Drink | World (and Lunar) Domination
Chick-fil-A wrote back to me, and sadly I predicted that they’d give me the “no unsolicited ideas” speech which is equivalent to the “it’s not you, it’s me” speech. Shenanigans, I tell you.
To: <me@my.email.address>
Chick-fil-A is fortunate to have many loyal customers. Many of these fans take the time and effort to inquire about sharing their own ideas about ways they wish to see us improve – whether it is adding a specific new product, service or feature. We are grateful for our customers’ intent, and this motivates us to work even harder to keep improving.
Unfortunately, it is our corporate policy not to accept or consider any unsolicited creative ideas. This is a difficult decision because we realize that by following this policy, Chick-fil-A may miss out on some great ideas from our customers. We would rather miss out on some of these ideas than to risk any potential future misunderstanding should Chick-fil-A develop or already have developed a product, service, or feature that may seem similar to a customer’s idea.
We hope you will understand the reasons for our policy. You can view our Unsolicited Ideas Policy at www.chick-fil-a.com/Legal (under Submissions) for more information on this issue. Beyond this policy, we gladly welcome customers’ feedback about their restaurant experiences.
We appreciate your family’s loyalty, and we look forward to serving you all at Chick-fil-A for many years to come. Again, thank you for your time and interest in Chick-fil-A.
So, of course I wrote back…
From: <me@my.email.address>
Hello Cheala,
Any idea how I can get my idea solicited? I’m honestly not interested in monetary compensation, I just don’t want to spill my drinks. Has anyone run this by Mr. Cathy? He’s responded to my emails before, and I understand that he’s a shrewd business man as well as a great family man. I’m sure he wouldn’t want drinks spilling on anyone… and that he’d like to pick up a free idea.
Thanks once again for your time & help!
Wonder if I’ll get a reply? I just want a good cup holder.
Did controversy help the Chick-fil-A brand? (prsa.org)
Dear Chick-fil-A, I have an idea for you… (aixelsyd13.wordpress.com)
Coupon Frustration
We clip coupons. Why not, right? If I’m going to get something cheaper for a minimal effort, why not? It makes sense.
What doesn’t make sense, is the supposed value that coupons represent. They seem more like advertisements to me… to get you to buy a product, or to get you into the food joint & make you buy more stuff than you need since you’re getting something for free anyway. So, I guess from that end, they do make sense to the coupon presenter.
To me, they fall in two categories, restaurant coupons and grocery coupons…. and there are several sub-categories thereafter.
Any more, they seem to be useless unless it’s something straight-up for free with no catches… or a straight dollar (or cents) amount off of one item. I don’t want or need to buy two packs of hot dogs to save a dollar. I don’t ever need two quarter-pounders or big roast-beef sandwiches.
Brand-name coupons usually don’t seem to bring the price down enough to compete with the off-brand, or the store brand. On some things, like Heinz Ketchup, the difference is important… but on others like laundry soap… I really don’t see the difference between Tide or All or Cheer or Purex the plethora of other ones out there.
Fast food coupons seem to be the most frustrating… now that everyone has value meals or value combos or combo meals, why are they still giving out “free fries” or “free side” coupons? You always need to purchase a sandwich and a drink to get the free side… which puts you at the price of the combo meal anyway… possibly more if you were going to “up-size” at all.
The breakfast ones are the best deals… most likely because no one is coming in for breakfast. We know this is just to get us in the door.
Perhaps I’m pessemistic. I’d like to put some research into seeing how much these kinds of coupons actually save you. I know… fast food is an evil that I ought to just avoid anyway according to my friend Dave. I know he’s right, but I seem to fall into the trap anyway.
Do you find coupons to ever be useful? Are they ever for something you were going to get anyway, or are you settling for something other than what you would order otherwise? Have you ever gone somewhere with a coupon, then pocketed it because there was a better deal existing already, or the savings really weren’t worth not getting exactly what you wanted?