Include in comments or not?

March 06, 2018 11:39PM

I did a Freddy's (Fast casual restaurant for those not familiar) today. One of the things the report asks about is whether there are any restroom issues. One issue I had is something I come across a lot when I go to a public restroom and I can't decide whether it should be considered an issue or if it's a "just me" thing. So I'd like to know what you guys think. The toilet tissue dispenser opening was below the level of the toilet seat. And because the toilet is very close to the wall, it was impossible to get more than scraps out of it except either by sitting on the floor or becoming a contortionist. This drives me nuts and not just on shops. The main reason I hesitate to mention it is because I'm not sure if there's anything they can do about it. The wall is tile so just moving it up the wall would not be easy. What do you think? Include it, or let it go?

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March 06, 2018 11:46PM

@sassymmmm wrote:

I did a Freddy's (Fast casual restaurant for those not familiar) today. One of the things the report asks about is whether there are any restroom issues. One issue I had is something I come across a lot when I go to a public restroom and I can't decide whether it should be considered an issue or if it's a "just me" thing. So I'd like to know what you guys think. The toilet tissue dispenser opening was below the level of the toilet seat. And because the toilet is very close to the wall, it was impossible to get more than scraps out of it except either by sitting on the floor or becoming a contortionist. This drives me nuts and not just on shops. The main reason I hesitate to mention it is because I'm not sure if there's anything they can do about it. The wall is tile so just moving it up the wall would not be easy. What do you think? Include it, or let it go?

My take is design and layouts of the restroom is out of your scope for the shop. The Freddy's shops that I've done are typically focused simply on cleanliness and facility conditions, stock of restroom/drink station, product quality and customer service.

Very infrequently shopping the Greater Denver Area, Colorado Springs and in-between in Colorado these days.

March 06, 2018 11:50PM

I'm not sure about the particular guidelines for your shop, but, for shops I've done, I've checked for cleanliness, available restroom materials and working facilities.
I've marked off for missing TP, a broken toilet seat, graffiti, and obvious signs of neglect (cleanliness). I've been in restrooms that were so tiny that you had to sit sideways on the commode. I never mentioned that and didn't see it being relevant other than being uncomfortable. For some shops I've done they ask for a rating and then your comments on the rating. It was there where I just said the restroom was very small and difficult for the customer to maneuver.
For the issue you describe, in the comment section, you could mention that the holder is difficult to reach (or something like that). But, i wouldn't mark them off for it.

March 06, 2018 11:51PM

I would not mention it, because as you allude to, you are not sure that they can do something about the issue. I would stick to reporting the information that the client is after.

March 06, 2018 11:59PM

I love Freddy's! My favorite Freddy's location has closed and there's only one close to me still left in my area. Sad.

I also would not mention it. They want to know about cleanliness and whether the restroom is well stocked.

March 07, 2018 02:23AM

Include!! Include if there is a comment section, of course. But I do agree you can’t mark points down on cleanliness or something similar. But maybe if enough of us comment on these issues under additional comments section who knows maybe they will re-installed it. My big pet peeves with TP positioning are: Too close to toilet seat=can’t get any TP. Too low to ground=can’t get any TP.

Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 03/07/2018 02:26AM by Livingrisky.

March 07, 2018 02:25AM

It is NOT just you! I completely agree that toilet tissue holders that are located too low (or too high - yes, there is ONE that is about two feet higher than the handicap railing - unless your arms are super long, you just can not reach it - that probably explains why a toilet paper roll is always sitting on the railing - and thus a deduction on the shop report) are a pain in the patootie. Another location I shop solves the problem by having the opening of the holder to the side inside of the bottom (but probably only works if it's a single roll dispenser). Why don't more places do this! But, as everyone else has said, it's probably best not to mention it in the report.

March 07, 2018 03:25AM

Okay thanks. I was really torn on this. I love Freddy's, I swear that a lot of women's restrooms are designed by misogynists.

What's done is done. An egg cracked cannot be cured.
There are 3 kinds of lies. Lies, Damn lies, and statistics.

March 07, 2018 06:20AM

That type of stuff I will actually email directly to the scheduler for them to handle. At a quickie mart, i looked up a few months ago in the bathroom to find it disgusting: the light had tons of dead bugs.. yeck! it was fixed when i had to go back a few days later. That went to the scheduler.

March 07, 2018 06:25AM

It simply put such a note as a separate paragraph in a narrative. If the MSC doesn't want it included, the editor is free to delete it. If they think it's relevant, they can leave it. If we are asked to visit a restroom and evaluate it, and there is something wrong with it - even if it's not a part of what we are specifically asked to observe, it's worth mentioning.

Hard work builds character and homework is good for your soul.

March 07, 2018 07:20AM

Yes at least mention in comments. The reports are supposedly to go to the very top, CEO/board member level in summary. And if that info does not reach them, (old worn fixtures at some restaurants for example while quite "clean" ) nothing ever gets done.

Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 03/07/2018 07:20AM by sbobgal.

March 07, 2018 12:45PM

@MFJohnston wrote:

It simply put such a note as a separate paragraph in a narrative.

I like it when there's a special box for comments for items not covered in the report, but when there's not, and I think something is really worth mentioning, I'll add a separate paragraph, sometimes in parentheses or with "Note:" in front of it so they know it's something extra.

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March 07, 2018 03:01PM

I shopped a restaurant that did not have waiters but did have employees cleaning tables and delivering food. There was no garbage can in the dining area. I asked one of the busboys about that and he said that the owner didn't want a garbage can there as he didn't want customers to feel like they had to clean up their tables, that was what the busboys were for. I wrote in my report that I had blown my nose and couldn't find a garbage can to put the tissue in, so I had to go to the bathroom to dispose of it. My next visit, there was a trash can in the corner of the dining area.

March 08, 2018 02:21AM

I've been to ff restaurants where there's no visible trash cans. I completely understand. But I also kind of like the owner's attitude about it too. If he doesn't want the customers to feel obliged, there's no better way to make it happen. There's a small chain I shop now and then that does that. Although if you look really hard, you can figure out where the bussers get rid of the trash in the dining room.

What's done is done. An egg cracked cannot be cured.
There are 3 kinds of lies. Lies, Damn lies, and statistics.

March 08, 2018 08:45AM

I've been to public restrooms where there is barely enough room to close the stall door with you inside the stall. You have to maneuver yourself by standing on the side of the toilet to close the stall door. I'm not a large person with my height at 5'3"

March 09, 2018 10:01AM

I was doing a bank shop where I had to interact with the banker. During the interaction, the branch manager arrived into the branch. He comes into the banker's office who is a female and tried to discretely hand her a Victoria's Secret shopping bag. It was a small sized shopping bag. The banker introduced the branch manager to me. Ok, so my first thought was, oh, is there an affair or something going on? I did not mention that into the report.

March 09, 2018 05:19PM

I too would mention it if there is a comment section or some place other than check off boxes. I have not run into this issue but I used to always mention there was no hook for hanging a purse or bags on in the women's restroom. I hate it when I have to put my personal items on the floor to use the loo. I have stopped doing that but I need to start again.... We females need to stand up for our rights and our needs and remind the bathroom designers what those are! Perhaps the men could use a hook too...

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