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View Full Version : First time I've ever called the district manager of a fast food chain



Jenny
06-22-2005, 01:56 PM
So I regularly go to Sonic. (for those that don't know, http://www.sonicdrivein.com it's pretty much a midwestern chain I think) I rarely get food, but normally get a drink. Sometimes just a big freakin ice water with extra ice (love their ice, pretty much why I go there), normally a large diet coke with extra ice.

Anyway, about 1-2 weeks ago, we noticed that their large drinks were now $1.49 before tax. (That's what I was charged and had to pay. ended up being $1.58 after tax.) But the menu still showed $1.39. Ok, so no big deal. I figured they just hadn't gotten around to changing the menu yet. I figured I'd give it a few days and see. A week or so goes by and still nothing different.

Now, there is a lady that works there that I've become friendly with. I see her a lot when I go there (I have been going for 2 years, since we moved to Wichita, and only live about 3 blocks from the Sonic, about 4 times a week. During school, it was 5 or 6 times a week, depending on if I went on the weekends, cause I normally would go and get some ice water for me & Josh both before I picked him up from school.). Anyway, I've also seen her at Walmart & a couple of other places around town, so we always make small talk. So when she delivered a drink to me yesterday, I pretended to gripe at her about the menu being different. She went on to say that I wouldn't believe how many complaints she got from customers. She said it was so WRONG that they were charging more than the menu said, etc. And then hinted strongly that if I really felt that upset, that I should call and get the District Manager's number and complain to him.

She said that they had a new manager there in the store recently and his wife has kind of taken over. That she doesn't give a crap about the customers, just about the money, and that so far as she's heard, there has been no mention of new menus coming out.

So I called the district manager a few minutes ago, after having gone to Sonic today to get a drink after going to the PO. He had no idea that they were charging $1.49 for the large soft drinks and said (in this almost astonished voice), "We can't charge more than what is on the menu. That's just wrong!" He said he was guessing that something got changed in the computer accidentally and that he was going over there at 5:00 for something else anyway so he would check on it and change the computers back. He also said thank you for letting him know about it.

Now, he could have been blowing smoke up my ass, but I was glad I'd called. I'm hoping the manager & his wife get taken down a peg or two and prices go back to $1.39. But if they all decide to stay with the $1.49, that's fine. As long as the menu is changed or a sign put up on there or something.

Ok, so there's my long story of the day! ;)

Thesifer
06-22-2005, 02:08 PM
I Love sonic.. they have them in California now.. but not in San Diego yet.. Its about 2 hours to the nearest one .. or so.. Im from oklahoma HOME of Sonic.. :( I miss my sonic. Its prolly a good thing you said something.. maybe they can fire that dude.. I hate people that think they are more than they really are.. I could see if it were the Store owner.. Im not sure on the legality. .but atleast he would have a reason

ooBaKeep
06-22-2005, 02:10 PM
Wow Jenny you have clout. Could you come to California and run for Governor. We someone who can make the right kind of changes. :cheers:

nickel
06-22-2005, 02:20 PM
good job Jen :thumb:

Kevster
06-22-2005, 02:39 PM
Way to give'm hell Jenny! :thumb:

DarkFury
06-22-2005, 03:22 PM
Heh... nickel and dime them to death. :heh:

Burzhui
06-22-2005, 03:34 PM
if they do change them back that would be a pretty cool lawsuit

Jenny
06-22-2005, 03:39 PM
lol lawsuit for who?

and honestly, like I said, I don't care if they keep the price raised. I DO care however that they do it sneakily, by not changing the menu. :shrug:

TofuNinja
06-22-2005, 03:46 PM
good call :)

Gothic Girl
06-22-2005, 03:59 PM
Good job. For every one customer that complains, there are 10 that don't. So again, good job. Also, I love Sonic too. But there's not one here in San Diego. I hate it when I see commercials for Sonic, especially since there's not one here!

Houdini
06-22-2005, 04:21 PM
Good job!

I had a similar experience a year or so ago at a McDonalds. The amount I was charged (before tax) was about $1 higher than what was on the sign. It was amazing how defensive they were, insisting I was wrong, etc. I guess they just figure people don't/can't mentally calculate what they should be billed anymore. :shrug:

I didn't go so far as to complain to the district manager, but the store manager told me that they DID have the right to charge a higher price than the sign indicated. Idiot.

chrissy
06-22-2005, 04:39 PM
Yeah Jen!

I love sonic. We have one down the street right now.

And just to rub it in, ours participates in the 99 cent route66 program. I have a clingy sticker in my window and when I drive through for a drink, I pay 99 cents + tax and not the $1.39 :P

CynJon
06-22-2005, 04:55 PM
And just to rub it in, ours participates in the 99 cent route66 program. I have a clingy sticker in my window and when I drive through for a drink, I pay 99 cents + tax and not the $1.39 :P

:stupid:

And Sonic is open until at least midnight every night, even later on the weekends...:munch:

On the downside, their current series of commercials are extremely stupid. :umm:

Jenny
06-22-2005, 06:22 PM
What clingy sticker/route66 program?? lol

eSDee
06-22-2005, 06:38 PM
Good job. For every one customer that complains, there are 10 that don't. So again, good job. Also, I love Sonic too. But there's not one here in San Diego. I hate it when I see commercials for Sonic, especially since there's not one here!

There's one in Oceanside.

chadlnc
06-22-2005, 07:23 PM
mmmmmm tater tots. Get your own tots.
Now I think I may have to go and have an orange cream slush at lunch tomorrow.

chrissy
06-22-2005, 08:20 PM
What clingy sticker/route66 program?? lol


It's a sticker/clingy thing that you ask for at sonic and they give you one. Put it in the driverside front window, after that when you order your drink is 99 cents :)

Simple, yet rewarding :D

Jenny
06-22-2005, 08:54 PM
Hmm

CynJon, do you get that here in Wich??? I've never heard of it or seen it! They have the deal going on for the Route 44's for 99¢ if you have some baseball sticker but that's it...

CynJon
06-23-2005, 05:05 PM
Hmm

CynJon, do you get that here in Wich??? I've never heard of it or seen it! They have the deal going on for the Route 44's for 99¢ if you have some baseball sticker but that's it...

That's the promotion we're talking about...:thumb:

Jenny
07-01-2005, 11:32 AM
Awww, that promo ended yesterday. Scott & I somehow got a sticker from them without asking last week (I'm thinking the lady I am friendly with slipped it in. heh). So we've been using it. It was great!

When I talked to the district manager on the 22nd, he said he was going to be there that day and would check into it. He said he figured it was a mistype into the computer or some stupid **** like that.

Fast forward to today, price is STILL higher and menu STILL says nothing new. So I call again. He's headed out there in an hour and will check again. Next week, if nothing is different, I'll call AGAIN. And I'll continue to call each week til either they replace the menus, change the price or post a little note on each stall saying their large drinks are now 10¢ higher.

:D

Customers from hell UNITE! ;)

Cubsfan
07-01-2005, 11:40 AM
Fast forward to today, price is STILL higher and menu STILL says nothing new. So I call again. He's headed out there in an hour and will check again. Next week, if nothing is different, I'll call AGAIN. And I'll continue to call each week til either they replace the menus, change the price or post a little note on each stall saying their large drinks are now 10¢ higher.

:D

Customers from hell UNITE! ;)
Maybe go to his boss, whoever that is.

Jenny
07-01-2005, 11:46 AM
Yeah, not a bad idea. :)

chrissy
07-01-2005, 12:06 PM
Sorry your promo is over :(

Ours is an ongoing thing :P

Give em hell!

Jenny
07-01-2005, 03:33 PM
YAY!!!

Scott stopped at Sonic on his way home to get us something to drink and he paid $1.49 after tax for a large. OH YAY! :D

Nija
07-01-2005, 05:30 PM
They only recently came to my area (at last glance, the closest one to me was in Fullerton) but back when I went to Bakersfield all the time, I loved the Route 66 Cherrylimeade with Real cherries (which have to be requested!)

mmmm. Yummy.

brainsmile
07-01-2005, 05:50 PM
if you show your face as to who is complaining I wouldn't buy food from them again. Never know what they do to that food.

Stay anonymous

Jenny
07-01-2005, 05:58 PM
Oh, I plan to. heh