to the subway thats about .5 miles away, then come back and hang out in the breakroom. But that is MY choice, and as such, I have no right to bill a company for it.

@GuinevereRucker: Will it have 7 or 8 legs?

@egoods: " Until you consider the free advertising they bought with that $105 check"

Its not free if you paid for it.

@Alex Chasick: Shame that Texas (where I am) is so far from DC.. Maybe if I ever take a trip there I'll remember to try it.

I loves me some sammiches.

If I was kept waiting at a place called "Ready to Eat," I'd be annoyed too. That's false advertising.

methinks Pret a manager did a quick internet search, saw what the guy was up to and made a very smart PR move.

well done Mr Pret a manager man

@Traveshamockery: This is a classic example of British backhanded politeness. We're pretty good at it her ein the Great White North, but as this letter shows, it's a fine art in Britain, and they're the undisputed masters of it.

That said, it's not so much a "get lost" as a "You're being a giant pedantic dick, feel free to come back anytime, don't ever think of pulling a stunt like this again, but thanks for the free PR."

@gStein:

Pecan 3.14159265 +1 = 4.14159265 :-)

@pecan 3.14159265: I realized as I posted this that I was already at lunch. And now I realize it is nowhere near where I work. I'm not willing to hop the metro just for lunch.

In my book, Devon and Blakely still wins for best sandwich when you're on the go.

I need to find one. For serious.

What he *should* bill for is the amount of time above and beyond the average spent with a given brand. This would be the added cost (in time) above the market rate that hey paid.

@oneandone: I used to work around the corner from the DC location when it first opened and always enjoyed the food (but not the occasional waits).

I wish I had seen this an hour ago - I had to pass it and decided that I was in the mood for something else. Seeing this would have been reason enough to "force" myself to stop in.

I've gone past the various Pret A Manger stores here in NYC many times, but have never eaten there. Always seemed a bit pricey. A friend loves them.

Seeing this response from them has definitely encouraged me to go check out what they have to offer at least once!

Of course, it was valid, and upon review they company agreed and paid the claim. But I was just about to bill them for $150 (3 hours of work at $50/hr) for the work I had to do that they SHOULD HAVE DONE in the first place. I don't get paid to research claims, their staff does.

Then I thought about them having so much power over me, and the fact that they might start denying more of my claims just to be assholes...so I didn't.

*shakes fist at private insurers*

@oneandone: Oops - forgot the locations link:
[www.pret.com]

@junkmail: They are in the U.S. - but only NYC and 1 location in DC. I've heard good things about the DC one. I've enjoyed them in London, and they're the only thing that kept me sane during a 12 hour delay at Heathrow.

@RStui: They're in Washington DC. I wasn't impressed with their selection though.

@kateblack:

Mainly, they do a killer lunch business.

Them be some smart sammich sellers. Real smart like.

62.8pounds really worth the visibility gain.

@pecan 3.14159265: I, for some reason, read it as Pret A Manager.. I didn't even notice it was Manger till after your comment.

What is Pret a Manger anyway? None of these options make any sense.

I want a sammich.

@pecan 3.14159265: I read that too (and posted the same comment almost!).

But I think you mean "great minds" ...

@MostlyHarmless: I read it as Pet a Manager...and was a little confused as to the actual service they provide. Thank you, Consumerist, for enlightening those of us who didn't know that it is actually a sandwich shop.

Are there any, by chance, in the States? I'd make a trip just because of the letter.

Really weird hours, though. I can't think of a time I've passed one that was open.

I would be in heaven because the Earth would implode.

Of course he'd rather be doing anything else besides waiting in the queue. Who wouldn't?

This however is beyond sanity. I applaud the effort since insanity is a rational response to today's consumer environment.

I, for some, am of the opinion that assholelish ends should not mix with douchebaggery.

@MostlyHarmless: Ha, I did the same, only with just Pret, a Manager.

In looking at their website it's nice to see that the higher-ups (I think the co-founder would qualify) are available to get a hold of. They have a special number set up to get a hold of them, and they seem pretty accessible.

If Pret A Manager ever makes it to Minneapolis, they can be assured that I will stop ion for a sandwich periodically.

I was hoping the letter was going to say that they've banned him from their store, for his convenience.

The next time I am in London, I now have to eat at Pret A Manger. The response from Mr. Metcalfe was spectacular. I will also have to contact Mr. Metcalfe when there and offer to buy him a pint at the local pub.

This guy had the balls to actually invoice them. Wow!

Props to the founder for having a great sense of humor, but the concern is the copycats that will now try to pull the same stunt.

If Fark has taught me nothing else, it's that the answer is always C. And Florida is one messed up state.

Also, images of cats or kittens with poorly spelled aphorisms are always funny, even though no one can explain exactly why this should be so.

Now that I think about it, Fark has taught me a lot, akshully.

@MostlyHarmless: I just caught your earlier post. Lord, silly minds think alike. I did a double take because at first I thought it might have been a post about a company called Pet a Manager. That's just weird.

If I'm on hold with Comcast for 2 hours waiting to get my cable fixed, shame on them. If I'm waiting in line for an unacceptable amount of time to buy sandwich, shame on me. For the latter, I may contact the vendor to tell him that his service sucks, but I won't expect to be reimbursed for my time.

But if the OP can pull it off, more power to him.

Does anyone else keep seeing Pret a Manger as Pet a Manager? Not right, I tell ya. Not right.

@Traveshamockery: I think C, but the more I think about it, the more I think I really just dislike the letter-writer and love the sandwich company.

That is some incredibly high level of pure, unabashed awesomeness. Both for the consumer to bill for time wasted and for the company to respond. There was a bit of a dickish tone to the response, tongue in cheek as it may have been.

When I make it to London, I will have to track down a Pret a Manger and get a sammich.

The brits are great at this, in 1976 some jokers wrote to the Whitechapel Foundry who made the original Liberty Bell complaining about the crack. The Foundry wrote back saying they'd be happy to take it back as long as they returned it in it's original packaging.

That and in the end he hedged it with a "got suggestions?" in case the OP was serious, and then there is always the "if not, then tsfu"

Never does my assholelishness end so well when I engage in such douchebaggery.

The response from Pret A Manger (i read it as Pat a Manager), however, is just plain awesome.

Holy cow.. If everyone was assigned a billable rate for their time and you deducted that from goods or services.. What has the world come to?

+1 for the OP. And great response by the company.

Wow.. I bet he'll be a customer of theirs for a long time to come.