# Am I somehow in the wrong for doing this at Subway? **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Tags:** food-cooking\ **Created:** [April 25, 2018, 10:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/am-i-somehow-in-the-wrong-for-doing-this-at-subway/813089 "2018-04-25T10:03:25Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 6
**Author:** ![Clawdio](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/d07c76/32.png) [@Clawdio](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Clawdio)\ **Post date:** [April 25, 2018, 6:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/am-i-somehow-in-the-wrong-for-doing-this-at-subway/813089/101 "2018-04-25T18:48:54Z")
Even if we limit this to specialty sandwiches marketed with a specific list of ingredients… due to the Build-Your-Own nature of Subway (reality, not marketing) more than 50% the customers (probably closer to 100% than 50%) are going to want to customize their sandwich, and after day 1 of the promotion the guy/gal behind the counter making minimum wage is going to totally forget what it’s “supposed” to come with. And they probably got grief from a customer on day 1 for making it with the advertised ingredients because many grown adults think they will burst into flames if they eat an onion. ---
**Author:** ![Inner\_Stickler](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/inner_stickler/32/318_2.png) [@Inner\_Stickler](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Inner_Stickler)\ **Post date:** [April 25, 2018, 7:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/am-i-somehow-in-the-wrong-for-doing-this-at-subway/813089/102 "2018-04-25T19:02:11Z")
> [@AlsoNamedBort](#): > > Notice how almost all of the sandwich names are just the name of the meat. Yeah, to the point where, while most people order “An X sandwich on a 6 inch/footlong X bread” at the start, you can totally just order “A six inch wheat with rotisserie chicken and pepperjack” or whatever and they’re not thrown at all. Because Subway is specifically angling itself as the ‘build-it-yourself’ sub place. ---
**Author:** ![digs](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/digs/32/14889_2.png) [@digs](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/digs)\ **Post date:** [April 25, 2018, 7:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/am-i-somehow-in-the-wrong-for-doing-this-at-subway/813089/103 "2018-04-25T19:13:14Z")
> [@Inner\_Stickler](#): > > … Because Subway is specifically angling itself as the ‘build-it-yourself’ sub place. And that’s why I actually like Subway. I can build a pretty healthy sandwich there, and it’s basically The Big Salad with toasted whole grain bread around it. And I’ve never gotten pushback for ordering “lots of spinach … no, that’s not too much. In fact, can you put another fistfull on?” Repeat for tomatoes and peppers… ooh, and olives… and banana peppers… oops, getting hungry, gotta go. ---
**Author:** ![Jophiel](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jophiel/32/66_2.png) [@Jophiel](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jophiel)\ **Post date:** [April 25, 2018, 7:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/am-i-somehow-in-the-wrong-for-doing-this-at-subway/813089/104 "2018-04-25T19:18:56Z")
Every Subway I’ve been to treats black olives like they were the last drops of gasoline in a post-apocalyptic wasteland. **Sandwich artist puts four olive slices on sandwich, each 3" apart** “Could I get extra olives, please?” **Eyes roll, addition of two more olive slices** ---
**Author:** ![k9bfriender](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/k9bfriender/32/3283_2.png) [@k9bfriender](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/k9bfriender)\ **Post date:** [April 25, 2018, 7:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/am-i-somehow-in-the-wrong-for-doing-this-at-subway/813089/105 "2018-04-25T19:30:31Z")
One of the fun things about working customer service is when they get mad at you for not doing the thing that they consider to be “common sense.” It doesn’t matter that two different customers may have different and conflicting ideas as to what constitutes common sense. ---
**Author:** ![Just\_Asking\_Questions](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/ba9def/32.png) [@Just\_Asking\_Questions](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Just_Asking_Questions)\ **Post date:** [April 25, 2018, 7:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/am-i-somehow-in-the-wrong-for-doing-this-at-subway/813089/106 "2018-04-25T19:38:57Z")
> [@Fenris](#): > > ♫♪♬ > [Hold the pickle, > Hold the lettuce > Special orders don’t upset us! > All we ask > Is that you let us serve it _your_ way. > Have it _your_ way > Have **it** your way > Have it _your_ way > At Burger King](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KJXzkUH72cY) That’s cute and all, but if you go in and ask for “a Whopper” they don’t ask what you want on it, they give you the default Whopper. If you want it different, that’s fine, but if you just as for “a Whopper” you don’t get just two buns and a slice of meat. > [@DavidwithanR](#): > > The reality is that all Subway sandwiches are THE SAME ONE, and it’s not any familiar type. They’re like Monty Python’s albatross - “It doesn’t have any bloody flavour, it’s bloody Subway flavour!” The bread can be different colours, the meat can be different colours, but it’s one sandwich made the same way with the same ingredients every time. Go ahead and hate Subway that’s fine, but if you seriously can’t tell the difference between cold cuts, meatballs, chicken and tuna, well, the problem isn’t with Subway. > [@Pantastic](#): > > You can’t think of Chipotle? It’s the biggest burrito place in the world by revenue, and you have to specify what you want. But hey, you guys could have a field day with this! Find an ad with a picture of a wrapped burrito and then demand that the guy behind the counter put the same ingredients into it as in the picture! Your harassment of the guy working a crappy job will go to the next level! It’s not even close. Chipolte has like four ingredients. If you brought in [this ad](https://amp.businessinsider.com/images/58106768362ca4372e8b4994-750-562.png), and asked for that, they would certainly give it to you exactly like that. ---
**Author:** ![Saltire](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/saltire/32/553_2.png) [@Saltire](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Saltire)\ **Post date:** [April 25, 2018, 7:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/am-i-somehow-in-the-wrong-for-doing-this-at-subway/813089/107 "2018-04-25T19:50:07Z")
> [@Dingbang](#): > > From Subway: : > “Chicken & Bacon Ranch Melt > Saddle up & try the fresh toasted SUBWAY® Chicken & Bacon Ranch sandwich. Stuffed with melted Monterey cheddar cheese, tender all-white meat chicken with seasoning and marinade, crispy bacon, lettuce, tomato, onions and green peppers.” ([http://www.subway.com/en-us/menunutrition/menu/product?ProductId=4271&MenuCategoryId=1](http://www.subway.com/en-us/menunutrition/menu/product?ProductId=4271&MenuCategoryId=1)) That seems to be from the nutritional information section. They put together a sandwich with specific ingredients so that they can list its stats, not because there is a standard version. Note the “Calculate yours” button, so you can get nutrition info on the way you order it. ---
**Author:** ![Lancia](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lancia/32/17174_2.png) [@Lancia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lancia)\ **Post date:** [April 25, 2018, 7:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/am-i-somehow-in-the-wrong-for-doing-this-at-subway/813089/108 "2018-04-25T19:57:12Z")
> [@Mahaloth](#): > > Has anyone worked at Subway? Do they provide them with any kind of recommendations for the sandwiches? > > It’s a reasonable question…one that Subway should anticipate with a little guide for the workers. I worked at subway holy shit… 21, I think years ago. We had a guide for what went on each sandwich wrt meat. So like a footlong Melt had 4 slices turkey, 4 slices ham, 4 slices bacon and 4 slices cheese. Half that for a 6”. There were a few guidelines for veggies (like we were to seriously skimp on the olives and pickles… the guide made it clear they were for appearance only). > [@The\_Other\_Waldo\_Pepper](#): > > Yeah, but, like the man said, just picture the opposite: imagine a guy comes in and asks for the Chicken Bacon Ranch, and you assemble it for him by silently slathering a lot of ranch dressing all over it. _“But I didn’t waaant that,”_ whines the customer, now that it’s too late to unring that bell. > > Work there long enough, with that approach, and figure it keeps happening: a guy orders a Reuben, and _after_ you’ve wordlessly put equal amounts of sauerkraut and Thousand Island dressing he voices an objection. And later a guy orders a sandwich with everything, and _after_ you pour relish on it he recoils. > > Could you ever reach a point where you’d reluctantly conclude that stopping to get a quick clarification is the less bad option? Absolutely. People did this all the time. When I worked there toasting the sandwich wasn’t a thing, but there were a couple of them—tuna melts, the aforementioned Subway Melt—that had to be heated so there was a small toaster oven for that. Despite the name plenty of people _did not want their tuna melt with melted cheese_. The first time that happened I asked the woman “so, a regular tuna with cheese, then?” “NO, I MEAN A TUNA MELT THAT’S NOT MELTED!!!” So customers often had strange and contradictory requests. > [@AlsoNamedBort](#): > > The issue isn’t that there isn’t a standard answer. The issue is that the standard answer is just “the meat plus whatever cheese and toppings you choose.” There are no toppings and sauces that normally go on the sub. Pretty much. I know Subway has like 137 sauces now, but when I worked there there was only like 4—mayo, regular and Dijon mustard, and oil/vinegar iirc. Something like a BBQ chicken or the meatball marinara would have the sauce mixed into the meat. > [@Thudlow\_Boink](#): > > The difference between the Cold Cut Combo, and the Spicy Italian, and the Black Forest Ham, and the various other sandwiches you can order, is entirely in what kind of meat they use. > > Everything else (what kind of bread, what kind of cheese, which veggies, which condiments, toasted or not) is specified by the customer. Yep, same as above. The meats were standard (like on a BMT), everything was optional and had to be specifically ordered by the customer. > [@Clawdio](#): > > Like others have suggested, get yelled at once by some jerk because you DID make it “just like the picture”, and you’re gonna start making everyone confirm what they want. Yep, like the jerk who yelled at me for daring to melt the cheese on her tuna melt. > [@Inner\_Stickler](#): > > Since Subway currently does not, as far as I know, provide their stores with recommended builds for their sandwiches, all the employee has at their disposal is the same poster of the sandwich to scrutinize that you saw walking into the building. See above. At least way back when they did have build instructions, especially for the meat. > [@Jophiel](#): > > Every Subway I’ve been to treats black olives like they were the last drops of gasoline in a post-apocalyptic wasteland. > > **Sandwich artist puts four olive slices on sandwich, each 3" apart** > “Could I get extra olives, please?” > **Eyes roll, addition of two more olive slices** And I still don’t get that. Are black olives some high-priced commodity in the restraint biz? I love them and always make sure I have a few cans in the pantry. I can usually pick up a case of 12-11oz cans of pitted black olives at Costco for a couple bucks. If I buy them individually at the supermarket they’re at most 50 cents a can. When I go into Subway these days I order the meatball marinara and have them load it down with olives. I always have to say “a good couple of handfuls… really load it down” and then maybe they’ll actually add enough, which still isn’t much. ---
**Author:** ![k9bfriender](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/k9bfriender/32/3283_2.png) [@k9bfriender](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/k9bfriender)\ **Post date:** [April 25, 2018, 8:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/am-i-somehow-in-the-wrong-for-doing-this-at-subway/813089/109 "2018-04-25T20:13:31Z")
> [@Just\_Asking\_Questions](#): > > It’s not even close. Chipolte has like four ingredients. If you brought in [this ad](https://amp.businessinsider.com/images/58106768362ca4372e8b4994-750-562.png), and asked for that, they would certainly give it to you exactly like that. Not only are there far more than 4 ingredients in that very picture, if you asked to have it made that way, would you be offended that they ask about guacamole, because it is an extra charge, or would you be offended because they went ahead and charged you without asking? ---
**Author:** ![DavidwithanR](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/3bc359/32.png) [@DavidwithanR](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DavidwithanR)\ **Post date:** [April 25, 2018, 8:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/am-i-somehow-in-the-wrong-for-doing-this-at-subway/813089/110 "2018-04-25T20:56:38Z")
> [@Just\_Asking\_Questions](#): > > Go ahead and hate Subway that’s fine, but if you seriously can’t tell the difference between cold cuts, meatballs, chicken and tuna, well, the problem isn’t with Subway. That’s not the point. The point is, when you ask for a tuna salad sandwich at Subway, you don’t get a tuna salad sandwich - you get the same Subway sandwich but with tuna salad filling included. Like if you went to a car dealer and asked to see a Corvette, and they brought you a minivan with Corvette seats and a Corvette steering wheel badge. And you think “hmmm, I’ll try something different” so you test drive their truck, and it’s a minivan with truck seats and a trailer hitch. I’m not saying those vehicles are bad, I’m saying they’re the same vehicle with different trim options. ---
**Author:** ![pulykamell](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pulykamell/32/3166_2.png) [@pulykamell](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pulykamell)\ **Post date:** [April 25, 2018, 9:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/am-i-somehow-in-the-wrong-for-doing-this-at-subway/813089/111 "2018-04-25T21:06:03Z")
> [@DavidwithanR](#): > > That’s not the point. The point is, when you ask for a tuna salad sandwich at Subway, you don’t get a tuna salad sandwich - you get the same Subway sandwich but with tuna salad filling included. True, but to be fair, that’s true of pretty much any sub sandwich place, isn’t it? If I go to my local ma & pop and ask for a tuna salad sub, I get tuna salad on a sub roll, just like any other sandwich. ---
**Author:** ![Inner\_Stickler](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/inner_stickler/32/318_2.png) [@Inner\_Stickler](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Inner_Stickler)\ **Post date:** [April 25, 2018, 9:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/am-i-somehow-in-the-wrong-for-doing-this-at-subway/813089/112 "2018-04-25T21:23:37Z")
> [@Lancia](#): > > See above. At least way back when they did have build instructions, especially for the meat. I wasn’t really thinking of the portioning standards as builds but yeah, I’d assume they would have reqs for how much of each meat would go on a given sandwich. ---
**Author:** ![dropzone](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dropzone/32/7515_2.png) [@dropzone](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dropzone)\ **Post date:** [April 25, 2018, 9:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/am-i-somehow-in-the-wrong-for-doing-this-at-subway/813089/113 "2018-04-25T21:41:41Z")
I am afraid some/many of you have blown a simple process way out of proportion. Yes, at Subway you need to make some simple decisions (for me it’s “everything except the pepperoncini, plus double giardiniera”) that you don’t have to make when buying pre-made gas station subs. No, it’s far from burdensome for anybody on the left end of the OCD spectrum. And ordering a tuna melt with cold tuna salad is easy, “Please toast the bread and the cheese before you add the tuna.” Couldn’t be easier and the sandwich artiste will have no problem. ---
**Author:** ![Skywatcher](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/skywatcher/32/254_2.png) [@Skywatcher](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Skywatcher)\ **Post date:** [April 25, 2018, 9:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/am-i-somehow-in-the-wrong-for-doing-this-at-subway/813089/114 "2018-04-25T21:46:25Z")
> [@actualliberalnotoneofthose](#): > > I don’t even know where a good sub place is near me these days but when I was a kid (no, I’m not THAT old) there were all kinds of gas stations and convenience stores and random places in the middle of nowhere that sold good subs and you just told them what you wanted. If you have any [Harris Teeters](https://www.harristeeter.com/) nearby, pay a visit to their deli. In addition to subs, some of their locations have great paninis for a good price. It’s been about six years since I’ve been near a location that has the paninis and I sure miss them. About seven bucks each and so big that one sandwich is easily two meals, maybe four. ---
**Author:** ![Jophiel](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jophiel/32/66_2.png) [@Jophiel](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jophiel)\ **Post date:** [April 25, 2018, 9:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/am-i-somehow-in-the-wrong-for-doing-this-at-subway/813089/115 "2018-04-25T21:47:58Z")
> [@dropzone](#): > > No, it’s far from burdensome for anybody on the left end of the OCD spectrum. Wouldn’t OCD be demanding control over each ingredient rather than a flippant “Gimme a #9” and trusting the guy to just make you a sandwich? ---
**Author:** ![pulykamell](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pulykamell/32/3166_2.png) [@pulykamell](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pulykamell)\ **Post date:** [April 25, 2018, 10:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/am-i-somehow-in-the-wrong-for-doing-this-at-subway/813089/116 "2018-04-25T22:21:22Z")
> [@dropzone](#): > > I am afraid some/many of you have blown a simple process way out of proportion. Yes, at Subway you need to make some simple decisions (for me it’s “everything except the pepperoncini, plus double giardiniera”) that you don’t have to make when buying pre-made gas station subs. No, it’s far from burdensome for anybody on the left end of the OCD spectrum. And ordering a tuna melt with cold tuna salad is easy, “Please toast the bread and the cheese before you add the tuna.” Couldn’t be easier and the sandwich artiste will have no problem. Oh of curiosity, is giardiniera just a Chicago-area Subway thing? I mean, I know giardiniera, as we know it here in the Windy City and its environs, is fairly regional. I’m just curious as a Subway condiment it’s specific to the area and its tastes or if it goes beyond. (And if it is specific, are there other areas with specific condimentation.) To be honest, that’s the only thing that saves a Subway sub for me. ---
**Author:** ![jayjay](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jayjay/32/6765_2.png) [@jayjay](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jayjay)\ **Post date:** [April 25, 2018, 10:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/am-i-somehow-in-the-wrong-for-doing-this-at-subway/813089/117 "2018-04-25T22:26:10Z")
Soooo…your problem is that you don’t know how to Subway? ---
**Author:** ![jayjay](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jayjay/32/6765_2.png) [@jayjay](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jayjay)\ **Post date:** [April 25, 2018, 10:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/am-i-somehow-in-the-wrong-for-doing-this-at-subway/813089/118 "2018-04-25T22:28:41Z")
> [@DavidwithanR](#): > > That’s not the point. The point is, when you ask for a tuna salad sandwich at Subway, you don’t get a tuna salad sandwich - you get the same Subway sandwich but with tuna salad filling included. > > Like if you went to a car dealer and asked to see a Corvette, and they brought you a minivan with Corvette seats and a Corvette steering wheel badge. And you think “hmmm, I’ll try something different” so you test drive their truck, and it’s a minivan with truck seats and a trailer hitch. > > I’m not saying those vehicles are bad, I’m saying they’re the same vehicle with different trim options. Except that your alternate-timeline version of a Chevrolet dealer is well-known for being a made-to-order car shop, and you just don’t know how to Chevy, just like you apparently don’t know how to Subway. It’s neither rocket science nor brain surgery. Tell them what you want on your sandwich. That’s it. I’m not sure what part of it people aren’t getting. ---
**Author:** ![Dingbang](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/ac8455/32.png) [@Dingbang](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dingbang)\ **Post date:** [April 25, 2018, 10:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/am-i-somehow-in-the-wrong-for-doing-this-at-subway/813089/119 "2018-04-25T22:37:08Z")
> [@Saltire](#): > > That seems to be from the nutritional information section. They put together a sandwich with specific ingredients so that they can list its stats, not because there is a standard version. Note the “Calculate yours” button, so you can get nutrition info on the way you order it. It’s getting surreal how people try to insist that Subway does not sell specialty sandwiches when the promotions and details are everywhere, with cites provided here. That cite is from their menu section, not a nutritional section, and they helpfully let you calculate how your preferences might affect calories. But okay, Subway is just a place with sandwich ingredients and nothing more. I bet the R & D and marketing folks at Subway would disagree. ---
**Author:** ![AlsoNamedBort](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/alsonamedbort/32/3213_2.png) [@AlsoNamedBort](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AlsoNamedBort)\ **Post date:** [April 25, 2018, 10:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/am-i-somehow-in-the-wrong-for-doing-this-at-subway/813089/120 "2018-04-25T22:47:42Z")
> [@Dingbang](#): > > But okay, Subway is just a place with sandwich ingredients and nothing more. I bet the R & D and marketing folks at Subway would disagree. > [@](#): > > “In life and in food, don’t take what you are given,” text reads. > > Subway’s new slogan, “Make It What You Want,” appears at the end of the 60-second spot, which is set to debut during Thursday night’s Olympics broadcast on NBC. [http://adage.com/article/cmo-strategy/spot-subway-s-push-make/312380/](http://adage.com/article/cmo-strategy/spot-subway-s-push-make/312380/) [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/am-i-somehow-in-the-wrong-for-doing-this-at-subway/813089.md?page=5) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/am-i-somehow-in-the-wrong-for-doing-this-at-subway/813089.md?page=7)