Thread by @BuckInEars

1/ Just had the worst fast food experience ever and it wasn't even McDonald's this time, it was @SteaknShake. It wasn't just one thing, it was almost everything. It's a long story so I'll pass it along in several tweets. This was in Decatur, AL.

2/ Pulled into the drive thru, it was about 11:30 pm on May 5th, 2019. They are open 24 hours. My brother and I just got done working a 12 hour day and decided to stop on our way back to our hotel.

3/ We like @SteaknShake's food and like the value we get ordering one of their 4 Meals, 4 Items, for less than 4 Dollars. The last time I was at @SteaknShake those meals came with a burger, fries, cookie, and choice of a 2nd side. (Fries, cole slaw, or baked beans)

4/ First thing we noticed, this location's 4-4-4 meals stated they came with burger, fries, cole slaw, and cookie. No choice on 2nd side item. No big deal. Not a big fan of cole slaw but I'd eat it if that's what comes with the meal. I usually get double fries.

5/ I decide to get the double cheeseburger 4-4-4 meal, otherwise known as the #14. My brother tells me he wants two #14's. He says he's starving. We ate at Waffle House like 6 hours earlier so he was exaggerating his starvation level but he's buying so I won't argue.

6/ After the car in front of us pulls around, we pull up to the order box. To make sure their is no confusion, I'm prepared to order 3 #14 combos. I always order by number because I mumble in Minnesotan and here in Alabama they speak Alabamese and you know, no comprende.

7/ This is where the story gets a little confusing for everyone apparently.
@SteaknShake employee: [inaudible talking]
Me: Umm, Hi, can I get 3 #14's please.
SNS Emp: You want everything on those burgers?
Me: Yes please.
SNS Emp: We are out of fries, is that ok?

8/ Out of fries? Who does that? Anyway, back to the conversation.
Me: Ok? Do we get a substitution in place of those fries?
SNS Emp: Ummmmm... Onion Rings???
Sounded like she was guessing but I think that was the correct answer.
Me: That'll be fine.

9/ SNS Emp: Did you want everything on those burgers?
Me: Yes please.
I thought we already covered that but I'll play along and act like that question was new. By the way, I really didn't want everything on the burger but figured it was easier to order it that way.

10/ SNS Emp: Your total will be 13.04.
I pull around. As I do, my brother is now confused
My brother: $19.04!!??
Me: Don't worry, I'm pretty sure she said $13.04.
Remember, he's buying so I understand his concern. I'm not fluent in Alabamese but obviously can translate a little.

11/ As we wait for the car in front of us to get their food. My brother and I joke about them forgetting the cookie. We've gone to @SteaknShake around 20 times in the past 6 months, always order one of their 4-4-4 meals. 75% of the time, they forget the cookie.

12/ That's 15 no cookies. No bueno. I'm exaggerating, after the first couple times it happened, we look for the cookies before we pull away from the pick up window. Their cookies aren't very good but it comes with the meal so we want the darn cookies.

13/ My brother is a big fella so he'll eat anything, including those mediocre cookies. Where was I? Oh, our turn at the pick up window.
SNS Emp: $13.04.
I was right! I almost embarrassed at the fact that I'm right all the time.
I gave her my brother's debit card.

14/ After a minute, she hands the card back with 2 receipts? Not sure if they were both the same receipt or if she was slipping my brother her phone number but I gave the slips and the card to my brother. His card, his receipts, not my problem.

15/ We wait several minutes. I would guess about 5-6 minutes. I'm sure it seemed like 20 minutes to my brother. Remember, he was "starving." She comes back towards the window with a giant bag. Yay! Food time! But wait, she's looking away and just teasing us holding the bag.

16/ Finally she hands me the bag without a word. Cookie check! I see 3 burgers, 3 onion rings, and NO COOKIES! Oh hey, no cole slaw either. My brother searches the bag further cuz you know... big fella likes his cookies. Nope, no cookies or cole slaw.

17/ Maybe we have another bag coming? We wait to ask. The @SteaknShake employee did her best to pretend she didn't know we hadn't pulled away from the window yet. There were several cars behind us by now so she should have come to the window to serve the next customer.

18/ Finally, after leaning on the counter for a minute or two, talking to someone to the side, she comes back to the window. Don't worry, we're getting to the real problem with this experience right now.
Me: Where is our cole slaw and cookies?
SNS Emp: [blank stare]

19/ Me: Doesn't the meal we ordered come with cole slaw and a cookies?
SNS Emp: I didn't hear you specify you were ordering a 4 for 4 meal.
Me: huh? On your menu, the #14 IS a 4 items for $4 meal. (It's actually $3.99)
SNS Emp: Yes, but you didn't say you wanted the 4 for 4.

20/ Me: So even though the #14 meal on your menu back there says it comes with the double cheeseburger, fries, cole slaw, and cookie, I don't get all the items because I didn't say the magic words "4 for 4" or "4-4-4?"
SNS Emp: Correct.
Me: Really?
SNS Emp: Yes.

21/ Me: So we're not getting the cole slaw and cookies that come with the #14 combos we ordered?
SNS Emp: No.
I can see this is going nowhere. I should have demanded to talk to the manager but I'm not "that" guy. I'm passive aggressive so I'm going to write them an angry letter!

22/ This is the angry letter because I don't own any stamps and haven't mailed anything in like 5 or 6 years. Besides, I didn't pay for it, my brother did. He says he's going to call them. He hasn't called. Guess he's waiting until tomorrow. He probably won't call.

23/ I could sense his disappointment growing. No cookies again! I did circle around to the drive thru to double check to make sure the #14 comes with the 4 items. Yep. I check to see if it says "Don't forget the magic words '4-4-4'" Nope.

24/ We get back to the hotel and I go to grab my burger and onion rings. No napkins! WTF?! The onion rings were alright. The burger was good but messy. (I ordered it with everything) Ketchup, mustard, and mayo were all dripping out. Wish I had a napkin.

25/ Now I'm thinking I didn't use the magic words when ordering at those other @SteaknShake's. Maybe that's why they held out on the cookies. Plus, my double fries never seemed like a double. Could I messed it up all of these times? No.

26/ I've ordered inside before, pointed at it on the menu, ordered it as "The double cheeseburger 4-4-4 meal, and still had to ask for the cookie they were holding out on.

27/ Not sure what those cookies are made of but it seems the business plan is "Add a cookie to make it appear to add value to the customer, keep cookie, make billions of dollars." Someone is rolling in the cookie dough. All pun intended. I like puns, I just fell into that one.

28/ Moral of the story...Use the magic words "4-4-4" when ordering at @SteaknShake. Or, @SteaknShake should remove numbers 14,15,16, and 17 off their menu if you're required to use the previous magic words to receive the posted items included with those meals with those numbers.

29/ Thanks for following along. I know I made a short story long.
Cliff Notes Version: @SteaknShake Decatur, AL. Out of fries, I didn't use the magic words so didn't receive all items I ordered. No napkins. Ok food. Terrible service. My brother still wishing for cookies. The End