Can Buffalo wings fly?

Who doesn’t have wings as part of their Super Bowl fare? I ordered mine from the same chain location my family has ordered wings from for the last seven years. Contrary to their regular practice, for busy Super Bowl Sunday, you have to order days ahead, pay ahead and schedule a specific pickup time. I requested 4 p.m. They said 1 – 6 p.m. was all booked. I said noon. They said 11:40 a.m. Okay then, 11:40 a.m. it is! Why even ask me? Just tell me what time to show up in the first place!

Hubby is there on time. How do I know? I noticed the time on the phone when I saw he was calling me. I was assuming he was calling to tell me he had a flat tire and would miss our pick up time. I wish. He said, “They have no order for us. They said you must have called the other location and they are too busy to call over there to check for me. They also said they can’t make up the order now.” Maybe I did order from a different location. I wasn’t aware there was another location in that town.

I quickly looked up the other location, texted my husband the address, and suggested he get moving while I try to call them. Dean answered the phone. “No order for Humler.” I pressed him, “You have no order for 60 wings to be picked up at 11:40 a.m. because you were too busy from 1 p.m. through 6 p.m.?” “Oh no,” Dean stated, “we don’t have pickup restrictions like that at this location.” I knew it. Incompetency at the other location obviously lost my order. What to do? There will be serious meltdowns here if there are no wings for the big game. While I mull this disastrous situation over in my head, Dean was patiently waiting through this awkward phone silence. Suddenly, Dean made a suggestion. “Since your husband is on his way here, I can make up an order for you now, if you like.” If I like? Dean saved my Super Bowl!

My assessment? Good leadership and training is the difference between these two locations. It CAN be done.