My letter to Wendy

"Wendy's International,
Inc.
One Dave Thomas Blvd.

Dublin, OH 43017

Dear Wendy’s Corporation,

Tonight, at 11:50 P.M., I attempted to walk through the drive ‘‘thru’’ at one of your locations and was denied service. When I asked if my money was no good at the establishment for some reason I was told that no, it was in fact very good, if only I were in a car. After asking to see a manager this point was reiterated to me through a closed drive ‘thru’ window with no further explanations.

Several minutes later, after walking a short half-mile home, I got into my car and drove myself back to your restaurant. After waiting ten minutes in line I paid, with exact change with US bills issued by the Federal Reserve, $3.81 for a Spicy Chicken Sandwich. I also asked to speak to the restaurant’s manager. When the manager opened the drive ‘thru’ window to me I informed her that I had twenty minutes earlier been denied service a the location because I was not in a car and asked her why this was. She informed me in turn that I was denied service because of two safety risks: 1) A footed drive ‘thru’ costumer posed a risk of robbery to the store, and 2) that a footed drive ‘thru’ costumer posed a danger to themselves (as they could be hit, run over, or crushed by other automotive endowed patrons of the drive ‘thru’.)

To these explanations several question has arisen in my head to which I would appreciate your answers. 1) Can I not also rob or “hold-up” one of your Wendy’s locations in a car instead of on foot? Is a footed robber more dangerous than a robber who posses a vehicle which allows for both a speedy get away and the protection of a fortified mobile crime headquarters? 2) If I am struck while on foot or on bicycle while in your Wendy’s location drive ‘thru’ am not I the one at fault? Or better yet for my situation is not the operator of the vehicle that struck me at fault? To that I will also add the clause of point 2.5) If your corporation is at fault when I am struck by a vehicle while standing idly waiting in your drive ‘thru’ are you also at fault when I am rear ended or rear end another patrol of your location while I am in a vehicle myself? If you are at fault for this I think you should consider obtaining a better cabinet of lawyers because I am afraid you are being taken advantage of.

And 3) what am I supposed to do if I do not own an automobile? I consider myself lucky enough to own an automobile and live in this great country where instead of walking a short half-mile to the nearest Wendy’s location I can instead drive myself there. But I must wonder about those poor people who do not share this same luxury as you and I do. The manager of your Wendy’s location informed me that the dinning room in open until 10 o’clock. Are patrons who do not own a car unable to eat at your restaurants after 10 o’clock P.M., is there money ‘no good’ after a certain point in the evening? (I would like to point out as well that this very day I paid more for a gallon of gasoline [$4.17] than I did for the Spicy Chicken Sandwich I bought from your restaurant [$3.81]. However, this a price I am wiling to pay for the deliciousness of the soggy chicken and white welted lettuce of your restaurant’s chicken sandwiches. While I did wait in the drive ‘thru’ line for ten minutes I made sure to turn off my engine as I did because while I do not mind paying the price in money to drive to your restaurant I do mind the ecological impact it may have on the planet.) It is for this reason that I would also like to add the clause to my third question of question 3.5) Are you in anyway associated with ‘Big’ automotive or ‘Big’ automotive lobbyists?

And my fourth and final question: Would you walk somewhere you could drive?

Thank you.

C.M., private citizen"