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Sonic Drive-In

Sonic Drive-In review: deceptive pricing 10

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10:38 pm EDT
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Sonic Not-so-Special 5 for $5.95

Funny thing how advertising works for this company. Most days I pass through Sonic (which avgs 3 times a week) they have signs posted on

their marquee and around the drive-thru and the drive up window with their “5 for $5.95 Tuesday special”. Of course, today is Tuesday so I head

over to get their advertised special. Upon arrival, I look for the signage to confirm I’ve come on the correct day. Not a single sign in sight

anywhere on the premise.

With the employee coming over the intercom asking for my order I stated “ Is today the 5 for $5.95 special ?” the reply was “What would

you like on your burgers?”. Again I asked, “is this the day for the 5 for $5.95 special”. The reply this time was ”yes, would you like cheese

on your burgers?”. My reply followed as ”I’d like whatever comes on them with the $5.95 special”. Their reply was “you can get them any way you

want”. I replied “Ok, however them come. I’d also like .. (drinks and tots)”. They told me the total cost and said to pull to the window.

I paid the amount told to me $17.56 Took my food and headed home. Once home, I decided to look over the receipt to confirm the $5.95

special. The receipt reads as follows:
5 ALL CB $14.95 (burgers)
1 LG TT 1.99
1 XL SLUSH 1.99
1 XL SLUSH 1.99
1 XL SLUSH 1.99
5 5 FOR 5.95 -6.50
-----------
ST 16.41
TX 1.15
-----------
TOTAL 17.56

So.. Doing a little math $14.95 – 6.50 = $8.45 funny, that’s NOT $5.95

Next step… called the store asked for the manager. The gentleman on the phone says “speaking”… I asked “Is this the manager?” The reply

“Yes”. I aksed “what is your name?” His reply “Scotty”.
I proceeded to explain: “I just went through the drive-thru, and asked for the $5.95 special. The receipt says they charged $14.95 then

gave a credit of $6.50… that means they charged me $8.95 for my $5.95 special.” His reply “It’s extra for the cheese”. My response “I asked for

the $5.95 special, they asked if I wanted cheese, I said I’ll take whatever comes on them for the $5.95 special. I never did say I wanted

cheese”. His response “Well, we make the burgers individually to whatever you want”. I responded “ I told the order taker 3 times, whatever

comes on the $5.95 special”.

He finally said “I’m sorry for YOUR confusion. The cheese is 40 cents extra per burger. I can put your name in our book for a credit for

the cheese on your next visit. If you give me your name, I’ll credit you with a $2 coupon”. I accepted his offer at face value and gave my

name…. conversation ended.

But then after hanging up.. it hit me.. $8.45 - $2.00 = $6.45 Still NOT $5.95… I’m still screwed.

So, I call back the store. Scotty answers. I stated “I just called a minute ago about the $5.95 special issue… are you the location manager

or shift manager?” His reply “I’m the assistant manager” I then asked for the store location number (5756 Spout Springs Road) and the general

managers name (Mia Parks). Told him I’d be contacting the general manager, the district manager, corporate headquarters… and that I’d be

posting this anywhere & everywhere I can on the internet.

One other thing I’ve been pondering… is their special for slush drinks. Seems they have afternoon half price specials. I’ve noticed they

seem to charge a “surcharge” of 20 cents for the flavor on these drinks. If I get this right, with the price and surcharge, that comes to more

than half price.

Does anyone besides me see deceptive advertising and practices here ? Any legal eagles want to file a class action suit to get their

attention ?

Maybe the greed for profits has skewed the focus of management, but considering a similar issue has occurred in my past with this company,

it seems to be a business plan in place to accomplish this deception.

Advertising, discounts and specials…. Used to bring in new customers, used to give a value to existing loyal customers, used to bring in

revenue and interest in otherwise slow time periods for the business. So much for good rapport with your customer base Sonic !

So, if you’re tired of being taken advantage of… or if you’ve had the same discourteous schemes played out against you, feel free to write

me with your stories, and I’ll gladly post them on every board I come across that I can post on.

[protected]@aol.com

Dave
Buford, GA

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10 comments
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DHB
Starkville, US
Send a message
Dec 19, 2009 12:36 am EST

Hi there!

I am a regional supervisor for a southern-based Sonic Drive-In investment company.

We are also running this same special and I believe I can give you a little inside information that may help you with this claim.

The 5 for 5.95 deal occurs every Tuesday at participating locations between the hours of 5pm and 10pm. It is called family night.

A typical Sonic Burger is dressed as follows: Your choice of Mayo/Mustard/Ketchup or a combination or all three; Lettuce, Tomato, Pickle, and Chopped Onion. Every location charges extra for cheese. My chain has the price set at $0.50 instead of .40 but that isn't really relevant here.

The way the system works is all items are going to appear full price on your ticket and then you will be given a discount which the employee enters by pressing a key which is preset to discount the correct pricing.

I can assure you that what you describe above is *not* standard operational procedure to any extent. This type of procedure is against corporate policy and should be reported. You can report this by phoning the corporate office for the franchise owner, who most likely doesn't know that this occurred. A second option is to report it to Sonic's Headquarters by phoning 1-866-OK-SONIC. The call is toll-free. However, you'll get better results if you go to the store where this occurred and ask for the supervisor's number. If they are reluctant to give it up, be sure to mention this to the supervisor.

Hope this helps!

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Brenda Choate
US
Send a message
Sep 15, 2015 9:46 am EDT

We went to get a couple of shakes for the girls last night. The price on the menu showed 3.39 for the medium so we ordered two medium strawberry banana shakes and then were told it would be over $9.00. I thought that sounded funny so I asked when we were given the shakes and it turns the 3.39 was only for vanilla and that you pay extra for each flavor so we paid an extra 40 cents for the strawberry and an extra 40 cents for the banana so it shake came to 4.19. I think that is a very deceptive practice and something pretty new as this did not happen the last time we got shakes here. I did say that I guess they had figured out how to cheat people out of more money and the girl seriously said that ice cream is really expensive, like I couldn't buy a gallon of very good ice cream for $4.00 dollars. We could have gotten a Jamba Juice for that price. We will not be going back.

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Kaye Binns
US
Send a message
Apr 15, 2016 3:41 pm EDT

Same thing happens at the Sonic in Camden, Arkansas and I agree it is very deceptive. I have had the same experience with their shakes and slushes, I wonder what you get if you order a slush and don't specify a flavor, would you just get a cup of ice? It is an unethical practice if not illegal, not good business at all. I would be more than willing to do a class action suit with others who are fed up with this practice.

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Patricia Branham Duncan
US
Send a message
Jun 27, 2016 9:45 pm EDT

I want to know why my shakes that are clearly on the menu board for 3.99 for medium size why i was charged .40 for adding strawberry when i did not add anything? They were both listed in plain sight under master shakes for 3.99 it says nothing about you being charged anything else. This is wrong in so many ways think about all the people that does not look at their receipts i was one of them until tonight and we should own sonic with the amount of money we have spent on their shakes in the past. So here it is think about how much extra money they are taking from people from every sonic out there from people that have no clue what is happening. I will be holding on to my receipt because this has to be stopped one way or the other. We all need to put a stop to Sonic taking our money without our knowledge!

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Dennis Rood
US
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Jul 12, 2016 2:26 pm EDT

Today, 7-13-16 at Store #1760, I ordered a Super Sonic cheese burger w/mustard and a Chicago dog combo which included a medium French fry and a medium drink. I was told that it would be $11.89. When my order came, I paid and was asked if I wanted my receipt. I am not always given that option and normally don't care. Today I said yes. While eating and looking at the receipt I noticed that each item was listed and priced individually. Burger $4.49, Chi dog $2.39, FF $1.89, Drink $2.04, plus tax $1.08 equals $11.89 as quoted. Upon looking at the menu screen, a Super Sonic Cheese Burger was $4.49 and a Chicago dog combo was $5.79. That plus tax of $1.03 should have been $11.31. That is a difference of $.58 which isn't much. To me the principal here is the issue. I have no problem paying the posted price but why total it up in such a way to charge me more than the posted pricce. When I complained, a car hop asked me if I wanted a refund or the difference. I said the difference. She offered me $.25 saying it was the difference in tax. I told her to keep it, that they apparently needed it worse then I did and left... I know they sell many many deceptive priced combo's.

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DisgruntledFastfoodEmployee
US
Send a message
Aug 01, 2016 12:08 am EDT

omfg if y'all have an issue with pricing, buy and cook your own damn ###.

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Michelle Powell
US
Send a message
Oct 11, 2017 12:40 pm EDT
Verified customer This complaint was posted by a verified customer. Learn more

If it wasn't for people like us patronizing the restaraunts, you would not have a job! Have some respect..

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LadySen
US
Send a message
Aug 22, 2016 1:30 pm EDT

The issue here is not the price for the food, but the deception on the consumers...Of you advertise a certain price that's what I expect to pay. I have never stopped to check my receipts but after reading this...I will. If everyone stopped eating out ...gosh that would put alot of people out of a job SMDH.

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joesmoe11111
US
Send a message
Oct 05, 2016 7:31 am EDT
Verified customer This complaint was posted by a verified customer. Learn more

I have an issue with my local sonic as well in their deceptive advertising practices. So Tuesday nights are half priced burger night. My wife and I like a good burger and sonic does well in that regard, so when offered for half price it definitely motivates us to hit the local sonic. Well, Twice now in the past 6 weeks when going to sonic and ordering our burgers, they have charged us full price. Normally we don't catch it right away as we order other things, but when looking at the receipt I have caught this twice. And the real irony, the advertisement for half price burgers IS PRINTED ON THE VERY RECEIPT THEY GAVE US FOR OUR PURCHASE! When calling the local sonic and speaking to the manager, I am treated dismissively and like its my fault. One told me it was my responsibility to make sure that im only being charged half price and the other reminded me that the promotion was only good after 5pm. I called after 8pm and had left the sonic less than 10 minutes before. I also sent Corporate a complaint both times, to receive a non reply email stating that they were sorry my visit wasn't up to my expectations and they forwarded my complaint to the location. Ive already complained to the local sonic myself! Our previous visit was also all kinds of messed up, with us receiving 3 different totals and then getting the wrong food. I finally just accepted whatever they handed us and drove off.

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Michelle Powell
US
Send a message
Oct 11, 2017 12:32 pm EDT
Verified customer This complaint was posted by a verified customer. Learn more

I patronize the Sonic in my town and today was the last time I will ever go to any Sonic again. I went for lunch and waited almost 30 mins for my food, like a usual thing. Not only did I wait for food at a fastfood restaurant for 30 mins, the food was disgusting. I ordered a BLT combo which it clearly states that it is $5.89 for a combo but they charge me more than the menu says. The lettuce on my food was brown and soggy and the tomato looked like it sat for months before they placed it on my sandwich. I do not ask for much but my gosh, this has been a common thing for this store. I have had patience and waited for more than 20 mins with no one in line, for my food there before.What is the issue here? Why can't you get your act together at this location. FYI...Do not go to this Sonic! They are terrible all together. Service, food and timing and whatever you do, do not go there for lunch because you will be late going back to work trying to acquire your food. Englewood, Oh location...

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