Jillian writes in to tell us about a strange experience she had with a local Pizza Hut. After being put on hold for quite some time, Jillian’s husband (being the comedian of the family) told a hilarious joke that had them all in stitches for at least 6 seconds. It was at this exact moment that Matt, manager of the Pizza Hut, picked up the phone. Did Matt want to be let in on the joke? No. No, he did not.

“we were told by MATT (the store manager) that we could either stop laughing and order our pizza or call another pizza restaurant. “

Appalled by Matt’s attitude, Jillian called Pizza Hut Corporate to complain and was issued an apology coupon. End of story, right? Nope.

“Once again the wonderful MATT answered the phone and he told us he wouldn’t honor the coupon (his corporate office sent) because we called on one of the busiest nights and we were laughing forever!!… I asked to speak with the owner and he said they were corporate owned and he was the store manager. I said, ‘so let me get this straight MATT, this location is corporate owned and you wont honor a corporate coupon YOUR CORPORATE office sent?’. With some anger in his voice, he confirmed what I just stated.”

What an asshole. Our advice is to avoid the Pizza Hut in Rancho Cucamonga. Actually, you should avoid corporate pizza entirely. Yuck. —MEGHANN MARCO

Read the rest of Jillian’s email inside…

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Good morning Ben,

I would like to share my recent experience with Pizza Hut with Consumerist in hopes you will post it. In my 14 years of living in Rancho Cucamonga we have never encountered a problem with our local Pizza Hut store. One Saturday night my husband and I ordered a pizza. When we called in to order a pizza, the first several minutes your on an auto hold listening to all of their “great” deals they have to offer. Well timing happened to be impeccable this Saturday evening because just when MATT (the store manager) answered the phone to take our order, my husband just finished a joke and we started laughing. After literally, 5 seconds of laughing, we were told by MATT (the store manager) that we could either stop laughing and order our pizza or call another pizza restaurant. Stunned by what MATT (did I mention he was the store MANAGER?) had told us, we quickly placed our order and hung up. Still frustrated by my experience with Pizza Hut, I called the corporate office on Monday or Tuesday. I was given an apology by the lady on the phone, and she stressed this wasn’t Pizza Huts policy. She sent me out a coupon for a free pizza and about two weeks later my husband and I decided to use it. Once again the wonderful MATT answered the phone and he told us he wouldn’t honor the coupon (his corporate office sent) because we called on one of the busiest nights and we were laughing forever!! (Side note: I understand Saturday nights are busy, but this was the first week of November. Now let it be during the summer months and okay, I understand busy. Or let it be Super bowl weekend etc. but November?? Super busy??) I couldn’t believe my ears AGAIN. I asked to speak with the owner and he said they were corporate owned and he was the store manager. I said, ‘so let me get this straight MATT, this location is corporate owned and you wont honor a corporate coupon YOUR CORPORATE office sent?’. With some anger in his voice, he confirmed what I just stated. I WILL NEVER EVER EVER USE PIZZA HUT AGAIN!! EVER!!!! Now, I am a loyal Papa John’s or Domino’s customer.

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