TACO BELL - Yes we have no Tomatos

I am a long time General Manager of Taco Bell and other fast food places I won't
mention. I can't tell you the number of times we actually stayed OPEN to closing time. A lot of times it had to do with labor- we had to cut on hours because we were slower than expected. A lot of times also we were just tired of working the long hours and want ed to get home.
The Taco Bell I work at now is supposed to close at 4am but in the three months I've worked there it has only been open to 4am- ONE TIME. The owners and district manager know about our closing policy and in fact they support it. We are usually short handed and have no choice but to close. The times on the window are just a guide not something written in stone.

"Yes, some restaurants close early. It costs money to keep operating, staff, food, electrictiy, etc (that teen behind the counter is still expecting to get paid). If its 10pm, and there has not been any customers for the last hour, why would a biz keep its doors open when its not expecting it to pickup?
Does it make sense that you'll spend $40 in the next 2 hours keeping the restauarant open so maybe that one last customer will come by at 11:59pm and order $3 of food?"

If a place advertises that they are open until a certain time, then they should be open until that time. Send people home early if you have to, but if you are supposed to be open until 9, you should stay open until 9. It's bad business to close early with no reason. Losses are part of business.

Go ahead and close a few minutes early to save a few bucks. That is the quickest way in the world to go out of business. Every business I've seen that is on it's way out, starts by shutting down "just" a little early or opening up"just" a little later. As a matter of fact, that's one of the ways to tell a business is in difficulty. CAN'T MAKE PAYROLL.

One of my favorite places to eat has been closed "early" five times, when I've gone by to eat. I won't bother to go by again because it isn't worth the trouble.

They are open until 8 pm but sometimes close at 6 pm, if there isn't enough business. I use to eat there at least once a week. If you need to adjust your hours accordingly, do so and post them, but don't try and shave them.

It'll just piss the regular customers off, who won't come back. SAME THING GOES FOR TRYING TO SKIMP ON THE PORTIONS, TACO BELL. There are plenty of other places to eat, that do have toys.

The ignorance/pompousness of customers never ceases to amaze.

Yes, some restaurants close early. It costs money to keep operating, staff, food, electrictiy, etc (that teen behind the counter is still expecting to get paid). If its 10pm, and there has not been any customers for the last hour, why would a biz keep its doors open when its not expecting it to pickup?
Does it make sense that you'll spend $40 in the next 2 hours keeping the restauarant open so maybe that one last customer will come by at 11:59pm and order $3 of food?

Do you like sanitation and spending time w/ your family at home? So do restaurant workers. It takes time to clean the shop for the next business day. If the crew can get that done 1/2 hour earlier, then that's 1/2 hour sooner they can be home. Have some d**n empathy!

I've worked at many retail shops, its amazing the rudeness that some customers have showing up right before closing and expecting they can have all the shopping time they need. The staff wants to go home after working a long day, not spend and extra 40min. at work watching you browsing around the isles.

Paul hit the nail right on the head. In the restaurant business, there is an inverse relationship between "cost cutting" and actual profits. Once you start cutting corners in an effort to save money in one area, usually food cost, your customers will begin patronizing your competition instead, and you will end up losing on the deal.

I have been witness to a great example of this phenomenon. For years in my home town there was one great breakfast restaurant. In 1995 a competitor (my former employer) opened up down the road. Restaurant "A' lost a small portion of its business to restaurant "B." To make up for the loss, the management of A started purchasing cheaper product from their suppliers. Meanwhile, restaurant B was running like a well-oiled machine, selling the best food this town had ever tasted, in huge portions. Sure, restaurant B had a huge grocery bill, but it wasn't long before they had the huge line on Sunday mornings, while restaurant A sat virtually vacant.

Soon, even the owner of restaurant A was a regular at restaurant B. He remodeled his restaurant and switched to fine dining, but the taint remained, and the new restaurant A was doomed from the start. This tale has a very sad ending. In 2002, the owner of restaurant A (who was a very kind man) could no longer live with his failure and took his own life.

The lesson to be learned from this tale, one that is somehow completely unknown to all but a handful of restaurant owners, is that you don't increase the bottom line by decreasing the investment in your product.

I did my tour of duty at Taco Bell in the early 90s, and even as a high school student I was well aware that the corporate office was quite out of touch. Each month the managment would display a sign declaring how much we had "over-portioned" and how much money our store was losing as a result. If they could put the effort into determing those figures, why couldn't they develop a business plan that foresaw those losses and accounted for them in the product price? I knew that they had done this, that the product price reflected "loss," and that to say that over-portioning was resulting in a loss was total B.S.

Furthermore, I recognized that over-portioning was our saving grace. The most frequent complaint I would hear when people learned that I worked at Taco Bell was that the portions were sometimes too small. Over-portioning was certainly what kept many customers coming back.

Here's my favorite anecdote per the ineptitude of Taco Bell marketing: I was a manager in 1993 and 1994, and every month we would receive a package of promotional materials (the junk they hang all over the windows and from the ceilings). In this package would be a pamphlet explaining the materials and what to do with them. Well, one month the promotional materials were tied to the movie "Demolition Man," a crappy flick set in a future where Taco Bell is the only remaining restaurant. The explanation sheet that came with the tray liners, which bore a picture of Sylvester Stallone in some kind of action scene, made perhaps the most comical statement I have ever read:

"These tray liners will reaffirm Taco Bell's position as a hip and trendy place to eat."

If that's not funny enough for ya, think about how the people that came up with that garbage probably spent several years in university level studies for the ability to do so.

Let's face it, food companies are in business to make money. So, as long as people continue to buy the food, the companies will continue to chop the amount down.

The problem with that is at some point, the customer will decide it's just not worth it anymore. At that point they will no longer buy the food.

And, they won't be coming back anytime soon. No matter how many commercials you make, the memory of their last meal will continue to linger in their minds.

So, yeah, great, the company managed to save $4 million in food supplies last year. But, 2 years later, sales are down 15%. And, no amount of advertising is working.

The customers are gone. And, they're staying gone. The company's only hope is to try to find new people to cheat.

This is how it works when companies live all for today. When they reward managers for finding new ways to cut costs at the expense of the product. You save a few bucks. It looks good. Right up until you run out of new suckers willing to buy the food.

Then, where can you go?

Over a year ago, my wife and I dined at a local Taco Bell. My wife ordered some kind of (taco?) salad, the size of which was inverse to the relatively high price.
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I told her I had a problem with the (small) size of the salad, and took it back to the counter. The young air-head behind the counter picked it up and disappeared briefly. Upon return she exclaimed "I weighed this, and it's up to corporate standards".
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I explained MY STANDARDS were at issue here, and she could buy it back. I took the entire tray of food to the counter and demanded a refund. Sadly, I received an instant refund. Such a waste of all the adrenalin coursing through my veins ready to do battle. **sigh**

We know who's in charge of that bunch. You go to a crappy place to get crappy food and spend money to receive a five cent toy. The kid could care less about what is served, all he is interested in is the toy. Ship the meal, make him a sandwich, which is healthier, at home and drive to a store that you are going shopping at and let him put the nickle in the gum machine. That's why we have so many overweight children in the world. Get a toy with your "unhealthy" meal at macdonalds.

We know who's in charge of that bunch. You go to a crappy place to get crappy food and spend money to receive a five cent toy. The kid could care less about what is served, all he is interested in is the toy. Ship the meal, make him a sandwich, which is healthier, at home and drive to a store that you are going shopping at and let him put the nickle in the gum machine. That's why we have so many overweight children in the world. Get a toy with your "unhealthy" meal at macdonalds.

We know who's in charge of that bunch. You go to a crappy place to get crappy food and spend money to receive a five cent toy. The kid could care less about what is served, all he is interested in is the toy. Ship the meal, make him a sandwich, which is healthier, at home and drive to a store that you are going shopping at and let him put the nickle in the gum machine. That's why we have so many overweight children in the world. Get a toy with your "unhealthy" meal at macdonalds.

Bad service? Bad food? Or bad value? First time is the last time.

Anyone who's ever ordered a taco from these mexican fast-food chains knows the meaning of bad value. There's very little meat. Hardly any cheese too. They absolutely will not sell you anything worthwhile.

It's not even a question of price. I know, because I asked one time. They absolutely refuse to put anything in the corn shells.

So, as a result, I never go there. Last time was probably ten or fifteen years ago. They can make all the chihuahua commercials they like. But, if the food is bad, they're just wasting their time.

i worked at a taco bell for a year and we where always running out of everything and it did not help that the guy that took over for the gm didnt know his head from his a*s,they always skimp on the toppings because of icos , if icos is bad they take away free meals and you have to pay full price, and you work 15 hrs and dont get a break,and there is also favorite employees, and managers dating minor employees.according to corporate taco bell there is to be no carry over and there are secific hold tomes on food and there was always carry over and the food was held so long it was disgusting, i will not eat at the taco bell i worked at.and for the people who get rushed at the drive thru, corprate gives you 60 seconds to ge the car off dt, i used to run it and its not fun to have to be rude to people to get speed, if you didnt get speed you got wrote up.

They dont wear gloves like they are supposed to. but boy when john runion is comimg for an audit they do everything by the book, its nicer but only lasts for about 5 hrs. i understand every single complaint about taco bell they are all true(except for canned meat)it is in a thick plastic bag and heated for 30 min at tematures of 195 degrees.

and everyhting is portioned by corporate, and if you get a shop and its not on the dot you get wrote up,taco bell has delicious food but i eat at ones i know are ran better

To "the voice", perhaps you shouldn't tell everyone "how things really are". I am one of those people who are going to prove you wrong.

When I lived in Colorado we had a DQ that would close down 20 minutes to 1/2 hour early, up to 2 or 3 nights a week. (we're talking, lock the doors, turn the lights off) And got forbid you would show up 30-40 minutes before closing... (you guessed it, no food, no service) Because they would be cleaning up. I've heard that numerous complaints never really changed the situation. (I eventually moved anyway.)

How about the McDonalds that closed down 40 minutes early in another town because a bus showed up late in the evening? I even tried to explain to them that it wasn't closing time, and my buddy just wanted ONE BigMac before he left for Desert Shield (more popularly known as desert storm).... I could go on and on.

And lets not even get started on extra cheese on Pizza's, only to be delivered a pizza that holds no more than a cup of cheese on it. Now this is where it may get tricky for ya... It's not me (or anyone else for that matter) whining and crying about not having enough cheese on a pizza per say, it's about a consumer PAYING for a product/service. If someone pays for something, and does not receive it, it's thieft. Whether or not it's .30 cents or 300 dollars.

And when people PAY for a service or for a food that was advertised one way, only to be given something else, they tend to get pissed, which is completely with-in their rights. It's NOT whining, it's about complaining about being RIPPED OFF.

To "the voice", perhaps you shouldn't tell everyone "how things really are". I am one of those people who are going to prove you wrong.

When I lived in Colorado we had a DQ that would close down 20 minutes to 1/2 hour early, up to 2 or 3 nights a week. (we're talking, lock the doors, turn the lights off) And got forbid you would show up 30-40 minutes before closing... (you guessed it, no food, no service) Because they would be cleaning up. I've heard that numerous complaints never really changed the situation. (I eventually moved anyway.)

How about the McDonalds that closed down 40 minutes early in another town because a bus showed up late in the evening? I even tried to explain to them that it wasn't closing time, and my buddy just wanted ONE BigMac before he left for Desert Shield (more popularly known as desert storm).... I could go on and on.

And lets not even get started on extra cheese on Pizza's, only to be delivered a pizza that holds no more than a cup of cheese on it. Now this is where it may get tricky for ya... It's not me (or anyone else for that matter) whining and crying about not having enough cheese on a pizza per say, it's about a consumer PAYING for a product/service. If someone pays for something, and does not receive it, it's thieft. Whether or not it's .30 cents or 300 dollars.

And when people PAY for a service or for a food that was advertised one way, only to be given something else, they tend to get pissed, which is completely with-in their rights. It's NOT whining, it's about complaining about being RIPPED OFF.

To "the voice", perhaps you shouldn't tell everyone "how things really are". I am one of those people who are going to prove you wrong.

When I lived in Colorado we had a DQ that would close down 20 minutes to 1/2 hour early, up to 2 or 3 nights a week. (we're talking, lock the doors, turn the lights off) And got forbid you would show up 30-40 minutes before closing... (you guessed it, no food, no service) Because they would be cleaning up. I've heard that numerous complaints never really changed the situation. (I eventually moved anyway.)

How about the McDonalds that closed down 40 minutes early in another town because a bus showed up late in the evening? I even tried to explain to them that it wasn't closing time, and my buddy just wanted ONE BigMac before he left for Desert Shield (more popularly known as desert storm).... I could go on and on.

And lets not even get started on extra cheese on Pizza's, only to be delivered a pizza that holds no more than a cup of cheese on it. Now this is where it may get tricky for ya... It's not me (or anyone else for that matter) whining and crying about not having enough cheese on a pizza per say, it's about a consumer PAYING for a product/service. If someone pays for something, and does not receive it, it's thieft. Whether or not it's .30 cents or 300 dollars.

And when people PAY for a service or for a food that was advertised one way, only to be given something else, they tend to get pissed, which is completely with-in their rights. It's NOT whining, it's about complaining about being RIPPED OFF.

To "the voice", perhaps you shouldn't tell everyone "how things really are". I am one of those people who are going to prove you wrong.

When I lived in Colorado we had a DQ that would close down 20 minutes to 1/2 hour early, up to 2 or 3 nights a week. (we're talking, lock the doors, turn the lights off) And got forbid you would show up 30-40 minutes before closing... (you guessed it, no food, no service) Because they would be cleaning up. I've heard that numerous complaints never really changed the situation. (I eventually moved anyway.)

How about the McDonalds that closed down 40 minutes early in another town because a bus showed up late in the evening? I even tried to explain to them that it wasn't closing time, and my buddy just wanted ONE BigMac before he left for Desert Shield (more popularly known as desert storm).... I could go on and on.

And lets not even get started on extra cheese on Pizza's, only to be delivered a pizza that holds no more than a cup of cheese on it. Now this is where it may get tricky for ya... It's not me (or anyone else for that matter) whining and crying about not having enough cheese on a pizza per say, it's about a consumer PAYING for a product/service. If someone pays for something, and does not receive it, it's thieft. Whether or not it's .30 cents or 300 dollars.

And when people PAY for a service or for a food that was advertised one way, only to be given something else, they tend to get pissed, which is completely with-in their rights. It's NOT whining, it's about complaining about being RIPPED OFF.

To all that thinks complaining is whining... uummmm wrong! There are companies all over this world ripping people off. Even if its something as a few tomatoes or a kids toy. Think about it, they save money and not only do we lose money for what we paid for but also dont get what we paid for. If 1 person goes to several companies a week and gets ripped off by the majority of those companies... add all that money that 1 person loses! Then add all the money they gain. HHmmm, as the saying goes..... the rich get richer and the poor get poorer. So the next time somebody cheats you, think is your hard earned money really worth that?... Fortunatly I dont deal with fast food, I make what I want at home! Alot healthier and its not like you can cheat yourself, haha.

Hey there Mr. "Voice". Why don't you use the gift of grammar and punctuation and learn how to structure a sentence properly. The point is not if they happen to be out of toys or tomatos, but the deceitful way they let you order and not inform you about the missing items until you discover it on your own. That's what pisses people off. Half the time when I order a 7 layer burrito, I only get 6 layers. It makes me angry when I ask them where the guacamole is and they tell me, "Oh it's still frozen, would you like extra sour cream?". Number one, they should have asked me that when I ordered in the first place. Number two, I don't want extra sour cream, I want some honesty, but Taco Bell seems to forget to order that, too. I would gladly go to another store if they would tell me up front what they do and do not have. When they are deceitful, they take away that choice and leave me pissed off like everybody else. Finally, they should NEVER ask you if you want your change. I don't care if it's only a penny. It's your money and it's tacky for them to ask. If a store rips people off of a penny here and a penny there, it will finally add up to big bucks at the end of the year. I think you need to go get a life you whiny piece of Las Vegas desert s**t.

Listen, "Voice", that IS exactly what happened. Unless you and Miss Cleo are related, you cannot possibly tell me what my experience was. On numerous occasions this particular location, run by half-wit teenagers, would close down early. I am speaking of one particular location in Connecticut that I am aware of. Take a breather, there, buddy. Never did I claim the entire chain was involved in this practice.

In addition, before you start stating that we are - um, lets see, how did you put it - "the stupidest people alive" - well, my dear, if you knew at least a wee-bit of English grammer you would see the humor in that statement.

I highly doubt we, the consumer, need to "grow-up" - in fact, I will give you one fair truth to your post - I can honestly believe that you have work at numerous fast food restaurants - and most likely will forever.

Happy day to you!

I have tp point out here that the original complain and the follow-ups are much the same as my own experience. I usually order extra cheese on my tacos. At one location this may get me tacos with less cheese than I would normally get if I just hadn't said anything at all. Other locations have been very good about giving me what I am paying $.20-$.45 extra for, per taco. One lcoation even gave me one tiny CUP with cheese per taco and told me I had to put it on myself. When I asked about this unusual practice, I was told this is just how Taco Bell does it and they couldn't do it any other way. As a long haul trucker, I get all over the country and I can say this happens at locations all over. Taco Bell seems to have no consistancy at all between locations.

As for the last person saying a fast food place never stops serving before closing....Thats patently wrong. Not only have I had this experience as a consumer but I worked at a Hardees before going into trucking where we regularly started putting away items as much as 45 minutes prior to close time depending on how anxious the manager was to leave that night. Once items were put away, they were not taken back out regardless of what a customer wanted to order.

to all the people who believe that a fast food restaurant will stop serving you a half an hour before closing because all of there food is put away has to be the stupidest person alive because they will serve you until closing time then once its closing time they dont serve people no more then they put all of there food away and clean the restaurant.

also the reason they ask is that some people if there change is going to be like 2 cents some people dont really want it and for the most part tell them to keep and even if they do pocket the change 2 cents or 5 cents or 10 cents every two 2 or 3 hours doesnt add up to s**t people.maybe the store was out of tomatoes for awhile one day you know it does happen stores do run out of things.

ive been to fast food restaurants that have been out of things from time to time and you know what i do instead of whining like a little girl about it i either order something else or i go to a different location its real simple folks use your heads if a store is out of something they dont have in stock or they havent gotten there shipment yet then just shutup order something else or go to a different taco bell.

my god if people would use a gift all of us are born with but some people never learn how to use in life COMMON SENSE this world would be a lot better place and we wouldnt have to contend with the idiots of the world who complain about tomatoes-GROW UP PEOPLE

We have a few Taco Bells out here and its the same story - one night they had no beef, no sour cream and no soft taco shells - so, what does that really leave??

I have had a manager tell me that they could't serve me when I went to the drive through and attempted to order - why couldn't they serve me? Well, because it was a HSLF HOUR before closing and they already put everything away - HELLO?? I was stunned!

I don't know if the Taco Bell Corp really pays attention or even cares about who is purcahsing or running their franchises. It's too bad because it's a great little chain but it is run very poorly.

We have a few Taco Bells out here and its the same story - one night they had no beef, no sour cream and no soft taco shells - so, what does that really leave??

I have had a manager tell me that they could't serve me when I went to the drive through and attempted to order - why couldn't they serve me? Well, because it was a HSLF HOUR before closing and they already put everything away - HELLO?? I was stunned!

I don't know if the Taco Bell Corp really pays attention or even cares about who is purcahsing or running their franchises. It's too bad because it's a great little chain but it is run very poorly.

We have a few Taco Bells out here and its the same story - one night they had no beef, no sour cream and no soft taco shells - so, what does that really leave??

I have had a manager tell me that they could't serve me when I went to the drive through and attempted to order - why couldn't they serve me? Well, because it was a HSLF HOUR before closing and they already put everything away - HELLO?? I was stunned!

I don't know if the Taco Bell Corp really pays attention or even cares about who is purcahsing or running their franchises. It's too bad because it's a great little chain but it is run very poorly.

We have a few Taco Bells out here and its the same story - one night they had no beef, no sour cream and no soft taco shells - so, what does that really leave??

I have had a manager tell me that they could't serve me when I went to the drive through and attempted to order - why couldn't they serve me? Well, because it was a HSLF HOUR before closing and they already put everything away - HELLO?? I was stunned!

I don't know if the Taco Bell Corp really pays attention or even cares about who is purcahsing or running their franchises. It's too bad because it's a great little chain but it is run very poorly.

I have had one Taco Bell tell me that they ran out of meat. I could order anything I wanted as long as it did not have meat. Not beef, MEAT! This was at 9 pm, I wonder how many customers went without orders after hearing this news that night.