Rant: Those "small" free water cups

[T2T III]

Has anyone else realized that when you're out at a fast food restaurant and decide to get a glass of water instead of a soda they give you a very tiny cup? This has happened to me quite often. When I don't feel like chuggin' 32 Oz. of soda (that's right, soda ... not POP,) I ask for a water cup. In respose to my question, they provide me with a 6 oz. cup rather than a larger, more-realistic cup. If I decided to eat my food in the restaurant, this wouldn't be a problem because I could refill it as necessary. However, if I was taking my food to go, I wouldn't have nearly enough liquid to finish my meal.

Are these places really afraid that you'll be a thief and steal 32 oz. of the soda that they paid $.06 for? Why not have larger water cups for their customers?

 

[Zugzwang152]

to encourage you to purchase the soft drink of course...

 

[Zim Hosein]

Because there're cheap.

 

[LeeTJ]

no

a lot of those people pay the soda company by number of cups gone. not by amount of soda or whatever.

 

[dman]

When I worked for one day at a movie theater a long time ago, they told me that they got paid by the cups they sold. So, we could bring a container and have all the soda we wanted but couldn't use the cups. Also, customers had to get the dixie cup sized containers for Water.

I think that story is BS, but, they can do what they want. If enough folks complained they'd come up with a solution.

I can understand in some stores where they have free refills giving a different cup, so cheap ferengi bastages don't ask for water and then fill it with soda. But, they could give clear cups or something else uniquely different.

I don't eat in fast food places much, so, if I want water I'll offer to buy a 'large' cup. Sometimes it's the same charge as soda (if so I may ask for a bottled water instead), sometimes they charge a quarter, sometimes it's free. Just an option for 'ya.

What's up with the napkin hoarding too? I hate places that when you ask for extra (besides the 1 they give you) they put like 2 more on. I know you are trying to control costs, but, c'mon, I'm ASKING for extra napkins. I will USE them. Give them TO ME!

Coincidentally, those places always have the most flimsy napkins ever to begin with and the greasiest messy food you can eat. Fortunately, in my infinite wisdom, I make an effort to avoid them as well.

 

[0roo0roo]

thats why mcdonalds also sells bottled water now

 

[deftron]

Two reasons why they do it..

1. Inventory for soft drinks is done by counting cups

2. To discourage people from getting a free water cup and filling it up with soda (at the self-service fountains)

 

[T2T III]

But, they could give clear cups or something else uniquely different.

Actually, when we eat a Panera, they give you clear cups - but, still small 6 oz. cups.

 

[T2T III]

Originally posted by: deftron
Two reasons why they do it..

1. Inventory for soft drinks is done by counting cups

2. To discourage people from getting a free water cup and filling it up with soda (at the self-service fountains)

But, you should be able to trust someone like me. 32 oz. of soda at one sitting? America needs to wake up! However, I'd love a 32 oz. cup for water. Load it full of ice cubes and I'd be able to take it with me when I left.

I can understand that their intention is to control people from taking the free cup and filling it with soda. Sure, there might be a small risk of this happening. But, even for the soda-buying customer, what controls are in place to ensure that they don't consume 10 refills?

 

[datalink7]

Yah, it sucks. They charge .25 cents for a big cup now it seems. And you have to remember to specifiy otherwise you get the small. "Can I have a LARGE cup for water please" is what I say. (I don't drink soda either).

 

[T2T III]

Originally posted by: datalink7
Yah, it sucks. They charge .25 cents for a big cup now it seems. And you have to remember to specifiy otherwise you get the small. "Can I have a LARGE cup for water please" is what I say. (I don't drink soda either).

Oh, I didn't realize this. I'll gladly pay $.25 for a larger cup. I just wouldn't pay $1.50 for a soda cup - only to put tap water into it.

 

[XZeroII]

I was biking with a friend and we had our water bottle with us. We came upon a McDonalds and I went in and asked for a cup for some water. I figured I would just fill it up and then walk outside, fill up our water bottles and move on. They gave me a full sized cup and I was tempted to just fill my water bottle up with soda. Alas, I didn't because water is so much better on a hot day of biking, but you get the picture.

 

[dighn]

Originally posted by: deftron
Two reasons why they do it..

1. Inventory for soft drinks is done by counting cups

2. To discourage people from getting a free water cup and filling it up with soda (at the self-service fountains)

what? self-service foundains with soda? am i seeing this right or am i too tired?

 

[T2T III]

Originally posted by: dighn

Originally posted by: deftron
Two reasons why they do it..

1. Inventory for soft drinks is done by counting cups

2. To discourage people from getting a free water cup and filling it up with soda (at the self-service fountains)

what? self-service foundains with soda? am i seeing this right or am i too tired?

Yes, quite a few locations where I live have "self-service" soda fountains. You get the cup when you order and pay for your food, but the soda fountains are in a common area allowing you to select what you want to drink - and refill the drink as many times as you want.

 

[datalink7]

Originally posted by: Tiles2Tech

Originally posted by: datalink7
Yah, it sucks. They charge .25 cents for a big cup now it seems. And you have to remember to specifiy otherwise you get the small. "Can I have a LARGE cup for water please" is what I say. (I don't drink soda either).

Oh, I didn't realize this. I'll gladly pay $.25 for a larger cup. I just wouldn't pay $1.50 for a soda cup - only to put tap water into it.

Well, they charge $.25 where I do this (Burger King or Pizza place on campus)... don't know if this is a national thing or a local thing.

 

[CTrain]

The main reason is to encourage people to order a drink.
Beside, people who use the courtesy cups to get POP alot more than you think.

 

[T2T III]

Originally posted by: CTrain
The main reason is to encourage people to order a drink.
Beside, people who use the courtesy cups to get POP alot more than you think.

Well, then why can't they just fill up the cup behind the counter with ice water and hand us one that's filled up? Or, as suggested, use some clear cups? But, McDonald's doesn't seem to be the worst when it comes to the free cups. My daughter got a cup yesterday and they provided her with a small SODA cup which was probably a 12 oz. cup. I guess my bigger rant is places like Panerra Bread - where they do provide clear cups for you, but they only hold about 6 oz. of water. When we dine there, we take about 6 cups so that we can have enough water on the table to go with our meal. Clearly, it would be cheaper for them just to supply a good 12 oz. clear cup for water.

Believe me, if I'm going to take the time to ask for a water cup, I'm not going to abuse the system by filling it with some soda. I will use it for what it's intended for. What the rest of the population would like to do can be left up to them to decide.

 

[RossMAN]

Pop not Soda, right?

 

[CTrain]

I'm a store manager at a McDs and this is a big issue with me as I'm responsible for food cost.
Soda provide us with the biggest profit margin so of course we are always pushing for soda.

Most fast-food these days have a self-serve beverage station so they are not able to get water for you behind the counter

It pisses me off when all I see is people ordering 2 for $2 and a water cup and they go fill it with soda. They do it in front of me too.
I'm been in at least 10 confrontations telling people to pour out their drinks.
Even at times, I fill the water cups with water from the drive-through and they will pour it out and get soda.

People who rather drink water are in the minority, most are either too cheap or they will get soda with their water cups anyway.
Its true soda doesn't cost us that much but its still a business and we are trying to make money.

 

[ScottyB]

I think it is to discourage people like my lying roomate. I always call him a theif for stealing the pop and he said, "They did a study and 70% of people steal pop from the fastfood places and don't regret it!" I was like okay you dumb, ignorant, lying, cheating, always stealing from you parents and stores, cheapest tightwad twatface, turdburgler, assfvcker, sh!tswallowing, dumbass, fvckface. Okay I didn't say that, but that's what I thought and I no longer trust him and he was my bestfriend but I don't like him any more (not just from that but the fact that he is always like that and lies through his teeth all the time).

 

[Konigin]

Originally posted by: RossMAN
Pop not Soda, right?

Seconded.

 

[CTrain]

LOL, ScottyB. Thats exactly how I think when I see these cheap@ss punks get soda with the water cups.

 

[AznMaverick]

why don't you pay for a larger cup?

 

[amnesiac]

It's SODA you freaky midwestern hicks!

I bet you say "Dont'cha know" at the end of your sentences too, huh?

It surprises me that a lot of people don't know about the self service soda fountains. I RARELY see places WITHOUT the self service fountains now.

 

[Evadman]

Originally posted by: amnesiac 2.0
It's SODA you freaky midwestern hicks!

I bet you say "Dont'cha know" at the end of your sentences too, huh?

It surprises me that a lot of people don't know about the self service soda fountains. I RARELY see places WITHOUT the self service fountains now.

It is POP dont'cha know!