General Cycling Discussion - Sounds like Carl Jr's is at it again

For those of you who remember Joe Gardner's fun times at Carl Jr's, this should sound somewhat familiar. This time a rider went through the drive thru and got hassled by the manager at a Carl Jr's in CA. Here's the thread on the MTBR SS board
http://www.mtbreview.com/messageboard2/cgi-bin/dcforum/dcboard.cgi?az=show_thread&omm=0&om=2531&forum=DCForumID1

I can't see a legitimate reason not to let bikers go through the drive thru - especially when they won't let them bring their bike inside (don't want to rehash that topic though). The only thing I can possibly see them claiming is some sort of safety issue which I personally don't buy. One of the things on the original post, which I suppose is why I said they are at it again, is it sounds like the manager "got pissy" with the customer when the customer told him he goes through the drive through regularly. Granted, we only have one side of the story here, but if it is to be believed then it sounds as if the customer service attitude is once again lacking.

Plus, I just wanted to get everyone all riled up at Carl Jr's again!!!:D

Carl Jr's is scum.

Chris

In this competitive world, no business can afford to be pissy with any customer for any reason.

I rarely see a fast food place without a competitor within view. Unless you can't live without a Carl's Jr. burger, slide up the street and get a Whopper. The store that turns your crank best gets your business.

That said, it is effective to make your voice heard with a letter. A letter explaining your gripes is 1000 times more effective than just switching to another supplier.

Let's keep doing it. Let's complain ourselves toward a more perfect world.

All the tellers at my Credit Union are used to seeing me in the drive through (on bike) - I think they enjoy the change in pace - or they figure I'm a flipping looney.

Instead of Carl's Junior, try your LBS (Local Burger Stand that is). OOOh root beer spins, scotch and sodas, cherry coke, onion rings, tater tots and fry sauce. Walk up window service is where it's at!

Originally posted by Ba-Dg-Er


Most fast food restaurants fit this description... as a side note I think it's also one of the more often used items in their hamburgers

That may be the funniest thing I hear today. You are a legend!

Chris

Lots of places especially in criminally active towns like Kansas City close their dining rooms at, say, 9 or 10 PM, but leave the drive-thrus open. Does this mean that unless you drive a car, you are not allowed to eat there after 9 or 10 PM?

Isn't that called discrimination?

No, I guess not, since it favors motorists.

Originally posted by JonR

Isn't that called discrimination?

No, I guess not, since it favors motorists.

Apparently discrimination is OK if you discriminate against certain people or certain groups.

Chris

Originally posted by Chris L


Apparently discrimination is OK if you discriminate against certain people or certain groups.

Chris
Of course it is! Especially when those groups dress funny, zip easily through congested traffic, and are more fit at 40 that most people were at 15. It's the American way!

Originally posted by mike
That said, it is effective to make your voice heard with a letter. A letter explaining your gripes is 1000 times more effective than just switching to another supplier.


Mike makes a good point. My wife and I went to a new PF Chang's restaurant last week and the service and professionalism of the wait staff was terrible. When I got home I sent an eMail detailing my experience - both the good food and the bad service. I immediately received a response that my concerns were being forwarded to the regional manager. He responded within a day without making excuses. He said we were absolutely right about our issues and this was not the type of service they want to present. He then sent me certificates for a meal on him and ask us to give them another try.

That is good customer service. Don't alienate customers if they have a legitimate concern. Also, quoting company policy is the least effective way to make a customer happy.

Originally posted by Ba-Dg-Er
...people who don't have cars or just choose to get some exercise should not be punished because society is walking around with blinders on.
And, as we all can attest, driving around with blinders on, as well. :D

#1. Fast food is scum.

#2. If I want scum today (which occasionally I do, after all, I am human,) I will not waste my time with a store that doesn't want my money.

#3. Fast food is scum.

Originally posted by Ba-Dg-Er
I am surprised to hear PF Chang's had bad service... I have been there a couple of times and it was really good, both the food and the service.

I was surprised by the bad service too. It was my first time there but I had been told good things about it.


Originally posted by Ba-Dg-Er
Nice to know they made a bad situation as right as possible though.

Yes, this was nice and I sent the reg. manager a follow up email telling him I appreciated his prompt attention.

I found some hate-oriented leaflets left in plain view of the management at a local McDonald's one day. I took one back to the office and called McDonald's U. S. headquarters (not just local or regional). They had me fax them my copy.

Profuse apology over the phone, and the leaflets were gone next day. The woman I voiced my complaint to on the phone sounded almost in tears.

Although I try to avoid the fast food thing most of the time...If it makes you feel any better......I've been refused drive thru service on my horse too!!:D

Originally posted by J.R.
...I've been refused drive thru service on my horse too!!:D
How low can you get--Texans discriminating against horses! :thumbdn:

Originally posted by Ba-Dg-Er


I find that to be far too humerous for words... the look on the high-school flunkies face as he opened the window must have been priceless.

And for everything else, there's mastercard....:D :D :D :D

From the original thread over on MTBR's SS board, a response to a poster (and the poster's comments) who wrote to Carl Jr's about their "no bikes in the drive through policy"

_________________________________________
Here is their response - what a bunch of crap. A motorcycle may have a little more mass, but the rider is similarly exposed.
****************************************

Company policy dictates that only motorized vehicles are allowed through the Drive-thru. Therefore, motorcyles are allowed and bicyles are not.

It is for the safety of the biker because they are extremely vulnerable.

If I can be of further assistance, please contact me.

Sincerely,

Erin Alden
CKE Guest Services
customerservice@dunlapenterprises.com
_________________________________________


Sorry, but "the safety of the biker" as stated in the above context does NOT hold water.

Well, I have been served at the Burger King drive through, so there is a place for you to go.

The one problem with drive through windows is that they seem to be activated by the vehicle. I notice sometimes that the order clerk doesn't notice me even when I yell into the microphone.

Because the order station and the window are separated by quite a distance, I don't think they can tell that I am on a bicycle and thus do not have the opportunity to discriminate.

Originally posted by riderx
["]Company policy dictates that only motorized vehicles are allowed through the Drive-thru. Therefore, motorcyles are allowed and bicyles are not.

It is for the safety of the biker because they are extremely vulnerable.["]


Sorry, but "the safety of the biker" as stated in the above context does NOT hold water.

It sure doesn't. That was a really asinine reply that the company sent out.

Originally posted by mike

Because the order station and the window are separated by quite a distance, I don't think they can tell that I am on a bicycle and thus do not have the opportunity to discriminate.

I've had the same experience with an A&W drive through, (I don't think you have them in the states). The order mike is around the corner and they can't see you coming.

Wendy's has a sign that says they only allow cars.

Originally posted by Pete Clark
#1. and #3. Fast food is scum.

"You deserve some scum today, so get up and get away...
To Mc Scum-malds!" ;)

Originally posted by Ba-Dg-Er


Most fast food restaurants have microphones that are activated by weight. If you don't weigh the same as a car you won't trip their microphone so they won't be able to talk to or hear you.
I didn't know that! I'm beginning to wonder: what is this sinister association between fast food and the petroleum/motor car industry? And what's in those deep-fry wells? :eek:

Originally posted by Ba-Dg-Er
Most fast food restaurants have microphones that are activated by weight. If you don't weigh the same as a car you won't trip their microphone so they won't be able to talk to or hear you.
Why keep trying to activate a sensor that serves only to protect you?

Originally posted by Ba-Dg-Er
Most fast food restaurants have microphones that are activated by weight. If you don't weigh the same as a car you won't trip their microphone so they won't be able to talk to or hear you.

That's because they want to look after their most regular and frequent customers. Those who hang around fast food joints often enough will eventually weigh the same as a car (if not more).

Chris (who will be sticking strictly to spam in future :D )

I have used the drive thru on my bike at KFC
(I just knock on the window) instead using the speaker
I have aslo used the drive at Sunny Grill (sort of a local
hamburger stand (once or twice I have aslo used the speaker here) but most of the time I just ride to the window and knock on the window

Aviod mega chain fast food plain and simple support your LBS!

In most case it is insurance reasons they do not allow bicyclkles or pedesrians in drive trough windows so try not to take it ourt on managers.

I don't know about any of you, but I avoid fast-food chains simply because of the quality of the 'food' on offer in these places.

You need to get about 50-100 bikers together and ride out to that Carls Jr. and have 1 person go to the drive thru and ask for the manager. When he says no then say that you and your freinds will eat at the next nearest place. Then mention how much business they lost on regular basis. THEN have every biker ride passed the window (and wave)
Of course if he says yes, your all stuck eating there. It would be worth it though if you had someone with a hidden camera across from the window taping it all.

Well, the company "policy" notwithstanding, I'd probably do the same as a manager/owner of a place with a drive through. It's called LIABILITY. If you got hit by some moron in the drive-thru lane you'd sue the deepest pockets and that would be the business. Sure, you'll get something out of the drivers insurance, but the business, you can be fairly certain, will have LOTS of insurance.

Your lawyer would craft an argument about lack of safeguards for providing for the protection of bicyclists in the auto drive through lane. And you know what? The jury would award you millions. Not that it would do you any good - you'd still be broken, but that's what the company policy is for, most likely.

Insurance, liability - it's pretty much what makes the rules these days.

I find it hard to believe that they would turn away business, especially if it wasn't busy (the original poster didn't say). One time a group of friends and I tried to visit a McD's after they closed the inside. There was no one in the drive through so we walked up to it. If I remember, we tripped the microphone by jumping on the weight sensor, and they got mad at us. No big mac that night, but we let it slide on the basis of it being McDonalds, so competant management should not be expected.

Just as an interesting side note, a couple minutes later a stretch Lincoln Navigator (as in, twice as long as normal) pulled through. I don't know how they turned the corner.

BTW, I keep seeing people quote a user named Ba-Dg-Er in this thread, but I don't see any posts made by him. Does anyone have a clue why that is???

Insurance, liability - it's pretty much what makes the rules these days.

Yep in fact those of you complaining if you actually talked to the management that is exactly what they will tell you. It's all about insurance, personally I lock my bike to something and go inside. Of course I can't remember the last time I did any fast food.

BTW, I keep seeing people quote a user named Ba-Dg-Er in this thread, but I don't see any posts made by him. Does anyone have a clue why that is???

This is an old thread. At some point in 2002 Ba-Dg-Er removed all of his existing posts from the forum.

This is an old thread. At some point in 2002 Ba-Dg-Er removed all of his existing posts from the forum.

you can remove your posts from the forums?, how?

you can remove your posts from the forums?, how?

Click on "Edit" at the bottom of any one of your posts, you should see an option allowing you to delete that particular post if you so desire.

There's almost always a local alternative; around here it's Burgerville (regional chain) in southern WA, Dick's in the big city, and the joint near the high school in Hoquiam! I'd consider a chain burger a very last resort.

Dick's in the big city.

Deluxe, chocolate shake, and fries Hmmmm We have one near work I get my weekly dose of cholesterol from there.

Great preventive food for hangovers too! :D

Where I work, I am a store manager at a grocery store; they can leave their bike inside the door as long as they are not blocking any product. They also can't walk or ride it around the store. We sometimes get kids trying to ride it in the store and have to kick them out. I figure as long as they respect my place of business then we'll let them keep it inside.

I can see both sides; on one hand we have no right to tell someone how to run their business. On the other hand your not going to be in business very long if you turn customers away.

As far as the whole "it's not a motorized vehicle" thing, in Utah, if I remember right, the operator of the bike is considered the motor. That is why we can ride in the road along side of cars, get speeding tickets and run stop signs.

I dont want to sit on my bike,exhaust all around me. IMO,dumb to ride a bike in a drive thru. Another reason for non-riders to think we are a$$holes.

In this competitive world, no business can afford to be pissy with any customer for any reason.
That said, it is effective to make your voice heard with a letter. A letter explaining your gripes is 1000 times more effective than just switching to another supplier.
Let's keep doing it. Let's complain ourselves toward a more perfect world.

Absolutely.

If it is a franchise write or email the owner and the franchising corporation, make sure you include the managers name and the date of the interaction. If it's a corporate store do the same to the corporate headquarters.

I dont want to sit on my bike,exhaust all around me. IMO,dumb to ride a bike in a drive thru. Another reason for non-riders to think we are a$$holes.

Well my, aren't we getting precious!

You too!

I think fast food places ae afraid of the liability if some yahoo in a car does not see you and slams into you in the drive through. That said it is still discriminatory.

I think fast food places ae afraid of the liability if some yahoo in a car does not see you and slams into you in the drive through.

One wonders why the same "liability concern" doesn't appear to be present when addressing the quality of their food.

LOL. :roflmao:

If it is so dangerous for us to be in a drive-thru then how can we possibley be safe on the road? The point is we are given the right to be on the road and make that decision ourselves. But on private porperty the owner is king (mostly) and gets to make the rules. It is obvious if the owners of said restaurants ruled all the world they would make it illegal for bikes to be on the road too. And it seems most drivers agree with that. The drive-thu is just the first legal chance the manager, lackey, etc. has ever had to legally take it out on a cyclist. I mean come on - if you run into a bike while driving 2 mph...

Walgreen's serves me at the drive up window on a bike with no problems.

I HATE Carls Jr's. They bought a really good chain, Hardee's, in the Southeast, and has ruined it. Same goes for CVS buying Revco.