2.25.2010

Jimmy Johns supports false advertisement







For those of you in certain parts of america, there is a little sandwich shop known as Jimmy Johns.

I was first introduced to their product as a freshman in college. I lived in Eigenmann dorm, which is across the street from a Jimmy Johns that stayed open until 4 am. I bought many a sub on those late freshman nights.

My first issue with Jimmy Johns came a few years ago whenever my friend Trad and I took our guitars to play on the streets in front of their Kirkwood Avenue restaurant. I bought a drink, and we sat on the sidewalk outside their store playing guitar and singing. Soon thereafter, the manager came out and told us that he would call the cops if we didn't leave.

But for some reason, my hunger and cheapness got the best of me and I started eating there again this year. I always order a "slim" because all of their sandwiches are overpriced, and most of their extra ingredients don't appeal to me. The slim comes only with meat and cheese. They give packets of mayonnaise upon request, but nothing else.

One day, while ordering my slim, I confirmed a line on their menu with my memory. There is a line under "Side Items" that lists "Hot Peppers ..... Free". Here is an actual scan of the Bloomington Jimmy Johns menu taken from the local student newspaper. The Jimmy Johns in Bloomington list a side order of hot peppers as "Free".


Here is the full menu that this section was taken from (for all of the idiots who don't believe my story):



One would assume that this means that I can get free hot peppers on the side with my slim sandwich. So I ask for hot peppers on the side. The lady starts to argue, but then turns to the sandwich maker and tells him to give me a side order of peppers. Excellent! I can now get hot peppers with my sub! The next time I go in there, I try the same thing. This time a goofy looking and likely not too bright kid says that they can't give out hot peppers with a slim. I ask him what the line on his menu means and he ignores me, saying that the slims are meat and cheese only. I ask to speak to his manager, and he says that he is the manager. Realizing that if he is the boss than I stand no chance, I turn around and leave the store, frustrated and angry.

I immediately write to Jimmy Johns through two different contacts on their site and try to figure out why the hell I can't get free hot peppers with my slim. After a round of emails where my question was completely avoided, I finally got a real response from someone:

Andrew, you are correct. This line is a "loop hole" or idiosyncrasy in the menu. The goal of our menu and policy is not to offer any items on the side. We want to keep our concept simple and efficient and to offer the fastest and most accurate service for our customer. What you are asking adds a complexity to our operation. I will inform our corporate office of your concerns and work to correct this error.

Thank you, Sincerely,
Clay Longardner


followed by

Just to clarify one issue. Hot peppers are to be placed on the sandwich. All other side items are not put on the sandwich. Hot peppers should not be listed as a side item.
Clay


HE SAID IT! "Hot peppers should not be listed as a side item."

So wait. Not only are peppers not free, but they shouldn't be a side item all together. Even in Jimmy Johns that charge for their side order of hot peppers cannot sell the peppers on the side anymore?

What I know is this: Jimmy Johns claims to have the worlds greatest sandwich. This is in no way true. What you get from Jimmy Johns is cheap shitty food, stuck up managers, and reformed corporate businessmen that decided that giving free hot peppers isn't a good idea anymore, but are too cheap, forgetful, lazy, or oblivious to change their menus.

And so, again, I have effectively terminated eating at Jimmy Johns. Every now and again I get that craving for their cheap little carb-bombs, but I resist. And I strongly encourage you to resist as well.

To help me fight this injustice, contact your local Jimmy Johns or contact their head offices atthis page . I have received a response by filling out that form, and also by filling out the comment/suggestion form linked to on that page.

Go ahead, ask them why they advertise free peppers if they aren't allowed to give them!

Until this problem is solved by Jimmy Johns, I will continue to boycott. Please join me.

Labels: