Wendy's Complaint

Drive Through - Getting Served

Posted By: Mr. Konieczny on 8/29/2006

Location: Orland Park, IL

The late hour drive through is quite unfair to anyone at a late hour who is not either driving a car or motor-cycle.
I was riding a bicycle late at night for exercise and decided to stop by a Wendy's to get food. I was promptly answered at the drive through and then told that I couldn't be served on a bicylcle.

I then proceeded to have someone else (in a car) order my food in the drive though. I then paid the person for my food. After I had consumed my food in the parking lot, I talked to the manager on duty, Elizabeth. She said the reason that people on bicycles were not served was because of safety reasons. This did not make sense to me at all. Elizabeth told me that the cashiers were in harm's way of serving bicyclists for the reason that a bicyclist could reach through a window at the cashier. Obviously, a motorcyclist could do exactly the same thing she described. As she put it, "I am only following corporate policy." I respect her for following the rules of her job, but the reasons and policy she explained would only provide a way for the company to "Avoid" business. All companies should want to attract business and not deter it. After Elizabeth had explained the policy, she told me that multiple occurences happen in the week that the business has to reject bicyclists. I see this as an opportunity at many locations for Wendy's to recieve more business.
So I now sit here writing a complaint, and still I find no plausible reason for a drive through to not also accept business from bicyclists. I would greatly appreciate a response from the company, however unlikely, and recieve some sort of agreement that is in concurrence with my views.
Sincerely, Brent Konieczny

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    Mr. Konieczny (08/29/2006)      
    This addition is in support to my argumen although it come from a different source. It is a different company, but the same situation and outcome had occured.

    Burger King Drive-Through Refused to Serve me on a bicycle

    So tonight I rode my bike to Minneapolis and then later rode back to St. Paul. It was a long ride and I was hungry. I stopped at the Burger King on Grand Avenue close to Smith Avenue, 35 E near downtown St. Paul. Their inner store was closed but the drive-through was open. So I rode through the drive through. I went to their ordering mechanism and no-one came on the loudspeaker to take my order (must be weight sensitive). ... more >>

    Hugh_Jorgen (08/29/2006)      
    These restaurants are free to refuse service to anyone they choose - they don't have to justify their policy to you or me. Apparently, with thousands of drive thru windows in this county they have had some experiences with folks on bikes that caused them to enact this policy. The local manager may not know the reason, just that this is the corporate policy - so don't bust his/her chops over it. Besides, why un-do the good workout you had by finishing your ride off with a Frosty?

    squeekie (08/29/2006)      
    I had to laugh when I saw this. My husband and sister inlaw did something like this years ago at a burger king. At the time the drive thru was alerted by a hose that rang a buzzer when drove over. well the bikes were not heavy enough so they pounced on them with the bikes, they peddled up to get the food and were promptly screamed at by the manager. They got their food and all but I don't think they did that again.

    amaniR (08/29/2006)      
    I guarantee you it is a rule put in place by their insurance company, not the employees working inside. You remind me of Bill Clinton jogging to McDonalds, you need to find a 24 hour joint to ride by or go earlier I guess.

    zzrokk (08/29/2006)      
    "Mr. K. Goes To Wendy's". Do you have stock in Wendy's or what? Don't you realize how many things that can go wrong with bike and pedestrian traffic at the window? At least cars and motorcycles have VISIBLE licence plates. Where did you consume your "Triple Deluxe w/extra Mayo'? Curbside or at their front door?

    Tracy M (08/29/2006)      
    Like Hugh said, they don't have to justify their policies for anyone. They have them in place for a reason. If you need to travel on your bike, fine, but you are going to have to request food during normal business hours, so that you can walk in.

    zzrokk (08/29/2006)      
    TracyM, you are taking away all of the fun from Mr. K. Why can't he ride his 3-speed Schwin bicycle late at night for everyone to see him trying to order his dinner at the "drive thru?"

    Tracy M (08/29/2006)      
    LOL ZZ. Maybe he could fashion one of those novelty personalized license plates to his bike.

    zzrokk (08/29/2006)      
    ...And that would be Mr. K. or I luv' Frosties, right?

    Nohandle (08/29/2006)      
    Several months ago I did a double take at one of the local branch bank's drive thru window. There was a hand written sign "No Walk-Ups". When I finished laughing I finally got around to asking the teller what was going on. She told me I would be surprised at the people who park oversized vehicles etc. and walk up to the drive thru.

    The bank's insurance carrier told them they could not allow this practice to continue. I don't have any idea if this would include a bicycle, but bet it would.

    Mr. Konieczny, I expect this was a new rule sent from Corporate after someone was struck by a car while on a bicycle. I imagine the local manag ... more >>

    Mr. Konieczny (08/31/2006)      
    Jeez! I can't believe so many of you would take the stance that people on foot or bike shouldn't be able to get some food late at night. Yes,

    Mr. Konieczny (08/31/2006)      
    That comment was accidentally unfinished, but in continuation: Yes, I did look into the reason they don't serve people because of the insurance policies. I fully understand that now, but I am still going crazy trying to figure out how to get food late at night without a car. Yes I own a car. Do I take it to college? No, too costly combined with tuition payments. I just feel I am being cheated out of something in a discriminatory way. For a person like myself the company appears to be pretty cheap for not letting people with ready access to a car to get food. Where else am I supposed to get food when the inside of the resteraunt is closed? By ... more >>

    UrFriendlyPirate (08/31/2006)      
    Zork, can't you find anything positive to say, ever?

    zzrokk (09/01/2006)      
    Mr. K, do you have a kitchen? A microwave?


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