I’d like to speak the manager!!!

So the following has happened like 15 times in the last two weeks.  At first I thought it was funny and silly.  But after the fourth, fifth, tenth person did it; I asked myself are we doing something wrong here.

We are open till 8:30 Sunday, Monday, Wednesday and Thursday. 

We are open till 8:45 on Friday and Saturday.

The times aren’t published anywhere by us.  We say we are open 5:00 to Close. That way we are not chained to a specific time. 

We take our last reservation right at closing time.  We close at 8:30 we take our last reservation at 8:30. 

And here is what’s happening. 

Two weeks ago, I get a phone call for a reservation.  I offer the lady an 8:30 time slot as that is all we have.  Shen then asks what time we close and I say 8:30.  And she gets angry and says well isn’t that just fine, we’d have to order and eat in 15 minutes, if you close at 8:30. 

And at least dozen other times people have inferred that if we close at 8:30 they have to be out at 8:30.  Tonight a man called to change his reservation to earlier because he didn’t want to have to eat and run. 

And nowhere have we indicated that this is the case. 

Of course if you are seated at 8:30 you don’t have to eat and run.  We might, after 20 or 30 minutes ask you to order, but you can then take as much time as you need and stay as long as you like.  You have to legally be out by 1:00 am but I assure you that you won’t stay that long. 

Am I silly for thinking it’s strange that I have to answer this question?