When Did Asking For Ketchup With Fries Become A Criminal Offense?

[becka]

Today was the third time in a row that I have stopped by a fast food place for lunch and been given a "look" when I had the audacity to ask for ketchup.

When I get my food at the window today and I asked for ketchup the kid behind the counter rolled his eyes at me before giving me two measly packets of ketchup. Other times they just give you this "look".

Is it not cool to use ketchup anymore?

 

[browneyes]

You should see the look I get when I ask for mustard with my fries. I can't stand ketchup.

 

[babar]

Well, I know of at least one hot dog stand here, (Chicago) that won't put ketchup on your hot dog, even if you ask. Most Chicago dogs don't come with ketchup. I can't stand the thought of ketchup on a hot dog!!

But fast food chains usually fill my bag with ketchup packets whether I ask for them or not!

 

[Rajah]

I know of one McD's here that is very stingy with their ketchup. I very much like ketchup on my fries and burger, and this one place usually only drops in one or two packets. Not enough for me!

 

[JohnTBap]

Originally posted by babar


But fast food chains usually fill my bag with ketchup packets whether I ask for them or not!

LUCKY!

 

[EROS]

I'm GUILTY as charged!!!!!!!!!!

 

[Tina]

This reminds me of my BK order just the other day. I ordered a whopper with no ketchup. I didn't order any fries or a drink. When I looked in the bag, the order was right, but they tossed in about 10 packets of ketchup.

 

[grinningghost]

Every fast food place around here routinely asks "Do you need any salt, pepper or ketchup?" If I said yes to everything, every time, I'd never have to buy any of those things.

And YES - ketchup on fries is a MUST! I also eat mustard on my fries browneyes.

 

[fklhou]

Most of the fast food chains are trying to cut costs anyway that they can. My pet peeve is drink holders. I have an SUV with plenty of cup holders but I still have to carry the drinks into the house. A couple of fast food places will also give you a dirty look when you ask for both a condiment and a drink carrier.

 

[Kallison]

I hate it when people roll their eyes at me

They usually hear about it. I even hate it when I see it on the DIS!

 

[Snow White]

My kids always ask for ranch dressing for their fries or tater tots,which they give them without a problem, but you practically have to beg for SALT which is quite annoying! You are one of the lucky ones at our McDonalds if you get more than one packet of ketchup!

 

[JerseyJanice]

The McDonald's up the road from where I work has a big sign up on the drive-through window that states how many condiments you are entitled to get without paying extra.

F.y.i., you can get only one packet of ketchup with a small order of fries. If you want more, it costs 10 cents per packet.

 

[Steve H.]

Originally posted by Kallison
I hate it when people roll their eyes at me

They usually hear about it. I even hate it when I see it on the DIS!

Sorry, had to do it!

 

[Banzai]

I am very stingy with ketchup if someone askes me when its time to give them their food in drive-thru. ASK AT THE SPEAKER! That annoys the heck out of me. When I am taking orders, I ask, and if you say no, dont ask later. Why:

Ranch Dressing is $.32 if you are not getting a salad.
BBQ Sauces (or nugget sauce in geneal) is $.10 each if you are not getting nuggets. We have to charge for what you ask for, and its for reccord keeping.

Glasses of water annoy me too, mainly becasue we have an Automatic Beverage Station and it throws everything off if I have to add a drink in to the system...

Sorry, minor vent...

 

[Banzai]

Originally posted by JerseyJanice
The McDonald's up the road from where I work has a big sign up on the drive-through window that states how many condiments you are entitled to get without paying extra.

F.y.i., you can get only one packet of ketchup with a small order of fries. If you want more, it costs 10 cents per packet.

We don't have a chart to the custemor, but we do have one for us...and I follow it. I dont like getting yelled at by my managers. Also, we dont charge for Ketchup, (see my last post ).

 

[Obi-Wan Pinobi]

Banzai, it sounds like McDonalds has changed a LOT since I worked at one. The only thing we charged for was dressing -- one came with a salad but we charged for extras and for when someone didn't have a salad.

Whenever I ask for ketchup at a fast food place, I'll specify a number (usually 4 or 5).

Charging for extras on the nugget sauces and dressings I can understand, or charging for when you aren't getting nuggets or a salad. I'm sure the cost is higher on those than other condiments. But ketchup??? The only time that happened to me was in Germany, and I opted to do without.

 

[mum4jenn]

As a former manager with Wendys I can tell you that for the ones that do not give ketchup without asking it is a cost cutting move. You have no idea how the big bosses harp on food cost all the time and those condiments are one of the ways to help cut costs.
It is alot cheaper to give it to the ones that ask rather that give a handful to customers and them not use it.

I rarely ask for ketchup if I am taking the order home.....I have ketchup at my house. I do remember a customer that would get a small order of fries and then ask for 30 packets of ketchup. She would open every one and only use a small portion of it!! That is what used to kill me.....why can't people just open what they are going to use and if they need a little more then open another packet. If you have unused packets then give them back to the cashier!!!!

I also used to get tired of folks calling wanting restaurants to donate paper products. I had so many people wanting these things that I finally told them no. When asked why and I told them it was too expensive they all stated they thought we got those things for free!!!!

 

[raidermatt]

Maybe I'm lucky, but I never have received a "look" or attitude for asking for ketchup or a drink holder.

I understand they save a few pennies on ketchup, but they also waste time because those who want it now have to ask and the clerk has to reach back and get it.

And, as tough as it is for fast food joints to get drive-thru orders with any special requests correct, there is no way I am going to start asking for ketchup at the speaker.

Maybe when they can prove they can get a "no onions" request correct more than 90% of the time, I'll think about adding that layer of complexity...

 

[Chattyaholic]

It's interesting to see how each McDonald's does things differently, including different prices on the same items!!
At one I never have to ask for ketchup, but they only put TWO packets in for a medium order of fries. At the other one they won't give you any unless you ask. What bugs me is the amount of napkins they put in the bag. For one order they usually put in a dozen or more, ridiculous! What a waste!! A couple is plenty!!

 

[Poohbear123]

At least they actually LOOK at you! here in Miami, you are INVISIBLE! Half the time, they get your order right, the other half of the time, forget it! Its best to go INSIDE rather than the drive-thru, much quicker.