I’ve noticed at my local Wendy’s the pricing on the value meals is in this format(prices made up) :
In very large lettering is ‘#1 5.00’ in smaller lettering ‘medium add .25 large add .50’
I told the cashier I wanted a number 1. She did not ask what size I wanted. I was then charged for a medium size meal(5.25) plus tax.
In this case I did want a medium but I didn’t specify what size because I wanted to see what they did. I asked the cashier why she charged they charged for a meduim when the default price is for a small. She said that was the policy.
Sounds like “their policy” is bait and switch, an illegal practice. I would make note of the details, go back a week later and order the exact meal again, using your same words. If you are charged more, ask to speak to the manager. I would follow up with a letter to corporate HQ with a cc to your local consumer protection people.
Why?
There is a big box store near us that regularly offers special prices on items. Yet when it comes to the checkout, they always scan at the regular price. When challenged the cashier plays dumb, requiring a call to the shift manager. The manager then has to check the price on the display and intervene with the transaction to re-enter the displayed (lower) price.
I can understand a simple one-off because the special price somehow did not get entered into the computer. However, this has happened to us quite a number of times on many different items, requiring a shift manager intervention every time, and with no apology.
I suspect it’s “their policy,” because they know a certain percentage of their customers will never catch they’re being short-changed on a regular basis.
I won’t shop at our local Wendys because of the crime that seems to happen there, not to mention the food.
I always add it up in my head, and never get number 5 or something, all separate items.
I’m not surprised, nor would I have been bothered. For any thing like that (drink or popcorn at the movies, for example), if the customer doesn’t specify a size, I think it’s fair for the cashier to assume a medium as the default. Technically she should have asked, but I suspect so many people don’t specify that they get sick of asking. The only way I would have been annoyed would be if they had automatically given the largest.
If the price was displayed as it is at movies it would be small-5.00 medium-5.25 and large-5.50. I wouldn’t take issue with them using meduim as the default. The prices are all displayed. In the case of Wendy’s they say #1 5.00. I would expect to get a 5.00 #1 if I asked for a #1. They are instead giving me a number one with an upsize I didn’t ask for and charging me for it.
This is exactly what the Burger King nearest my office does. Their menu lists the Medium price for all the value meals but they give you “King”-Size by default.
I suspect they got plenty of complaints because they just recently put up a wee little sign on the drive-through that says All value meals come King sized unless otherwise specified.
I bet 95% of people still don’t notice that sign or the fact that they’re getting ripped. It’s got to make a killing for them, King sizing at Burger King is about a dollar.
This is easy if your in the drive through. Tell them to refund the quarter or your not moving. I had a similar situation happen to me. I ordered a fish sandwich, after they took my money I was told to pull over to the side and wait until it was brought to me. I said NO, I would not move until my order was served, or my money refunded. I got my money back and I haven’t returned to that place since. They need to deliver what they advertise, or be called to account. They get away w/ this crap because they rely on most people not wanting to make a fuss. If enough people speak up they will stop doing these things.
I’m confused. Did they overcharge you for the sandwich, or did they just ask you to wait for it in a parking space instead of the drive-through line? Did you hold up the whole line out of pique, or was there a reason for you not to want them to bring you the sandwich?
Yeah, that’s a relatively common occurance. I don’t understand what you got so worked up about. If they’re not going to have fish fillets for another 3-4 minutes, why should the 5-6 people behind you have to sit and wait for their (now cold) burgers?
You pull up and they bring it out to you when it’s ready (and usually blistering hot and fresh). The local Jack-In-The-Box usually gives you a coupon for two free tacos if you do this too.
AR Cane - Fish sanwiches are usually cooked to order at fast food joints because they’re not as popular and a lot of them would go to waste if they pre-cooked them. What happened to you is the rule, not the exception.
Sometimes, though, they’ll ask you to pull ahead when there’s no one behind you. Thing is, sometimes their true purpose is a little shadier than keeping the line moving.
Many, if not most, modern drive-throughs have devices that time how long a vehicle remains at the window. Stores pride themselves on their speed of service (and may even be rewarded for exceptional speed). So, it’s in their interest to shave every second they can off every car.
The problem is, when they ask you to move so they can save 20 seconds on your serve, what they’re doing is basically lying to corporate HQ, claiming a serving speed that’s falsely inflated. Opting to stick around at the window is just forcing the restaurant to be honest.
You’re right that the store’s management’s concern is with a reported average serve time. (My experience at a fast food chain confirms what you said about that.) So by refusing to pull over, a person is, indeed, keeping the restaurant “honest.” But the person is also causing some number of people in line behind him to have to wait five minutes more for their order. I would think the best thing to do would be to pull over. Yes, the store is using this to help construct a lie about their serving times. But why is that any of my concern? Why shouldn’t I be concerned, instead, to perform a kindness for the people behind me in line?
Yes, it is deceptive. Anything that’s “added” should not be added without the customer’s consent. If the menu said you could have bacon added to your burger for an extra $0.50, you certainly wouldn’t expect that to be done by default.
Reminds me of something we used to do to keep our drive through service time down when I worked fast food many moons ago. What you do is when you’re on a non-peak time is grab a tray and hold it down outside the window to trip the sensor for the timer, let it count about 2 seconds and move. Rinse and repeat as needed. Great way to bring your average service time down.
You need to look more closely at the menu… there likely is no “small” option.
Wendy’s sizes go like this: Medium, Large, Biggie. There is also a “Jr” size for the frosty and fries, but they’re not displayed. I have no idea how many times I confused some kid (and the manager) by pointing out that you can’t have medium as your smallest option.
However, since Supersize Me, Wendy’s corporate has been getting away from the “Biggie” thing and sense has once again reared its head - they now offer “small”, “medium”, and “large”. But the franchisees (and apparently that’s what we have around here) have yet to make the switch.
Maybe “confused” as in “I’m confused as to why this guy has decided to give me shit about this admittedly silly company policy, over which I have absolutely zero control, and about which its difficult to see why anyone should care.”
