A Malaysian hawker recently demonstrated an unwavering commitment to fairness by letting go of a 12-meal order. The decision was made to champion their principles after a customer insisted on jumping the queue.
The 大马一定行 Facebook page detailed how the customer placed the large takeaway order after finishing a dine-in meal on a busy Sunday, a time when the stall typically experiences its peak period.
This image is for illustration purposes only.
The stand-off over fairness
According to the post, “A customer who had already finished eating suddenly ordered 12 servings of fried noodles to take away. The owner knew perfectly well that the customer likely assumed that, because it was a large order, it would be prioritised for the sake of the profit.”
However, the owner remained principled. They felt it would be unjust to force other customers, who had already been waiting patiently, to wait even longer just to accommodate a bulk order added at the last minute. Consequently, the owner kept the orders in their original sequence and refused to let the customer skip the line.
After a short wait, the customer asked if their 12 portions were ready. When the hawker explained there would still be a delay, the customer replied, “If you can’t make it now, I’m cancelling.”
The hawker simply nodded, admitted they could not fulfil the order immediately, and let the 12-meal sale go.
“I don’t regret it, because I want to be fair to every customer who has queued up!” the hawker stated
The unwritten rules for ordering food
This image is for illustration purposes only.
Following the incident, the hawker took the opportunity to remind the public of the ‘unwritten rules’ of ordering food, especially during peak hours:
- If you’re in a hurry, say so earlier: If it’s a weekend, a big day, or you’re really in a rush. Please! When you order to dine in, order what you want to take away as well.
- Don’t worry about the noodles getting cold: It’s better than adding an extra order at the last minute, only to encounter a rush and end up waiting for half an hour, making everyone unhappy.
- Tips for keeping the noodles piping hot: If you really care about your noodles getting cold, bring your own insulated container or simply ask the owner, ‘What’s cooking now to make the order the fastest?‘ Stir-frying in the same large wok is usually the fastest way.
What do you think of the hawker’s action of forgoing the profit of the 12-meal order in an effort not to compromise on fairness for the other customers? Feel free to share your thoughts in the comments section.
