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When did it become commonplace to not give napkins with food?

Turd Ferguson

Turd Ferguson

Rear Admiral
Rear Admiral
This is a trend I've started noticing more and more lately (moreso right now, since I left Burger King and have a messy A1 Mozzarella Burger). For some reason, and this may be just where I live in southeastern Kentucky, it's becoming all too common to go through a restaurant drive thru, open the bag, and find a greasy burger wrapper and NO NAPKINS :klingon:

This has happened to me several times at various chains of restaurants, such as Burger King, McDonald's, Wendy's, Hardee's, Taco Bell and Arby's. My question is, when and WHY did this practice become acceptable? I can understand maybe not putting some in the bag if a customer goes inside to order, but most of the chains I go to are by I-75, so a lot of the time it's travellers stopping, so I guess they're just fucked when they get on the interstate, eat and realize they have to wipe their hands on their shirt/pants.

I don't know. I guess it's a cost saving measure, but it sure is a shitty way to go about saving money.
 
It started about the same time they realized that if you didn't ask for ketchup, mustard, or barbecue sauce, then they didn't have to put any in the bag. Many restaurants are pinching every penny they can, so if you don't ask for condiments, or napkins, they're likely not going to give them. Also, I'd love to have a Burger King cheeseburger right now. *sigh*
 
sojourner said:
It's just you.
Click to expand...

No it isn't, the same thing happens to me every now and then.

It doesn't matter around her though because most of our fast food places have the napkins and the ketchup, etc laid out in despensers, or on a table, and you can get them yourself. At those that don't, they usually ask me if I want anything. Of course when I go to these places, I'm usually in my wheelchair so that probably plays into it.
 
It different if you're in the restaurant. Now if you're going to get your lunch or dinner at the drive-thru napkins should be in the bag without asking for one.
 
RandyS said:
sojourner said:
It's just you.
Click to expand...

No it isn't, the same thing happens to me every now and then.

It doesn't matter around her though because most of our fast food places have the napkins and the ketchup, etc laid out in despensers, or on a table, and you can get them yourself. At those that don't, they usually ask me if I want anything. Of course when I go to these places, I'm usually in my wheelchair so that probably plays into it.
Click to expand...

So, what does this have to do with not getting napkins at the drive thru?
 
ManOnTheWave said:
J. Allen said:
Many restaurants are pinching every penny they can, so if you don't ask for condiments, or napkins, they're likely not going to give them.
Click to expand...


*ding*
Click to expand...
They have been doing this for quite sometime here in Texas, nothing like forgetting and having to be messy because fast food is too damn cheap to give you a napkin. I'm waiting for the day they hand you your food without bagging it, don't worry you won't burn yourself, rarely is any of it hot.
 
It's okay. It doesn't take much mental reprogramming to learn to grab some napkins before you leave but yeah - it's been a slow build to this. I think it's at the discretion of each manager who makes that call (to not put napkins in the bag automatically).
 
sojourner said:
RandyS said:
sojourner said:
It's just you.
Click to expand...

No it isn't, the same thing happens to me every now and then.

It doesn't matter around her though because most of our fast food places have the napkins and the ketchup, etc laid out in despensers, or on a table, and you can get them yourself. At those that don't, they usually ask me if I want anything. Of course when I go to these places, I'm usually in my wheelchair so that probably plays into it.
Click to expand...

So, what does this have to do with not getting napkins at the drive thru?
Click to expand...

Damned if I know. But then, I never use the drive through.
 
Probably the same time they stopped giving you more dressing/ketchup when you ordered a larger portion of fries... Just guessing though.
 
I guess they want us to use our sleeves as napkins. So what happen to that fifteen an hour deal? Did it pass or not?
 
I've noticed it happening more and more lately. It may be more chain specific. More often than not, whenever we go through the Tim Hortons drive-through, they won't give us napkins, unless we anticipate it and know to ask for them.
 
Ding fries are done,

Ding fries are done,

Ding fries are done,

Ding fries are done,

I gotta run ,

I gotta run,

I gotta run,

I gotta run,

I work at Burger King,

Making flame-broiled whoppers,

I wear paper hats,

Would you like an apple pie with that,

Would you like an apple pie with that,

Ding fries are done,

Ding fries are done,

Ding fries are done,

Ding fries are done,

I gotta run ,

I gotta run,

I gotta run,

I gotta run,

Don't touch the fries in hot fat,

It really hurts bad

And so do skin grafts,

Would you like an apple pie with that,

Would you like an apple pie with that,

Wait for the bell,

Can't hear the bell

Where is the bell?

Wait for the bell,

Ding fries are done,

DING FRIES ARE D-O-O-O-O-O-NE
 
Yeah, it might just be you. I seem to have a problem getting too many napkins. At one point I had to tell one place I didn't need any, that I was litterally startign a collection (I must have had over two dozen).
 
In California, most restaurants no longer serve complementary water unless asked..but the napkins..most times even the fast food places give me an excessive amount of paper napkins.. (once for my single burger and fries combo..I got 10 napkins..10!)

maybe I look like this guy Rick though..

[yt]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qtdCIs6JdXg[/yt]
 
I know that in Texas these restaurants don't give napkins unless asked; Wendy's, Burger King, McDonald's, Whataburger, Bush's Chicken, Sonic, and Popeye's Chicken. I've been left hanging too many times I keep a roll of paper towels in my truck just in-case.
 
tharpdevenport said:
Yeah, it might just be you. I seem to have a problem getting too many napkins. At one point I had to tell one place I didn't need any, that I was litterally startign a collection (I must have had over two dozen).
Click to expand...

24 napkins?! Wow!

I always grab a bunch when I can. I like having them around. Never had a problem with not getting any from the drive-thru or take-out. I do hate having to ask for condiments because most of the time it seems like something I shouldn't have to ask for and just strikes me as excessive penny-pinching on the part of the franchise/shop owner. Those little packets of taco-sauce probably cost you less than a penny each, Taco Bell, I'm sure you can afford to just toss some in there without me having to specifically ASK FOR THEM!
 
It's probably left up to the franchise owners. The Dunkin I worked for about 10 years ago had a policy of "some napkins" in each bag, so it depended on who was working the window. I currently get a small fistful each time from them and from the local McDonald's, which is fine because I have a kid. If it gets to be enough of a problem (either too few or too many) I suppose that the corporate parents will set a policy. Much like Dunkin did when the owners in my area wouldn't get credit card processing, they mandated it.
 
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