TGI Freaking Sucks...

[AXO Alum]

Okay, so to play catch up with those of you who don't know - my dad was diagnosed with a GBM Grade IV brain tumor on Feb 9th. It is the most serious of the brain tumors, with an average life expectancy of 14 months after diagnosis. This week he started treatments (chemo 7x week & radiation 5x week), so he was feeling pretty good this weekend, but we know what to expect as treatment goes on. My parents had their 39th anniversary on Friday (the 2nd) so we drove down to meet them for dinner (we've been spending the weekends there since this started). We all don't normally like TGIF - they usually have either bad food, or bad service, and usually both. Back in October, they ruined my mother's birthday so much (lousy food and NO service practically) that the corporate manager sent her a certified letter of apology with $60 in gift certificates. The letter said (along with the apology) "use at the TGIF of your choice" -- when my mom spoke with him (he called to make sure she got them okay) she mentioned that their town doesn't even have a TGIF, and he said that the store about 30 min from them was excellent & to go there.

So - we did - on Friday. It was the two of them, and the three of us (including Eli) so we figured we could spend about $15 a person since that would equal the $60. (Keep in mind that the chemo pills alone cost $5000 - my parents own their own business - which means NO work as of Feb - and the bills are already piling up so $60 is a big deal for them).

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.

Now I tried to pay, but my mom would hear none of that - she paid for the meal & left in tears. This was a Friday night at a very popular location - the store was packed and people were waiting outside (this was around 8:30 by this time). There was more than $60 in alcohol alone sitting on the table close to us.

So I got the number for the GM of the store. He called mom the next day and did NOT even try to apologize. He just said he would explain to her again why they couldn't take them (which from the night before we were told that some of the banks had closed that the GC's were written from, therefore they may not be able to cash them) -- mom said she didn't want to even hear it again.

I know this may sound so petty - I mean to a lot of people, $60 is the tip for a good meal out. But it was more the principle of the thing than anything for us - it would have been a perfect night & we would have all left saying "wow, we will come back here" because everything was so good. But not now - I am completely floored at the way TGIF responded to us on this. Mom has a call back into the corporate guy - she just wants to trade the GC's for $60 and be done with it. She says that she will never even look at a TGIF again (neither will we!!).

So I just wanted to rant and say that TGI FREAKING SUCKS - and see if you guys have any horror stories about restaurants like this.

[Xylochick216]

That's AWFUL.

I don't have any horrible stories about TGI Fridays, but I've gotten sick after eating at our local restaurant the past 3 times I've been. I refuse to go any more.

[preciousjeni]

That's HORRIBLE. It made me think of this tip I read in a magazine recently. An older gentleman was giving advice on what to do when you're treated poorly by a store. His story was about tires or something. The company had ripped off his wife, so he went out and found coupons for the store's competitors. He took the coupons, made copies of them and attached some money to each coupon ($5 or $10).

He went back to the store and went to the manager to let him know that if the store didn't fix the problem, he'd start handing out the coupons to anyone walking up to the door. The store would have lost a great deal of money so the manager relented.

In your case, if it were me, I'd let the store manager know that you're going to the media with your story. It really is that serious.

[navane]

That's absolutely ridiculous! I cannot believe they would turn down the certificates at the end of the meal like that! Sure, it says "participating locations", but how would you know if they were participating or not? Call ahead? I mean, the Corporate Manager recommended the place! Perhaps you'd like to call that Corporate Manager and tell him what happened.

I'm sorry that happened to you on what was to be a celebration dinner.

.....Kelly

[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.

[Kevin]

The tgifsucks.com domain name is available, FYI.

[lilbay77]

Originally Posted by preciousjeni

In your case, if it were me, I'd let the store manager know that you're going to the media with your story. It really is that serious.

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.

^^^^^
Great Advice!

[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.

[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]

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.