For several years now, I have regularly ordered a large Dominos pepperoni pizza with jalapenos. It’s likea reflex that phone call.

But a few weeks ago, when I made my usual call, I got a surprising answer. “Sorry customer,” the woman said, “but we don’t allow you to add jalapenos to your pepperoni pizza anymore.”

“Huh?” I said.

She repeats what she said, that I cannot have jalapenos on my pizza.

“But you have jalapenos still, right?”

“Oh yes.”

“But you won’t make a pepperoni pizza with jalapenos?”

“Sorry, customer, but my boss tells me we do not want to interfere with the original taste of Dominos.”

I keep talking for a while, trying various tacks, but getting the same response. Eventually I ask my Korean girlfriend to talk to this woman, just in case my Korean was off. Same answer.

Over the next month, I called again a couple of times, hoping I just got some random, insane call woman. But every time I get shut down. No jalapeno and pepperoni pizza for me.

Finally, however, I struck gold. “Can I have a *cheese* pizza, with jalapenos and pepperoni?”

“Yes sir. Can I have your address?”

At no point over my multiple attempts at ordering my stupid pizza over six weeks or so did it occur to any of the people taking my call to let me know that I can have what I want, I just need to order it in slightly a different manner. Thanks for taking the initiative to make a customer happy.

Yes, this was pretty trivial. But I think it was telling.

I’d tell you about mine; but not here…

Kevin