I have always suspected that a popular Mexican fast food chain is mismanaged. The kind where you watch them assemble your meal in front of you, ingredient by ingredient. The lines are always long. The wait is always uncertain. I have never understood why a place so popular cannot get its operations right.
Last week, my daughter wanted chicken. Pappettan and I walked in to get it for her. The staff told us there would be a fifteen minute wait. They had run out of chicken. No explanation beyond that. We chose to wait outside.
When we walked back in, there was a long line at the counter. It took me a moment to understand what had happened. We had chosen to wait outside. Others had walked in after us and queued ahead of us. What had started as a chicken shortage had become, from the outside, the appearance of a restaurant in high demand.
I was not pleased.
Me: irritated This is mismanagement. They ran out of chicken. That is it. And now look at that line.
Pappettan: looking at the line Yes. Look at that line.
Me: exasperated People walking in think this place is popular. It is not demand. It is a shortage.
Pappettan: nodding And yet the line is there.
Me: frustrated Because of a mistake!
Pappettan: calmly But the customers are still waiting.
Me: thrown off Well… yes.
Pappettan: turns to me So they created a shortage. The customers waited. The line formed. And now everyone walking in thinks this is the place to be.
Me: slowly That was not intentional.
Pappettan: shrugs Does it matter?
I had no answer to that. Somewhere in that exchange, mismanagement had become a masterclass in supply and demand. I am still not sure how I feel about that.
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