I feel a rant coming on. Yes, it is time for "Joel's pet peeve".
So what's my beef today?
It's fast food restaurants that treat you like a second class citizen if you request water instead of a soft drink by giving you a special cup for your water.
And this cup is different than the regular soft drink cup. It's always smaller than the smallest soft drink size.
This is what it communicates to me.
"If you aren't going to pay for a soft drink, we are not going to waste a nickel by giving you a soda cup. Sure, you may have given us $15 for $2.50 worth of food, but there is no way in the world we are going to give you a soda cup. Take the water cup and be glad that we don't charge you for it, you anti-soda person!"
On top of that, some restaurants will give you a different colored cup to indicate that you are only entitled to water. As if I am really going to ask for water and proceed to drink their precious Pepsi without paying for it.
And let's say I DID fill my water cup with Pepsi. Is the manager really going to come to me and say, "Excuse me sir, but it appears you have Pepsi in your water cup. Did you PAY for that? Hmmmm?"
Give me a break.
Hey, restaurant owners, managers and employees... When I buy food from you and ask for water, don't be handing me some wimpy little cup like I am a child that only needs a few sips to satiate my thirst.
No!
I want a REAL cup that holds at least 12 ounces of cool, clear, refreshing water without feeling like I am somehow indebted to you.
Maybe I should start a web site.. NoMoreCourtesyCups.com
Now I'm thirsty.. bah...
It's Del.icio.us!
Furl It!
May 22, 2006 12:52 PM
Hey Joel!
This wouldn't be a problem if drinking water wasn't like a RELIGION to you.
1. Fast food menus, prices, marketing, etc. are premised on the assumption that MOST normal people don't have a vendetta against soda, and will be purchasing a drink. So when you ask for water, eliminating a prime source for profit for the restaurant, you should be treated accordingly.
2. Cups themselves are a primary inventory item not to be given out for free. If you pay close enough attention, employees at most fast food establishments bring in their own cup to consume whatever drink is provided by the company.
3. As far as putting a soft drink in a water cup, I never saw any qualifiers in Exodus 20:15.
4. You WANT a big cup? BUY a big cup. Then you can put WHATEVER you want in it.
Best regards,
Brian
May 22, 2006 02:13 PM
Oy vey.... Somebody obviously doesn't have enough to do...! (Or is that two somebodies???)
Drink your water and quitcher whining.... ;)
Kisses to Mayor,
Mrs. Mayor
May 26, 2006 04:04 PM
I have witnessed many instances of "Soda Theft"!
Parents out for a Sunday Lunch ask for a water cup for each child in the family pack and then each child proceeds over to the soda machine. You might hasten to think they are going to fill their cup with soda instead of water, and you would be correct. I stand there and watch them in awe as the parents keep a vigilant eye on the whereabouts of each child. The mommy and daddy then fuss at each child to be careful and not spill the soda on their neatly pressed church outfits.
Truthfully, I have witnessed this event on countless occasions.
Joel, you are not a second class citizen, and the water cup is a wasted idea. The reason... it is never going to be a minimum wage earners job to be the "soda police".
September 10, 2008 03:25 PM
Thanks Brian! Well said.
Joel,
Obviously doesn't understand inventory or the restaurant business. He is too cheap to just pay for the price of a cup. Oh no...he rather probably supersize his meals......but to pay $1.00 for a cup that will hurt his wallet.
In some parts of the country where you have delinquent kids like Joel who after school need a place to hand out....so they go to their local fast food restaurant and get a water cup. When no one is looking the get some soda instead of the "water" they initially requested. Now this happens all the time....so Mr. Joel why don't you provide a solution where the restaurants can combat this water issue without them loosing money. The kids and some adults can afford expensive name brand shirts, shoes, but they can't pay for $1.00 cup...WoW!
Maybe I should start a web site.. NoMoreCheapPeople.com
September 10, 2008 06:41 PM
Does anyone else see the irony?
I discuss a pet peeve and people get bent out of shape like they are the saviors of the restaurant industry. Honestly, you people crack me up!
Keep reading :-)
July 21, 2009 11:27 PM
"As if I am really going to ask for water and proceed to drink their precious Pepsi without paying for it. "
Actually, this is precisely what I do. Thank goodness for free water cups.