# I'm unhappy with my tacos - what should I do? **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [October 21, 2009, 2:56am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/im-unhappy-with-my-tacos-what-should-i-do/514569 "2009-10-21T02:56:48Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![Pocito](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/f04885/32.png) [@Pocito](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Pocito)\ **Post date:** [October 21, 2009, 3:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/im-unhappy-with-my-tacos-what-should-i-do/514569/21 "2009-10-21T15:11:53Z")
Many people don’t inspect their food until they’re actually home with it. When I worked at Taco Bell as a teenager, we’d average about one call a day where someone would get home and realize his/her food was cold/incorrectly made/generally crappy. The manager would just write the name and order on a post-it, stick it in the office and then give the person a free meal next time they came in. No one ever tampered with the new order, and no one expected the person to drive all the way back with the crappy food. As long as you don’t yell and basically say, “Hey, mistakes happen, and this meal was just not what I’m used to getting at your…um…fine establishment,” you’ll get treated well. ---
**Author:** ![amaguri](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/49beb7/32.png) [@amaguri](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/amaguri)\ **Post date:** [October 21, 2009, 4:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/im-unhappy-with-my-tacos-what-should-i-do/514569/22 "2009-10-21T16:42:30Z")
> [@Chanteuse](#): > > Several years ago, I called the 800 number to complain about something–don’t remember what, now–and gave them all my contact info, thinking I was probably going to get some coupons. Next thing I know, I’m getting a phone call from the LOCAL MANAGER. He said all the right things–come in, let us know how we can serve you better–but his tone of voice did not seem all that conciliatory and there was NO WAY I was walking in there to ID myself as the complaining customer. > > Oh, and I didn’t get any coupons, either! (pout) I had this same exact experience, and I’m sure they think they’re doing the Right Thing by forcing the local manager to atone for the sins of his store, but I didn’t want that confrontation. I just wanted a coupon for a free burrito. Dammit! ---
**Author:** ![crazyjoe](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/f14d63/32.png) [@crazyjoe](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/crazyjoe)\ **Post date:** [October 21, 2009, 5:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/im-unhappy-with-my-tacos-what-should-i-do/514569/23 "2009-10-21T17:39:32Z")
I went to a Taco bell once and ordered my typical order, plus an empanada. They forgot the empanada. The next time I went, a couple weeks later, I mentioned to the clerk, hey, last time I was here I ordered an empanada and they forgot to put it in the bag, is there any way you could give me a free one this time? It was no problem, they just gave me a free one. There were signs in the lobby proclaiming their commitment to customer service, including complete money back even though you already ate it. It does help to be polite. If this does not work, I would not try to figt it, but instead consider it a valuable $7 lesson in where not to eat in the future. ---
**Author:** ![handsomeharry](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/e9c0ed/32.png) [@handsomeharry](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/handsomeharry)\ **Post date:** [October 21, 2009, 5:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/im-unhappy-with-my-tacos-what-should-i-do/514569/24 "2009-10-21T17:49:24Z")
Please do not call the Main Office or the Regional Office, or anybody above the store manager! At least until you first speak to the store manager. The incident could have been an isolated incident, and the Above Store Managers will raise all kinds of grief for those below, when it may be handled with minimal fuss at the local level. If no relief is forthcoming, then go above their heads. I have been there, and it is a matter of extreme overkill to have X layers of hierarchy crapping all over a manager, when one employee makes a slip that can be easily remedied. The store manager may be more reasonable than you think! hh ---
**Author:** ![tacoloco](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/7993a0/32.png) [@tacoloco](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/tacoloco)\ **Post date:** [October 21, 2009, 5:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/im-unhappy-with-my-tacos-what-should-i-do/514569/25 "2009-10-21T17:50:19Z")
I find this thread… distressing ---
**Author:** ![UncleRojelio](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/unclerojelio/32/3160_2.png) [@UncleRojelio](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/UncleRojelio)\ **Post date:** [October 21, 2009, 5:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/im-unhappy-with-my-tacos-what-should-i-do/514569/26 "2009-10-21T17:51:35Z")
Meh, it’s Taco Bell. Just add some more hot sauce and go with it. ---
**Author:** ![filling\_pages](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/b9bd4f/32.png) [@filling\_pages](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/filling_pages)\ **Post date:** [October 21, 2009, 6:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/im-unhappy-with-my-tacos-what-should-i-do/514569/27 "2009-10-21T18:00:13Z")
As a former Taco Bell employee (back before god laid an egg), I have to tell you that putting beans in a hard taco shell sucks. If you don’t know what you’re doing you wind up getting hot beans on your hand, and that stuff is like napalm. We had so many burns from it that our district put out a rule that you could not get beans in a hard taco, only on a soft shell. ---
**Author:** ![Drunky\_Smurf](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/drunky_smurf/32/449_2.png) [@Drunky\_Smurf](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Drunky_Smurf)\ **Post date:** [October 21, 2009, 6:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/im-unhappy-with-my-tacos-what-should-i-do/514569/28 "2009-10-21T18:04:06Z")
> [@Argent\_Towers](#): > > _snip_ > > I feel like they probably shorted my tacos to try to cut costs - if anything, it’s probably a policy that was the manager’s idea. What would you do in this situation? This is probably the reason. I go to Subway, the same Subway, for lunch a lot and I’ve noticed they are being skimpy on the toppins. It used to be that I would ask for onions and the “Sandwich Artist” would plunge their hand in and come up with a fistful of onions. Now they carefully pick out three almost see through slivers of onions and put that on my sandwich and then smile at me. Now I have to ask for extra just to get the volume of toppings they used to put on the sandwich. I know it’s not just new people too because it is the same people that a year ago used to give me a handful of onions. As far as to what to do call the 800 number and get your coupons in the mail and then take those to a different Taco Bell location just in case it is just a new employee who doesn’t know how to make the food properly. ---
**Author:** ![filling\_pages](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/b9bd4f/32.png) [@filling\_pages](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/filling_pages)\ **Post date:** [October 21, 2009, 6:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/im-unhappy-with-my-tacos-what-should-i-do/514569/29 "2009-10-21T18:10:27Z")
> [@Argent\_Towers](#): > > I feel like they probably shorted my tacos to try to cut costs - if anything, it’s probably a policy that was the manager’s idea. What would you do in this situation? I missed this part! No, not at all. In fact, there is probably a scale somewhere near the line where the manager will weigh the occasional taco to make sure their employees are doing it right. The corporation comes down hard on stores that short the customer and each item has a precise weight that it is supposed to be. ---
**Author:** ![Plynck](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/3e96dc/32.png) [@Plynck](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Plynck)\ **Post date:** [October 21, 2009, 6:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/im-unhappy-with-my-tacos-what-should-i-do/514569/30 "2009-10-21T18:26:50Z")
> [@Kalhoun](#): > > I went off on Burger King a few weeks ago, for totally fucking up my order. I gave them the receipt number and asked them to send me the money for the item they omitted. They said SURE! I’m pretty certain they muttered “sucker!” under their collectively sucky voices, because the check never came. So the check really _wasn’t_ in the mail? That’s the least of your worries. I’ll bet they also promised they wouldn’t come in your burger. ---
**Author:** ![Giraffe](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/giraffe/32/129_2.png) [@Giraffe](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Giraffe)\ **Post date:** [October 21, 2009, 6:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/im-unhappy-with-my-tacos-what-should-i-do/514569/31 "2009-10-21T18:57:12Z")
> [@Argent\_Towers](#): > > But I feel that if I return to the Taco Bell and tell them about this, they’ll deliberately tamper with my food to spite me. I think you’re significantly overestimating the emotional investment Taco Bell employees have in the perceived craftsmanship of their tacos. I think that anything short of a full scale, pants-wetting meltdown tantrum won’t even penetrate the numbness that comes from being an assembly-line robot selling off the hours of your life at minimum wage assembling grade-F meat food products for grouchy customers. Even the tantrum would probably only get you an eye roll and one of the staler taco shells. (None of this is relevant, since you ate the offending tacos, but should put your mind at ease for upcoming unsatisfying fast food experiences.) ---
**Author:** ![MadTheSwine](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/9fc29f/32.png) [@MadTheSwine](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MadTheSwine)\ **Post date:** [October 21, 2009, 6:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/im-unhappy-with-my-tacos-what-should-i-do/514569/32 "2009-10-21T18:58:29Z")
> [@Lynn\_Bodoni](#): > > Next time, avoid Taco Bell. Seriously. Unless you have a Taco Bell craving, there’s bound to be some other option to get your taco fix. Taco Bell tends to have a high rate of employee turnover, and the food is not that good in the first place. Even getting a nuked burrito at a convenience store is usually a more satisfying option. I like Taco Bell.It is way better than a nuked burrito from a gas station.I know it isn’t like a “real” mexican joint,I have ate in 100’s of them,but if I want a taco(which I do almost daily) Taco Bell is just fine.FTR, I rented my last apartment because it was next door to the best taco place in town. ---
**Author:** ![billfish678](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/7bcc69/32.png) [@billfish678](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/billfish678)\ **Post date:** [October 21, 2009, 7:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/im-unhappy-with-my-tacos-what-should-i-do/514569/33 "2009-10-21T19:05:45Z")
Its true. Once you go black, you’ll never go back. ---
**Author:** ![HeadNinja](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/b4bc9f/32.png) [@HeadNinja](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/HeadNinja)\ **Post date:** [October 21, 2009, 7:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/im-unhappy-with-my-tacos-what-should-i-do/514569/34 "2009-10-21T19:08:54Z")
> [@Giraffe](#): > > I think you’re significantly overestimating the emotional investment Taco Bell employees have in the perceived craftsmanship of their tacos. Way back when I was very proud of my tacos. Having a shitty job is not an excuse to do a shitty job. Someone was going to eat it and I wanted the experience to be as pleasant as it could be given the constraint that they were eating Taco Bell. I agree with filling\_pages though, you had to be really careful with the beans. They stayed at 170 on the steam table, and god forbid you not be paying attention when you sling. You could put them in a hard shell if you have the small trowel, but with the big one you walk a dangerous line. ---
**Author:** ![tr0psn4j](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/958977/32.png) [@tr0psn4j](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/tr0psn4j)\ **Post date:** [October 21, 2009, 7:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/im-unhappy-with-my-tacos-what-should-i-do/514569/35 "2009-10-21T19:19:29Z")
> [@Jackmannii](#): > > Why thank you. > > Me and Lucille will be here all week. Awesome! Feel free to write another one. Actually, I might start a “write a blues song” thread later on in the day. 😃 ---
**Author:** ![MeanOldLady](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/meanoldlady/32/10737_2.png) [@MeanOldLady](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MeanOldLady)\ **Post date:** [October 21, 2009, 7:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/im-unhappy-with-my-tacos-what-should-i-do/514569/36 "2009-10-21T19:26:40Z")
> [@Argent\_Towers](#): > > I am very angry at Taco Bell for giving me such substandard food. Dude, LOL. Is this serious? ---
**Author:** ![Giraffe](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/giraffe/32/129_2.png) [@Giraffe](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Giraffe)\ **Post date:** [October 21, 2009, 7:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/im-unhappy-with-my-tacos-what-should-i-do/514569/37 "2009-10-21T19:38:06Z")
> [@HeadNinja](#): > > Way back when I was very proud of my tacos. Having a shitty job is not an excuse to do a shitty job. Someone was going to eat it and I wanted the experience to be as pleasant as it could be given the constraint that they were eating Taco Bell. Yes, but were you so invested in them that you’d retaliate against anyone who complained? I mean, I tried to do a good job back when I worked at Burger King, but if someone wanted a new burger I didn’t exactly take it personally. ---
**Author:** ![Lynn\_Bodoni](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/e47c2d/32.png) [@Lynn\_Bodoni](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lynn_Bodoni)\ **Post date:** [October 21, 2009, 10:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/im-unhappy-with-my-tacos-what-should-i-do/514569/38 "2009-10-21T22:25:54Z")
> [@MadTheSwine](#): > > I like Taco Bell.It is way better than a nuked burrito from a gas station.I know it isn’t like a “real” mexican joint,I have ate in 100’s of them,but if I want a taco(which I do almost daily) Taco Bell is just fine.FTR, I rented my last apartment because it was next door to the best taco place in town. I might just be spoiled. I’m accustomed to a much better taco, at not much more money. Tonight, I’m going to Abuela (Grandma) Anita’s for Tex-Mex, and I’ll get a dinner that has actually tasty items in it, and my bill (including drink) will be less than $10. AND tonight is the night with the wandering musicians. During other times, the restaurant plays Tejano music. So, as I say, I probably have rather high expectations of Mexican food. I don’t want a taco every day, and in fact I won’t be having a taco tonight. I’m going to have a cheese enchilada, beef burrito, rice, beans, guacamole, and salad. I probably won’t be able to finish it all. If I lived up North, I’d probably be grateful for Taco Bell, or a frozen burrito. I’d be more likely to grab a burrito from my own freezer, though, one that I’ve made batches of and frozen individually, for just such a circumstance. ---
**Author:** ![Jackmannii](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jackmannii/32/311_2.png) [@Jackmannii](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jackmannii)\ **Post date:** [October 22, 2009, 12:56am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/im-unhappy-with-my-tacos-what-should-i-do/514569/39 "2009-10-22T00:56:50Z")
> [@Lynn\_Bodoni](#): > > If I lived up North, I’d probably be grateful for Taco Bell, or a frozen burrito. Lynn, you do know that there are other options for us pore frozen Northerners than Taco Bell? There are lots of good Mexican restaurants outside of the Lone Star State. I had a couple good meals not long ago at a Tex-Mex joint in Traverse City, MI of all places. Mrs. J. and I have a favorite place locally that’s staffed entirely by _real Mexican-Americans_. Latinos - they’s _evahwhere_. 😃 ---
**Author:** ![Czarcasm](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/czarcasm/32/4050_2.png) [@Czarcasm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Czarcasm)\ **Post date:** [October 22, 2009, 2:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/im-unhappy-with-my-tacos-what-should-i-do/514569/40 "2009-10-22T02:20:17Z")
[Just Can’t Do This With Straight Face]Moving thread about getting substandard Mexican food at Taco Bell from IMHO to Cafe Society.[/Just Can’t Do This With Straight Face] [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/im-unhappy-with-my-tacos-what-should-i-do/514569.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/im-unhappy-with-my-tacos-what-should-i-do/514569.md?page=3)