25 Cent Breadsticks
Last week Celeb and I headed to Fazoli’s for dinner. We haven’t been in a while and were surprised to see a remodeled building. But that’s not the only surprise we got.
Fazoli’s is now charging 25 cents for unlimited breadsticks. If you don’t pay the 25 cents, you only get one breadstick. Celeb and I opted for the unlimited breadsticks and were handed a plastic tent with a number representing the number of people in your party that purchased unlimited breadsticks.
According to Wikipedia , it appears that Fazoli’s is testing this concept.
There are a couple things I find interesting with this concept. First, I think Fazoli’s was smart in charging a just 25 cents for unlimited breadsticks; it’s a small price to pay for what could potential be a whole lot of food. However, I think two breadsticks should have been offered with every entree not one. But why did Fazoli’s decide to charge 25 cents for unlimited breadsticks anyway. Would it not have been smarter to increase the price of each entree 25 cents so the customer wouldn’t have noticed (theoretically) the increase. You have to think the 25 cent fee is going to alienate quite a few customers.
The best part of the Wikipedia has since been removed:
In 2007, Fazoli’s new owners’ Sun Capital Partners Inc. started charging for breadsticks. Breadsticks had always been free to dine-in customers. Sun Capital Partners Inc. stated that, “Why should we give breadsticks out for free when McDonald’s doesn’t give their fries out for free?” McDonald’s, however, never offered their fries for free, nor created the expectation that they would be free.
November 16th, 2007 at 8:44 am
I suppose 25 cents for all the breadsticks I can eat is really cheap, but Fazoli’s better change their ways and send the breadstick person through the dining room more frequently and more willing to leave me more than one stickst at a time. If I have to pay for breadsticks and then stay at Fazoli’s for an hour before I get my fill, I’ll probably opt for another sit-down restaurant with unlimited free bread pretty quickly.
November 16th, 2007 at 12:07 pm
well, to be honest, it never really was free, cause you were paying for it by them charging you extra on your other food…..
“there’s no such thing as a free lunch”….
November 16th, 2007 at 12:43 pm
I don’t necessarily agree with the new policy. I know I equate Fazoli’s and free breadsticks; I have to think a large portion of their customers do, too. Honestly, I think it’s going to make customers reevaluate their dining choices.
For the most part, our breadstick person is good; definitely not stingy with the breadsticks and they typically make it around to our table at least twice while we’re eating.
Sister2, I realize they weren’t free but it seemed like they were free and that’s the real issue.
November 17th, 2007 at 7:57 am
No, the real issue is how delicious those bread sticks are…….
November 17th, 2007 at 9:53 pm
did anyone else catch how Viv wants to be “stickst” repeatedly by the Fazoli stooge?
November 18th, 2007 at 1:15 pm
Well-played dirt
I think they would improve things greatly by spelling out–even in fine print on the placemats–the exact meaning of “unlimited breadstickst”
Like, the dude will come out at least every 15 minutes and give everyody a maximum of 2 breadsticks each time. At least then you’d know what to expect, whether you’re paying for it explicitly or not.
November 20th, 2007 at 1:36 am
“But why did Fazoli’s decide to charge 25 cents for unlimited breadsticks anyway. Would it not have been smarter to increase the price of each entree 25 cents so the customer wouldn’t have noticed (theoretically) the increase.”
A good question. If Fazoli’s were wanting to increase proffit, this would make more sense. The average person isn’t going to be too concerned about a 25 cent increase on an entire entree and will most likely still order the dish regardless.
Although it’s only 25 cents, many people will choose not to get breadsticks merely of principle. I suppose their plan perhaps is not to neccessarly make more money from the extra charge itself. Maybe their idea is to lower costs cutting their breadstick output. This will also leave more employees to tend to, say, scrubbing the toilets rather than roaming around the dining area offering breadsticks to customers who mostly have had their fill of them.
This seems more practical for the company, but less friendly to us. More coorperate, you could say..
“Sun Capital Partners Inc. stated that, “Why should we give breadsticks out for free when McDonald’s doesn’t give their fries out for free?” McDonald’s, however, never offered their fries for free, nor created the expectation that they would be free.”