I'm Breaking Up With You, Arby's
Look, Arby's, it's not me, it's you. I know you've heard it the other way many times, but I'm not the kind of guy who cares about fat and calories. I care more about food quality and proper service. Yes, I realize that you're "fast" food but you've always held a special place in my heart. Especially since you charge twice as much as other fast food joints. Sometimes I get the feeling that you'd rather have my money than my happiness.
In the past I've overlooked your inconsistent "beef" slicing. When you're thin, our relationship is great, but when you're thick, well, it's just chewy and gross. Look at it this way, if I want a roast beef sandwich, I go to Subway (yes, I've been seeing other restaurants)--if I want beef that's sliced paper thin, I go to you (but not anymore).
Remember when we went on that break a couple years ago? After our big blowup over you dropping the homestyle fries, I eventually got over it and came back. I was even more into you when you introduced the loaded potato bites. After that I didn't even miss the fries.
Despite our good times, I'm breaking up with you because you never give me your sauce anymore. You used to care. You used to either ask how many packets I wanted or you'd just surprise me. Now, you merely hand me the bag and send me on my way. You don't even ask me if I want it anymore. I look into that bag of deliciousness hoping for at least two packets, but now it's packetless. I never think to ask for ARBY'S sauce because your frickin' name is on the packets. Do you just assume that a magical Arby's fairy will put it in my refrigerator when I get home? Because that doesn't happen. I've checked.
I'm sure you'll do fine without me, Arby's. After all, there's always a new generation of people like me for you to constantly disappoint.
--Spanno
Gabriela on September 22, 2008 at 01:54 PM
Well said! and BTW, I'm with you. I've been done with Arby's for numerous years now and for the same reasons. If increasing their profit margins is more important than providing good service, then I'll keep my money and stop subsidizing the greedy bastards. After all, isn't it always all about the almighty dollar?
sam on September 22, 2008 at 01:54 PM
I liked Arby's too, until I saw one of their employees, wearing gloves, blow her nose into a napkin, and keep wearing the same gloves.
e. on September 22, 2008 at 02:14 PM
I've tried to quit Arby's so many times, but the Jamocha shake always comes around and steals my heart....
A. on September 22, 2008 at 03:36 PM
Cutting down on the sauce packs seems to be something quite a few other fast food joints have done around here lately. MA kid in my family always gets chicken McNuggets at McDonalds (Yes, bad, I know) and would get 4-6 Sour Sauce packets with his order. Now, none are given unless you specifically ask. Even then it's usually 1 or 2 and you are charged extra for more then that. Personally I think this is just a way to help cut corners in the budget but it's pretty annoying to get home and not have the "Special" sauce you wanted or even worse, have to deal with a child who didn't get there's either.
LR on September 23, 2008 at 01:23 AM
This article was very detailed! I see that you are extremely heart-broken. They used to care is right!
The Manager of the Pembroke Pines, FL Arby's was extremely rude, as well as racist in my last visit. I went with my family after a day at the beach to this restaurant, we had received those Arby's coupons in the mail, something like buy one, get one...or something like that. We decided to use these coupons. The Manager simply treated us like 3rd World, classless individuals, made us feel like he was feeding the homeless, and treated us like insects only because we used this coupons we received in the mail! At the end of the transaction, he lied about the coupon redemption rules, he charged us the full price, and completely disregarded the coupons! So let me see, I paid full price, and was treated like an insignificant crushed bug on a windshield...hummm
I will never set foot in another Arby's, even if it is the only business left after a Category 5 hurricane in FL! I believed that the terrible service was confined to just one restaurant, I guess I did not realize that their service has plummeted considerably. I am sorry you are equally disappointed! Give Wendy's an opportunity now that you are open to new relationships!
JP on September 23, 2008 at 07:07 AM
Arby's and I lost touch last December. After eating a regular roast beef sandwich, I went home only to spend about 24 hours expelling Arby's from both ends. The truly sad part of it is, 6 years prior I ate a chicken sandwich from Arby's and I was sicker than I have ever been in my life. After giving Arby's up for a few years, I decided to try it again, but only eat the roast beef because I figured you probably can't get sick from that.
Food poisioning twice from the same place (different locations). Either I am a moron or Arby's is a dirty, dirty place. Maybe both.
It still makes me laugh though that my most recent food poisoning experience from Arby's was at a location across the street from their home office in Atlanta.
I hate you Arby's for being such delicious, but filthy food.
Sam on September 24, 2008 at 07:50 AM
I'm still mourning the loss of homestyle fries. Thanks a lot, Arby's!
Brady Howell on October 05, 2008 at 07:09 PM
im sorry that you all have been done wrong by the company that i work so diligently hard for and spend 40-50 hours a week at but you have been done wrong but dont go blaming the people for doing it i work in lubbock texas at an arbys and i always ask if you great customers would like arby sauce and always make sure that if i drop your homestyle fries that i replace them and with a reward you are guaranteed satisfaction when you leave my store when i am on shift and better yet you wont see me as your arby manager you will see me as your friend i hope that whatever franchise has made you mad at arbys will not prevent you from visiting mine when you stroll on through my great town of lubbock texas because we are not like that
Rosy on October 05, 2008 at 07:41 PM
See..not to be rude but the Brady Howell not getting the "dropping the homestyle fries" statement is why i can't stand fast food...not very bright
Albert Einstein on October 06, 2008 at 11:33 AM
Brady, was your comment really one tremendously-long run-on sentence? Seriously? Throw in a period, or at least a comma, to make your post a little more manageable for those who read it.
Dustin Hawn on October 06, 2008 at 11:08 PM
Don't be too mean to Brady, I also work at an Arby's. We still sell Homestyle fries, just not at every location. The corporate stores dropped them from the menu, but some franchises have opted to keep them to avoid losing customers. It's not just Arby's, it's the people they employ. Luckily I'm in the one store where we wont hire crack addicts (I'm being serious), so good luck to the rest of you. If you swing by Champaign, Il: go to the store on Springfield ave, otherwise the crackheads will f*** your order up.
Spanno on October 07, 2008 at 10:20 AM
Wow, talk about coincidences. The first time I'd ever had Arby's was at the Springfield Ave. restaurant in Champaign, IL.
--Spanno
Christina on November 08, 2008 at 08:18 AM
I have always gotten sick from eating Arby's sliced meat. Ever since I was a kid, so I never ate it. I always stuck to a side item and chicken fingers. I had a cordon bleu last night and got so sick. I can eat any other deli meat, I don't know what it is about Arby's meat that my body does not tolerate. I'm trying to find something, or someone like me now. Stinks because it's soooo good! I'll stick to the poppers from now on (which thankfully the one near me still has them...for now)
on November 09, 2008 at 11:53 AM
I've been written up 4 times in the last week Worked there 4 years see ya.
amy olsen on February 17, 2009 at 11:58 AM
I am truly sorry that you have chosen to give up on Arby's. I am an employee of Arby's and can assure you that at my store we always ask if the customer wants sauce. Come to the Arby's in Gresham, Oregon and i am sure you will be convinced not to swear off all Arby's.
Arby employee on April 19, 2009 at 07:44 PM
I have to say (as an employee) that you are a dumbass. I have realized that you can't please everyone no matter what you do. Most people are NEVER satisfied. I bet you if an employee offered you a free sandwich for your troubles you sure as hell would eat it. And by the way it is not the workers fault if they discontinue an item. It depends on the area you live in and the demand for the product. By the way in any fast food joint you will get your occasional worker who doesn't care about anything. Its not just arby's. So Im sorry you feel that way but me personally I do ask customers if they want sauces. Let me guess your the type of customer that thinks they can use every damn coupon that comes in the sunday paper even though the coupon clearly states 1 coupon per visit not valid with ANY other offer. Customers usually get mad at the workers like we get commission if we dont allow you to use coupons. I know other restraunts that will remain nameless have their flaws too.
Mike B. on September 10, 2009 at 07:36 AM
Let's get back to the original post, for all the employees that seem to answer, why is the meat not cut thin any more and always over cooked, why do the customers have to ask for sauces, what happened to home style fries at ALL stores? The food quality has gone way down, as well as customer service so what is Arby's doing about it?
Drew on January 25, 2011 at 02:57 PM
I am a manager at a store in Salt Lake City UT. The meat is supposed to be sliced "wafer thin". In fact, if it is not, we lose money on that product so it is stressed and checked to be transparent when laid out on a wrapper. If its wafer thin, you should be able to read the wrapper beneath it. We have a better margin on the thinner slice because we steam it, which adds flavor and weight, before putting it on a bun. The thinner the slice, the more surface area with which to absorb the steam and the greater the appearance. One excuse I have heard as to why its not thin enough is because the blade hasnt been sharpened. We sharpen ours at the very least, once per day.
Our customers do not have to ask for sauces. I would say a large portion of customers arent even aware of the multitude of sauces we have. So when I ask, I ask if they would like, "Arby, Horsey or any of our other sauces." That prompts them to inquire as to what those could be and I will always hold up at least 2 of the agreed upon sauces per the number of sandwiches ordered(only 1 for Jr) and ask if that is enough and then put them into the bag. (Napkins too!)The Homestyle Fries were ditched in favor of the curlies because they were being requested at a rate of 9 to 1. With that kind of demand, having homestyle fries required to be prepared at the same time as curlies with hardly any orders for the former, its a smart business decision to get rid of them because of all the wasted product. We can only keep fries ready to serve for a matter of minutes before fresh ones are prepared. Just so you know, each store keeps track of the sales of products measuring many different metrics before making decisions like that.
Regarding customer service, without a doubt, my store has the best service of any fast food establishment. When a customer asks me why I am so happy, I reply that I understand that they have a choice when they choose to buy fast food. If my enthusiasm, professionalism and outstanding service will bring a customer back through our doors, then thats all I can ask for. I create a fun atmosphere for employees and customers. I will ask customers Trivia questions late at night and correct answers will receive free food, like turnovers, fries, or other expendables. My employees are rewarded for their efforts in the form of food, desserts, or if something amazing happens, I will pull cash out of my wallet and give it to them. Its usually 10 bucks but I tell them that I just more than doubled their pay for the hour. Customers want to come to my restaurant and employees want to come to work.
Fast food often gets a bad reputation. I understand that because Arby's is my second job. My primary is as a corporate gig but my student loans need to be paid off so I took a second job at night. I know how some people look down on the employees and their lack of 'polish'. Give me a chance if your in my area. Drew, 9th East and 45th South.
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