How did it Pizza A Go Go for you?
Posted by Jonathan Maus (Editor) on July 23rd, 2007 at 9:05 am
I’m curious what everyone’s experience was with Pizza A Go Go’s Free Slice for Cyclists promotion.
I stopped twice over the weekend with my family (I only ordered two slices) and both times I could tell the employees had given away lots of free slices. The first time, the employee jokingly said he, “wasn’t sure if it was the best business decision,” but he was cordial and welcoming.
The second time we went in (this time with two other families; six kids, five parents total) the employee was a bit rough around the edges and was obviously not too thrilled at the extra workload from people seeking freebies.
I also noticed two comments so far on my previous post from folks that claim they were denied the free slice.
One person claims the employee said the promotion was a “hoax” and that they should “talk to the people online” (whatever that means). The other person claims that the employee said it was only available to, “those who got a coupon via a private email list.” (Please read the clarification and follow-up to this claim in comment #2 below.)
I don’t know whether those claims are legit or not, but I’m curious how many of you redeemed a free slice over the weekend, and if so, how it went.
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July 23rd, 2007 09:15
My girlfriend said she stopped in on Saturday afternoon and the guy was grumpy -- she said "are you still doing the free slice thing?" and he was like "yeah it's only cheese" rather abruptly. She also said the pizza wasn't that great, either. I've been there before and wasn't impressed with the food... maybe it has something to do with the Sysco truck I see parked out front sometimes. I was willing to try it again with this promotion, but not now. I'd rather pay for good pizza with local ingredients at Hot Lips than get mediocre pizza with crappy service, even if it is free.
July 23rd, 2007 09:40
what i said earlier about the reference to a private email list did indeed happen, and here's a followup. my friend who rode over there with me did not seek a slice, but when we got a hold of the mercury to confirm the offer, she was not happy about their actions and called them up to point out their ad and their mistake. to her credit, the woman my friend spoke with admitted she was in the wrong, saying she hadn't been told about it by the owner, and that she had confused the promotion with a similar one that the shop was running via their own email list of customers. she apologized and encouraged us to return sometime before the end of july, when the promotion is scheduled to end.
July 23rd, 2007 09:47
(I'm pasting a comment left on the other post by reader Evan Manvel)
"I enjoyed a free slice last night, but bought a beer with it. Perhaps folks have just been asking for a free slice, and not buying anything? While that seems to meet the letter of the offer, it don't seem to be the spirit of it.
When I thanked the server for supporting bicycling, he said "we may just be supporting people who like free stuff by now."
Anyway, it was a good slice of pizza, and I went there for the first time, and now they'll get my return business. Thanks, Pizza a Go Go!"
July 23rd, 2007 09:52
"this time with two other families; six kids, five parents total"
I don't fault any pizza maker a little grumpyness at 5 adults and six kids coming in and wanting their free slice. Whatever the promotion was, it was likely intended to be a for commuters riding by for one slice each, not families taking the whole gang out for dinner.
I also think A-Go-Go has a consistent history of good New York-style pies. I choose it over Mississippi Pizza Pub in my neighborhood every time.
July 23rd, 2007 10:01
I find this whole situation interesting. Pizza-go-go advertised in the Mercury but Jonathan also gave them some free advertising. What I find interesting is how many people saw the ad in the Mercury vs. how many saw the ad on bikeportland.org. it would be an interesting survey question.
July 23rd, 2007 10:34
I didn't go in for the promo, but my experience is that their service tends to be bad. The pizza is hit or miss, sometimes it is a slice of heaven, others I wonder why I come back. Oh yeah, it's cause I live 3 blocks away...
The fact that they are on the North Portland bike superhighway is good reason to reach out to the bike community. Many a nights I have stopped in on the way home from work for a slice and a beer.
July 23rd, 2007 10:54
I bypassed the joint altogether, just because of all the publicity it got with the Merc. and this site. I figured the folks would get alittle tired of the free-loaders who don't buy anything with the cheese slice, and then not tip well...if at all. Next time, if there is an offer close to this by anyone else, maybe they'll clarify that nothing in this world is ever free. And Jonathan, did your party take care of the service, or grab and run?
July 23rd, 2007 10:57
"And Jonathan, did your party take care of the service, or grab and run?"
not exactly sure what you mean... but one time we grabbed and ran and the other time (with the other families) ate in the patio.
and just for the record our party bought several drinks and one mom bought a non-free pepperoni slice (you know how kids are!).
July 23rd, 2007 11:23
I think I was there Sat when "the other person" stopped in. I arrived about 10 minutes before him and was given the same story as he. Having a 3 y.o. in tow, I was granted a reprieve because the counter girl "didn't want to disappoint." I couldn't remember the details of the original post well enough to say, "Hey it's in the Mercury!" And since I was getting the slice any way, so I didn't make a big deal of it. She was nice about it, just seemed like I was the 400th dude looking for a hand-out and she was tired of dealing with it. I don't really hold it against her or the owner.
I did buy an order of breadsticks to go along with the slice and they were delicious. And I left a tip. :-)
I used to go to Pizza-a-Go Go quite often. Patterns change and I don't go there so much anymore, but the pizza is good and where else does one get to listen to Nirvana while eating pizza? So Pizza-a-Go-Go is back on top of my memory queue. I'd guess that is what the owner wanted with the deal and it seems to have worked.
July 23rd, 2007 11:26
West Cougar gets it. It's kinda rude to ask for a slice of free pizza and then not buy anything or even tip. It probably should have been buy one get one free.
July 23rd, 2007 11:35
[...] with Pizza A Go Go’s bike-friendly free slice promo. If you’ve had one, hit up his blog with a [...]
July 23rd, 2007 11:40
So did everyone even ride their bikes like they were supposed to? I can't see the counter people looking for evidence of helmets and/or sweat. And what I meant about grab and run is just that. Take the freebie and head to the door with nothing else but a thanks. I agree...buy one get one free- any slice.
July 23rd, 2007 11:48
I also stopped in for a slice, only to be turned down. I stayed and had a couple slices and a beer anyways. I've always had a great experience at Pizza a Go Go. I even bought a shirt from their last batch. I hope this confusion doesn't turn anybody off to them.
July 23rd, 2007 12:14
"It's kinda rude to ask for a slice of free pizza and then not buy anything or even tip."
In principal, absolutely.. however, Pizza a Go-Go was asking for it when it made the decision to offer free slices with no strings attached.
They should just suck it up and follow through on their offer with as much courtesy as they can muster.. being rude and denying some people free pizza is lame and reflects badly on them, IMO.
July 23rd, 2007 14:27
Tipping is not just a city in China :D
July 23rd, 2007 14:53
I'm so going there on my evening commute home sometime, after the hit they took they can gladly take some of my "if i was driving this would be gas money" money.
July 23rd, 2007 15:09
SKidmark is right. There is also a Tipping in Laos. I went there this time last year for some pizza.
July 23rd, 2007 15:16
Pizza a No-No?
Don't forget to tip!
July 23rd, 2007 17:31
As I stated in the original thread, I didn't even go for the free slice I bought a whole pizza and some breadsticks just to support a place that is being cool to the cycling community and I told the guy behind the counter that.
It's too bad if they are grumping at people, particularly people who might be first time customers. If they made the offer too generous for their own good they should just serve it up for the month and next time add "with a drink purchase" or "buy one get one free". No need to make the customer feel bad for responding to an ad.
I don't live by them and if I had been treated rudely I definately wouldn't go back. But the pizza I bought was great.
July 23rd, 2007 20:48
that offer reflects the owners' decision. i seriously doubt that the counter or the cooks having to dish out WAY MORE cheese pies had anything to do with it. and sadly, it is those workers that must deal with all the mess that i am sure this is quickly creating. you'd be grumpy too if you were having to work harder near hot hot ovens in the summer time for nothing. (meaning serving people FREE food that are too cheep to most likely not even toss their silver in the tip jar... and bring in their million kids to boot)
i don't work there, but i am a pizza babe and the joint i work at had slices for a buck, not too far back. myself and the cook worked harder than ever and no matter how friendly or quick i was, very very few tipped. (and to those who did -thank you.)
no wonder they might be "grumpy".
July 23rd, 2007 21:31
I talked crap earlier, but 3 of us rode over tonight and each got a free piece, bought a pitcher of beer (yes it was pbr and yes it was half the price as the twice as good terminal gravity) and left a tip. The woman at the counter was totally cool and the pizza was fresh and deeeeeelicious!
July 23rd, 2007 22:36
There was also at least one tipper among the crew that rolled in with Jon despite the grumpy service. Also, families do commute by bike too!
July 24th, 2007 20:29
I stopped by Pizza Go Go today (Tuesday, July 24), and they hooked me up with a free slice of cheese, no problem. I also bought breadsticks and dropped a little something in the tip jar. I didn't think it was the most awesome pizza I've had, but I would go back again anyway, just because of their nice gesture toward cycling.
July 25th, 2007 06:48
I got the email offer before I heard about it here and saw it in the Merc, so I could see how the one counter person might have thought a coupon was required. That's a training issue, as is the need for owners/managers to encourage consistently good customer treatment. If someone is getting a free slice, service with a smile. If someone is getting a free slice, some other purchases, and tipping, service with a smile and a thank you is appropriate. I usually get delivery, and my pizza is consistenlt good from a-gogo.
July 25th, 2007 14:27
"I don't fault any pizza maker a little grumpyness at 5 adults and six kids coming in and wanting their free slice. Whatever the promotion was, it was likely intended to be a for commuters riding by for one slice each, not families taking the whole gang out for dinner."
We were one of the families. My husband and I have been biking most every day with our two daughters. Our commute takes us up N. Williams - right past Pizza-A-Go-Go - every day. We had tons of sweat and each of us had our helmet. If the offer was intended for commuters riding by for a slice each, I think my family fit the bill.
We love Pizza-A-Go-Go. It's not our first time there, nor was it our last. We tipped and we got something other than our free pizza. We appreciate their support of bikers, which includes families who bike.
July 28th, 2007 07:20
[...] a Go Go, which gives riders a free slice through the end of July. HURRY! Unfortunately, as reported by some on BikePortland, the counter person didn’t know what was going on, but it all worked out in [...]
July 6th, 2008 09:07
I go to Pizza A Go Go a lot for lunch because I work in the neighborhood. The food is good, the lunch special is great (small salad and slice for $6) and it's a break from work because my colleagues won't walk the 5 blocks to get there. Service is always good and once, when I lost my wallet, they let me have a slice anyway and pay the next day. How often does someone do that for you?
I didn't know they were doing this offer and I agree, buy one, get one free would probably be better for their tills. But they obviously want to support the community so good on them and I will definitely keep coming back for lunch.