Upselling at fast food joints

[Jim in Anchorage]

So I go to a subway today. Just want a quick sandwich is all. Well the first person I deal with is the kid who is"making" the subs.[Would he be the chief?] Well he is clearly getting inpatient with the 5 seconds I spent looking at the menu. Him-"Would you like the meatball sub? its on special today!" OK that sounds good [me-I just wanted to get out of there] So he slaps some meatballs on a roll of bread and right away asks me if I want a "meal". For those of you not familiar with subway, a "meal" means a bag of chips and a plastic container of pop. I clearly say no, I just want the sub.

So I move down the line to where the extras are added[onions, peppers, salt, etc.] and the girl doing this asks me if I want to make this a "meal" No. I just want the sub. So the casher[who is standing 2 feet away from this conversation and heard every bit of it] Says "and would you like to make this a meal?"

Take what you will from this rant, but I will never go to subway again

[/dev/null]

Well the first person I deal with is the kid who is"making" the subs.[Would he be the chief?]

 

IIRC Subway calls them Sandwich Specialists

 

And don't hate on the people at Subway for trying to push the "meal", they're just doing their job. Fast food chains pay people to eat at their restaurants every so often and have them grade the visit, including whether they were offered a meal, super sizing, or whatever the new promotion was. If the franchise fails, the owner is notified and from there the sh*t rolls down hill

[ExiledInIllinois]

Wow.. I never went to a Subway that had three people making the sub... Usually get the same person start to finish... Maybe somebody else will ring it up.

[Acantha]

Take what you will from this rant, but I will never go to subway again

 

 

Yes, I can see how saying "no" 3 times would cause that kind of reaction.

[Fezmid]

Take what you will from this rant, but I will never go to subway again

You won't go back to a restaurant because you had to say, "No thank you" three times?!

[/dev/null]

Wow.. I never went to a Subway that had three people making the sub... Usually get the same person start to finish... Maybe somebody else will ring it up.

 

Every Subway I go to these days has 3 people on the line

1 - What kind of sandwich? Foot long or 6 inch? What kind of bread? What kind of Cheese? Toasted? On toasted subs this person puts the sub into the toaster and takes it out. Sub is passed to second person

2 - Puts the toppings on the sub and passes to 3rd person

3 - Rings you up. This is the only person that ever asks me if I want a meal. I've been there enough where they should know me and that I don't get the meal. But they're supposed to ask

Edited October 15, 2010 by /dev/null

[ExiledInIllinois]

Every Subway I go to these days has 3 people on the line

1 - What kind of sandwich? Foot long or 6 inch? What kind of bread? What kind of Cheese? Toasted? On toasted subs this person puts the sub into the toaster and takes it out. Sub is passed to second person

2 - Puts the toppings on the sub and passes to 3rd person

3 - Rings you up. This is the only person that ever asks me if I want a meal. I've been there enough where they should know me and that I don't get the meal. But they're supposed to ask

 

Wow... I must live in the Ghetto... Only on ceratin occasions do I get a second peson to jump in there and ring up the order. Really...

[/dev/null]

Wow... I must live in the Ghetto... Only on ceratin occasions do I get a second peson to jump in there and ring up the order. Really...

Or maybe the other two were killed by your carp

[Marv's Neighbor]

That's their "script." If they don't stick to the "script" they're on the road again! As long as they didn't actually try to rip you for the "meal" you're OK!

 

Speaking of Subs, think I'll pop over to John & Mary's!

[SageAgainstTheMachine]

IIRC Subway calls them Sandwich Specialists

 

 

"Sandwich Artists" I believe.

 

And I'll echo those saying don't hate on the employees. I worked at a Hollywood Video, and you HAD to offer the customers whatever the stupid ass bargain du jour was, just in case the manager was standing over your shoulder (sneaky little bastard, that guy).

 

There's no better endorsement for a good education than a customer service job in suburban America.

Edited October 15, 2010 by SageAgainstTheMachine

[stevestojan]

Like every fast food restaurant, the mark up on soda is unreal. The sandwhich probably costs a dollar and change to make for them, and they charge you, what $5? That's reasonable mark up. The cup for the soda likely costs them one or two cents. The syrup and carbonated water a couple more cents. Then they charge $1.89 or something for it? That's why they want the combo.

 

And I thought I got pissed off quickly. Telling the $7/hr workers at subway "no thanks" doesn't kill me. I'm just glad they bother to wear gloves

Edited October 15, 2010 by stevestojan

[Just Jack]

Maybe they noticed you needed to pack on some fat for the upcoming winter season in Alaska.

[The Poojer]

its all about maximizing profits...those upsells bring large margins....

[plenzmd1]

Quiznos i was in the other day had a sign that your sammy was free if they did not ask if you wanted the combo. See, they make you feel special when they try to upsell you

[Jim in Anchorage]

Maybe they noticed you needed to pack on some fat for the upcoming winter season in Alaska.

This coming from someone who lives in Syracuse Got the old snow blower tuned up yet?

[Phlegm Alley]

They have Subways in Alaska?

[shrader]

Why would the person making the sandwich even have to ask? S/he doesn't hand you the drink cup and they have bags of chips sitting all over the place. The sandwich maker doesn't have to give you any of that stuff. I realize that people have said it's all about selling you on that meal, but the two subways around where I work (don't ask why there are two so close together) never ask unless it's the cashier.

[ExiledInIllinois]

Why would the person making the sandwich even have to ask? S/he doesn't hand you the drink cup and they have bags of chips sitting all over the place. The sandwich maker doesn't have to give you any of that stuff. I realize that people have said it's all about selling you on that meal, but the two subways around where I work (don't ask why there are two so close together) never ask unless it's the cashier.

 

Most are independently owned... Has to be the owner making them use "suggestive selling." The more they suggest, the more somebody may bite. Not in Jim's case, he says he is never going back. I don't think Subway is too concerned about him because studies probably show that suggestive selling works... Kinda like the how they strategically place things in a supermarket.

 

Again... That is all it is... Why hate on the employees when they are only following what their boss says... It isn't life or death, there are no moral questions... It is just simply suggestive selling.

[Chef Jim]

Every Subway I go to these days has 3 people on the line

1 - What kind of sandwich? Foot long or 6 inch? What kind of bread? What kind of Cheese? Toasted? On toasted subs this person puts the sub into the toaster and takes it out. Sub is passed to second person

2 - Puts the toppings on the sub and passes to 3rd person

3 - Rings you up. This is the only person that ever asks me if I want a meal. I've been there enough where they should know me and that I don't get the meal. But they're supposed to ask

 

During the lunch rush the one I used to go to had four. Three making the sandwich and one rining you up.

[Ramius]

How dare they do something so offensive as asking if you'd like a drink. What nerve. I mean, honestly, who ever wants a drink with their lunch/dinner? Damn loser kids.