Are you old enough to remember Wendy's 1984 advertising slogan, "Where's the beef?" with actress Clara Peller staring at a big, fluffy bun with a miniscule hamburger? Over the last 27 years, Wendy's has built their empire of selling "good old-fashioned hamburgers," square and substantial, and offering customers a choice of condiments on their burgers. Yesterday, we were in disbelief that now the default "single" is the cheeseburger. If we understood the woman at the drive-through window, the customer pays cheeseburger price and at your request, they will omit the cheese; however, the cheeseless burger costs the same as one with two slices of cheese. To quote the person who waited on us. "It is just like when we leave the pickle off."
This situation upsets us for two reasons. First, obesity is epidemic in North Carolina (in much of the USA). Also, a single with cheese on the top and the bottom adds approximately 140 extra calories. That is a lot of calories, especially if people eat the sandwich without even thinking about it and they don't even really like cheese. Secondly, cheese is not free. The sandwich price has cheese costed in. So, the consumer of a single hamburger is making mandatory donation to Wendy's every time they opt out of cheese. For each million served, that is a lot of PROFIT. What if Wendy's gives the that money to the U.S. government to help underwrite health care costs associated with obesity.
What would Dave Thomas (the founder of Wendy's) have to say about this situation? Finally, sorry if you saw this post previously. It accidentally published ahead of schedule.
Ah... a mister... brings out the kid in you!
Posted by: birdman | Saturday, June 11, 2011 at 08:06 AM
If people want to be fat and be unhealthy... let them pay for it.
But I don't want Wendy's to get fat on me.
Thanks for being there! ... here!
Have a great weekend.
Posted by: Ken | Saturday, June 18, 2011 at 08:49 AM
Birdman's comment was for last week's water mister in the park photo when the Wendy's comment accidentally posted below the mister photo for a couple of hours. Sorry Birdman!
Mrs. GDP
Posted by: Janis | Saturday, June 18, 2011 at 09:00 AM
Now I know why they ask if you want cheese. I always say no. I thought I would pay extra for cheese, not more for without. They had me tricked.
Posted by: Donna | Saturday, June 18, 2011 at 12:27 PM
Donna: Ask to clarify. I work so hard to keep a healthy weight and BMI (body mass index) that I don't want any cheese. For sure, I don't want to pay for it!
Posted by: Greensboro Daily Photo | Saturday, June 18, 2011 at 01:00 PM
You know I pretty much cut out fast food months ago. Along with other things I have lost 45 pounds since October!
Jack
Posted by: Jack Hart | Saturday, June 18, 2011 at 02:55 PM