Time vs. Quality
Here is a post that was written by Trina Fonzer after an experience she had at Tim Horton’s in Richmond, IN. Although these particular occurrences were in Richmond, IN, I would imagine all of us have had similar experiences in other cities at Tim Horton’s or the equivalent. Hear her story and holla back and tell us your experience with Time vs. Quality.
I was in your store last night, and the ladies on duty were so courteous, and I got my drink in a very timely manner. The reason I am sending this comment is because of the drastic difference there is between going in the morning and going at night. From November until about the first week of March I was in Tim Horton’s on a weekly basis, sometimes more than twice a week, getting the most wonderful drink in the world, a hot apple cider w/caramel and whipped topping. I have stopped going in the mornings because, to me, the service is so fast that it’s almost rude how the workers rush you through the drive-thru line. It’s sort of chaotic. Before you hand your money in, they are holding the drink out in your face and saying have a nice day. Also every time I get a bacon and cheese biscuit, the cheese is never melted, because they are in such a hurry to move you through the line. I have to come to work to heat up a cold piece of cheese. I appreciate the workers trying to get people through a line in a timely manner, but at the same time, you could take a little time to give customers time to get settled once they are given their orders. Please address this matter with the Richmond, IN store. Thank you!
I rarely go for fast food in the morning. I usually don’t have the time to with getting the kids to school and a 30 minute drive to work. Places like Tim Horton’s do the bulk of their business in the morning since they’re more of a breakfast specialty restaurant. That may explain the difference in quality of service/food, but it doesn’t excuse it. The unmelted cheese at least may mean it was freshly made. Still, no reason to get happy if you’re looking for something nice and hot. The unfortunate thing about the customer service is that the workers will probably never be talked to about it because I’m sure they’re under managerial pressure to keep the lines going as quickly as possible. I pass one on the way to work and the drive thru line is usually backed up into the street creating a traffic jam. If you have to heat it up at work then consider buying breakfast sandwiches from the freezer section at a grocery store. There are some good ones out there and you’ll probably save some money too.
This is a response one of friends sent back to my email:
That was a good article and it sounds like a very chaotic place in the morning! So is the Tim Horton’s store similar to like a Hardee’s here in Indianapolis? I don’t know that we have one of those here but if we did, based off of what you described, I wouldn’t visit- at least not in the mornings! I bet they would slow down a whole lot if a couple of people just drove off without paying since they hand you the merchandise first- LOL
@Monique Davis – sup I hear what you are saying but indeed the bulk of their business comes in the morning, that is when they should do the best business!!! Absoultely no excuse! I do not like inept businesses. If they have to hire 10 more people for the morning rush, hire them!
Lately within the last 2 months I have been getting fast foods in the morning (Coffee or Hash Brown) and I have experience the same thing, this happens in all places that have drive thru’s. The drive thru attendant’s only take on what their supervisors or managers teach them or not teach them esp., if they are young in mind.
Ethics, Quality and Respect with a little Kindness in a cup while you are taking my money is not on the menu. Speed, Quickness, Hurry up and more Quickly is on the menu. Is this an excuse? Not at all but it is the way businesses in this world are run.
So what do I do? Either don’t eat there any more, let the company know with skillfull writing to the Local or Corp Office or Decide to warm up my meal at work.
I choose to continue to be curtious give them my money and warm up my food at work and let my day begin there and not in the drive-thru. Somethings are just not on my Battle List.
True…some things aren’t worth fighting over. However, I believe I have the right to have hot food and great customer service if I’m spending my money. Do I call and complain every morning when I have cold food…no. I think five months is a long time to hope that this would be corrected.
If it weren’t food and say maybe nails, hair, etc., would you start your day after you had to fix the problem, or would you like for them to fix it? I’m trying to be argumentative, just wondering.
By the way, I did get an email back from the company saying that they were sorry for the very poor customer service.
I agree. Starbucks does offer the apple cider, but Tim Hortons is closer. They get a lot of my money, and I am nice to them no matter how rude I think they may be to me. @Kathy -
I would much rather have to wait for quality. I really like it when you can get both, but I am always about the quality of things. Even if its something more expensive like shoes. I would rather get the one good pair over the 3 pair that look kind of the same.
This story could apply to any business. Are they trying to do things with excellence in mind or not? Hire more people, expand the store or tell the employees to slow down, but do a good job above all else. Wouldn’t we all love it if we could do a mediocre job and still get paid.
They simply need to do better.
Tom Sawyer’s last blog post..Afghanistan’s President Keeps The Country Far From Civilized
Trina,
Valid point about the food, and yea it would be different if it were my hair and nails, but because I have to walk around with the result of a poor or excellent job on my head or my hands or my feet for that matter.
Normally I give my money to (Drive thru Food)places that don’t have this issue, and when it does happen I just fix the issue myself (at work) and move on. If I am not going to work, and it’s cold, I get my Fatt lazy butt out of the car and let them know and they fix it and give me more than what I asked for. This is because I have time to correct the situation. So I guess I am 50/50 person on Time VS Quality. It just depends on the situation.
Good One Trina!!
I like quality. Always have. Given our schedule we don’t have much time to do things so we always try and make sure that we spend our time in a quality manner. Like last night…I got flowers before he got home and a nice scarf when he can thru the door. Dinner, candles, no cell phones and no kids. ( off to the in laws)
It was intimate, we kissed , talked held hands. The actual “fun” only lasted 5 minutes….lol
@half and half (mary) – ?????????????
Oh Kathy. Oh Kathy… What part didn’t you understand my dear blogette?
I, nor others, understood. But coming from you, it’s all good!
Quuality honey. I’m talking about quality. In this case quality of love. Some men and women don’t appreciate quality. Quality is what makes you go ‘Ahhhhhhh.” Quality is that something that makes you know things are right. When the quality leaves everything goes. Quality is what keeps the customer/mate/the people coming back for more.
Quality is what makes Mr. Johnson put up with me. I’m irreplacable. Vintage my dear.
Maybe this started about Tim Hooten, but I think it’s a great subject that can be applied to everything we do.
Do you understand now?
Quuality? Tom Hooten? Aren’t you the one that corrected prey to pray? lol. You are something else. Yes I understand. You take things to an abstract level.
Gurl! Don’t start with me today. I got up couldn’t find one of my 3 inch red heels, tore my panty hose, and then found out John drank the last of the milk so I couldn’t have my Shredded Wheat.
I was 10 minutes late for the doctor because I had to wait in line at, of all places Tim Horton’s ( Hooten) and then I come back home and here you are…..Kathy.
I guess I shouldn’t complain. It could have been that other crazy woman …What’s her name?? Deloris I believe.
I sure hope the rest of my day is quality because so far all I’ve had is time.. a rough time.
Poor thing. You probably deserve some of that!
I’m going to get me a bottle of red wine and drink it…for my stomach’s sake. We should all be glad we don’t get what we really deserve.