I hate Carl's Jr.

[Wait Wut]

But, when I forget my lunch, I go there. Why? Because their employees are super friendly. Not that creepy Stepford friendly that makes my skin crawl, but genuinely happy.

Same thing with the Taco Bell down the street, but they take it to a different level and actually have fun with the customers. They like to play practical jokes, make silly comments, etc. over the drive-thru speaker.

I shop at Lowe's for the same reason. The employees at the Home Depot out here seem tired and a little put out when you ask for help. Lowe's, they seem thrilled to answer even the dumbest questions (and they like to play with the Christmas toys when they think no one is looking).

I wonder about all the employees at these companies that have threatened or carried through with their threats of layoffs due to the reelection of our President. And, Hostess, did they like their jobs? Did they look forward to going to work?

My boss and I were just talking about Costco. They're nice there. The butcher is always whistling, a close friend of my is the eye doc there and loves his job.

So, I can't imagine I'm the only one that prefers to shop where I don't feel like a burden to the employees. My analysis, happy workers lead to profits. I wonder how you create a work environment that leads to happy workers? Hmmmmm...tough one, eh?

[Tommy_Carcetti]

1. F**k you, I'm eating.

[Wait Wut]

3. !

I needed that!

[Initech]

7. Would you like another EXTRA BIG ASS FRIES????

[quinnox]

2. I love carl's jr.

their burgers are great compared to most fast food fare. Now that you mention it, the employees do seem friendlier than usual at carl's jr. restaurants.

[Wait Wut]

4. I'm picky about hamburgers.

I don't expect much from fast food burgers, but I don't like mine upside down. I always have to rebuild it before I eat. I do like the veggies they put on. Lettuce, tomato and onion is always in good shape, but they put too much on.

[quinnox]

6. try the super star burger

It's my favorite.

[Divine Discontent]

18. mine, too. :)

haven't had one in years, but that's what I always ordered in CO

[rDigital]

30. Try the monster thick burger. : ) nt

[PDJane]

5. There is a chain called Panera's, American, that just took up residence in the 'hood.

Friendly people, good bread, decent lunch fare, and only slightly more expensive than the crap in the food court.

Agnes and I head there at least once a week, mostly for the fact that they have stuff that we can tolerate, and the customers and the staff make space for us, kid around, carry various cups and plates for us, and generally treat a little old lady as though she's as fragile as she is.

Ditto with the coffee shop we frequent, which is run by Ryerson students.

I hated public service, but those who like people contact are a joy to be around.

[Wait Wut]

14. I miss Pandera's!!!

We had one that was kinda far from where I lived and worked, but I'd stop in on the weekends. The employee's seemed to be mostly college hippy kids and were sweet as hell. They'd stop and start up conversations even when the place was packed.

[RebelOne]

31. A Panera's just opened in my neighborhood

and I have been wanting to check it out.

[Electric Monk]

8. Why does CostCo have an "eye Doc"? Why does Safeway sell books?

There is way too much mission creep going on lately. I think that's part of the problem with 21st century consumerism.

[Wait Wut]

12. I know what you're saying.

It's convenience and cost. To be honest, I used to go to Walmart for my eyes until they screwed them up so bad I quit. When I had vision care, I was stuck going to Sears. They sucked as bad. But, for a lot of people, it's the best option cost wise. So, while it may be a 'part of the problem' it's also providing a service to people that may not be able to afford it, otherwise.

But, I don't buy books at Safeway. That's where I buy apple pie.

[aletier_v]

15. Costco is rated #1 for eyeglasses

I just bought two new pair, for $125 and $210.

[shanti]

24. i believe it - costco makes great lenses

i've bought several pair there and have been satisfied. once, i decided to try walmart for glasses, but when i went back to my kaiser eye doc, he compared the costco vs. the walmart and stated that the costco lenses were much "crisper", so i'll never buy from walmart again. i currently wear glasses from kaiser, only because they make rimless glasses. i'm satisfied with kaiser's quality, but they are definitely more expen$ive than costco. costco stopped selling rimless a few years ago, due to too many problems with them.

[aletier_v]

27. I had a pair of rimless from Costco, they lasted for several years

I wish I could have gotten a new pair at Costco.

[AndyTiedye]

9. So Why do You Hate Carl's Jr?

You seem to have given some very good reasons for liking them,
yet the title says you hate them.

Agree about Costco. They rock.

[Wait Wut]

13. I don't like their food.

It's icky.

[Divine Discontent]

19. lol.. you call the food icky but you choose to eat it? If I thought something was so bad I called it

icky, I'd go to a 7-11 and get a cuban sub if I had nowhere else to eat. I like the super star burger, but you can't eat that stuff daily, that's for sure!

[Wait Wut]

21. We don't have a 7-11

The closest thing we have is an Octagon C (not kidding...that's what it's called). They specialize in paraphernalia and bath salts. No deli.

I tried going to the deli at Walmart (just around the corner), but they really don't like making sandwiches so I stand there for 20 minutes waiting.

I normally bring my lunch, but I'm old and forget once in awhile.

[Divine Discontent]

25. Octagon C! lol... yeah, I figured you obviously had few choices if you went somewhere that you

particularly didn't care much for. maybe they can put a healthier item on the menu! ask!

and that sucks no 7/11. there's like one every mile here.

[Wait Wut]

28. I grew up with White Hen convenience stores.

Awesome deli. Then, 7-11 took over...not as good, but still better than anything else I can get here.

[Tommy_Carcetti]

10. It's one of the reasons Starbucks is popular despite serving otherwise unremarkable coffee.

You see your routine barista and he or she will remember your name, your drink order, and will typically greet you in a friendly, familiar manner.

You wonder how much the gracious employee benefits package Starbucks employees get has a factor in it all.

[Wait Wut]

16. Coffee makes me puke, but...

...the husband loves Starbucks. Even when he goes to the drivethru, they remember his name and order. He always feels bad when he wants to get something different.

And, your last comment is kinda the point I'm making. When you treat your employee's well, they're happier, healthier, more productive and customers notice. PROFIT!!! You'd think that would be sort of a 'duh' point, but it seems so many employers still don't get it.

[Odin2005]

39. I'm a frequent customer at Barnes and Nobel, and at the Starbucks in the store...

...the folks DO know me by name, it's creepy!

[renate]

11. I don't go to Home Depot often, but sometimes I kind of have to

And I have to say that I have gotten some really excellent and helpful advice from the people there. (My favorite is our local Ace Hardware--the guys there are great and the variety of products is incredible.) Maybe it depends on the manager of each Home Depot.

And I love Costco!!!

[Wait Wut]

17. I would imagine management has a lot to do with it.

I've been management for decades (ugh). My priority has always been the happiness of my employees. I figured out a long time ago that when they were happy, my clients were happy.

[RebelOne]

33. I have Home Depot, Lowe's and Ace Hardware stores

just minutes from my house. I usually go to Lowe's because they have the best prices. If I can't find what I want at Lowe's, I just go across the street to Home Depot. I usually go online and compare prices at all of them, especially if I am buying a big ticket item.

[aint_no_life_nowhere]

20. Carl's Jr. mangement makes them one of the most virulently anti-Obama companies in the country

Their CEO Andrew Puzder has been a regular on Fox, tearing down Obama every chance he gets. There appears to be not one economic issue on which he agrees with Obama, whether it's taxes on the rich, the environment, Obamacare, pro-unionism, or corporate regulation. He has repeatedly complained about California and its regulatory environment and minimum wage laws, threatening to move his headquarters to Texas where his good friend Rick Perry is the governor. Usually I wouldn't bother boycotting a company because that seldom works. However, Puzder has been so outspoken against everything I am for, that I just can't stomach putting one of his burgers in my mouth out of principle.

[Wait Wut]

23. Well, that sucks.

But, the employees are so happy at the one here. Not only that, but most are Hispanic in a town that loathes brown people. It could very well be one of the few places where a young brown person can get a job. None at our Walmart, that's for sure.

[Divine Discontent]

36. that's weird there's no brown folks working at Wally world, ours has about 4/5th AA/Latinos.

makes ya wonder about the mgmt.

also, now I know why I avoided Hardees/Carls jr, that owner!

[one_voice]

22. Fucking Home Depot...

I hate them. They're about 2 mins from my house and I only go there if I need something really fast. Otherwise I drive out of my way and go to Lowes.

My husband used to work for a company that did all the install work for them (flooring). They were horrible to work for. The company he worked for sucked, they had their rules then he had Home Depot rules which were fuckin' ridiculous. I won't even get into how they ripped off the installers--my husband wasn't an installer he was a GM. They never stood up for their employees they were horrible to them. When my husband lost his job, I was so upset--job market sucked--now that I look back it was a blessing in disguise. He works for a good company now.

Fuck Home Depot! I hate them with a passion. They're employees look unhappy cuz they are--the stories that I heard, and not just from my husband. Awful people.

Sorry to go off on a tangent.

[Wait Wut]

29. I've heard similar stories.

A friend of mine's husband was fired just before Christmas a couple of years ago due to 'cutbacks'. They were already broke. Funny thing is, the place is always packed, never enough employees, not enough cashiers. It's more easily accessible than Lowe's and I live in a deep red town. They love their Home Depot.

[JohnnyRingo]

26. I get the same thing at our Chipotles

I always leave a generous donation in the tip jar for what I call the employees tattoo fund. The workers always seem happy to be there and bright as the morning sun.

The fact that management hires people with various body piercing and avant hair styles tells me that they hire according to attitude and capability instead of corporate image. Maybe that's why they have such a small employee turnover.

[rDigital]

32. Chipotle is definitely a unique place. I can second the low turnover.

I've seen many employees over the years that went from bottom rung rice scoopers to assistant and general manager. Did I mention that I love their burritos?

[Wait Wut]

35. A friend of mine owns a couple of restaurants in town...

...I told him he runs the best halfway houses in Arizona. He's a recovering addict/alcoholic and hires a lot of young recovering addicts. Treats them with respect, gives them tons of responsibility and helps them stay clean. They're the two most popular places in town. Out of towners are sometimes shocked by the piercings, tattoos and magenta hair, but they get over it quickly.

[shanti]

40. yes, chipotle

i have one just down the street. they're pretty much the only fast food that gets my money, because i like their business model, and their food is great. they are always busy too, so i'm sure i'm not alone there...

[tarheelsunc]

34. Carls Jr. is the same as Hardees, right?

Their burgers are heart attacks on a bun, but I can't help myself sometimes! They have some good burgers.

[aletier_v]

37. It is now. Carl's Jr was a pretty good place before it got bought out

They had a roast beef/green pepper/cheese sandwich, which was pretty good.

http://www.winnerdinners.com/california-roast-beef-sandwiches/

[AverageJoe90]

38. Last experience I had with a Carl's Jr. was pretty good.

This was in Oregon in early July, right around the 4th. They were even nice enough to replace my little brother's hamburger after he got the wrong order on accident. Definitely will go back whenever I get the chance.