Gary's blog on service and the discussion about it reminded me that I wanted to make a comment about Wendy's.

I had lost hope in fast food being worth the stop even if I was very hungry and it was too late to cook or make a stop somewhere else. A peanut butter sandwich is better than stopping at the local Burger King.

I was with my husband as he was working and we knew we would be too late getting home to prepare a meal, not to mention that we were both too hungry to wait. My husband decided to stop at Wendy's and I groaned...yuck, it's fast food. We'll get terrible service and the food may or may not be hot.

 I was greeted with a polite and pleasant attitude by the woman taking our order. When we got to the table I realised my husband's order was wrong. I could not remember if I had ordered it properly or not so I brought cash up to the counter to order another. I would not feel right accusing them of getting it wrong  when it could have been my own error.

The person who spoke to me about the need to correct the mistake was very polite. I even told her that I wasn't sure if I had specified what should be on the burger but she insisted it was their error and a new burger with the right dressing was made without charge to me. I have never heard a person in a fast food place take responsibility this way before.

What had been a stressful day evaporated with the positive attitude I got that evening. I was able to relax and enjoy my meal. I don't recall a time I have ever gotten service like this before.

While I still mind stopping at other fast food places, I will eat at Wendy's in Bogalusa, La.

Dear Brandy, What a pleasant end to a stressful day!  So good to be able to praise,not pan!  Yours in Him, Deb

:) i love it when my cashiers are polite and curteous....i hate ordering fast food, but when i do, i really appreciate when someone takes the time to make the order right....ive had a few wonderful experiances at restaraunts, and when i run across a cashier or employee is exceptional, i call the store and tell the manager AND i tell the cashier/employee how much their great service meant to me

It's nice to be pleasantly surprised, isn't it?  Fast food restaurant managers should copy your post and put it up for their employees to see. Good service makes a difference in their bottom line.

Dear All, I obtain my prescription medicines at Rite-Aid.  With every transaction, I receive a receipt that has on it a phone number to call for a customer satisfacion survey.  I call once a month (the maximum allowed), & give my store the highest praise.  It has really made a difference in their bonuses.  I know because one of the pharmacists told me.  It is easy to do, & it rebounds to my benefit, as I get such wonderful service there.  Yours in Him, Deb

Brandy, I've had the opposite experience with the Wendy's in Brandon.  The last few times I've been there, they were so unfriendly.  I finally sent in their comment card last time I was there.  They are friendly at the Burger King though so I'll go there next time I'm down that way and want cheap fast food.

Deb,

I think Walgreens and Best Buy do that around here.  

AuntBee,

 I have noticed that places in different areas can vary widely in service and cleanliness. I suppose it has much to do with the manager and the rest of the team.

The majority of fast food places are nice here.  I just find the part time teenagers screw up my orders more.  In general they have older moms etc working the full time day shifts and they get stuff always right but the part timers don't seem to care as much.   Plus I find it depends on the actual place. Each one is different with the management/owners. I find the bad management etc trickles down to the front lines.   One Mcdonalds here (the only one with a play tubes) is on a busy road with a busy drive through. But the management doesn't staff it well enough or train the new staff as well. so it is hit and miss going there./

 The fast food places and diners here are all part time work except on managerial level.