deceptive pricing
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
The complaint has been investigated and resolved to the customer’s satisfaction.
over charge
I went to Sonic in a hurry but since Sonic is usually very fast I figured 25 minutes to order and get to class would be fine. First it took 15 minutes just for a wrap and a drink cutting me down to almost no time at all to actually eat the thing. The credit card machine outside was not saying my total so when they came out they had to take my credit card...
Read full complaint and 1 commentfast food service
When placing my order I specifically asked for one ranch dressing dipping sauce. I like this with my oinon rings in which I ordered. When I received my order it didn't have any ranch so I pressed the order button a second time to ask for it to be brought to me by one of the car hops. It was like 20minutes later when I started getting irratated. I started to ask one of the nearby car hops to please get me a ranch when she told me to press the button for it, I told her that I already had and then she said, " well then I guess it will come to you eventually." What else was I suppose to do? I had been sitting there for a while already and mow my oinon rings were cold. So I left. I know it sounds silly but it was very aggravating and to be completely honest it wasnt the first time.
The complaint has been investigated and resolved to the customer’s satisfaction.
There was a bigger African American employee at the fountain station hollering and cussing and touched one of the waitresses butts and it was just disgusting they let some one like that work there
I have never seen so many roaches in one store in my 4 years of being employed with sonic drive-in. it is disgusting and they meaning roaches are every where. on top of that the store is falling apart and nothing in it works it is the BIGGEST HEALTH HAZARD i have seen in my life and needs to be condemned.
I got a crispy chicken sandwich. It was so tough I couldn't hardly eat it. We had ordered and taken our food home so couldn't tell them there.
Grilled cheese sandwich was soggy, greasy and Where's the cheese? Have had in other states and they have been GREAT! Suggestion: Add extra cheese so we can taste the cheese and clean grill more often.
We went to the Sonic drive in at Lytle Texas on our way to Laredo. We waited 20 minutes for a oreo blast, chocolate shake and a molten cake sundae. And there was no cake in my molten cake sundae! Worst service ever! In the future Dairy Queen will be our ice cream stop!
I went to Gravette Sonic and got a burger my bun was burnt. It was nasty I couldn't eat it. I was so disappointed..
then thats when you pick up your phone and call =/
Sogginess could be from foil bag.
I work for Sonic and this is a regular complaint.
We have looked into it.
Cheese is a set amount per sandwich.
If you want extra cheese, the base Sonic price is 50cent/slice.
food
I ordered two number one's today. One was with cheese, one no cheese. I was charged for the cheese, but I didn't get it on my order. Both orders were cold. I called to talk to the manager and a girl who answered the phone said that they were to busy for him to talk. I told her that I wanted to talk to him anyways, which I did. They have made mistakes on my orders before, and I just wanted them to be more careful on filing the orders.. Thank you. June 23rd. Mary bussey. [protected]
The complaint has been investigated and resolved to the customer’s satisfaction.
Hey Zerst, some can look like jerks without using the caps key.
hEY mARY, NEXT TIME YOU SHOULD CHECK YOUR aLL cAPS kEY BEFORE GETTING ONLINE TO GRIPE. iT'S A FAST FOOD RESTAURANT, YOU THINK THAT IF YOU GO WHEN IT'S BUSY, THE CORRECT SOLUTION IS TO MAKE THOSE POOR KIDS' LIVES EVEN WORSE WITH YOUR ###? aND THEN YOU HAVE THE GALL TO GET ON THE INTERNET AND COMPLAIN ABOUT TWO NUMBER TWO'S? wHERE DO YOU WORK? cAN i COME GRIPE TO YOUR BOSS?
bY THE WAY, THEY PROBABLY NEVER TOLD YOU IN YOUR LITTLE HICK SCHOOL OF nOBLE, BUT IT MAKES YOU LOOK REALLY STUPID WHEN YOU pRESS sHIFT wHILE cAPS lOCKED.
ruined my car interior
I ordered a Rt 44 Sweet Tea from the local Sonic Drive-in at Superstition Springs in AZ. I'm extremely upset about this because I'm driving in a nice brand new 2009 Chevy Avalanche with a pristine, off the factory line interior that had not even one speck of dirt on it at this point. The person who handed me my cup had wrapped a napkin around it which made it hard for me to notice that it was leaking. There must have been a huge defect in the cup because when I took it out of the cup holder, that little napkin band-aid that the ignorant employee slapped on there gave way and the entire cup split in half, leaving my beautiful new truck interior covered in a syrupy brown mess. I was also soaked but I didn't care so much about that, I'm easily washable. My truck isn't so easy to clean all of the upholstery, floor boards and console. I have to spend all this money to get the interior cleaned and I am royally PO'd. I'm sure if their employee wouldn't have wrapped a napkin around the cup they obviously knew was leaking and defective, this wouldn't have happened. I didn't think much of it at the time since employees often wipe off the cups or hand them to you with napkins. On top of all this, I call the store this happened at and their manager was rude an unapologetic saying they are not responsible - and trying to call their 800 number to reach someone at corporate has been a nightmare as well. The phone rings once and goes fast-busy. I will continue calling and sending letters to corporate until I get someone to listen to me and my cleaning bill paid for my brand new truck. Otherwise I am going to post this story everywhere I can and at [redacted], so everyone knows their stance on this situation; if the employees give you a drink in a defective cup don't expect them to give a damn about what property they ruin. Anyone who gets a nice new car they worked so hard for should be able to relate to how upsetting this is. To have your spotless new car interior wrecked by a wage slaves carelessness, and adding insult to injury the manager doesn't give a damn and you can't seem to get a hold of corporate.
I don't give a damn what any of you say, I don't need to prove myself to any of you low-lives sitting around making rude comments about someone you don't even know. This site is a joke compared to others like it, its more of a kids trolling and chat forum based on this and several other complaints I read. I am sticking with real sites like [redacted] from now on, and would advise any potential new posters to this forum reading this to do the same. You guys can keep posting garbage amongst yourselves for whatever reason, because I come off like a ###, you're jealous that I'm successful, or maybe I have struck a nerve with a lot of you making the comment about wage slaves. It doesn't really matter to me. The bottom line is: I won, the customer was right (as always) so I'm done with it.
I'm not sure if there's any way to remove a complaint from this website or if it stays up here like [redacted], if that is the case then I have to add the following:
I am retracting my complaint against Sonic Drive-In and this particular location. The DM I spoke with was very courteous and the situation was settled much to my approval. I apologize for the virulence in my original post directed toward Sonic employees, but not at the posters on this forum. I no longer have any resentment whatsoever toward Sonic/its employees/ etc after my concerns were addressed, and withdraw my comments about this store. I will not be updating this board again.
I have to amend my complaint here. How ironic that I get someone higher up in their company to talk with me the same day I post this to the internet, after weeks of trying. I wanted to add that finally I got in touch with the DM and he was wonderful, he really sympathized with me and handled the situation in a way that satisfied me. This employee has been fired since the incident happened and I'm assuming for having numerous complaints about their ineptitude. I'm certain I can't take credit for that, even though it would make me even happier to know that this ### paid for my truck with their job (and good luck finding somewhere to work in this economy - HA!)
They offered me free drinks, and I really ought to go down there just to rub it in the idiot store manager's face that YES, YOU ARE RESPONSIBLE FOR MY PROPERTY DAMAGE. However, I'm not going to patronize the place ever again, I'm not going to take the chances of having my drinks spit into. Having my cleaning bill paid for was more than enough. As far as the comments go - for one, I was never uncivil or disrespectful when dealing with the employees l in anyway even after they were rude - I'm not going to take that from anyone, and I'm just calling spade a spade so disgruntled wage slave sounds a perfect description to me.
My parents didn't pay for my truck or my cleaning bill - I bought my own truck and Sonic paid the cleaning bill so you can go f*ck yourselves both. My parents don't pay my way, I'm college educated and have a real career, I think I have earned the right to be pissed off when a lowly wage slave is rude to me and through THEIR carelessness ruins the interior of my beautiful truck that I busted my ### to earn.
I hope you get screwed over someday and someone tells you the same things you just said to me. Since I'm sure you're dregs of society, no manager would even take you seriously if this happened to you at a fast food place, you'd just look like another bum trying to cop a free meal. Think before you leave a stupid comment on someone's complaint. A word of advice if you don't want to look like a 13 year old boy fresh from the 4chan forums or a sick individual with a warped mind & sense of humor who thinks child abuse is funny, you should pick a different name than "ipunchbabies"
The complaint has been investigated and resolved to the customer’s satisfaction.
BAHAHAHAHAH Serves you right. I hope your interior was super expensive to clean. if you would of came to my store, I would of straight up laughed in your face. I hope you feel good about someone losing their job over a stupid hole in your cup...youre a monster.
I'm gonna have to go against the grain here and say I would've given that employee a piledriver they would not have soon forgotten.
people at drive up window
My husband and I used the drive through to order two drinks (1 large vanilla coke & 1 small slushy drink). We ordered and drove around; there was one car in front of us so we were sitting with a plain view through the glass door entrance/exit into the drive-up area of the building.
I watched as a lady inside put our two drinks down on the counter top then she set another large drink in front of our drinks. Well, the fellow that was manning the drive-up window was waiting for food to come up and he picked up both the large cups right as the lady came back and was holding them up as if asking who the drinks goes to.
Well, needless to say he had picked up our large drink and another large drink and now the cups/contents were mixed up so the lady took the lid off of one to smell it than handed it over to the fellow to take a swallow in order to figure out which was which.
Now, I'm no lip reader but it was very clear what their conversation was and what they did to figure out their mistake of mixing the cups/drinks up. I sat there and watched this take place, frozen in horror that they would actually do a taste test on a customers drink.
I got out of the car ( I am not afraid to speak my mind), opened that glass door and told them I saw what they did with the drink and that I didn't want it or the other one and I would be reporting them. The guy's mouth just hung and the woman was looking at me with a frown but they knew they were busted.
I will never eat at or be a patron of this restaurant again and this experience has made me think twice about eating out at all. Our 4 year old daughter would have been drinking out of that cup and we all know some of the diseases we can catch from others through saliva. This is truly frightening!
The complaint has been investigated and resolved to the customer’s satisfaction.
I work at that exact restaurant now and I can promise you that things like this aren't taken lightly. Thank you for reporting them.
I mostly work on the grill, and I can honestly say that I've NEVER messed with anyone's food, nor have I seen anyone mess with it since I've been there. It's always done, and I always melt the cheese before I pass the burger to the sandwich bagger.
And if I ever see anyone do a taste test on a drink I'll kick their ###. I might lose my job over it, but I'd rather lose my job than to have some idiot drink out of someone's cup.
Feel free to come back anytime, I don't wanna say my name on here, but I personally guarantee your order will be completed to perfection.
I work at Cordova, TN sonic drive-thru! I understand how you feel. That happens once in a real blue moon. they just have terrible employees. Because if we do that at our sonic we are written up for it. So that is not happen to evey sonic. I am sorry to hear what happened to you.
lame commercial
We have been lambasted recently with commercials featuring two white "men" that are degrading to men in general and white men in particular. These "men" are assumed to be parked at a Sonic seemingly about to have an orgasm over whatever it is they just bought. Such behavior is demeaning.
Commercials are generally effective if they make people want the product and or want to be like the people in the commercial. Needless to say, I do not want to be like them.I am to the point I immediately mute the tv each and every time I see the commercial begin. I am near to the point of boycotting Sonic until such commercials are pulled. I realize such a large corporation will not miss my little bit of business but I protest on behalf of all the white me who are not gay and feel all white men are belittled every time this comes on the air.
To have only two white men is also politically incorrect. Where are all the Latinos and black folks represented. Was someone afraid to have them represented in such a poor design of a commercial?
Get this crap off the air!
The complaint has been investigated and resolved to the customer’s satisfaction.
I've bout reached the end of sanity and patience with those gosh awful commercials... They have NEVER, not once, enticed me to the place, in fact I have been boycotting them since fall 2011 simply over that crap...I myself have never found one ounce of funny or entertaining bout them, but I shockingly acknowledge some have at points in their life when apparently they lost their minds. Either way it's been over TEN YEARS with that campaign...DO SOMETHiNG NEW already, jeez!...
MY DAUGHTER AND HUSBAND AND MY SELF WENT TO SONIC ON MAY 22 ND AND THEY MESSED UP MY HUSBANDS AND DAUGHTERS ORDER AND THEY WERE RUID ABOUT IT AND MAD THEM NEW FOOD AND NOW MY HUSBAND AND DAUGHTER GOT REALLY SICK OFF OF IT I NEVER GOT SICK IT SEEMS ALSO FUNNY THAT THEY ARE THE ONLY ONES THAT GOT SICK AFTER COMPLAINING. THEY HAVE BEEN THROWING UP AND ALSO HAVE DIAREIA OFF OF THE FOOD . WE WILL NEVER EAT AT SONIC EVER AGAIN
Ordered foot long coney with everything. The hot dog had no jalepenos as picture on the tv ad and the hot dog itself was so salty as to be unhealthy. When we ordered it with everything, we assumed that's what we would get. We will never go to Sonic again.
we went to sonic and ordered breakfast and asked that no peppers especially wouldn't be put on breakfast burrito.
we called and they just didn't care and either did corporate. it wouldn't have bothered us but the lack of customer service from management showed customers are not important to sonic.
Waited for our order for almost 30 min went in to speak with someone about getting manager number was told manager was there but wanted dave. Never received order sO left. For 30 min my mother ddaughter and i watched every single one goof off in there and I did record some on video.
I can't get an order correct ever due to multiple employees constantly high on the job. This place should be raided by the cops and all employees tested for drugs. Caila Brown is not the only one either, she's just stupid enough to tell customers and post it on her Facebook. Very sad!
Drove through the drive thur the young man stated I'm so damn tired of people driving so far from the window...How rude!
Food is served cool or lukewarm. Returned several times in the past year to turn in breakfast sandwiches that were not hot. They still are serving egg sandwiches that are barely warm and often cool.
Well the new sonic cups for milkshakes are AWFUL! thy condensation is ridiculous and gets everywhere. By the time you reciee your milkshake it is already melted & disgusting.
I took my kids to sonic we got two blasts and two milkshakes. By the time we got them they were like flavored milk. The complaint is about the new cups. They are awful. Go back to the stet foam cups. Thanks
employees
The sonic here in Center, T has signs up everywhere advertising that they are open 'till midnight. I've been to sonic around 10 pm several times in the last 4 weeks at about 10 pm and I'm told every time that they are closed. There is always kids playing out in the parking lot and never anyone inside. There was one incident it took 10 minutes for anyone to...
Read full complaint and 2 commentsbad food, bad service
Where do I begin? Many times my family has gone to eat at Sonic, and many times we have been disappointed. I have worked fast food, I know at times it can get hectic and very busy. Only at this Sonic that is not the case. I don't know when people stopped taking pride in their work, but at Stroud Sonic, taking pride and working to satisfy the customer have gone by the wayside. It is sad and frustrating to me that the money that I work for and decide to spend at this eatery is going to pay for crappy meals and bad attitudes.
Our orders are incorrectly prepared at least 50% of the time. We have waited in drive thru for 15-20 minutes at times, waiting on drink orders. The pace inside is glacial to say at best. There is no hurried pace to expedite the orders. The appearance and quality of the food is also something that is to be desired. I'm tired of being taken advantage of by companies that are charging a less than fair price for food that is less than acceptable to most pallets. I hope that these complaints are taken seriously and that measures are taken to salvage the integrity of a business that I have always enjoyed going to since I was a young child. I remember the little plastic animals that used to be placed on the rims of all the beverages. So, please take this seriously, because I want my kid's children to enjoy what I did when I was young. Thank You!
The complaint has been investigated and resolved to the customer’s satisfaction.
If the food is bad, why on earth do you keep going back?
The definition of insanity is to keep doing the same thing over and over yet expect a different outcome.
-anon
I have been a Long Long time customer at sonic's over the years, going back to 1975 in Austin Tx when they use to put plastic Animals on the large drinks. I have saved the .Monkeys, Mouse, Elephant’s, Giraffes, donkey, and sail fish from a special promotion...But now with
this last visit AND THE issue that came up, I have decided to end my long time association with sonic...my ticket # 105 store in Henderson NV on lake mead date: 9/13/13 time11:53am...can't make out the # on receipt...Anyway I called in an order for cheese burger with lettuce, tomato, mayo and light onion, and a small fry with extra catsup...when I pu the order, after paying I asked if they put extra catsup in, the girl said "no we only put 2 packets for small fry " I said you can't give more than 2 packets of catsup...she said no and walked back inside...So I went next door to arbys and got 4 packets of catsup..got home and of course my cheese burger didn't have tomato on it, they can’t even get a simple order correct...How frigging Bad and Cheap has this company gotten...So today.I made the decision to give
up on sonic since this is not the first time over the last several years I have had issues
with this company..this is the kind of trend that kills companies today ...so while I don't like McDonalds, I will seek out another fast food burger place...there are so many others in the area, In and Out, 5Guys, wendys, including that the special one I really like and that is Fuddruckers...their hamburgers are the greatest, but alias they just aren't in this area...but no more Sonic...you lost a Long time customer...good job at driving me away.
"I'm tired of being taken advantage of by companies that are charging a less than fair price for food that is less than acceptable to most pallets."
So stop supporting them.
"I remember the little plastic animals that used to be placed on the rims of all the beverages. So, please take this seriously, because I want my kid's children to enjoy what I did when I was young."
Relax, it's just a fast food joint. You're getting all sentimental over the fact that you can't stuff your kid's face with some greasy beef the way you used to be. A little over board, don't you think?
service
Not sure who this complaint is going to. I want to send it to a Sonic Manager. This new sonic drive in on Dowlen in Beaumont Tx. needs help. There service is horrible. They will never answer after you push the button, so you move your car and go to another stall, the same thing happens. I keep pressing the button over and over, no one answers! Finally I see a carhop and ask them if it is working, but today I got a manager. He told me there was 4 people working and they just couldnt anwer all the calls. HELLO! all you have to do is tell us you will be right with us instead of ignoring us. If this was the first time, but this happens all the time.
I know this is the second new manager I have talked to since this place has open. The employees need to be trained better. If this complaint doesnt go to home office, I will look into this futher. Like I said this does not happen at other sonics.
Signed tired of waiting 20 min. for someone to answer!
The complaint has been investigated and resolved to the customer’s satisfaction.
Oh, and if the button is programmed correctly, then while you are waiting it is either supposed to light up or flash until the station has been answered or deactivated. I would take you issue to corporate by calling 1-800-OK-SONIC and explaining the situation. The customer service reps are typically very helpful.
The way it works, Dan, is like this:
You drive up and press the button that says "Press To Order". Pressing it multiple times before anyone answers your call doesn't do anything. Do not let anyone tell you it does, because it doesn't.
After you press the button, your order is placed in line to be taken. If there is no line, of course you should be answered promptly. You are perfectly within your right to become irritated if they don't answer within about 15 seconds. Sonic has set the ideal reply time (the time it takes for someone to answer you) to 8 seconds with over 30 seconds being ridiculously slow. Each location has, on average, three speakers with which to answer calls.
However, if you do move to another stall after waiting for a few seconds or minutes, it will increase the amount of wait time you must experience because the system is not able to choose which orders it answers. It always just takes the next in line according to how long that particular stall has been waiting. When you moved, you were placed at the end of the line again.
However, I still say that you have a right to be irritated because the service at this location seems to be terribly slow.
Never said I kept pushing that damn button. I may have pushed it a second time because at the restaurant I visited, there aren't even directions, just a little button staring at you. The whole process is apparently poorly thought out. Sonic mgt or corporate needs to address this. My complaint was never directed at anyone in particular, including the local store workers. Only that something is wrong and needs fixed. And how in the hell is a customer supposed to know if his red button is working or broken if there is no way of letting him know he is in some sort of cue. When you make a phone call to a company and get put on hold, this is why you hear music---to let you know you are in a cue and connected. I can't blame a worker who is forced to work with a flawed system. Assuming what you say is true about not being able to answer and say they'll be right with you, then there is the problem. They need to be able to do this. If you can't understand my point then we'll let it be at that.
[Let me explain something to you...When 5 people push that little red button the headset inside beeps and the orders just stack up. They can't just answer and say they'll be right with you. It doesn't work like that. They probably need more help, but it is not possible to answer it until all of the people that pushed the button before you have placed their order...]
Yeah, if you keep pushing that damn button, it stacks up, and they're gonna have to turn off the machine, then turn it back on. And GOING TO ANOTHER STATION DOESN'T HELP! It just repeats the cycle all over again.
Let me explain something to you, it doesn't matter why you can't acknowledge customers. It just matters that they aren't acknowledged, they can't tell if the store is closed or closing and if someone doesn't fix the situation, people will leave. Look at all the complaints about Sonic posted on complaintsboard.com. Seems like a lot of unsatisfied customers. Be glad people take the time to complain. It might give management or corporate a chance to fix a big problem.
Let me explain something to you...When 5 people push that little red button the headset inside beeps and the orders just stack up. They can't just answer and say they'll be right with you. It doesn't work like that. They probably need more help, but it is not possible to answer it until all of the people that pushed the button before you have placed their order...
I've never been to Texas but I had a similar experience today in Uniontown, PA. I realize the town just had an Independence Day celebration at the nearby mall and the Uniontown Sonic was busy. But I don't see any reason to ever sit at one of the stalls for 25 minutes and not have someone at least acknowledge your presence and give you an estimated wait time. I pushed the button several times, tried another stall etc. To make things worse, nowhere could I find any indication of the restaurants hours. There were a few carhops moving about some of the cars. None ever came over to tell us anything. Were some of the stalls broken? Should have a sign or something posted so you don't waste your time. Was the store closed? All the lights were still on at all the stalls, the drive-thru, inside and at the outdoor tables. And again, no store hours anywhere to be seen. As a last resort, I tried the drive thru and waited behind several cars, all of which waited their turn, waited for someone to answer, then drove away out of the drive thru lane. Why all the lights still on? Why not put out some cones to let people know it's closed? I can't appreciate a place that doesn't respect my time or my business.
real fruit slush
Today during the Drive Inn Happy hour I ordered a Real Fruit Strawberry Slush. Normally when I purchase one of these it is very thick and so full of slushy Ice that it is hard for the liquid to come through the straw. Today was a different matter, there was very little ice in it, and the contents was very weak and had very little fruit, what a disappointment. Maybe I need to seek another business for my evening treat.
I have always tried to shop in my home town, but with this kind of service/product I can understand why people shop outside of their town
The complaint has been investigated and resolved to the customer’s satisfaction.
Sounds like they should make a better slushy machine then.
The slushie machine does that, when ALOT of people order slushies during happy hour. Plus its hard for the machine to maintain the slush, when it has to freeze some slush and defreeze some slush. Sometimes there's no watery slush, makes it thick, sometimes there's too much, makes it watery.
UGH the same thing happened at my Sonic today. No fruit, no juice, no anything, just ice with a squirt of red.
sonic partner
i recently overheard a conversation about a manager who took over the sonic in my area. My friend was telling me how a friend of hers suffers abuse from the manager who is never in the store. He always leaves when it is busy and comes back and complains when it is over.The co- manager is always at work and the partner who is never in the store is always nasty to her and yells at her. Other employees stand up for her but she just keeps working and does not say anything back. He cuts her hours because he says she makes to much money. I told her her friend should get a lawyer to look into this for her. Since she has never had any disiplinary actions against her except for the verbal threats of if she do not like it leave.
The complaint has been investigated and resolved to the customer’s satisfaction.
after work last evening we stopped and placed an order, after about 20 minutes the wrong order was delivered to our car . the drive in only had two customers at the time . Finally after another 15 minutes and two other wrong orders delivered, we finally got the right order . and then the food was cold. So we paid and left This drive in was on Wilmington Pike in Kettering Ohio . Very Poor service
Just today I had been asked to train a new employee, which I'm ok with. But then when am a customer came to our drive in, and asked if i could bring her ice cream out to her, my general manager told the employee taking The order to tell the customer to take their request and shove It up her ###, this was the last straw. I found out i knew the girl personally and i am done working there. Anyone know where i can file a complaint to the corporate HQ?
Yea screw Sonic Drive in here in Austin Texas. All of the supervisors just care about the money each and every store is bringing in. I have worked for Sonic for almost 8 years and i am proud to say I no longer work there. I have seen and heard it all. People getting fired for no reason, and the GMs and area supervisors write some fake documentation up to block unemployment claims. They sacrifice customer service to save labor, cut corners to keep food cost down, just to line their own pockets with dividends and bonuses, that dont go to the employees but to the supervisor of the particular store.
Have you ever heard of the song, "Take this job and -shove it?" by Johnny Paycheck. Listen to it. Unless you want burger flinging to be your lifelong career, I would study like crazy in HS school and college so you don't have to resort to working in places like that. You can't change the boss but you can change you and the place you work at. I would spend time looking for another job before you lose this one. Here's a secret- Keep the drama out of work. Nothing in life is fair and you will go through your entire life with jobs where people get treated unfairly.
i work at a franchise sonic an the manager is never their. The assistant manager is usually their but when it gets busy an our orders get full he tends to leave to take a break an usually takes one of the cooks with him an i end up getting stuck with just one other person left to fend for ourselves an it sucks because its unfair if he gets paid to be their to help us, then why does he leave. And the manager gosh she is so rude, she thinks she has it made since one of her family members is partial owner to some franchised Sonic's. Its just ###ed we get treated unfairly all the time, usually the manager talks behind out backs... eventually it gets back to us.. sonic sucks thats all i have to say.. also with the hours usually i get sent home because labor is so high its not my fault like why do i get scheduled to come in an i cant work my full hours i am told i will get
i appreciate what you are saying but it also seems it is obvious he is trying to make her quit so she can not get unemployment. You can not tell me that employees do not have the right to be treated with respect especially when the management in these restaurants are always demanding you treat them with respect.
employment is 'at will' which means your friend can leave at any time. Conversely, she can be fired for any reason at all (except because of race, age or gender.)
being a mean boss isn't grounds for a lawsuit. neither is cutting your hours and saying its because you cost too much.
awful place
I worked at the sonic in elkins arkansas for a year. When i was hired management was good but it was only temporary. The store manager when i had started had taken over after a previous one had passed away. The manager when i started was going to attend college the next semester and would be transferring to another location. That is why Bryan Davis was brought in from the Sonic on College to be the new store manager for elkins.
In the beginning i can understand why Bryan would have trouble. He had never done most of the tasks he was suppose to do as manager. So i helped him out as much as i could and tried to make the other employees understand that he would get better as time progressed.
As time went on Bryan still could not do his managerial duties correctly. I was the only assistant that ran my own shift on most days (with no other Assistants on duty) And not having proper amounts of products ordered nearly every week drove customers away. I of course would take some of the heat for that.
For anyone who has ever worked for the fast food industry then you will understand this. Labor stayed at about 27% daily even on the weekends. Elkins is a small town so not a whole lot of business to begin with. But the previous manager had been able to keep labor Around 22% or lower. around 16 or 17% on weekends.
Bryan davis would Schedule way too many people for my shifts and tell me not to send anyone home early. and When labor went up I would take ALL of the blame for it.
The reason i left The Sonic after taking all of that crap is simple. He blamed me for him getting in trouble from The General Manager for our Sonic. So when i told him that i had to move from my apartment a couple days later he said NO bcuz he isn't going to cover for me because of The GM getting on to him.
I either had to work and have all my stuff confiscated by my previous landlord or Quit and keep all of my stuff.
The complaint has been investigated and resolved to the customer’s satisfaction.
I worked at the sonic in elkins arkansas for a year. When i was hired management was good but it was only temporary. The store manager when i had started had taken over after a previous one had passed away. The manager when i started was going to attend college the next semester and would be transferring to another location. That is why Bryan Davis was brought in from the Sonic on College to be the new store manager for elkins.
In the beginning i can understand why Bryan would have trouble. He had never done most of the tasks he was suppose to do as manager. So i helped him out as much as i could and tried to make the other employees understand that he would get better as time progressed.
As time went on Bryan still could not do his managerial duties correctly. I was the only assistant that ran my own shift on most days (with no other Assistants on duty) And not having proper amounts of products ordered nearly every week drove customers away. I of course would take some of the heat for that.
For anyone who has ever worked for the fast food industry then you will understand this. Labor stayed at about 27% daily even on the weekends. Elkins is a small town so not a whole lot of business to begin with. But the previous manager had been able to keep labor Around 22% or lower. around 16 or 17% on weekends.
Bryan davis would Schedule way too many people for my shifts and tell me not to send anyone home early. and When labor went up I would take ALL of the blame for it.
The reason i left The Sonic after taking all of that crap is simple. He blamed me for him getting in trouble from The General Manager for our Sonic. So when i told him that i had to move from my apartment a couple days later he said NO bcuz he isn't going to cover for me because of The GM getting on to him.
I either had to work and have all my stuff confiscated by my previous landlord or Quit and keep all of my stuff.
I travel so I get an opportunity to visit many fast food places at all times of the day and all days of the week. I was very happy a few years ago when Sonic put in a drive-in in our small town, but now I say take it out and I will drive the 10 miles to the next one. They never have what you order. I have been told "I am sorry but we can't fix milkshakes today, our ice cream is runny like water", "can I just give you a large instead of a route 44 because we are out of the 44 cups". One night we drove up town, my whole family, to get milkshakes, they brought us the milkshakes, but we could not get a strawberry one because they said they were out of strawberries. So we ordered a different flavor, when they brought them I noticed that there was no cherry and no whipped cream, I ask the girl about that and she said "yeh, we're out of whipped cream". I have never been able to get what I want at the Sonic in Bloomfield, Missouri, my hoetown, Dexter is 10 miles away and many of the people I go to church with say they don't even stop at the Bloomfield store anymore, they either go to the gas station or they drive to Dexter. You might as well close the one here in Blooomfield or get a manager who knows what they are doing.
Mary Thornburgh,
19717 CR 514
Bloomfield, MO 63825
[protected]
[protected] (cell)
Dustin,
Im sorry to hear about that. You should have taken your concerns to the General manager or supervisor of the sonics in your area. That is high labor and depending on the weather is may or may not have been avoidable. There should always be a minimum of two in back and 2 or 3 employees in the front depending on business. Our labor stands at 24 on our worst days so I can understand how unorthadox it was for you.
I hope your move wasnt too taxing and did you transfer out or...?
Well, what an interesting dip into the fictional world of sean macy. Good one sean. Clever way to vent your frustrations I suppose. If I wrote forums lying out my ### trash talking people online to try to make up for my own failures in life, I would be nothing more than a loser with a guatamalan bullfrog of a girlfriend... oh snap. Sean quit without notice after being criticized for video footage revealing himself and two other crew members playing computer games and chatting at the desk for over an hour straight. If he hadn't taken this initiative, he was to be terminated shortly thereafter. Sonic of elkins has never been more prosperous. It seems without mr. Macy and his protoges, business has been considerably better. In an era of economic crisis, we continue to increase profit margin and boost sales. But yeah, that Bryan Davis guy..what does he know.
filthy place
This is a complaint about the sonic drive in st francisville, louisiana. This is the worst sonic I think in the state. The parking lot is so torn up that you risk tearing up your vehicle pulling up to a stall. When it rains the parking lot is like a lake with a million huge potholes that you can't see. Next the food tastes good, but it looks terrible. When I order a double cheese burger it's so flat that I have to double check to make sure it's not a single. The building itself is so out of date, it looks like it is still in the 1980's. This place is in need of a major upgrade, inside and out.
The complaint has been investigated and resolved to the customer’s satisfaction.
overcharged & rude workers
Sonics has a value menu where the items on it are only $1. I went during Happy Hour (2-4) and ordered lunch. The girl at the drive thru speaker was rude. I couldn't understand what she said so when I asked her to repeat, she all but yelled me "Order when you're ready!" So I ordered a medium cherry slushie, small tots (which are supposed to be $1) and a small popcorn chicken. The total was a little bit higher than I would have expected it to be. When I got to the window, she handed me the slushie, then my bag and rudely told me to "have a nice day". She made a face when I asked her for ketchup and barbeque sauce since there were none in the bag. When I checked the receipt, she had overcharged me for the tots.
The complaint has been investigated and resolved to the customer’s satisfaction.
You know what they say in the movie Lethal Weapon? "They f you at the drive-through." It's true for all drive- throughs.
false advertising
I went to Sonic today and ordered my daughter a stawberry malt at about 2:30, which their Happy Hour starts at 2:00 and runs till 4:00. Under the Happy Hour sign offering their drinks at 1/2 price they have a large sign showing their drinks like the slushys, sodas, lime aid, shakes and malts, floats, ect. but they charged my full price for the malt. The manager argued that the 1/2 price Happy Hour only applyed to serten drinks. I told him his sign is falsely advertising all the drinks which is illigal and he can be sued for that, but told me drink was still full price. So warn you Sonic lies about their prices. (BEWARE THEY WILL CHEAT YOU!)
The complaint has been investigated and resolved to the customer’s satisfaction.
First of all it's called spell check, do they not have that in Huntsville, Arkansas? The sign does say specifically what it is for, and it doesn't say MALTS! Not false advertising just consumers failing to read the signs correctly, but not a surprise here.
FYI Tracy,
When you purchase water you are not paying for the water, you are paying for the cup, lid and straw which do cost us money to produce. Therefore, like every other company operating today, we pass that cost onto the consumer so we can make money. Believe me, we don't make that much off of your .30 cent water!
Anna,
The commercials and signage have always very clearly stated in BIG BOLD LETTERS that Happy Hour, from 2pm-4pm, is for soft drinks, teas, and slushes - NOT MALTS!
Your wrong... It's only fountain drinks, and slushes... not MALTS! Idiot.
Right that's what the sign says, but it took us 5 minutes to locate it on one of the modulars.
It also doesn't cover water, for those who desire water, which used to be free. :)
*fountain drinks, slushes, and limeades
You read the sign wrong. It says that Happy Hour only applies to fountain drinks, slushes, and malts. It's not the manager's fault that you don't know how to read.
Hi,
I work for Sonic Drive-In and have so for 2 years. I was a part of the company when Happy Hour started and since it's launch the advertisements have only claimed half price "fountain drinks, slushes, and limeaids." Any product containing ice cream will not be given half price, period. This includes sundaes, blasts, cream slushes, shakes, etcetera.
I hope this helps.
This isn't false advertisement.
raw chicken sandwiches
My husband and I stopped at the sonic in tulsa as we left the fairgrounds on our way home after a weekend show and ordered two chicken club sandwich combo's. We drove on our way and when we started to eat the sandwiches - the chicken was raw - very, very, very r a w!
I called the number on the receipt and asked for the manager. She said she would be glad to make me two more but we were miles away by now. She said she would make a note and we could get them at a later time. We do not live in oklahoma - we live about two hours away. She said she was sorry and appreciated me letting her know and I told her I certainly didn't want anyone to get sick by eating undercooked chicken. It really was extremely raw like it had been dipped in grease and then back out. My tkt # 0285 at 5:54 pm on march 1, 2009. It was a total of $12.11 and we had to throw it away as it wasn't fit to eat. I have eaten at a lot of sonics and love them but this was by far the worse food I have ever received anywhere.
The complaint has been investigated and resolved to the customer’s satisfaction.
Oh I agree I got served raw chicken today at a sonic in Cleveland, TN I contacted sonic head quarters and they were like sorry, I did get a full refund but will never go to another sonic again
Well, first off- Sonic does not offer a chicken filet that is shipped pre-cooked and frozen. We only have grilled chicken come in pre-cooked and it isn't frozen, it is refrigerated.
Secondly, "Don't like..." is correct. The product still fails because it would pass the inspection. All food items served at any restaurant must be served at an internal temperature of above 165 degrees. Period. No exceptions. If the food is to be served chilled, it must be between 34 and 38 degrees. Period.
All other temperatures except frozen allow for bacterial growth. And who the hell wants to eat frozen food?
Ok...anl1221 smartypants. They were eating precooked partially frozen, cold chicken. Mmmmmm mmmm good! I think the customer wants a Chicken Club sandwich cooked thoroughly through so it doesn't taste cold and raw. Cold and/or raw- even if it was precooked, there is still a chance of bacteria growth because health department standards require meats to be served at a specific temperature to prevent the consumption of tainted meat. I don't think these sandwiches would come even close to passing a health department inspection.
I don't really understand how your chicken could have been raw since it is delivered pre-cooked and frozen to the store. Cold, yes, but not raw.
wages
Sonic mangers sit back to much and put to much work on the crew members when they are too short handed to cover there shifts especailly when you to a sonic on a regular basis and there is always this one carhop that is always by herself doing everything from taking the orders to making the drinks and even cooking the food while the managers sit outside talking on the phone and smoking! All I can say is bob wallace store needs help bad and the crew there needs raises for putting up with the bull crap of the higher personell!
Thank you sarah parker
The complaint has been investigated and resolved to the customer’s satisfaction.
It is all in your job description. Read the fine print.
At the Sonic i work at i have to make drinks, take orders, cook, clean do everything an i''m not exaggerating this the manager is never their an when the assistant is all he does is take freaking breaks to go smoke an takes for ever to come back. Were short hand on staff, the manager tends to have favorites an the rest of us that didnt make it to her good side have to work 5 times harder then her favorites.
i have been working for sonic for the last month and they have dont nothin but screwed me over in any and every way that they could! i finally quit today because they held me check for three pay days and i got paid today and my check was only $77.34 and i am about to go to jag if i do not get the rest of the money they owe me!
nasty ice machine
I went to sonic to get a cup of ice because i love the ice but i will never go to this sonic again because it had a finger inside the cup of ice which i think is very very nasty i called the manager and he didnt apologize or anything so if you but anything to drink from there beware whats in your cup!
The complaint has been investigated and resolved to the customer’s satisfaction.
A finger? Wow...Did you find it's owner?
A finger? my ###. what are you trying to do? sue Sonic like how that [censored] woman tried to sue Wendies with that same ### in her chili?
Seriously? You had a finger in your cup? And all you did was call the manager? I call BS
poor customer service is the number one reason we will not continue to trade with your businesses product, food, or services.
Sonic Drive-in, 1537 W Camelback Rd, Phoenix, AZ. Although times are tough and the Lite Rail makes your establishment inconvenient, my daughter, my Son-in-law, grandchildren, and myself consume enough fast food to star in a Spurlock film. In the last three days we have been to the Sonic Drive-in located at 1537 W Camelback Rd, Phoenix, AZ, three time...
Read full complaint and 6 comments
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...
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.
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.
omfg if y'all have an issue with pricing, buy and cook your own damn ###.
If it wasn't for people like us patronizing the restaraunts, you would not have a job! Have some respect..
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.
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!
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.
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.
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!