once for your soft drinks then you can have as many free refills as you want. However here in the UK and everywhere else in Europe at these same fast food companies we have to pay each time we want a refill. Why are we being ripped off by these companies here who give free refills to the Americans but not us British. Even the prices they charge here in the UK are double what they pay in the US. This is totally unfair how do they get away with it?
2007-10-31 22:34:17 · 33 answers · asked by Ian R 1 in Dining Out ➔ Fast Food
i don't know, but have you noticed the ratio of obese people here in the states vs. europe?
2007-10-31 22:37:35 · answer #1 · answered by sugarcane 3 · 4⤊ 1⤋
Well, just like anything.....if the customers keep coming in, why would they stop?
For the free refills.......these companies began in the United States. Maybe they regret the free refills policy, but can't just stop because it's gone on so long. Maybe when opening restaurants overseas, the franchises decided NOT to have free refills.
Also, I worked in fast food for quite a few years, and it was extremely rare that a customer would refill their cup more than once.....when they did at all. I only witnessed people remaining in the restaurant for the free refills a few times. Soda is so cheap for a fast food place, that the price of the first cup is such a huge profit, that a few refills are nothing to worry about.
Anyway, as for the prices, I don't know how competitive the market is in Europe as I do not live there.
Where I live, the nearest town with a Mcdonald's also has a Burger King, a KFC, and a (Carl Juniors/Star Hardees's/Roy Roger's).....or whatever the hell they call it now.
My point is....with all these places so close together, they have to keep prices low to compete with each other.
2007-10-31 22:46:21 · answer #2 · answered by d h 3 · 3⤊ 0⤋
Of those choices, I would go with Burger King if all three were available. There aren't as many Burger King places as McDonalds and no KFCs at all here in Italy. I like the Whopper better than a Big Mac. Right now, McDonalds has a BBQ chicken wrap with grilled onion here that's pretty good.
2016-05-26 06:26:47 · answer #3 · answered by janene 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
If you stop at motorway services in the UK and eat at KFC or BurgerKing they normally have the option of free refills on the soft drinks.
I've always assumed that because their customers at the motorway services are more mature, obviously they're going to be mainly sales people & tradesmen, they have no problem with the refills.
Why would you offer this deal to children on the high street? Why would you encourage children to stay in your restaurant a minute longer than you have to? Children filling up your restaurant, causing trouble after having had one burger and now sitting round drinking refills for free?
Most people in the UK have a life and would want to stop at a fast food restaurant for something to eat and then go... Why hang around a fast food joint?
2007-11-01 22:56:30 · answer #4 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
2 main reasons come to mind.
1. As noted by others, competition. If the competitor does it, others will follow. Obviously, in the UK if no one else is doing it and customers aren't demanding it and it's not required as a competitive differentiator, then why would you do it? Business is not charity.
2. Business model. Fast food in the USA is based on selling cheap, low margin food and expensive, high margin soft drinks. The price of clean, potable water (99.9999% of the soft drink) is negligible in most places in North America as it comes direct from the city tap. In Europe, this may not be the case, so cost of goods sold may be higher on soft drinks than in the US/Canada.
Also, McDonalds and other fast food restaurants in North America cater to a decidedly different market than in many other places around the world. McDonalds in Canada and the US is primarily a restaurant for families with young children -- in fact, parents often don't eat there: just the kids. It's a cheap place to eat and, when I was growing up poor, it was the only "treat" we could afford -- a night at McD's on pay day. Giveaways are consistent with that positioning, as much as McDs is trying to change its North American positioning to reflect more of its global positioning. Outside North America, McDonalds has somewhat more of an upscale, young adult market that appeals to those with above average disposable income. This market bears higher prices and free giveaways may be inconsistent with the positioning.
2007-11-01 01:42:35 · answer #5 · answered by Anonymous · 2⤊ 0⤋
The only answer I can think of is that one restaurant started doing it first to get more customers then all of them followed suit in order to stay competitive. About 7-8 years ago, only Burger King did it. Not McD's or Jack in the Box or Wendy's. But then I started noticing that they all did. So I can only assume that they all followed suit because it became a standard business practice that customers expected. The fast food industry is intensely competitive and every little edge makes a difference. And BTW, I did notice when only Burger King was doing it, that I found myself going there more than McD's because I wanted the free refills!
2007-10-31 22:40:42 · answer #6 · answered by abdiver12 5 · 2⤊ 0⤋
well being a well bred blue-blooded bostonian from the other side of the pond,I am more than happy to give you my observation.Yanks love food.Heck,1 out of three americans are considered obese.Having said that,the restaurants are competeing for these fatties.As you may well know,the greater the volume you purchase,the less expensive it becomes,Yanks wrote the book on that.Face packing is an american pastime.Fountain drinks cost pennies per serving,yeah Brits are getting ripped off on soda,but you allow it by returning to the establishment in question.Simply its competition the fuels these free refills and super-size meal packages,get the customer (slob) in the door,they'll wash it down with a free refill to make room for seconds .how's that ?? Should I elaborate further??
2007-11-02 02:09:45 · answer #7 · answered by chas o 1 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Every eating house I have visited in the USA gives "free" refills of soft drinks. With the amount of ice they put into the soft drinks you need to have 2 refills to have a standard 12floz drink.
2007-11-03 00:45:04 · answer #8 · answered by arthurn4592 2 · 1⤊ 0⤋
The McDonalds and Burger Kind at Clifton Moor in York do free refills - they just give the cup and you help yourself.
2007-11-02 11:49:29 · answer #9 · answered by Harry Callaghan 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
We sometimes eat at IKEA which has a store near us (Brent Park, Neasden).
You can get free refills of soft drinks and coffee/tea as much as you can drink.
We really like the meatballs there (and never buy any of their flat-pack furniture!)
2007-11-01 00:38:55 · answer #10 · answered by Anonymous · 2⤊ 0⤋
As an american, I'd say you're not the ones being screwed... we are. At least you have some disincentive to returning for refill after refill and consuming 18 billion calories a shot.
Too many americans make those return-trips for refills and it shows.
2007-10-31 22:41:22 · answer #11 · answered by webdevexpert 1 · 6⤊ 2⤋