Jeanne-ology: True Story.
Hi There! It has been a WEEK at PJP. For all sorts of reasons that aren’t ripe for discussion yet, we’ve had a lot on our minds…plus, PJP has been super busy (for which we are always thankful). When we are overwhelmed, I tend to focus on a task list, while Jeanne tends to focus on 1.7 million things. Here’s her take…Enjoy! - Rebecca
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Hello Thursday readers! I cannot believe a week has already passed. When you are busy, one day rolls into another. The biggest news this week is that our big floor mixer stopped working. We called a repairman immediately and he found that two parts had burned out - a conductor and a connector.. He has ordered the parts and he was able to fix the mixer so that it will work again in the interim until the parts arrive. We make pie dough multiple times every day and without pie dough, there is no PJP. (Rebecca editing to add: I hate all situations that require pricey repairmen, equipment diagnostics, parts ordering, and holding our breath while we see if the repair works. Seriously.)
Well, of course the repair only lasted about six hours and yesterday, the afternoon staff texted me to let me know the mixer had stopped again. This morning I told Rebecca that we were going to have to purchase another mixer so we could keep making dough. (Rebecca editing to add: Thank goodness Jeanne likes tearing off to the local restaurant supply store to haggle over mixers. That sort of thing is in her wheelhouse, while I stayed at PJP and talked with a company sending 55 packs of Jelly Jars out next week. Together, we are the perfect person.)
The place I purchased the mixer added to my anxiety and frustration over the whole situation. When I started to pay with a debit card - the total was $1,855 - they said there is a two percent fee to use the debit card! WHAT, I asked? The person said she had to charge because so many people pay with a credit/debit card. I immediately felt salty. Really? Our shop also accepts credit/debit cards and 90% percent of our customers pay using that method. We don't ask them to pay a fee for using their cards. The salesperson tried to explain that their credit company mandates that they charge the two percent fee. Bull crap! Basically, the company is trying to make the customer pay for the company's transaction fees. What a rip off!!! I refused to use the card and used a check to pay for the mixer. I was so mad. (Rebecca: Goodness. I am happy I wasn’t there and I give her solid bonus points for referring to herself as “salty” on her own. I also debated if I should leave “bull crap” in this story, but it really does give this entire narrative a certain je ne sais quoi.)
Our new mixer worked great and now we have dough to carry on for a busy weekend ahead. Once the old floor mixer is repaired, we will use the new mixer for whipping cream and French Silk pie. This should make pie production quicker and easier. Problems arise, we solved the problems, and PJP is ready for another day! (Rebecca editing to add: She has super low key wanted this particular mixer since we moved to PJP Nifong. While she was indignant about the fee, she is not sad about large scale whipping cream production. True story.)