The Great Spicy CrunchWrap Supreme Swindle
Posted on | June 24, 2008 at 10:23 pm | 16 Comments
Update: Please note that this post (and the comments) has been edited to remove explicit references to the name of the Mexican fast food national restaurant chain in question, and replaced them with the abbreviation “TB”. I got tired of all the hits on this post from people searching for coupons for that establishment.
Pet Peeve of the Day: TB coupons. This has been bugging me for a long time. Take a gander at the coupon below:
All well and good, right? Coupons are great and they save you money, right? Wrong! All the TB’s in this area sell the Spicy Crunch Wrap Supreme for anywhere from $1.99 – $2.29, and yet the coupon amount is a whopping $2.89! It’s definitely not “2 for $2.89″ or something like that, as TB coupons always list the quantity if it’s not one. I remember the first time I got this coupon, I actually used it at my local TB without checking the price on the menu. (I believe the older coupon was actually $2.79 or $2.69 at that point.) The guy behind the counter was confused and had to type a lot of things into his cash register, but he eventually gave it to me at the higher coupon price without saying, “Hey, we actually sell this for cheaper than the coupon”. I didn’t think a whole lot of it at the time, but the next time I was in the restaurant, I gazed at the menu and saw it was the lower price. From then on, I always looked at the coupons I got in the paper and mail, and they always had the same Spicy Crunch Wrap Supreme for a high price. And I always checked the menu when I went into a TB to compare the price, and it’s always lower.
I thought maybe I was really not understanding, and the item listed in the coupon was not the same as the thing on the menu. TB doesn’t always list everything on the menu. And there’s usually a “Spicy Chicken Crunch Wrap Supreme” on the menu as well as the regular one, and sometimes it’s a little more expensive. So, I finally decided to ask someone about it. I started with the counter help at one of the local franchises. As expected, she looked at me like I was insane, but she didn’t really know the answer. She just looked up at the menu and said “Yeah, that’s $2.29 and I think it’s the same item that’s on the coupon”. I didn’t actually try to use the coupon, since I didn’t want to accidentally get charged more for the thing again, but it might’ve been interesting to see what would’ve happened.
Next, I called the TB customer service line (which is advertised as 1-800-T***-B***, but which is actually 1-800-TAC-OBEL). Surprisingly, I had to wait several minutes to talk to a representative. Either there’s only a few people on the helpdesk, or there’s an awful lot of people calling to ask about coupons scams. Again, there was confusion. All I could get out of her was that the price varies from restaurant to restaurant and region to region, and that I should only use the coupon if the menu price was “the same or higher”. Thanks for that tip! I have a really hard time believing this thing is more than $2.89 anywhere, except maybe at airports.
The TB website isn’t much help either. Under menu items, it lists only “Crunchwrap Supreme”. However, in the nutritional information chart, both the “Crunchwrap Supreme” and “Spicy Chicken CRUNCHWRAP SUPREME” are listed. No “Spicy Crunch Wrap Supreme” at all. No suggested prices are listed. There’s no FAQ or anything about the coupons on the website. The “Contact Us” form wouldn’t be much use, since you have to supply customer info and store info and all, and it’s really just geared towards feedback about a particular locale. At that point, I pretty much gave up.
One other thing: Notice that the coupon says “Offer excludes chicken, steak, or supreme versions”, which is boilerplate on most of their coupons. Since there is no non-Supreme version of the CrunchWrap, and it says “Supreme” right there on the coupon, this implies to me that the coupon can’t be used at all. Which is actually a good thing, since it’s a ripoff and you really shouldn’t use it. Interestingly, I’ve also got a coupon for “2 Seasoned Beef Burritos Supreme” (”Seasoned”? What’s that? None of the menus ever list “Seasoned Beef”!) and it only says “Excludes chicken or steak versions”, not “supreme versions”.
And how come “CrunchWrap” is sometimes one word and sometimes two words in TB literature? Can’t anybody keep this stuff straight? Don’t even get me started on the difference between a “Crunchy Beef Taco Supreme” ($1.19) and a “Taco Supreme” ($1.59).
So, anyway, this is where I need the help of my readers in other parts of the country. Answer me these if you can:
1) Do you get this same coupon in your newspaper or mail? If so, what is the coupon price of the Spicy Crunch Wrap Supreme?
2) What is the price of the Spicy Crunch Wrap Supreme at your local TB?
Thanks. You will be doing a great service to myself and to the Fast Food Nation.
Latre.
Jogged Today: Yes (@ 59°F)
Songs That Came Up On The iPod While Jogging:
- “Pusherman” (Pete Shelley)
- “Free Time” (Michael Penn)
- “Erica’s Word” (Game Theory)
- “Gotta Get a Problem” (Mates Of State)
- “Vision Of Division” (The Strokes)
- “Dumb Things” (Paul Kelly)
- “Grains of Wrath” (Bad Religion)
Interesting Search Term Of The Day That Led To This Blog: “ipod walking music 125 bpm”.
Comments
16 Responses to “The Great Spicy CrunchWrap Supreme Swindle”
June 24th, 2008 @ 10:57 pm
I was gonna suggest something like sticking to restaurants whose marketing includes you in their target demographic, but then I realized – nope, this post says all it needs to!
June 24th, 2008 @ 11:24 pm
Don’t be dissin’ TB, man. I lived off that stuff in college. Ain’t nuthin’ yummier for the price.
June 25th, 2008 @ 9:30 am
Mmmmmmm… tacos…..
I don’t have any input on their stupid coupons, but I, too, love TB.
Funny thing, that I might have commented on for yesterday’s post if I hadn’t been to busy (lazy):
I’ve never had a taco in a “nice” mexican restaurant that I’ve liked. So far, the only contestants are 1) TB, 2) Taco John’s, and 3) homemade. The fancy sit-down restaurants always try to hard to make the taco “special” and they lose the simple crunchy goodness that it should be.
This is reminding me of my dislike of the rice-stuffed foil-wrapped “yuppie burritos they serve at Chipotle, Qdoba, Moe’s, etc.
And now I’m starving. I think I’ll go check the paper for TB coupons.
June 25th, 2008 @ 1:44 pm
I was going to simply suggest “don’t eat at TBs” – but that was already covered. DMR: how the hell is a burrito from a chain store that’s sold for like six bucks a “yuppie burrito”? Either it’s a good burrito or it’s a crappy burrito – but “yuppie”’s got nothin’ to do with it. (Okay, I know Chipotle got its start in Denver…so maybe if you’re a Denver person you know something we benighted non-Coloradans don’t…)
June 25th, 2008 @ 2:41 pm
Yes, even though Chipotle originated in Colorado, I think DMR sees those kinds of burritos as more “California” type ones rather than the more authentic kinds of burritos you get at real Mex and TexMex places around here.
I like TB, I like Chipotle, and I like whatever the local “real” Mexican places come up with. But I must agree with Dave that the TB tacos are superior to the “special” kinds you get at higher end restaurants.
I’m upset that people are using this thread to trash or defend TB, but are not answering my all-important question!
June 25th, 2008 @ 4:50 pm
So I thought there was a TB about a mile and a half from my house, and figured I’d walk over there and get the price of the, er, item in question. Then when I get there, it turns out that it was actually a Jack in the Box, not a TB. Shows how much I pay attention to my local fast food franchises, I guess! Anyway, I went to the store locator online and there is a TB on the other side of town, so next time I’m over there, I’ll check. Incidentally, the Nutrition Calculator on the TB website shows that a Crunch Wrap Supreme has 560 calories and 24 grams of fat.
June 26th, 2008 @ 6:12 am
Maybe the coupon was printed in anticipation of the fall of the value of the dollar and the rise of inflation, with the assumption that by the time the coupon arrived in your mail box that you would be saving money.
I must agree on the yuppiness of Qdoba. The modern-day-valley-girl-speak that is featured on their radio commercials is clear evidence. But check their menu, you can order your burrito with either cheese or queso. My Spanish isn’t great, but I know enough to know that cheese and queso are the same thing!
June 26th, 2008 @ 9:07 am
But check their menu, you can order your burrito with either cheese or queso. My Spanish isn’t great, but I know enough to know that cheese and queso are the same thing!
Try ordering with both cheese and queso and see what they do!
June 26th, 2008 @ 9:06 am
Thanks, Sue. Let me know what you find out.
Incidentally, the Nutrition Calculator on the TB website shows that a Crunch Wrap Supreme has 560 calories and 24 grams of fat.
Incidentally, TB food can be somewhat on the unhealthy side. Eat in moderation! Stick to their new “Fresco” line (i.e. no cheese or sauce).
June 26th, 2008 @ 9:36 pm
My guess is that “queso” is some sort of cheese-based sauce – while “cheese” is yr basic yellow American sliced-up crap.
I haven’t heard any Qdoba radio ads (that’s what happens when the only radio you listen to is local public, and you don’t watch broadcast TV either), but I don’t think anyone would argue that either TB or Qdoba are authentically Mexican. But I still find the notion that such low-budget chains might be considered “yuppie”. Actually I’m amused that the word “yuppie” still has currency…shouldn’t that have gone away with Bush I? Then again, a lot else from Bush I came right back up, with a foul & overpowering stench, Cheney et al…so I guess the burrito comparison is maybe apt…
June 27th, 2008 @ 5:00 pm
Ten comments and nobody’s answered the question yet. The Crunchwrap supreme at the TB down the street are $2.49. And stay away from their Fruitista Freeze — it’s like a two dollar Slurpee(tm)!
And I’d be interested to learn “California-style” burritos aren’t “authentic”.
There are real Mexicans here too, and the authentic taquerias serve burritos with rice wrapped in foil.. There’s nothing yuppie about that style! It’s like the calling soft shell tacos served at real taquerias “yuppie tacos”.
June 27th, 2008 @ 5:32 pm
Steve’s comment also points out what a trap (and a crock) the whole concept of “authentic” is. Just when does something stop being “authentic,” and who gets to be “authentic” and who isn’t? Tacos are “Mexican,” right? So is anything any Mexican does to make a taco thereby an “authentic” taco, and anything any non-Mexican does not “authentic”? What if someone’s half-Mexican – is their taco now only half-authentic? Of course, Mexican culture (and Mexican cuisine) is constantly changing (like every other culture in the world); maybe “authentic” means “of a culture but including no innovation more recent than X years old.” But wait – how do we know that some Mexican person X+1 years ago wasn’t messing around in the kitchen and using Velveeta cheese? Horrors – an “authentic” Mexican taco using processed American cheese food product! Okay, so maybe only some Mexicans, in some circumstances, get to be makers of “authentic” Mexican food. Let’s see…no non-Mexican influences, can’t have traveled, can’t be overly literate (cuz you know they might have read some foreign cookbook and got some crazy idea about incorporating some aspect of Asian cuisine into the taco), etc…. Funny how this definition of “authentic” ends up sounding more and more like some sort of racism…like the excruciatingly persnickety definitions of race detailing exactly which percentage of what ancestry is “allowed” for someone to be considered “white,” or whatever.
If it tastes good, it is good (or at least: it is tasty…may not be good for you).
Also: 1) I don’t get a print newspaper & ignore mail coupons; 2) I don’t eat at TB so I don’t know. Hey – at least I tried to answer your Qs!
June 27th, 2008 @ 7:52 pm
I should have said “traditional” instead of “authentic”, but still scoff at the idea that Texican food is realer than Calexican food.
For most of us (myself included), TB tacos were our first exposure to tacos, so it’s only natural to have TB as the taco template. They still aren’t “real tacos”, because real tacos aren’t like that! qed
June 27th, 2008 @ 9:59 pm
2fs, you’re “authentically” weird.
Steve, thanks for answering the question at last! Hmmm, more expensive but still not up to the coupon price.
And I’d be interested to learn why “California-style” burritos aren’t
“authentic”“traditional”.Sorry, it all goes back to a continuous argument I have with Sue & Joe about California burritos vs Colorado burritos and who was first…
July 10th, 2008 @ 2:09 pm
what is everyone complaining about?! you get what you pay for – 2 bucks. if you want something truly “california style” or any sort of “authentic” go to a real Mexican restaurant, do you expect top grade beef, real cheese fresh veggies + preparation AND conveniently handed to you in under 5 minutes for 2 dollars? seriously
August 11th, 2008 @ 9:19 am
What difference does it make it really sounds like a lie ….some phoney advertising….with obviously no remorse from the corporation …..Have you seen some of the kids they chose for management? They seem level headed until you really start asking them questions about the corporate policies and some thing that matters to you pertaining to their policies…They have a meltdown if you ask them why or get arrogant as a defense…..THEYwork so much (80 hr weeks) they really don’t now what is going on in the outside world and I think TB likes to keep them that way, until they get older and then they slow up and the corporation can discard them. Which leads me to summise they really don’t care that the corporation prints erroneous coupons…they will not tell them for fear of making waves…!! Like Carl Ichan says the “Yes” people are the ones who usually make management…not the Thinking & Questioning people…!!!