Why would a fast food restaurant not tell you about specials at the point of sale?
Asked by
jca2 (
16826
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1 month ago
I went to Panera last weekend, for the first time in a long time. I’m a member of their club, whatever you call it. I haven’t been there in a long time partly because their prices went up but I was with my daughter and her two friends and their mom, and the kids wanted to go there so we went.
After I ordered our lunch (two bowls of soup, $10 each, which I think is expensive for fast food but whatever), I asked the cashier if I have any deals (which they can see on the computer, when I give my club card). She said no. Ok, so I paid the 20 dollars for two bowls of soup.
When I got home that night, reading my emails I saw an email from Panera that said “buy one, get one for $5. I was annoyed that there was nothing in the store that said “club members get buy one, get one $5” and nothing from when I entered my card at the cash register. The email was from the night before so the deal was present when I was present in the store.
Is there a reason you can think of why they wouldn’t have specials at the point of sale, and only on email?
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7 Answers
Maybe the cashier/sever was new and scared to death to mention it? To prove it just ask for a different amount of change, then what they had planned, and they will give the stunned paralyzed animal in the headlights look.
I was embarrassed to say if you would like our (insert special here) as there was a slur around the whole, “would you like fries with that?”
I’m sure that if you keep the receipt, and show the manager that they will, most likely, make it right.
Kids working the counter
A. Don’t give a shit
B. may have no idea how to access the deal
C. May have instructions not to honor it unless that specific deal is brought up.
D. You may only get the deal through the web or some app. It’s not a deal, they want your data.
The fast food model is almost dead, and it could not come soon enough. Why would you pay their prices when the ma-and-pop establishments across the street cost the same, provide a better product and give you actual service.
I am member of several restaurant “Clubs”, you have to order on the app or on-line to get the “Special”.
I don’t about your case.
Cashiers aren’t waiters. Their job is to dumbly take money. Their job is not to educate or inform.
Miscommunication and poor management. When I worked in a deli I was never told about the text offers/discounts that were available to customers. That information fell on my manager who should have told me. He never did.
It’s sad to see some of you blaming the person who makes minimum wage.
I assume the cashier didn’t know or doesn’t care or wasn’t trained to help or isn’t too bright.
Most likely other customers were using the coupon, which means she could have told you to check your emails because there was a recent coupon. Possibly, she hadn’t encountered the coupon yet, that’s possible. Or, the coupons might not go to everyone, it might be targeted to people who haven’t gone to Panera in a while.
If it’s close to your house you could probable get a credit if you want to bother. Driving there might cost you $2—$4 in gas round trip though.
Edit: I was emailed the coupon too. I haven’t been to Panera in about a year, so it still could be that it is sent to everyone or just people who haven’t been in a long time.
Just ask when you get to the window, especially if you are 50 or over; most all of them have specials for “seniors” and they do not advertise it at all. At one time two (that I know of) charged nothing for coffee for seniors.
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