Prices go up, sizes go down

Prices go up, sizes go down

Pizza Hut -- Is ingenuity thy name?

Fast food businesses in Jakarta must indeed be a cut-throat competition, but I didn't know that customers' throats are so deliberately targeted.

A few years back, Pizza Hut provided plates at their "self- service" vegetable salad counters. Later, the restaurant changed the plates to small bowls, which again often changed shapes.

Pizza Hut used to keep large spoons to generously scoop out the vegetables from each container. Now, they have provided tongs which are designed very flimsy and thin, having no weight. The items have to be literally ferried from the container to the bowl.

While picking up the vegetables, the tong holds three or four pieces but when you try to transfer them to your bowl, either an empty tong stares you in the face, or, if you're lucky, one piece of vegetable mercifully drops down in the bowl.

Pizza Hut runs a "special" promotional campaign every now and then. The latest gambit is that for ordering one Regular size Pizza, you get one free personal An American Favorite Pan Pizza. Why not an Indonesian favorite, by the way?

The "free" coupons are valid from Monday through Friday, exchangeable only until Nov. 27, 1995. Also, the coupons are meant only for dine-in purposes and not for take-away orders. With all these restrictions, I wonder whether they are conferring a privilege on the customers or trying to sell empty space on week days.

Until recently, vegetable salad and soup were priced separately and customers had a choice of ordering either one or both. Now the prices are combined and whether one likes it or not, a customer who wants to order for any one is forced to pay for both the items. Why should soup piggy-ride on salad, or vice- versa?

Are Pizza Hut in such a soup that they can't market their non- saleable soup? I'm unable to figure out the principles behind their move. Or are they following their U.S. policies?

Of course, I could abandon Pizza Hut but it seems they do indeed care for their customers as can be seen, even now, from their cleanliness, friendliness and acceptable quality.

Dear Pizza Hut: Please don't alienate your customers. You have built an enormous goodwill over the years. Do you have to resort to these sale gimmicks? We need you as much as you need us.

D. CHANDRAMOULI

Jakarta