The Expensive Fast Food Experience

Do you know what I hate?

I hate how expensive the fast food experience is.  

With my wife now working and me getting home late, or me having to coach a baseball or hockey tea, dinner is too often a take-out family affair.

For reference, I live in Toronto, and as such, if anyone is from somewhere else, you may not recognize a few of the fast food franchises I mention - but I'm sure you'll still get it.

Over the past month, we've had: McDonald's, Wendy's, Harvey's, Subway, Mr. Sub, Momma's Pizza, Popeye's, Chinese and Thai food, Fat Bastard's, KFC and even Taco Bell - all from local quickie restaurants.

Holy crud… that's horrible when you write it all out knowing secretly that you visited some more than just once.

Aside from gaining the best bang for my buck from the Chinese take-out knowing that I have left overs for at least another four total plates, I was surprised that the next biggest value came from KFC, which was less expensive than all others (including the Chinese restaurant), and left me with enough leftovers for a single satisfying lunch. Their soft drink selection is not my personal favorite, however. Coca-Cola, please.

At least I had vegetables with the Chinese food. I don't think all those secret spices and herbs or French fries count via KFC.

It is true… I could have had salads at any of these places, but I am an omnivore, and where possible, I prefer meat with my meals.

Besides, just listening to my wife complain, every time she's tried to order the salad she wants from a fast food outlet, she's told they are out of the salad she wants… once, twice, sure… but every time? This has happened at McDonald's and once at Wendy's a year ago.

It's like some franchisees must not be ordering every standard item in order to save money should it not sell in time. In this case, it's McDonald's, and it happens more often than it should at two nearby Etobicoke locations.

I mentioned KFC… excluding the last time I visited the nearby restaurant near the Kipling subway station, I've had to sit and wait nearly 30 minutes for my order, which isn't overly complicated, but invariably ends up wrong. And after 30 minutes.

For the record, I have been to McDonald's restaurants where if I had to wait five minutes, they would apologize and slip me a voucher for something free next time, or tell me that they added a couple of free apple pies to my order. Those franchises are top-notch.

But KFC… at least that one place… never. Not so much as an apology… not so much as eye contact… not so much as McDonald's.... though my last visit to McDonald's to get a small order of Chicken McNuggets meant that they forgot to put in my plum/sweet & sour sauce... meaning I would have had it eat it dry.... luckily I had a bottle of plum sauce at home. 

I once went to a KFC/Taco Bell in my neighborhood... arriving at at 10 minutes to 6PM, waited five minutes and got the bucket of chicken and order of Taco Bell for the kid. Five minutes. They were friendly, and actually apologized for my wait. So I know real fast food service does exist.

In the past, I have waited over 25 minutes for order, so the term fast food doesn't always apply here. And, that five minute KFC order is certainly NOT the norm at that particular restaurant. It's NOT the line-up... though I have found the staff to be a little slow in taking the orders... rather it's the fact that they run out of chicken, and are in the midst of deep frying more. Chicken... it's part of the name... Kentucky Fried Chicken. Always have plenty ready for the lunch and dinner crowds!

That particular KFC outlet did have 'Help Wanted' signs up on the windows looking for staff and upper and middle-management… so that means the old guard is out, and hopefully this current and new guard helps dawn a new day at KFC. Fast food! Or at least faster food!

At the local Harvey's burger place, we receive exemplary and friendly service - so much so that my son even commented on it to me afterwards. I went back alone to the place the following weekend, saw the young woman who helped me and told her what my son  said… and whether it was true or not, she said she recalls he and I coming in last week. I have a recognizable face and voice, so it is possible.

Actually, my wife went in once to the same location (My son and I were still at a baseball game), and the clerk at Harvey's asked if she was also going to order a meal for her son and husband, implying she knew us! She was, and knew what I wanted on my burger without much prompting from my wife. Now that's service!

Still… despite her great service at Harvey's... and the points I can earn for free tickets to the movies... cost-wise it wasn't exactly a bargain. Don't get me wrong… aside from those useless fried pickles (burned) and their hopeless onion rings (what the hell is that coating?!), Harvey's has a tasty menu…but I just wish it was more affordable. 
 
Subway… I don't know when the malaise set in… perhaps when you let anyone become a franchise owner… but artiste's your sandwich makers are not. Are they all now franchisee-owned? Now every place is run by an entire family... which can be either great or terrible depending on the customer service level of the family.

On the negative Subway franchise, one practically has to beg to get a few more black olives tossed on, as each artiste seems to only be artistic at being parsimonious (stingy) with the toppings. Except for the salt and pepper… just one shake across, not back and forth and back again.

Still… for a sandwich made by an artist who may be artistic in a different medium (like having a BA in psychology or political science - useless... I know, I have one), the prices for the meal are high enough to leave me hungry. Especially a couple of hours later. My wife swears her bread wasn't fresh. Eat fresh… sure… maybe at noon.

As for the rest… the complaints aren't long, except that they seem pricey. Okay… maybe not Mamma's Pizza. But man can not live on pizza and wings alone every day. I know… I've tried.

At Popeyes… I think the biggest problem I, and my 149 IQ have, is that the menu is the most scattered piece of crap I have ever seen.

Maybe it's different in the U.S., but the only one I've been to in Etobicoke seems to have a menu that never matches exactly what the current ads on television are showing.

Popeye's used to have a shrimp po boy sandwich that was decent, but I think it went extinct from their menu. It's not clear what sides they have nor how they can be applied to the order. The food is good, but heavy on the battered skin. Which is fine… but, dahlin', I'm not even sure if there's skin under all that crunchy stuff.

Again… while service is always easy to critique for any of these fast food places, I have seen improvement in some, and not in others. I assume the workers are doing their best.

One of the biggest issues I have with fast food restaurants, is them actually getting my order filled correctly.

I would say roughly 100 percent of the time, my order from the Chinese and Thai restaurants and Harvey's and Momma's Pizza are done correctly.

The rest of the restaurants are a real crap shoot - especially when using the drive thru at say… McDonald's… I'd say we're at an 85% clip of getting things right… a percentage that is helped along by the morning crew which seems to do a fantastic job.  

But that's not even the issue. Fast food restaurants original claim to fame was to provide quick, and easy foods at affordable prices… and every year they all continue to falter at one of those three key things.

Quick? Easy? Affordable?

Quick and easy, sure. When my order is correct.


But affordable, not so much.

Instead, what I am finding more affordable, and ust as tasty, and perhaps even healthier (depends on the salt values), is the ready-made meal in a package… or even the in-store grocery meals... like what I can find at President's Choice (loblaws), for example.

They sell a cooked BBQ'd chicken… that's under $10 and there's enough for a total of six to eight meals. We can add our own veggies or we can purchased something made by the grocery store's kitchen.

Granted some grocery stores have far better in-store kitchens than others, so caveat emptor. Let the buyer beware.

The meals from the chain grocery stores are decidedly tastier, timelier and far more affordable than damn near anything else out there. Again... this is because of our evening sports schedule.

The grocery store pre-made meals might even be healthier than the fast food restaurant stuff, but I don't have any nutritional data to back any of that up. I'm looking for convenience and affordability.

The healthiest just might be Subway... but with a hungry kid, $30 for our dinner seems like a lot of money - especially when I'm still hungry afterwards.

I'm not anti-fast food here. I enjoy the cuisine… and while I can appreciate the fact that there are higher costs for ingredients, employees, rent, electrical and heat and all the incidentals, I really do have concerns that one of the hallmarks of fast food convenience—affordability—is going the way of the dodo.

So, with a caveat…

Do you know what I hate?

I hate how expensive the fast food experience is... oh... and getting my order wrong, too.

Photo by Oliver Sjöström on Unsplash

 

Poor Customer Service

Here there be: good customer service!!!

Do you know what I hate?

Poor customer service.

I'm a working stiff. I don't just sit on my ass writing these blogs. I do that in my free time. For me - just as it is for you, time is money. And, when I have the time to spend my money, I want to be treated like I matter.

Everybody wants to matter.

For this blog entry, I am going to give you a couple of examples of extremely poor customer service, and come right back with a pair of extremely good customer service examples.

Fair is foul, and foul is fair, right... particularly since I bastardize Shakespeare in the blog description right under the main title.

I am going to write about some Toronto area places. It may not mean anything to you living in another country, but it will help you decide if YOU are getting effective customer service or merely being served one up the butt.

I am going to write about McDonald's, Kentucky Fried Chicken (KFC) and LEGO. I actually do like all of their products. However...

Perhaps one of the worst places I have every been "served" has to be the KFC (Kentucky Fried Chicken) outlet located on Dundas just north of the Kipling train station here in good old Toronto. I know the exact location doesn't mean anything to most of you global visitors, but perhaps someone from KFC will take notice and come down with the wrath of Harland on their collective ass.

Considering Colonel Harland David Sanders was a southern gentleman (or so he appeared), it might come as a shock to discover that one of the franchises bearing his shortened kid-friendly name (KFC) has, what can only be described as, deplorable customer service.

And not just once or twice, either... but every single time my wife goes there... which I am sorry to say may be never again. Which sucks, because I do love the seven herbs and spices!

All my wife wants when she goes there is thighs. Not three or four, sometimes not even two... one will do... but at this particular restaurant that has been in the area for at least 39 years - that's how long I have lived here (and longer - I'm sure there was a Scott's Chicken Villa there as a sit-in family restaurant there before that!)... the customer is not always allowed to purchase the meal they want.

On two separate occasions different staff told my wife that it would be 10 minutes before they had her thigh (singular) ready. Fifteen minutes passed. and when my wife inquired, the staff member then went to check in at the back where the chicken is prepared and came out seconds later to state that they do not have any more thighs.

Do you offer thighs for sale at KFC? Yes. Do you always have some ready considering they seem to be a popular item? No. And that's fine. It's not acceptable, but at least I, as a consumer, understand that a popular item may sell out. But does KFC understand supply and demand? Apparently not at this store. 

Now... real customer service would involve everybody coming over to apologize and to offer something for free - as a way to soothe any possible ruffled feathers. But not at this KFC! Nope. Not only did no one offer any gift certificate of free coleslaw or a bottle of pop or heck - a couple of free pieces of chicken - but no one actually offered an apology. Zip. Nada. Nothing.

KFC sucks! Or at least this store does.

Another downer of a place to visit is the McDonald's just west of the Kipling station on the south side of Dundas. In fact... it's about 200 meters west of the aforementioned KFC. Must be some sort of nexus of poor social skills.

Now... I can't say enough positive things about the friendliness of the drive-through staff who take my order. Fantastic!

No mater what, I always get a warm greeting, am asked how I am doing and even have them wait for my answer. They then ask for my order - all done with polite efficiency. I pay at the first window, and move along to the second to get my food.

And that's when it all falls apart.

The young lady who serves me doesn't say a word as she opens the window and hands me my drink. It doesn't matter that I say thank-you as she does so. There is no vocalized sound from her. No twinkling of the eyes. No smile. The drive-thru window slams shut in my face as I await the food, which does quickly comes. I know they don't want car exhaust fumes in their face - that's fine - but still... aside from physically handing me my drink, I have received no indication that I even exist in her world.

Now... was this just a solitary incident? No. I go there at least once a week, and five times in a row, I was 'lucky' enough to be served by her. Wait... it gets better...

The drive-thru window opens up again, and without even seeing if I am paying attention (I usually am), I see her arms thrust out with my bags of food. There is still no vocalization from her. Now I know she can talk because after I quickly say thank-you again (previous time was for the drink), the window is closed again... but not before I hear her yell to one of her co-workers that she is going on a break in 15 minutes.

Apparently forgotten again because she will soon have her break, I place my food on my car seat beside me and hand my son his Happy Meal. By the way, my son always likes the chicken nuggets, but not once has he ever received a dipping sauce... in fact, not once have I ever been asked if I want one or even what flavor might I want. For shame!

Regarding the non-communicative sales clerk at the drive-thru... well, I  can't blame it on the cool weather now hitting Toronto. This has happened a few times before through the summer.

She's just a miserable bitch, and I hate that McDonald's.

I could hate just her, but whomever the manager is has not trained her either, and bears a load of responsibility there. Surely someone observes her interaction - or rather, lack of interaction - with the customers. Surely someone can say something, anything to make her greet the customer as though they matter.

It sucks to not matter... I mean, this is McDonald's!

I've seen some great customer service - like the uber-friendly woman at the drive through at the McDonald's in Brampton on Highway 10 just south of Steeles!

I once asked her to call her manager and told her just how impressed I was with her and her manners, and told him he should watch himself because she should be a manager there one day. He laughed and smiled and agreed with my assessment, wished me a wonderful day and said he hoped to see me again soon.

Now that was customer service. Plus... they always got my order 100% correct. Always. Fifty-two times a year. Sometimes more if I'm getting a breakfast on the way to a magazine interview!

See? This McDonald's I love. It's a pity it's not near me and even a greater pity that not all McDonald's are created equal.

That was a bad and a good description for the same company.

Now, let me mention the final good example of customer service:  The LEGO store over at Sherway Gardens in Toronto.

I do go there often, and I do spend a few bucks there. Probably more than I should.

But proving that a little kindness goes a long way, the staff at this particular store are simply the best. Belinda, Geoff, Tyler, Shannon, Michael, Jason, Lisa, Randa, another Geoff ... cripes, I'm afraid I've left others out - but just know, I have received nothing but stellar support, service and friendship from every single person who works at this store!

With my 6-year-old son in tow, we visit at least once a week. Granted we are smiling and polite - but I am all the time regardless of where I am. ... but the LEGO staff are courteous beyond belief.

They come out from their break or from the back office to say hello to my son and I. We get personal service like we are best friends - and it's not just for me - though I think I do get some preferential treatment - but they are great to everyone.

My wife went into the shop before Christmas looking for a particular item for our son. My wife doesn't like crowded stores at Christmas, and she has no interest in LEGO either, so this may have been one of her first times in this shop.

The first person she sees greeted her with a smile and a hello. After a few moments of not being able to find the LEGO product I told her to get, she asked a LEGO store employee for help (taller Geoff, I believe). She said that her husband (me) may have asked that the store put away a product for us.

I've never done that, but the LEGO store employee asked what her husband's name was.

She began: "Andrew - " and didn't need to finish...

"Ohhh! Andrew and Hudson (my son)!"

My wife was flabbergasted and nodded a yes, making a mental note to lambaste me over my obviously excessive purchasing practices at this store.

While there was nothing there in my name or anywhere in the store's inventory, the LEGO employee went that extra mile.

"Let me check with our other Toronto store."  

One of what we were looking for was there, it was put aside for us, and lo and behold when my wife drove out to that other store, it was indeed waiting for us allowing for our son to have a merry, if not some-what spoiled Christmas. 

I can't even begin to tell you how many times I have recommended this shop to other adults! If I wanted, I could tell my friends to inform the LEGO staff they are friends of mine - but it wouldn't  matter. Fast, efficient, knowledgeable, friendly service from people who like what they are doing. Kudos have to go management for looking for the right fit like a building block.

The LEGO shop in Toronto's west end rocks! Tell them you know me. Not that it matters. They know what customer service is!

Still... McDonald's and KFC... do you know what I hate?

Poor customer service.