"I'm never shopping THERE again!" Share your story!

[Mediancat]

Wait, Grammarnerd:  The store not only gives you well-past-expired items twice, acts like you're being difficult when you complain about it, and people think that the store handled it "fine?" Do you live next door to the doormat factory, or something? Sheesh. Once, I can understand -- mistakes happen -- if the store is apologetic about it. But to act like you're giving them a hard time?

Yeah. You're not overreacting. Your friends were underreacting.

Rob

[Shalamar]

A few years ago, a brand-new Arby's opened up close to my house.  I liked Arby's, so I paid them a visit about two weeks after they'd opened.  Well ... they got my order wrong.  The fries were ice-cold.  The final straw was when I asked for the toys that should have come with my kids' meals - the guy looked irritated, then he pulled out a big dusty box, flung it on the counter (with dust flying all over the food), and said "Here.  Take whatever you want."

We didn't go back, and I wasn't surprised when they closed a few months later.

Edited to add:  I wrote to the head office to complain.  Never heard back.

[Hillia]

DH and I stopped at a Wendy's one night.  It was around 9:30pm; the sign on the door said the dining room was open til 10.  They had already begun closing for the night; the dining room chairs were all on top of tables, trash bags taken out of the bins, etc.  When we ordered our food, I couldn't get a baked potato because they were out, and something else (chili, maybe?) had already been cleaned up for the night.  We finally managed to get hamburgers and fries, all stale and near cold, and were told the dining room was closed, so we'd have to take the food to go.  Essentially, the employees had already shut the store down for the night and weren't interested in getting anything dirty again to make us fresh food, or risk having to clean up trash from two people eating.  I emailed Wendy's corporate with the details, and by noon the next day had the owner of that particular franchise location calling me and falling all over himself to apologize.  He said that all the staff would be retrained on proper closing procedures, and offered me a free meal, or vouchers for a free meal, or just about anything I wanted.  We were visiting DH's family at the time and weren't going to be near the store again, so I declined, but I did send a follow up email to corporate to let them know that the franchisee did take the complaint seriously and we were satisfied with the resolution.

[Virg]

The best way to deal with the apathetic attitude that GrammarNerd encountered is to call in the big guns.  If I'd been in her position, getting two expired food items and then being blown off when I complained, I'd make a call to the local health department.  They can and will shut down a restaurant for this sort of thing, and in cases where the staff proves unconcerned with the error they'll even walk in with a sheriff in attendance and tell them to close the doors on the spot.  You'd be amazed how fast the owner will make it right when his food license is on the line.

Virg

[jayhawk]

The best way to deal with the apathetic attitude that GrammarNerd encountered is to call in the big guns.  If I'd been in her position, getting two expired food items and then being blown off when I complained, I'd make a call to the local health department.  They can and will shut down a restaurant for this sort of thing, and in cases where the staff proves unconcerned with the error they'll even walk in with a sheriff in attendance and tell them to close the doors on the spot.  You'd be amazed how fast the owner will make it right when his food license is on the line.

Virg

My thoughts exactly.  Our local paper occasionally prints the health department reports for local restaurants. It does affect their business.

[Diane AKA Traska]

DH and I stopped at a Wendy's one night.  It was around 9:30pm; the sign on the door said the dining room was open til 10.  They had already begun closing for the night; the dining room chairs were all on top of tables, trash bags taken out of the bins, etc.  When we ordered our food, I couldn't get a baked potato because they were out, and something else (chili, maybe?) had already been cleaned up for the night.  We finally managed to get hamburgers and fries, all stale and near cold, and were told the dining room was closed, so we'd have to take the food to go.  Essentially, the employees had already shut the store down for the night and weren't interested in getting anything dirty again to make us fresh food, or risk having to clean up trash from two people eating.  I emailed Wendy's corporate with the details, and by noon the next day had the owner of that particular franchise location calling me and falling all over himself to apologize.  He said that all the staff would be retrained on proper closing procedures, and offered me a free meal, or vouchers for a free meal, or just about anything I wanted.  We were visiting DH's family at the time and weren't going to be near the store again, so I declined, but I did send a follow up email to corporate to let them know that the franchisee did take the complaint seriously and we were satisfied with the resolution.

Couldn't put your finger on it, huh?

[Asharah]

The best way to deal with the apathetic attitude that GrammarNerd encountered is to call in the big guns.  If I'd been in her position, getting two expired food items and then being blown off when I complained, I'd make a call to the local health department.  They can and will shut down a restaurant for this sort of thing, and in cases where the staff proves unconcerned with the error they'll even walk in with a sheriff in attendance and tell them to close the doors on the spot.  You'd be amazed how fast the owner will make it right when his food license is on the line.

Virg

My thoughts exactly.  Our local paper occasionally prints the health department reports for local restaurants. It does affect their business.

I remember a story where a person received a slice of pie that tasted funny and realized there was mold on the bottom.  Restaurant manager claimed he didn't know how to deduct it from bill or refund her money or some other such nonsense. I responded by speculating how fast he would have learned the necessary skill if she mentioned calling the health department and started dialing.

[Lorelei_Evil]

DH and I stopped at a Wendy's one night.  It was around 9:30pm; the sign on the door said the dining room was open til 10.  They had already begun closing for the night; the dining room chairs were all on top of tables, trash bags taken out of the bins, etc.  When we ordered our food, I couldn't get a baked potato because they were out, and something else (chili, maybe?) had already been cleaned up for the night.  We finally managed to get hamburgers and fries, all stale and near cold, and were told the dining room was closed, so we'd have to take the food to go.  Essentially, the employees had already shut the store down for the night and weren't interested in getting anything dirty again to make us fresh food, or risk having to clean up trash from two people eating.  I emailed Wendy's corporate with the details, and by noon the next day had the owner of that particular franchise location calling me and falling all over himself to apologize.  He said that all the staff would be retrained on proper closing procedures, and offered me a free meal, or vouchers for a free meal, or just about anything I wanted.  We were visiting DH's family at the time and weren't going to be near the store again, so I declined, but I did send a follow up email to corporate to let them know that the franchisee did take the complaint seriously and we were satisfied with the resolution.

Couldn't put your finger on it, huh?

BWAHAHAHA - point to Diane.

[ladyknight1]

My family and I once visited an Asian buffet restaurant in the middle of tourist central.

It was not clean. The tables weren't clean, the buffet wasn't clean. The prices were not posted, so we asked before ordering drinks. We got one plate of food each, and then realized the chicken wings were hot, but the interiors were completely raw. When I asked to speak to a manager, two teenagers came up and said they manage the buffet. I pointed out the chicken and they waved off the concerns and never removed the raw chicken from the buffet, then gave us our bill with a mandatory service fee of $2 per person added to the amount we had been given before ordering.

I took lots of pictures, reported them to our state's department of professional regulation and the local health department. They were shut down a week later.

[Shoo]

DH and I stopped at a Wendy's one night.  It was around 9:30pm; the sign on the door said the dining room was open til 10.  They had already begun closing for the night; the dining room chairs were all on top of tables, trash bags taken out of the bins, etc.  When we ordered our food, I couldn't get a baked potato because they were out, and something else (chili, maybe?) had already been cleaned up for the night.  We finally managed to get hamburgers and fries, all stale and near cold, and were told the dining room was closed, so we'd have to take the food to go.  Essentially, the employees had already shut the store down for the night and weren't interested in getting anything dirty again to make us fresh food, or risk having to clean up trash from two people eating.  I emailed Wendy's corporate with the details, and by noon the next day had the owner of that particular franchise location calling me and falling all over himself to apologize.  He said that all the staff would be retrained on proper closing procedures, and offered me a free meal, or vouchers for a free meal, or just about anything I wanted.  We were visiting DH's family at the time and weren't going to be near the store again, so I declined, but I did send a follow up email to corporate to let them know that the franchisee did take the complaint seriously and we were satisfied with the resolution.

Couldn't put your finger on it, huh?

BWAHAHAHA - point to Diane.

I must be really stoopid 'cuz I don't get it!

[Elfmama]

DH and I stopped at a Wendy's one night.  It was around 9:30pm; the sign on the door said the dining room was open til 10.  They had already begun closing for the night; the dining room chairs were all on top of tables, trash bags taken out of the bins, etc.  When we ordered our food, I couldn't get a baked potato because they were out, and something else (chili, maybe?) had already been cleaned up for the night.  We finally managed to get hamburgers and fries, all stale and near cold, and were told the dining room was closed, so we'd have to take the food to go.  Essentially, the employees had already shut the store down for the night and weren't interested in getting anything dirty again to make us fresh food, or risk having to clean up trash from two people eating.  I emailed Wendy's corporate with the details, and by noon the next day had the owner of that particular franchise location calling me and falling all over himself to apologize.  He said that all the staff would be retrained on proper closing procedures, and offered me a free meal, or vouchers for a free meal, or just about anything I wanted.  We were visiting DH's family at the time and weren't going to be near the store again, so I declined, but I did send a follow up email to corporate to let them know that the franchisee did take the complaint seriously and we were satisfied with the resolution.

Couldn't put your finger on it, huh?

BWAHAHAHA - point to Diane.

I must be really stoopid 'cuz I don't get it!

Several years ago a woman claimed to find a human finger in Wendy's chili.  There was a finger, all right, but she had planted it there in order to sue the restaurant chain.

[Morticia]

DH and I stopped at a Wendy's one night.  It was around 9:30pm; the sign on the door said the dining room was open til 10.  They had already begun closing for the night; the dining room chairs were all on top of tables, trash bags taken out of the bins, etc.  When we ordered our food, I couldn't get a baked potato because they were out, and something else (chili, maybe?) had already been cleaned up for the night.  We finally managed to get hamburgers and fries, all stale and near cold, and were told the dining room was closed, so we'd have to take the food to go.  Essentially, the employees had already shut the store down for the night and weren't interested in getting anything dirty again to make us fresh food, or risk having to clean up trash from two people eating.  I emailed Wendy's corporate with the details, and by noon the next day had the owner of that particular franchise location calling me and falling all over himself to apologize.  He said that all the staff would be retrained on proper closing procedures, and offered me a free meal, or vouchers for a free meal, or just about anything I wanted.  We were visiting DH's family at the time and weren't going to be near the store again, so I declined, but I did send a follow up email to corporate to let them know that the franchisee did take the complaint seriously and we were satisfied with the resolution.

Couldn't put your finger on it, huh?

BWAHAHAHA - point to Diane.

I must be really stoopid 'cuz I don't get it!

Several years ago a woman claimed to find a human finger in Wendy's chili.  There was a finger, all right, but she had planted it there in order to sue the restaurant chain.

From whence did she get the finger?

[Outdoor Girl]

Shoo, you aren't the only one who didn't get it.  I'm a little slow on the uptake sometimes...

[artk2002]

Wait, Grammarnerd:  The store not only gives you well-past-expired items twice, acts like you're being difficult when you complain about it, and people think that the store handled it "fine?" Do you live next door to the doormat factory, or something? Sheesh. Once, I can understand -- mistakes happen -- if the store is apologetic about it. But to act like you're giving them a hard time?

Yeah. You're not overreacting. Your friends were underreacting.

Rob

I agree.

GrammarNerd, time to call the health department. They get *very* excited when stores sell expired food.

[jedikaiti]

Wait, Grammarnerd:  The store not only gives you well-past-expired items twice, acts like you're being difficult when you complain about it, and people think that the store handled it "fine?" Do you live next door to the doormat factory, or something? Sheesh. Once, I can understand -- mistakes happen -- if the store is apologetic about it. But to act like you're giving them a hard time?

Yeah. You're not overreacting. Your friends were underreacting.

Rob

I agree.

GrammarNerd, time to call the health department. They get *very* excited when stores sell expired food.

Oh yea.