I cave.
Just a week ago, I got on my soapbox and declared my hatred of fast food. I believe my exact quote was…
“…I am starting a boycott of fast food restaurants that do not provide good service or good food. Life is too short to waste a meal on junk and deal with bad service.”
Alight so I’m still good. I did NOT really break my boycott when I went to Chick-fil-A tonight. Yes, yes, yes I went to Chick-fil-A. Sometimes there just isn’t enough hours in the day and we need to eat!
However, my experience at Chick-fil-A was the complete opposite of the Burger King Fiasco last week.
First, when I went to order, I was immediately waited on, even though the restaurant was quite busy. The girl behind the counter was pleasant, courteous and even friendly, if you believe it!
Now, the husband was with the toddler in the gym so I ordered alone. When the worker realized I was alone trying to carry everything, she offered to take my drinks to the table!
WHAT? Take my drinks to the table? That would be FABULOUS, “thank you” I said and she responded pleasantly, “You’re welcome”.
It puts a smile of my face just thinking about it.
While we were getting settled in the booth another worker came over to the table, gave me a place mat for the toddler and asked if I wanted fresh pepper on my salad. Seriously, are you kidding? Isn’t this a fast food joint? Did I not just rant about bad service and workers treating me with disdain and another fast food place just 2 miles away.
I told you I could not have had a more opposite experience. But wait, it get’s better!
After enjoying my fabulous salad and diet lemonade(one of my favorite non-water drinks), we let the toddler go back into the gym. While we were watching him through the window, another worker came over and offered to get us drink refills!
I almost fainted!
What a fabulous customer service experience. Really, being a mom, I’m always trying to teach the toddler to be courteous by example. So I’m a big ‘please’, ‘excuse me’, ‘thank you’, ‘you’re welcome’ type of person. I’ve never heard more of those phrases in a 20 minute period before. Every person I interacted with was just SO pleasant!
But what about the food? Well, me, I love Chick-fil-A’s choices, the grilled sandwich, the salads and the fruit cups great options! And of you want to splurge on fries, I mean nothing beats their waffle fries, they even leave the skin on!
So, I am removing Chick-fil-A from my boycott. I’m not claiming all Chick-fil-A’s are created equal but the ones in my area just seem to be a step above the McDonalds and Burger Kings.
If you are interested in seeing the nutritional information for the menu items check out their nutritional calculator. Oh! and apparently I’m not the only ones who thinks they have the right idea about customer service. ;~)
24 Responses to I talk a BIG game but when push comes to shove…
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About Roni
Roni started this blog in '05 to journal her weight loss. 70lbs later, she's committed to living a conscious, healthy life and hopes to inspire others along the way. Read more on the about page.
Isn’t it great? Chick-fil-A was my first job at 15 yrs old and I never considered myself a “fast food worker.” It seems CFA is more in the restaurant category of “fast casual”…definitely better than Burger King ANY DAY!
When you wrote about your bad experience at Burger King last week I was tempted to defend Chic-fil-a, it is not your average fast-food chain. What pleases me the most is when you go thru the drive-thru and after getting your food and say “thank you”, their response is “my pleasure”!!!! Thats a WOW! Thats how it should be. I have never heard that at MCD or any other place. I am a huge CFA fan for the food and the service.
Since your experiece was so great, you might email Chick-fil-A. Companies love to hear about the good service. :-)
I’ve never gone to Chick-fil-A, but don’t they have a great corporate policy…I’ve heard they do. Aren’t they closed on Sundays?
Why can’t companies realize that a single bad customer experience sends out ripples of bad vibes that it takes millions of advertising dollars to dispel…Just make us happy!!!
Too funny! I went there last night too! It’s on my way to school, and I absolutely needed some food. I had the chargrilled chicken sandwich, waffle fries, and an unsweetened iced tea. I would have gotten the fruit cup, but I didn’t have the extra $.50. Next time!
I don’t consider Chick-fil-A as fast food, either. I still only go there less than once a month, but it’s good to have that and Zen as options when I’m out and about.
Bad customer service is one of my biggest pet peeves. I work all day in customer service (or sales really), and when I go out after work and I’m treated badly nothing pisses me off more!
I’m glad after such a bad experience you had a good one. Just shows it’s all about how them employees are treated and trained.
I just wanted to second the thought that it would be great of you to email the company and let them know of your experience. Sounds like it was wonderful!
Also, and I know I shouldn’t nitpick but I’m going to, it’s “You’re welcome” rather than “Your welcome.” Can’t help myself – sorry! Love the web site!
It’s so true! Chick-fil-A is truly an exception to the crappy fast food service rule. From my first experience with Chick-fil-A to present, I have always received exceptional service there. That company deserves a big pat on the back, and it’s refreshing to see that some people still do have morals and values. I’m glad to hear your experience this week was better than the whole BK debacle! :)
Its a shame we dont have those in my area… maybe its better that I avoid fast food all together anyhow ;)
P.S. WONDERFUL work on the table generator. One suggestion, can we input negative numbers for a workout?
Chic-fil-a is a Christian company…which is why they close on Sundays, and why they have such good morals and values. We used to have a CFA in our local mall, but they left quite a few years ago, and there are no others around here (central IL). I miss them.
Bonnie
I found this article about restaurant report cards, thought you might be interested Chic-Fil-A received an A+…go to this site….
http://health.msn.com/nutrition/articlepage.aspx?cp-documentid=100182335>1=10710
I’m happy that you had such a wonderul experience at Chic-fil-A. I just have 1 question. Why don’t we have any CFA’s with a gym attached? Or how come my gym doesn’t have a CFA?
BellasMom – Negative numbers should work. Try it and let me know!
Chick-fil-A is Christian owned business which is why they are closed on Sundays. The funny thing is I normally want to go on Sundays! LOL
Love the article Anon!
and as for the gym, both CFA by my house have toddler gyms, you know like play rooms. I just assumed they all did but I guess it depends on the owner.
I did forget to mention I LOVE the fact that they put books in there kids meals too!
I adore chick-fil-a and anytime I want “fast food” that’s usually where we head it. The grilled chicken sandwhich is totally points friendly and the folks are just good folks. Nice young people who care it seems.
We love chick-fil-a more “fast food” places should be like them!
CFA is a great company. When DH and I were dating, he used to surprise me at work with a chicken biscuit and coffee quite often–ah, the courtship phase…(No wonder I packed on the pounds after we met!) Now I go for the chargrilled sandwich, but I still must have my Polynesian sauce. That stuff is so worth the points!
Hey Roni..
I’m glad you had such a great experiance!
I love Chick-Fil-A!
I hope you take a second to write that manager a letter.
I’m sure his employee’s would love a pat on the back for how hard they work!
They use polystyrene products at the Chick-fil-As I’ve been to. While some polystyrene is made with less destructive gases, it is still harmful to the ozone.
As much as people enjoy the food compared to other fast food joints, a company that disregards the environment like that isn’t ok, regardless of their pleasant customer service and decent wages.
When you were on shelves in the US I was disppointed, finguring we get a Canadian version. Guess what? I saw you after weigh-in Wednesday night! I had to buy it, just for the picture. I’ll read it one of these days. My husband was appropriately impressed as I told him that the woman on the cover is the reason I blog.
Okay, that’s no fair. We don’t have those in Michigan! *whine*
I know the Burger King you were mad at and I avoid it like the plague. I LOVE the Chick-fil-A. I also HATE the Mcdonalds in Belcamp. NEVER eat there, the have yet to get my order right. In general I am over fast food. I still have an Arby’s weakness. There is NOTHING
Maybe they recognized you from the magazine cover and you were getting the celebrity treatment. :)
JK. I think Chick-fil-A is good too.
Roni- I also have had nothing but amazing service at CFA. While we currently don’t have any in the Chicagoland area, I read an article that they are hoping to have a few here in 2008 so I can’t wait! I guess it is a good thing I have to wait until I travel to Atlanta for work to eat there… :-) I third (or 4th) the great idea to write the company. They usually only hear about the bad stuff!
I have to agree with you… I USED to consider CFA a fast food restaurant… not anymore… SPECIFICALLY because of the great customer service. The one near my home has a “Family Night” where kids eat free, and yes, they provide the table toppers, as well as let the kids trade in their toy (from a kids meal) for an ice cream cone. WOW! Have you tried their southwest salad???? OMG you don’t even need dressing!
Sounds like a restaurant experience. Wow. I don’t think we have those out here but I’ll hae to keep my eyes open. Glad you had such a good experience, it means there may be some hope in keeping customer service alive.