Pay More For Less

jambutty · 14-04-2006, 17:09

Are there no limits to what some businesses will do to earn that bit extra?

Picture the scene at Kentucky near Queens Park Hospital in Blackburn.

I walk in and join a short queue and when it comes my turn a pimply youth asks:
“What would you like?”
“Two piece meal please” was my response holding out three one pound coins.
“What do you want to drink?”
“None thank you.”
“That’ll be £3.19.” came the reply.
“Pardon?”
“That’ll be £3.19.”
“I order a two piece meal and that is £2.99.”
“But you didn’t want a drink so your order was for 2 pieces and a portion of chips and that is £3.19.”
“In that case I’ll have the drink.”
“That’ll be £2.99 sir” without a flinch of expression on pimply youth’s face.
“Two piece meal?” shouted a young girl and passed the bag over to me as I indicated that I was to be the recipient of the meal. Pimply youth passed over the drink.
“Anyone want a free drink” I asked the queue.
No one responded.
I passed the drink back to pimply youth saying “I don’t want the drink and no one here wants it either so you may as well pour it down the sink” and walked out.

It wasn’t all that long ago, maybe a year or two, when a two piece meal included either a drink, barbecue beans or cole slaw. Today it is drink only and if you don’t want one they charge you an extra 20p for not having a drink.

To be fair though on previous occasions when pimply youth wasn’t serving, I would be asked if I wanted large chips instead of the drink.

garinda · 14-04-2006, 17:29

KFC is the worst offender of this 'business' practice.

They should show the full menu of individually priced items, but it's usually hidden away. The main illuminated menu just shows all the meal deals, including the unwanted drinks.

I've stood my ground quite a few times, and been served exactly what I wanted and the price I wanted, excluding all the offers I didn't want.

They can do it on their tills trust me, though they pretend they can't.

garinda · 14-04-2006, 17:31

P.S. They'll try and tempt you with 'Maxing' your fries. if you don't want a drink.

Stand firm.

They do give in, eventually.

bad breath brown · 14-04-2006, 18:32

looks like the kfc is the last place you need to visit.

SPUGGIE J · 14-04-2006, 18:50

Had that problem and just walked out much to the bemused till jockey. At the end of the day if you want an item and cant get it the way you want it taking your hard earned cash elsewere is the best way.

Gayle · 14-04-2006, 20:26

Sorry but this thread has been killing me all day! I've tried so hard to not post on it because I really don't have anything valuable to add to the discussion but I had to keep coming back to see if anyone had asked.....

......how much should we be paying for

Less?

lindsay ormerod · 14-04-2006, 22:29

Think the sensible answer at the end of the day is to order a pizza/burger/chicken/ whatever from one of the more reputable establishments in Hyndburn ;most of which deliver free, and we as a family with differing tastes can recommend Pizza Palace in Ossy and Petra in Accy as 2 shining examples of great value and fantastic food!

SPUGGIE J · 15-04-2006, 08:05

Sometimes it depends on the promotion and others on who is serving. I can go to the Four in One takeaway for a variety box and depending on the time of day and who is serving depends on how much you get. The variety is Chips chicken goujons doner meat onion rings veggie pakora chicken tikka caulslow garlic or chicken dip in a 9 or 12 inch pizza box along with a can of juice for £4.99 or £5.99 included. Even the 9" box has a lot of eating in it (have finished the 9 but never the 12) and seems to be good value for the pocket but bad for the waistline.

jambutty · 15-04-2006, 10:05

I got my 2 pieces and fries for £2.99 because I stood my ground. But I wonder how many less cantankerous people paid up in silence?

Being a grumpy oldie does have its advantages.

Good point Gayle. If 2 pieces and fries with a drink costs £2.99 and just 2 pieces and fries costs 20p more, 2 pieces and fries without a drink should cost £2.79 – shouldn’t they?

I don’t think that pimply youth would have the authority to make such a deal even if by some strange miracle he could follow the argument.

garinda · 15-04-2006, 10:22

Quote:

Originally Posted by SPUGGIE J

Even the 9" box has a lot of eating in it (have finished the 9 but never the 12) and seems to be good value for the pocket but bad for the waistline.

Eating the box as well should provide extra roughage.

SPUGGIE J · 15-04-2006, 10:32

Quote:

Originally Posted by garinda

Eating the box as well should provide extra roughage.

After that lot trust me roughage aint needed.

Less · 15-04-2006, 15:54

Quote:

Originally Posted by Gayle

Sorry but this thread has been killing me all day! I've tried so hard to not post on it because I really don't have anything valuable to add to the discussion but I had to keep coming back to see if anyone had asked.....

......how much should we be paying for

Less?

Don't worry Gayle I understood what you meant.

and the answer is, lots more, at least as much as a councillor gets for expenses!

Gayle · 15-04-2006, 16:23

Phew, thank goodness someone did, although it does worry me that we're on the same wavelength.

Less · 15-04-2006, 17:02

Quote:

Originally Posted by Gayle

Phew, thank goodness someone did, although it does worry me that we're on the same wavelength.

That I'm afraid is my fault, it is easier to corrupt and despoil the perfect, than it is to convert the horrible and twisted to a life of goodness. (Pass the bucket quick I've just had a clean layer of newspaper put on the floor!).