var json_comments = new Array("
\"user-pic\"
nrich239
January 28, 2009 7:09 PM
Moderate | Flag for review

\"Jeff says his the Wendy's\" - use grammar much?

Reply
4 replies
\"user-pic\"
RandaPanda
January 28, 2009 7:12 PM
Moderate |Flag for review

@nrich239: I was thinking the same thing. You just beat me too it. :-)

Reply
\"user-pic\"
ceilingFANBOY
January 28, 2009 7:52 PM
Moderate |Flag for review

@batsy: The incorrect number of periods in your ellipses is ironic, too...

;)

Reply
\"user-pic\"
mac-phisto
January 28, 2009 10:28 PM
Moderate |Flag for review

^^this whole thread is a pedant's worst nightmare.

Reply
\"user-pic\"
batsy
January 28, 2009 10:27 PM
Moderate |Flag for review

@IronLung492: I'm hoping \"you're\" was meant as a joke.

Reply
\"user-pic\"
Gokuhouse
January 28, 2009 7:45 PM
Moderate |Flag for review

@batsy: LOL, eye was thinking the same thing....

Reply
","","","
\"user-pic\"
Mooshie
January 28, 2009 7:13 PM
Moderate |Flag for review

When I ordered a medium, I thought I was getting a 20 fl oz drink. What I got instead was a 32 fl oz drink. I'm not sure if I paid more or not because there was a small size too.

Reply
4 replies
\"user-pic\"
AlteredBeast
January 29, 2009 2:36 PM
Moderate |Flag for review

@Mooshie: What I don't understand is, you can replace the fries with a baked potato, or salad, etc.


When I order small combo, with the baked potato, what happens when I order the large combo with baked potato? Is it the same price as a small or large combo with fries? And if so, where is my larger side item?

Reply
\"user-pic\"
VeeKaChu
January 29, 2009 4:47 AM
Moderate |Flag for review

@Mooshie: The last time I ordered a \"medium\" beverage at Wendys I was aghast to discover that it was indeed a monstrous thing that would not fit in any of my cupholders. I made them transplant it to a reasonably sized cup, and have not ordered a beverage there since.

Reply
\"user-pic\"
PinkBox
January 29, 2009 1:45 PM
Moderate |Flag for review

@VeeKaChu: Same here! Kind of ridiculous, really.

Reply
\"user-pic\"
audemars
January 28, 2009 11:25 PM
Moderate |Flag for review

@Mooshie: This same thing happened to me at Burger King, although they do show that you will pay .59 for Medium and like .89 for Large...they don't make you aware that the combo will come with a small drink/fry. So I opted for the medium and got this behemoth of a soft drink.

Reply
","
\"user-pic\"
rpm773
January 28, 2009 7:14 PM
Moderate |Flag for review

This is why I chill at White Castle - 'cause it's the best. White Castle fries only come in one size.

Reply
8 replies
\"user-pic\"
chauncy that billups
January 29, 2009 12:58 AM
Moderate |Flag for review

@rpm773: All y'all fools have nothing on Char-grill, in NC. On on the eastern seaboard proper, Five Guys.

Reply
\"user-pic\"
ThickSkinned
January 28, 2009 11:27 PM
Moderate |Flag for review

@rpm773: White Castle may be the best, but I'm fly at Fatburger when I'm way out West.

Reply
\"user-pic\"
Benguin
January 28, 2009 9:36 PM
Moderate |Flag for review

@rpm773: Being that there are no White Castle's on my side of the country, I'm going to take your same anecdote and apply it to In&Out.

Reply
\"user-pic\"
jpmoney
January 28, 2009 9:55 PM
Moderate |Flag for review

@Benguin: I've had White Castle once and can't decide if its a good or bad thing that we don't have them in Texas. We also don't have In&Out.

We get... Sonic? Meh.

We are however getting a Carl's Jr. Fatburger incoming.

Reply
\"user-pic\"
audemars
January 28, 2009 11:28 PM
Moderate |Flag for review

@jpmoney: SONIC FTW! There is actually A in&out in Texas, some small ass town in West Texas, makes no sense to me either.

I too was always bummed by the lack of White Castle. We sat out to try to find one in the state and had even dedicated ourselves to driving to it regardless of where it was (this was before gas was $3/gal.) Our dreams were quickly dashed when we found NO WHITE CASTLE IN THE ENTIRE EFFING STATE.

Reply
\"user-pic\"
joel.
January 28, 2009 10:33 PM
Moderate |Flag for review

@jpmoney: mmmmm double western bacon cheeseburgers

-and-

@Benguin: mmm double double animal style.

Since moving to Southern Illinois from Southern California those are the two food items I miss constantly. Hardee's blows. I wish Carl Karcher would send the Carl's Jr. menu to Hardee's.

Reply
\"user-pic\"
Jim Topoleski
January 28, 2009 7:25 PM
Moderate |Flag for review

@rpm773: ratburgers FTW.

Greatest day ever for me was when a couple years back, when I could finally drive, a White Castle was built 5 blocks away from my house.

Many a college weekend was spent wolfing down a sack after almost a week of Ramen made with hot tap water, coffee, and a occasional cold slice of pizza found in the house (always on the stove, if it was anywhere else it was probably not good)

Reply
\"user-pic\"
rpm773
January 28, 2009 7:36 PM
Moderate |Flag for review

@Jim Topoleski: In college, the house members took turns cooking dinner. One dude was a really bad cook, and one time on his night it was a bad dinner: beef stew (at least he way he made it). As a result, we all piled into cars, drove across town to the Lafayette White Castle and ate there. The cook even was there. Good times.

Reply
\"user-pic\"
You Cannot Untoast
January 28, 2009 7:20 PM
Moderate |Flag for review

@rpm773: Ah, but the trots afterwords vary greatly.

Reply
","
\"user-pic\"
wardawg
January 28, 2009 7:14 PM
Moderate |Flag for review

I noticed my Wendy's is doing this as well, with \"SMALL\" written on the side of the standard size cups. I haven't asked if they have anything smaller than small any more, they used to have a cup size smaller than what they're calling their small now, but that USED to be called the small...

It's worse than trying to get the right size at a Starbucks. \"Is that a \"small\" small or a medium small, or a large medium?\"

Reply
7 replies
\"user-pic\"
invisiblenemies
January 29, 2009 1:28 AM
Moderate |Flag for review

@wardawg: Using normal people terms like \"small\", \"medium\", and \"large\", always brings weird looks & confusion from the coffee folks at Starbucks.


I always order \"Venti\". Of course, I have no idea what size that is in reality. It's the only Starbucks lingo I know.

Reply
\"user-pic\"
menty666
January 29, 2009 1:57 AM
Moderate |Flag for review

@invisiblenemies: It's Italian for 'twenty', which happens to also be the number of ounces that cup holds. Lately I've been switching to Dunkin Donuts where for still less than the 20 oz size at Starbucks I can get the 24 oz cup.

Reply
\"user-pic\"
alexcassidy
January 28, 2009 9:50 PM
Moderate |Flag for review

@wardawg: The small is apparently called the \"value\" size now. Unfuckingbelievable

Reply
\"user-pic\"
Cat_In_A_Hat
January 28, 2009 8:25 PM
Moderate |Flag for review

@wardawg: What about the cups used for the small frostys. Do those count? Are those ever given out for drink. Haven't been to a Wendy's in a while after the finger incident so I'm not up to date.

Reply
\"user-pic\"
nataku8_e30
January 28, 2009 7:45 PM
Moderate |Flag for review

It's been a while since I've been to a Wendy's (their new ads have been pissing me off), but from what I remember, every Wendy's does this with their combo meals. I believe if you want a size smaller than small, you can ask for a junior size, but it's not one of the combo sizes, just if you want a drink / frosty or fries. When I did still go to Wendys, I usually wouldn't order fries with my combo, so I always asked for the small because the side is the same either way, and free refills on the drink, so no difference except for price

Reply
\"user-pic\"
StevePJobs
January 28, 2009 7:31 PM
Moderate |Flag for review

@wardawg: The Wendys locations near me do the same thing. The old \"Biggie\" size is now called \"Large,\" and the other sized have shifted accordingly.

Part of the reason is probably because every other fast-food restaurant uses the standard Small, Medium, Large, and Heart Attack sizing scheme; so people are used to ordering a medium, and therefore would get a more expensive drink size equivalent to the Large at most restaurants.

Reply
\"user-pic\"
RevRagnarok
January 28, 2009 7:21 PM
Moderate |Flag for review

@wardawg: IIRC, Wendy's does have smaller ones. They give it to you if you just want water, and maybe also with the Kid's Sacks.

Reply
","
\"user-pic\"
nicemarmot617
January 28, 2009 7:17 PM
Moderate |Flag for review

Perhaps they are trying to match their sizes to the country's obesity rates? Soon they will only offer a Large.

Reply
","","
\"user-pic\"
GageAlcidice
January 28, 2009 7:18 PM
Moderate |Flag for review

An even worse marketing scheme is the sizing of medium, large, and X-Tra Large!!!

Medium means in the middle and the smallest size should not be called a medium. This faux pa drives me nuts!

Reply
","
\"user-pic\"
morganlh85
January 28, 2009 7:19 PM
Moderate |Flag for review

I discovered a while ago that the Burger King near me was automatically charging you for a LARGE combo, even though the default size and the price listed were for a SMALL combo. I was beyond pissed.

Reply
","
\"user-pic\"
RevRagnarok
January 28, 2009 7:19 PM
Moderate |Flag for review

There's always \"Medium/Large/King!\" Oh wait...

Anyways, I don't care. Wendy's fries are simply the second most efficient way to transport grease directly into your body (behind the atrocity known as Hush Puppies). I have one about a mile from my house and about every month or so I realize that I forgot it was there, because there is a Taco Bell another block down and an Arby's across the street.

Reply
1 replies
","","
\"user-pic\"
SmartCookie
January 28, 2009 7:20 PM
Moderate |Flag for review

The Burger King in my neighboorhood has done something similar. What was formerly a medium fry is now called a small fry. The old large fry is now called medium. There's a $1 fry on their menu, but if you order a small fry, you get a $1.50 fry. Not sure what they're calling the $1 fry -- tiny fry, maybe?

Reply
1 replies
\"user-pic\"
Azagthoth
January 28, 2009 9:35 PM
Moderate |Flag for review

@SmartCookie: They call it \"Value Fry\", along with everything else that is a buck. Value this, Value that.

Reply
","","
\"user-pic\"
Hockeypuck
January 28, 2009 7:24 PM
Moderate |Flag for review

When I worked there, the question was supposed to be, \"Would you like to make that medium or large?\" since the default size was \"small\" (the same size wendy's combos always had been). It's probably just the drivethrough operator being lazy.

The drink sizes, for interest's sake are now:

Value - 16oz
Small - 20oz
Medium - 32oz
Large - 42oz

Reply
6 replies
\"user-pic\"
Kounji
January 29, 2009 1:00 AM
Moderate |Flag for review

@Hockeypuck: It would be nice if these places just started listing everything by oz. It would make things much easier. I actually appreciate the deceptive up-selling, because i get to smile and say \" No just the small please\"

Reply
\"user-pic\"
Jason Peek
January 28, 2009 10:23 PM
Moderate |Flag for review

@Hockeypuck:
30oz and 40oz not 32 and 42

Reply
\"user-pic\"
jimconsumer
January 28, 2009 7:53 PM
Moderate |Flag for review

@Hockeypuck: That's how every Wendy's I've ever been to (and I eat at one weekly) works. \"Would you like to make that medium or large?\"

Reply
\"user-pic\"
tape
January 28, 2009 10:29 PM
Moderate |Flag for review

@jimconsumer: here in Boston they just say \"medium or large?\" and I never hear anyone say they want a small after being asked, probably because they don't realize it's an option because the employee didn't say it.

Reply
\"user-pic\"
SJActress
January 28, 2009 8:27 PM
Moderate |Flag for review

@jimconsumer:

But don't you see how phrasing it that way makes it seem like you have to make one of those two choices?

Reply
\"user-pic\"
Azagthoth
January 28, 2009 9:37 PM
Moderate |Flag for review

@SJActress: Actually, no. Because I can read the menu and have anticipated ordering a small already.

Reply
\"user-pic\"
Murph1908
January 28, 2009 8:24 PM
Moderate |Flag for review

@jimconsumer:
Your inflection when speaking this phrase can change the meaning significantly.

First, read it with your tone going higher at the end, like it's a question.

\"Would you like to make that medium Or LARGE?\"

Then, read it with your tone going down at the end, like it's a choice, with a slight pause after medium.

\"Would you like to make that MEDIUM, Or large?\"

I agree. It's very deceptive.

Reply
","","","
\"user-pic\"
TheUncleBob
January 28, 2009 7:27 PM
Moderate |Flag for review

I don't buy combo meals much anymore, but didn't they used to always come with Medium Fries and Medium Drinks?

Reply
2 replies
\"user-pic\"
tape
January 28, 2009 10:30 PM
Moderate |Flag for review

@TheUncleBob: the current \"small\" drinks/fries are what used to pass for medium. you still get the same amount of stuff, but now you have the option of making it huger or even huger still! hooray heart attack-inducing choices!

Reply
\"user-pic\"
TouchMyMonkey
January 28, 2009 7:45 PM
Moderate |Flag for review

@TheUncleBob: Usually. That's how they got to call them \"value\" meals. I don't do fast food much anymore, since I'm trying to drop a few pounds. It's hard sometimes, especially when I insist on drinking a whole bunch of empty calories.

Reply
","
\"user-pic\"
Its_Miller_Time
January 28, 2009 7:29 PM
Moderate |Flag for review

I actually complained about this to one near my house. They would not ask it as the way Hockeypuck described, only saying \"Medium or Large\" - thus implying the only two sizes are available. I asked the mgr abouit it and she said it was the way they are supposed to ask it and I should maybe take it up with corporate. She did give me my meal for free.


I did take it up with corporate, and got $25.00 worth of free Wendy's out of it.

Reply
2 replies
\"user-pic\"
relax_guy
January 28, 2009 8:33 PM
Moderate |Flag for review

@Its_Miller_Time:


haha, man... i hope you enjoyed your spit burgers.

Reply
\"user-pic\"
floraposte
January 28, 2009 9:14 PM
Moderate |Flag for review

@relax_guy: Could be a fair trade for what he wiped on the money.

Reply
","
\"user-pic\"
nirvaeh
January 28, 2009 7:29 PM
Moderate |Flag for review

They've been doing this for about 6 months to a year now. It's a great technique for screwing people out of $.60. I've discovered the joy of buying healthy food at the grocery and cooking. I eat even more food but I'm much healthier and weigh less, and I'm not so broke. Although, the shrink ray has hit quite a few items that I frequently buy.

Reply
2 replies
\"user-pic\"
lihtox
January 29, 2009 2:29 AM
Moderate |Flag for review

@nirvaeh: Plus you get to be smug on web fora! :P

Reply
\"user-pic\"
ZekeSulastin
January 29, 2009 6:18 AM
Moderate |Flag for review

@Tim Pedersen: ... unless, of course, it's not really enough.

Not that I eat fast food much at all these days (even when stuck on long drives on major highways without the SmugForumGoer-issue 100% Natural Healthy Self-Cooking Kitchen in my car*, I tend to avoid fast-food), but when I do, it generally takes a small or medium combo to satiate me. Not all of us can keep weight on with a 2000 calorie diet, unfortunately ._.

Of course, finding out the right food balance for you involves actually doing work and testing instead of taking spoon-fed hard numbers from the Internet or a company, so most of the US is right out <.<

Reply
\"user-pic\"
ZekeSulastin
January 29, 2009 6:20 AM
Moderate |Flag for review

@ZekeSulastin: oops, forgot the * ...

*not that there's anything WRONG with the AVOIDALLRESTAURANTS crusaders and their position they so often espouse on this site, but knowing how to eat out properly BASED ON YOUR OWN NUTRITIONAL NEEDS is a necessary skill to learn and enjoy.

Reply
","","","
\"user-pic\"
Justin Nachod
January 28, 2009 7:40 PM
Moderate |Flag for review

The Wendy's at 11th St and Walnut St in Philadelphia has been pulling this stunt for a while now. On three separate occasions over the last six months, I've been asked \" medium or large ? \" when attempting to buy a chicken nugget combo meal, when I know from my own experience and from the menu board that a small size is available.

The fact that this behavior occurs at various Wendy's locations and is not just an isolated incident suggests that the source could be some kind of guidebook prepared by the Wendy's Corporation for their franchises to improve sales volumes.

Reply
","","","","","
\"user-pic\"
John Hance
January 28, 2009 7:48 PM
Moderate |Flag for review

I used to work at a Hardee's, and my manager and I did this all the time. Most people were going to get the large anyway.

Reply
","
\"user-pic\"
Tim Pedersen
January 28, 2009 7:49 PM
Moderate |Flag for review

Buy the kids meal, that's really all anyone needs. I do this sometimes at McDonalds, plus their toys are getting better all the time.

Reply
1 replies
\"user-pic\"
HogwartsAlum
January 28, 2009 10:45 PM
Moderate |Flag for review

@Tim Pedersen:
That's what I do; I get the Happy Meal. It's just the right amount of food. I usually give the toy to my coworker for her little girl, unless it's really cool and then I keep it. ;)

Reply
","
\"user-pic\"
Eric Rhoads
January 28, 2009 7:49 PM
Moderate |Flag for review

McDonald's is still the worst with the drink Nazi behavior. I have boycotted them ever since getting into an argument about their breakfast menu. Contrary to their lunch/dinner menu and what the breakfast menu leads you to believe, your breakfast meals do not come with ANY drink option for free unless its a cup of water. So, even though they call it a \"meal\" and show it with a drink, they still charge you extra whether or not you get a coffee, OJ, milk, or soda. What made me so mad was the manager insisting that the meals do come with a drink but he would never tell me what drink came with the meal for the advertised price only saying that they need to charge for the drink as well. It was like talking to a computer. So, I haven't bought food at a McDonald's in about 10 months now.

Reply
5 replies
\"user-pic\"
lalaland13
January 28, 2009 10:22 PM
Moderate |Flag for review

@Eric Rhoads: Yeah, it's a misunderstanding on their part, not any malice on their part. I worked at McDonalds for a very brief time, and I had customers get mad at me for charging \"extra\" for the drink, when I was just ringing up the drink separately to get the total of the combo. For instance, the burger and fries might ring up as 3.90, but the drink is $1.49 for a total of $5.39 as listed on the menu.

Reply
\"user-pic\"
SunnyLea
January 29, 2009 12:26 AM
Moderate |Flag for review

@lalaland13: Same here. That was 9 months of hell.

Reply
\"user-pic\"
SunnyLea
January 28, 2009 8:54 PM
Moderate |Flag for review

@Eric Rhoads:

Whatever the miscommunication involved, the manager is right and you were mistaken.

The \"base price\" of a breakfast meal does include a drink. However, since drinks are \"variables\" when a McDonald's employee enters the combo into the register(this is true of any combo there) it shows the combo price *minus* the drink price. Entering the type of drink adds on the drink price, bringing to total up to what you see on the menu board.

Reply
\"user-pic\"
ionerox
January 28, 2009 9:37 PM
Moderate |Flag for review

@SunnyLea: Unless you order a large OJ... they always charged up the wazoo for that.

Reply
\"user-pic\"
My Iron Lung is Rusted
January 28, 2009 9:36 PM
Moderate |Flag for review

@SunnyLea: That's gotta hurt. Always sucks to stand up for nothing.

Reply
","
\"user-pic\"
Anonymous
January 28, 2009 7:51 PM
Moderate |Flag for review

They do that at the Wendy's I go to in Oklahoma. They just say \"medium or large?\" You have to look closely at the menu to realize there is a small and that is what the base price is. Pisses me off.


Reply
","","","","","
\"user-pic\"
darkryd
January 28, 2009 8:06 PM
Moderate |Flag for review

If you're going to eat fast food, just skip the value meal altogether and just order the sandwich by itself. Then pair it with an apple and a glass of water.

It's cheaper and (slightly) healthier than adding french fried grease and sugar water.

Reply
1 replies
\"user-pic\"
floraposte
January 28, 2009 9:16 PM
Moderate |Flag for review

@darkryd: Eh. If you're going to go, you should get what you like. Not much point in eating this kind of crap if you're not getting the enjoyment from it.

Reply
","
\"user-pic\"
Ratty
January 28, 2009 8:09 PM
Moderate |Flag for review

I stopped doing the combos at Wendy's when the one by here stopped carrying Coke Zero. It was the only place that did. That, plus continually cold fries (and Wendy's Fries are only palatable if piping hot) means it's value menu pickins when I go. And their sizing is pretty confusing.

Reply
8 replies
\"user-pic\"
Corporate-Shill
January 29, 2009 12:14 AM
Moderate |Flag for review

@Ratty:


Damn right about those crappy French Fries. Horrible when cold. And they never have enough salt on the fries. I wish they would drop a salt packet into my drive-thru bag.

Reply
\"user-pic\"
varro
January 28, 2009 11:56 PM
Moderate |Flag for review

@Ratty: Wendy's fries are the best of any of the fast food fries - it seems that other chains like to give you overfried, brittle sticks of potato drenched in salt.

Reply
\"user-pic\"
Brunette Bookworm
January 29, 2009 2:55 PM
Moderate |Flag for review

@varro: Mmmm, I love Wendy's fries. They have a perfect ratio of fluffy potato to crispy exterior.

Reply
\"user-pic\"
tape
January 28, 2009 10:33 PM
Moderate |Flag for review

@Ratty: you're telling me that they are people that not only drink Coke Zero, but enjoy it?

Reply
\"user-pic\"
Smashville
January 29, 2009 3:25 AM
Moderate |Flag for review

@tape: That's weird? Everyone I know drinks Coke Zero...

Reply
\"user-pic\"
Rectilinear Propagation
January 29, 2009 1:49 PM
Moderate |Flag for review

@Smashville: Yeah, my mom likes it too. I don't but that's because I don't like Coke at all.

Reply
\"user-pic\"
JamieSueAustin
January 29, 2009 12:31 AM
Moderate |Flag for review

@tape: I do. Not sure what's wrong with me...

Reply
\"user-pic\"
SJActress
January 28, 2009 8:30 PM
Moderate |Flag for review

@Ratty:

Their fries taste like salted, soggy cardboard...even my DOG won't eat them anymore...

I miss trans-fats.

Reply
\"user-pic\"
Corporate-Shill
January 29, 2009 12:14 AM
Moderate |Flag for review

@SJActress:


How dare you try to pawn off those crappy french fries on your dog. Shame on you. Shame.

Reply
","
\"user-pic\"
MonkeyButt
January 28, 2009 8:10 PM
Moderate |Flag for review

The same thing has happened to me the last 5 or so times I've gone to McDonalds. \"Medium or Large\" um... small? Or \"would you like to make that a Large?\" no... and then they make it a medium. I've since started ordering happy meals, which only come with 1 size drink..and a toy for my dog or husband.

Reply
","
\"user-pic\"
cunninglinguine
January 28, 2009 8:11 PM
Moderate |Flag for review

Biggest fast food scam I've ever seen (and it's widespread): The menus say \"Upsize your combo to large for only 89 cents!\" (customize to fit your local chain). You order a combo that is normally $3.89 for example and ask for it to be large.

$3.89 + .89 = $4.78.

Factor in your local sales tax (say, 7%):

$4.78 * 1.07 = $5.11.

Get to window, they charge you $5.76. No, you say, it shouldn't be that much. \"Sales tax.\" Wrong, it should be $5.11.

After arguing with many, many managers, it turns out they always charge you full price for the drink, even though the menu says otherwise.

I've had that happen to me at McDonalds, Burger King, Wendy's, Del Taco, and Taco Bell. All over the country.

Beware of scams (and idiots who can't do basic math).

Reply
","","","
\"user-pic\"
Cat_In_A_Hat
January 28, 2009 8:27 PM
Moderate |Flag for review

I wonder what would happen if all fast food restauraunts only offered one standard size to help slim down America. Would people revolt? 42oz is a whole lot of cola.

Reply
","","
\"user-pic\"
ManiacDan
January 28, 2009 8:28 PM
Moderate |Flag for review

The Wendy's by me has been doing this for years. I think it's because the associates are trained to say \"Would you like to upgrade to a medium or a large?\" but they're lazy so they truncate it to just \"medium or large.\" How many times have you actually heard the whole sentence \"Would you like fries with that?\" from a drive-through window? Normally it's either \"FRIES!?\" or \"wanna combo?\"

I don't think this is insidious, but Wendy's definitely needs to take steps to train their people to make it clear both are an upgrade.

Though some of the confusion is actually from other companies making \"medium\" the smallest size.

Reply
","","","","
\"user-pic\"
You-Me-Us
January 28, 2009 9:13 PM
Moderate |Flag for review

Years ago I called up one of the big pizza chains and ordered a medium pizza. I was told that they didn't have a medium pizza, only \"small, large, and extra-large.\"

You don't want to hear about the argument that ensued.

Reply
","","","","
\"user-pic\"
Anonymous
January 28, 2009 9:32 PM
Moderate |Flag for review

I've noticed that Burger King is doing the same thing, they only ask me if I want the combo in Medium or Large, prompting an almost automatic response of \"medium\".

Reply
","
\"user-pic\"
Anonymous
January 28, 2009 9:33 PM
Moderate |Flag for review

My biggest complaint with Wendys is the ICE. I did medium size my drink and fries last time and was able to drink my coke dry by the time they brought me my fries. I got a refill at the drive in. And usually when I'm inside and get a refill they ask if I want more ice. Do they really save that much money by adding all that ice? Still not as bad as the crushed Ice at Sonic. There isn't 6 ounces of actual coke in that large cup.

Reply
","","","","","","
\"user-pic\"
Giolon
January 28, 2009 9:43 PM
Moderate |Flag for review

I fell victim to this the last time I went to Wendy's. I'm on my guard next time.

Reply
","","","
\"user-pic\"
danno5-0
January 28, 2009 9:56 PM
Moderate |Flag for review

IMO,same thing with Dominos Pizza. The smallest pizza they make is their \"medium,\" next is their \"large\" (medium), followed by extra large (large). The bottom line is, what you call something is meaningless so long as it confuses the consumer and fattens your margins.

Reply
","
\"user-pic\"
Blue
January 28, 2009 10:00 PM
Moderate |Flag for review

This has pissed me off for years. This approach is so underhanded and shifty. It shows such a lack of respect for the people who love and consume their products every day.

I once conerned an wendy's executive who was visiting the restuarant I was at. He was very interested in my feedback and contiuneud to repeat that cashiers are not meaning to decieve the customers, they say this to speed up the proccess. He was so pleasant, i bought all his bullshit. Nothing every changed. I wish i got his phone number.

Reply
","
\"user-pic\"
cwk5014
January 28, 2009 10:11 PM
Moderate |Flag for review

\"Can I get a small #6, no mayo, and the drink will be Coke.\" Easy enough.

Reply
","
\"user-pic\"
chuckv
January 28, 2009 10:12 PM
Moderate |Flag for review

Can I still have my meal dimp-a-sized for 50 cents more?

Reply
","
\"user-pic\"
ludwigk
January 28, 2009 10:17 PM
Moderate |Flag for review

I noticed something similar at KFC, when I went to get some popcorn chicken. They only have two sizes: \"Large\" and \"Family\". So when I asked for a \"large\" popcorn chicken, the cashier asks me, \"You know that the \"large\" is the small one.\"

And I said \"yes, I want the \"large\" one.\" We were *this close* to having our own kentucky-fried version of \"Whose on first\".

Reply
","
\"user-pic\"
Jason Peek
January 28, 2009 10:22 PM
Moderate |Flag for review

I want to clear something up about Wendy's.
The proper asking questions is \"Would you like that Small, Medium, or Large?\" anything outside of that is wrong.
Also the drink sizes for Soft Drinks are as follows.
Kids - 12oz
Vaule - 16oz
Small - 20oz
Med. - 30oz
Lrg - 40oz

they are not 32 or 42 just to be clear.

the frosty sizes are as follows

kids - 6oz
small - 12oz
med. - 16oz
lrg - 20oz
you can get larger ones but they vary from store to store.

I hope that clears things up.

no one else knows what they're talking about.

Reply
","","","
\"user-pic\"
lalaland13
January 28, 2009 10:24 PM
Moderate |Flag for review

Here they ask if I want a medium or large, but I've been onto them a while and just say, \"No thanks.\" The \"small\" fries are plenty.

Reply
","
\"user-pic\"
zinzarin
January 28, 2009 10:27 PM
Moderate |Flag for review

This is actually a classic sales technique. The theory is that you never ask a question that could be answered \"NO.\" So, instead of asking \"Would you like to super size that?\" they ask \"Medium or Large?\" If \"No\" is not an option, most people won't go 'out of the box' and choose \"No\" as the answer.

A friend of mine, when selling chocolate bars for high school band fundraisers, would knock doors and instead of asking \"Would you like to buy a chocolate bar for my fundraiser?\" he'd ask \"Would you like to buy one or two chocolate bars for my fundraiser?\" He was the top seller in the band.

Reply
","","","","","","","
\"user-pic\"
satindevil
January 28, 2009 10:34 PM
Moderate |Flag for review

I stopped going to the Wendy's here a long time ago... they have got to have the worst customer service I've ever had! One night, my roommate and I drove through the drive-through to take advantage of Wendy's being open late. We sat there waiting for someone to take our order for a solid five or ten minutes - never even got a \"be right with you\" or anything to that extent. We tried talking to the speaker and asking if someone was there to take our order (as the drive-through line kept stacking up behind us with other cars). Nothing.

Finally, my roommate gets fed up and asks me what the fuck is going on. Apparently, the lady behind the speaker, who had spent awhile listening to and subsequently ignoring us, decided to pipe in at that moment to let us know that she didn't appreciate that sort of language.

As we were sitting there waiting the whole time, at least five cars left the line after becoming tired of waiting, most of them giving the drive-through window the finger on their way out of the lot. We ended up being car #6 - and gave McDonald's our business, instead. That Big Mac meal was better than Wendy's soggy cold fries any day.

Reply
","
\"user-pic\"
davidc
January 28, 2009 10:42 PM
Moderate |Flag for review

Carl's Jr does that as well. They adertise the \"small\" combo on the menu, then when you order, they ask: \"Medium or Large\" ... to which I always say: \"Small\".

I think most of them are doing this now.

Reply
","","
\"user-pic\"
HogwartsAlum
January 28, 2009 10:49 PM
Moderate |Flag for review

Usually, I don't get combos anywhere, except the Happy Meal at McD's. I just buy a sandwich and maybe a side and take it home.

At Wendy's I always get a small chili and a potato and it's about $2.25 or so. Then I go home and drink milk with it. It's a little healthier. Their chili is still pretty damn good.

Reply
","
\"user-pic\"
MaytagRepairman
January 28, 2009 10:58 PM
Moderate |Flag for review

Fries aren't the only combo meal option at Wendys. What if you chose a baked potato or a side salad with your combo and then go medium or large? Those don't come in different sizes as far as I know??? Do they partially up charge for the bigger drink?

Reply
","
\"user-pic\"
CaptRavis
January 28, 2009 11:18 PM
Moderate |Flag for review

\"Kobayashi Maru drink option\"; a no-win situation designed to increase profit. I believe the only way to win is to cheat...or just repeat \"I said combo meal\"

Reply
","
\"user-pic\"
Mobius
January 28, 2009 11:21 PM
Moderate |Flag for review

Please note that the Value Menu chicken nuggets for 99 cents used to include 5 nuggets. Now, they only include 4. That's a pretty steep price increase per nugget in one fell swoop.

Reply
","","","","
\"user-pic\"
audemars
January 28, 2009 11:28 PM
Moderate |Flag for review

Why do we complain about grocery items shrinking...and then complain about fast food items growing?

Reply
","
\"user-pic\"
mykie
January 28, 2009 11:31 PM
Moderate |Flag for review

Whenever I order drinks at fast food places (Which is NEVER), I always ask for it in terms of ounces. I got into this habit because of Jack In The Boxes rapidly increasing vat of soda. Really, a 32oz medium? I'm not trying to be diabetic by sundown.

The problem is, the employees don't even know their own sizes most of the time.

\"I'd like a 20oz Coke, please\"
\"uh, is that a large?\"
\"I don't know, I don't work there.\"
\"Small, Medium, or Large?\"
\"Whichever one is 20oz.\"

Reply
","","","
\"user-pic\"
TruthosaurusRex
January 29, 2009 12:01 AM
Moderate |Flag for review

They should just be honest and say \"Do you want a BMI of 18, 25, or 400 with that?\"

Reply
","
\"user-pic\"
Corporate-Shill
January 29, 2009 12:12 AM
Moderate |Flag for review

Those Wendy's Medium Cups do not fit into the cup holder of full size American Made sedan.


Learned my leason the first time the window clerk scammed me on the Medium upsize. Won't make that mistake again.


PS: Wendy's small is a 20 or 24oz cup. Darn big enough.

Reply
","","","","","","","","","
\"user-pic\"
thrid001
January 29, 2009 1:30 AM
Moderate |Flag for review

Any good solid employee SHOULD do this. If you want something else be prepared to ask for it. I also think a waitress should say, would you like a Absolut or Grey Goose when you order a vodka martini. Upselling is an employees OBLIGATION. If you aren't say no thanks I want a small, then maybe you should be making your own food at home.

Reply
","","","","","","
\"user-pic\"
Anonymous
January 29, 2009 5:43 AM
Moderate |Flag for review

The Wendy's near my house actually goes a step further. Even if you ask for a small combo, when you drive up to the pay window, 9 times out of 10, they tell you that they're \"out of small cups.\"

Then again, this same place accepted only debit cards until just about a month ago.

Store location: Mathilda Ave, Sunnyvale, CA.

Reply
","","","
\"user-pic\"
Trojan69
January 29, 2009 8:03 AM
Moderate |Flag for review

Here is the latest Wendy's scam - a 50 cent surcharge if you choose a baked potato on a combo. There is no indication, NONE, on the menu/price boards. The potato is clearly depicted as a combo option. I ask the manager where a surcharge is suggested and she admits there is nothing a customer can see, until the receipt is printed. This particular store has also stopped heating and a/c. When cold, the inside temp is below 65; when warm, the temp is above 78. If one complains, one is told that the temp is controlled off site by the district manager.

I've called the national comment line several times and the explanation I get is that a franchisee can pretty much do whatever s/he wants.

I will say I was able to witness some sweet karma. On a weekday a couple weeks ago, from 12:25 - 12:50 pm, the primest of prime lunch time, I was the only customer they had.

Reply
","
\"user-pic\"
JGBrock
January 29, 2009 1:35 PM
Moderate |Flag for review

This is hardly new. For years, fast food places and theaters have been changing the names to either get you to order the larger size by mistake or embarass you into upsizing by giving the smaller sizes names like \"tiny\" or \"little girl size\"

Reply
","","","
\"user-pic\"
HotTubber
January 29, 2009 2:17 PM
Moderate |Flag for review

Here in upstate NY, the Wendy's always ask, \"medium or large?\"
I just make it a point to request a small soda. KFC around here is doing the same thing now, too.

Reply
","
\"user-pic\"
winstonthorne
January 29, 2009 2:24 PM
Moderate |Flag for review

\"Want me to punch-a-size your face for free?\"

Reply
","
\"user-pic\"
Tom_Servo
January 29, 2009 2:29 PM
Moderate |Flag for review

I love Wendy's, the one by my house is excellent and they have always asked 'would you like that medium or large' as they are the two choices from the default size.

It's very easy, when they say 'Would you like that medium or large?' you simply reply 'no thank you' and then they prepare it small.

I don't think that is hard or confusing?

Reply
","","","
\"user-pic\"
the_mdg
January 29, 2009 8:46 PM
Moderate |Flag for review

I used to always forget that at Wendy's the small size drink & fries is plenty for me. I would order the medium and realize that it is just a bit too much. It is sad that they only prominently display the words \"Medium\" and \"Large\" (at my location anyway). They probably hope people will fall for the old adage, \"What you see is what you get.\"

Reply
","
\"user-pic\"
stlbud
January 30, 2009 4:32 PM
Moderate |Flag for review

Hardee's has been doing this for months. I spoke with the regional manager and got no where. I really hate this. The poor schmuck at the window isn't responsible but will always be the first person I growl at when they try this stunt on me. Then I apologize and suggest they find work with a company that doesn't try to cheat customers.

Reply
","
\"user-pic\"
mari2314
October 7, 2009 3:21 AM
Moderate |Flag for review

I'm a manager there, and I agree, the sizing is stupid. corporate sent out a letter to all the stores a few months ago because of customer complaints about medium and large sizing combos. The proper question at that time was \"would you like to make that a medium or a large size today?\"
however we are now supposed to ask \"would that be small, medium, or large?\"


i hate it when the till people/speaker people get lazy, then customers get mad :(

Reply
");