Post# 267 - Burger King and Their Cannabalistic Mr. Potato Head French Fry Campaign

A while back, Burger King reinvented their fries.  They selected a new figurehead to help usher in the new era--Mr. Potato Head.  Also, as a side note, around the same time, they attempted to clone the McDonald's Big Mac with their own "Big King."  I sent this letter on 12/18/1997:
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Dear Burger Bravos:

As a semi-professional soccer goalie, I often sought sanctuary in your restaurant while traveling to far-away places.  The intense competitiveness of soccer prepared me for the rigors of medical school.  Thanks to soccer and Burger King, I am now a Heart Surgeon.  I’ve seen many a victim of too much of your food.  You send ‘em in, I try and fix ‘em up.  Now and then, I like to return to the restaurant I call home.  Burger King!

I have two reasons for writing. 

First, I need an explanation about your pricing on the Whopper vs. Big King. Each combo meal includes the same medium soft drink and large fries.  The only difference is the sandwich.  At one location, the individual Whopper cost 10 cents more than the individual Big King, but the Whopper Combination costs 10 cents less than the Big King Combination.  Why the strange pricing?

Second, I tried the new fries and I must say I think they taste great--much better than McDonald's.  However, on my last visit, I could not help but notice your use of Mr. Potato Head as a representative of this improvement.  I thought this was clever because everybody loves Mr. Potato Head, and fries are made from potatoes, so it’s cute--as long as Mr. Potato Head  never actually eats any fries.  However, this does not seem to be the case...

As I sat in my booth dipping my fries in ketchup, I looked up and saw a gruesome display.  A life-size Mr. Potato Head display, with a giant fry in one hand either headed toward or pulling away from his mouth!  I don’t think I’m off the mark when I say that Potato Head was about to eat that fry.  CANNIBALISM!!  I grew sick to my stomach.

I failed to mention that while flying over the mountains of Greenland, our plane crashed and we were forced to consume the remains of our (beloved) teammates.  I strongly believe that without this cannibalistic act, we would have surely perished to the subzero temperatures of a desolate arctic freeze.  Luckily I was rescued, but the secret we all shared began tearing me up inside, to a point where I needed counseling to help me deal with the guilt.  To this day I find difficulty discussing those experiences, and find all of the jokes and “after-school movies” disgusting.

Please provide some explanation regarding your current promotion.  It would really be terrible if my favorite restaurant condoned the act of cannibalism.  If so, I will be unable to continue eating there.  Please let me know.

With Feelings Unmanageable as an Ex-Cannibal,

Jerry

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No Reply.

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Follow-up, sent 2/6/1998:

Dear Burger Brothel:

I sent you a letter on December 18, citing your cannibalistic “Mr. Potato Head eating a frie” promotion.  You offended me by posting a life-size Mr. Potato Head display, with a giant fry in one hand either headed toward or pulling away from his mouth.  As a loyal customer, I requested an explanation.  You responded by placing this very image on your paper bags.

I also requested an explanation regarding your pricing on the Whopper vs. Big King. Each combo meal includes the same medium soft drink and large fries.  The only difference is the sandwich.  At my local Burger King restaurant, an individual Whopper cost 10 cents more than the Big King, but the Whopper Combination costs 10 cents less than the Big King Combination.  Why the 20 cent difference

Next, you boast the fact that I’m getting my hamburger the way I want it.  I like my burgers blood rare.  Is it possible for Burger King to prepare my hamburger the way I want it?

Please respond to my questions..

Offended,

Jerry 

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Burger King Response, dated 3/13/1998:

Dear Jerry,

Thank you for contacting Burger King Corporation.  As a consumer, your comments and observations are important to us.

I am sorry that you disapprove of our recent promotion featuring Mr. Potato Head.  I will forward a copy of your contact to our Marketing Department so that they, too, will know of your dissatisfaction.

Regarding your question about our pricing policies, all Burger King products provide customers excellent value for the money.  The many promotions Burger King offers ensures that customers often receive added value for the food that they are buying.  However, the prices of some individual products may vary from restaurant to restaurant.  As you may already be aware, many Burger King restaurants are franchise owned and operated.  As independent business entities, federal regulations prohibit us from dictating pricing.

In the tradition of  "HAVE IT YOUR WAY"(R), we offer customers the ability to tailor their meals to suit their condiment and topping choices, for example, removing mayonnaise or adding extra lettuce. 

Again, thank you for taking the time to contact our office.

Sincerely,

Gloria
Customer Relations

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Response sent to Sharon, sent 3/11/1998:

Dear Ms. Taylor,

I appreciate your response to my letter.  However, I am alarmed.

First, I cannot believe the lackadaisical attitude with which Burger King apparently views cannibalism.  By allowing this type of advertisement, you are saying “it’s okay to eat Uncle Ed.”  Well it isn’t.  Not only is the consumption of human flesh by another human immoral, it is also unhealthy.  Your apology is nice, but will any changes occur?  Does your Marketing Department care what Larry Barnowski says?  We shall see.

Next, the fact that you have no control in governing what your “franchises” do is ANARCHY.  Society without any form of political authority.  A typical symptom of this type of environment, if you read any history book, is…cannibalism.

Serving My Fellow Man (Not for Dinner),

Jerry
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Post # 110 - Whataburger Whatawasteoffood - 2-24-2010

This really happened on the way through Alabama.  It really did bug me, and not because I wanted the fries.

By the way, I live in Michigan, so there's not "one near me."  So they lie in their commercials too.
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Dear Whataburger,

My kids are young and impressionable. Norma is eight-years old. Capers is six years-old. We try to teach

them right from wrong.

• The Golden Rule.
• Penny saved is a penny earned.
• Better to give than receive.

A big rule in our household is “Waste not want not.” I’m sure my kids get tired of hearing about third world countries where little kids eat mud pies. It bears repeating--there are little kids in third world countries eating mud pies.

My wife, Norma and Capers were driving through Alabama to get to Florida. We stopped at one of your restaurants, because we don’t have them in lovely Michigan. Connie and I each ordered a “#1” with side salad instead of fries plus two kids’ meals.

As I dished out the food, I noticed that we were given fries instead of salads. No big deal--this happens often, in almost any restaurant. I was getting ready to walk over to the counter when the cashier walked over to our table with two side salads. She apologized. My wife said, “Do you want the fries?” She replied “yes please.”

The cashier then walked over to the waste basket, ten feet away, and threw all of those fries out. My wife and I looked at one another dumbfounded. Just then, Norma said, “Daddy—she wasted food. Doesn’t she know about the mud kids?”

Please understand—I’m trying to watch my waistline. I didn’t need the fries. But there are two principles in question here.

The first principle is that of food waste. When you’re a kid, who would you rather listen to? Your fuddy-duddy parents or the cool chick with the highlights and pierced lip? Not two days later, Capers is throwing out a plateful of spaghetti citing “the lady with the fish hook in her mouth.”

The second principle--your employee made Whataburger seem “cheap”. “If you want fries, you gotta pay, Bro.” Was she protecting for the possibility, that after our burgers and salads, we might still order fries?

Often in the food service industry, when an order is presented incorrectly, the server apologizes and says “just keep it—we’d have to throw it out anyway.” Sometimes they even go over the top and throw in a “enjoy it as a thank you for your continued loyalty.”  Everyone is happy—the minor inconvenience is replaced with a little bonus food.

I guess I’m wondering about the Whataburger Order Mistake Food Policy. What do you instruct your employees to do in this event? I could see putting the food back, if it hasn’t yet entered “Consumer Zone.”  Do you instruct your employees to grab it off of our trays and throw it in the garbage? Or worse, do you leave it up to the employee to decide, based on whether he or she “likes” us?

Either way, you left us with a bad taste in our mouths. And that taste wasn’t French Fry.

Sincerely,

Jerry

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Follow-up on 3/1/2010

Hi--I sent you an email on February 24th about an odd experience at one of your locations, and never heard anything back.

You might recall my story about a man and his midwestern value family, unwittingly exposed to food waste by the fishhook lady? Unordered fries thrown in the trash a mere ten feet from my impressionable kids' eyes and ears? Thou shalt not waste? Does any of this ring a bell?

I asked if you had a policy for unordered food (food on my tray that you gave me that I didn't order).

I see three possibilities:

1) You never received my email (even though your site said you did).

2) Your elves are in the workshop creating a policy because I've exposed a chink in the Whataburger Armor.

3) You don't have a policy, and aren't planning on answering me because I'm not a short car drive away.

Which one is it?

Thanks,

Jerry, Connie, Norma Jean and Capers
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Follow-up 3/8/2010

Dear Whatburger,

It’s been two weeks since I complained. I thought you could learn, grow, and improve as an organization. And not a single peep out of anyone there. But you were there when the wallet was out. How odd.

I send a follow-up, just in case. Not even the sound of a pin drop.

I realize I live outside of “Whataburger Territory”. Michigan has none.

Three things:

1) Restaurants in the south migrate north.

2) People in the north migrate south.

3) I have a really big mouth.

From this day forward, anytime the Whataburger name is uttered, I will squeal like a pig. I will climb the tallest mountain and share my tale with all. I’ve already converted a few loyalists.

You lost a customer for life.

Whatacrappyrestaurant

Jerry

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