Funds for Fast Food
I would like to start a new charity called ‘Funds for Fast Food’.
Here in Toronto, the city of Fine Dining, there is a desperate need to subsidize what USED to be a cheap meal. Recent experiences have led me to conclude that we, the consumers are continually being conned into thinking we are getting deal – when you in fact we are not!
They have it ALL figured out I tell you. Decrease the GST and raise the base price! Raise the price and then offer a sale to the discounted…ORIGINAL price for Boxing Day! Well I have news for you corporations…we are ON to your scams and we will change our behaviour (eventually) to reap greater rewards. Now for the practical examples. Recently my friend, Michelle accompanied by her sister, went to McDonald’s for a little treat . Being frugal and conscious of their helpings, they ordered a nuggets kids meal. Cost?
“$5.69”
I beg your pardon?
The sisters pulled out of the drive-through and went inside, assuming the drive-thru employees had been participating in a scam and determined to seek them out. Michelle reiterated her order to the counter cashier. Cost?
“$5.69” Umm. She paused innocently (I can imagine her eyebrows now raised and her glasses sliding down the bridge of her nose)
“Take out the toy.” She concluded. The cashier removed the toy and returned with cookies.
“$5.69” she said.
“I don’t want the cookies. Take back the cookies and take back the orange soda and give me an apple juice instead, please.” Michelle at this point probably nods her head in assurance at her sister, until the lady announces,
“You have to take the cookies. If you don’t take the toy, you have to take the cookies…and its $5.69”
Michelle: “Isn’t there a dollar menu?”
Oh Michelle. Don’t let those American commercials fool you! They may not show them during the Super Bowl game – but any other time is fair play! Did I also mention that the customer service is not quite up-to-par? The higher the prices, the worse the service…well not as bad as at Timmie’s but that is another story.
I am still laughing at Michelle’s attempt to lower the price of the meal, and the daft staff member who failed to see in advance what the customer was attempting to achieve. This could have all been prevented at the very beginning by the disclaimer “This meal is an as-is item. No substitutions allowed.” But hey, I worked at the place…everyone knows the combo is on one button.
And now on to the next culprit. My friends. WHY is the un-popular hot wings meal at Kentucky FRIED Chicken ( oh – I’m sorry I mean KFC) over $7.00? Five chicken wings, two fries and a drink!
My better half and I pulled up to the drive-thru on Sunday afternoon – hoping to pick up a quick mid day snack at a cheap cost (since it was just the two of us) – we ordered 2 hot-wings combos and an extra piece of chicken on the side. The price?
A whopping $17.00 ( and some odd ends!) Can you believe this? I thought I was going to fall out of my mini van! I never thought I’d have to choose between fast food and a large butter chicken, with fresh naan from Shan E Darbar. Who knew?
I am still impressed by our continued patience. We have the option to walk away (or drive away) – and seek another place to spend our well earned dollar. Yet 30 seconds later, and still in shock after the drive-thru window descended, Hubby asked them to raise the window again so that he could ask the million dollar question…
“How much was that extra piece of chicken?”
Denise DaCosta
