TGI Freaking Sucks...

[Kevin]

Originally Posted by teena

Its not cute when the tables turn, is it?

Explain.

[ZTAngel]

My sister went to a TGI in Coral Springs, FL years ago. She paid for her meal by credit card and left the tip in cash. When I do that, I usually write the word "cash" in the tip line. She was still in high school so she was naive and left the line blank. The server went ahead and put $20 in the tip line (if I remember correctly...it was an incredibly large amount though). Her bill had only come to $10. That's a hell of a tip. When my parents got the credit card statement (my sister used their credit card), my parents were livid. They called the restaurant manager. The server was fired and my sister was given $50 in gift certificates. At least they took care of the problem but it still says a lot about the type of people the company hires.

I've never been impressed with the service when I've dined there unless I was seated at a table where I knew the server. This happened frequently when I was back in college. My server friends would "forget" to include some of our drinks or appetizers on the bill.

I haven't been to a TGI in years. There isn't one by my house and the food isn't good enough that I'm willing to make the drive.

[Alpha Sig Scott]

For General Info
1-800-FRIDAYS, Option 1

Guest Relations
T.G.I. Friday's
4201 Marsh Lane
Carrollton, TX 75007

http://www.tgifridays.com/contact/contactform.cfm


For those of you who would like to contact TGIF on behalf of AXO Alum moms disgraceful treatment.

[honeychile]

Originally Posted by GeekyPenguin

That's CRAP. Here's what I would do:

1) Call the corporate manager and give him one last change to make it right. He gets 24 hours. If he doesn't...
2) Call the customer service department and tell them you're going to the press.
3) Call the local store and tell them you're going to the press.
4) Email it in to consumerist.com
5) Call the BBB and complain
6) Call the local paper and complain
7) Write a letter to the local editor
8) Let everyone know - friends, sorority sisters, your pastor - send an email to your entire address book and copy the corporate manager.

I completely agree. While nobody should be treated as poorly as you all were, the elderly & infirm are due special consideration, IMHO.

Let me add a few other outlets:
9) I would gladly put this on four other message boards I use; I'm sure others here use other message boards and would post this there, too. If you go this route, have people tell you which boards they've posted on, so you can tell the Corporate Manager where to look.
10) Write to your governmental officials - this is basically "bait and switch", since you were advised to go to that particular TGI Fridays.
11) Write to the Social Services Department of the hospital where your father is being treated.
12) Write to the local Ronald McDonald House(s). These people are going through the same thing, only they're from out of town - they need to know that they will be ripped off by TGI Fridays.
13) Ditto Gilda's Club and any other support groups.
14) Try to keep track of ALL of the places you've contacted, so it gets back to the Corporate Manager.

and most of all:
15) Remember that you have many, many friends who are going to stand firmly behind you! USE that power!
(((((((((((((((AXO Alum))))))))))))))

Just say the word, and I'll pass this along.

[ZTABullwinkle]

After readin this thread, I can safely say that any desire I had to eat at TGI Fridays is no GONE! I am so sorry to hear about this. Believe me, consider the word passed on to my friends and family!

[madmax]

Originally Posted by AXO Alum

The meal was great - the service was great - the bill was $57 and change. Then the other shoe dropped - the manager said they would NOT take the gift certs!! My mom showed him the letter and he said that the GC's say "at participating locations" -- but even the corporate manager said to go to this store!!! My poor mother was in tears - she told the second store manager that she just possibly celebrated her last anniversary with her husband, and was there nothing that could be done and she just shook her head.


.

The meal was great and the service was great. Sounds to me like your complaint should be with the GM. Does the GC list where the GCs are valid?

[AXO Alum]

Wow - I cannot believe how many people have responded to this with some great advice (and thanks for posting that info, Alpha Sig Scott!!) - I really just thought I would rant, but I am THRILLED to see that so many people agree that we were treated unfairly.

Thank you - seriously - everyone for helping me spread the word about TGIF. I wish I could say which restaurant we were at, but due to cyber stalkers, I am afraid to post even that info b/c I don't know who will start trying to figure out my location (although the majority of GCers know, there are a few that I don't want to ever know my location!).

And YES, honey - spread the word to all your MB's about this for me

[AXO Alum]

Originally Posted by madmax

The meal was great and the service was great. Sounds to me like your complaint should be with the GM. Does the GC list where the GCs are valid?

Did that - he called my mom and didn't even try to apologize. The GC's say "valid at participating locations" but the CERTIFIED LETTER from corporate says "TO BE USED AT THE TGIF LOCATION OF YOUR CHOICE" and when mom questioned a location (since there is not one in her town) the corporate manager RECOMMENDED the location we went to. Obviously had we thought there would ever be a problem, we would have asked first.

[aggieAXO]

I am so sorry for this horrendous experience. Though I don't go to TGIFridays very often I will think twice before darkening their door. Any news from the corporate manager? I would be calling him everyday until he gave me an explanation.

[SydneyK]

I thought about posting this in the Who Are You Boycotting?/What Keeps You from Patronizing Businesses? threads, but I thought it'd be more fitting here. Your story still has some effect on Friday's, AXO Alum!

I met a girlfriend for drinks last night, and she said, "Let's go to Fridays." To which I replied, "How 'bout someplace else? Friday's isn't ever getting any of my money again."

We went to O'Charley's instead and had a great time.

[SWTXBelle]

Please add me to the list of people who will never again go to TGIFriday's. My daughter really likes them,(?) but there is no way I will go after hearing this story.

[MaryAmanda]

That's awful! I can't say I've ever had anything so bad happen to me at a restaurant, but I decided a while ago to never darken the doorway of the TGI Friday's here ever again. Both times I tried, the food was cold, and service took 2+ hours on a weeknight!

Now that I know that this is all TGI Friday's, I'll add myself to the "never again anywhere" list.