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Taco Bell doesn't serve walkers late night

(44 posts)

Started 11 months ago by RebeccaO
Latest reply from Sunset9

RebeccaO

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The Taco Bell on 15th and 59th refuses to serve walkers late night. They say it is a Federal Law. I went and looked and their is no such law. I would like some feedback on how to change this policy. First of all, Dick's seems to be good about serving late night. People just park (if they are driving) and walk up. Ballard is a good place for having a few drinks and walking home, it doesn't make a whole lot of sense to me why Taco Bell continues with this policy. Additionally, if I were blind or suffered from seizures and was unable to obtain a drivers license; therefore not being able to legally drive a car I would not be able to get a taco, late night at the 15th and 59th Ave NW Taco Bell (store #017769). Wouldn't the Taco Bell being in violation of the ADA at that point?

Posted 11 months ago #
Sunflower75

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Or you could just not eat shi*....

Posted 11 months ago #
RebeccaO

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My point isn't about the food, but thank you all the same.

Posted 11 months ago #
BuffaloHawk

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Sunflower + 75

I think Frank Zappa was into coprophagia ;)

Posted 11 months ago #
cloudblues

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Liability issue.

Posted 11 months ago #
Alferd Packer

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Don't know about federal law. Just to be sure I understand, are you saying they won't serve you if you walk up to the drive-through window? Or is the inside counter and eating area closed?

I was in LA, at a meeting, a few years back, and encountered a similar situation with the chain restaurant next to the motel. A friend explained the inside seating and service area was closed after 8 PM. Sure enough, the next night I walked up to the drive-thru window and was served.

Posted 11 months ago #
9

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You have to ask someone in line with a car to buy for you. Like buying beer in high school.

Posted 11 months ago #
onederfullone

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It's not federal law, it's insurance requirements for all drive through/up windows.

It's applicable for everything from espresso stands to burger joints and such.

Dicks doesn't need comply, cars can't pull directly up to the window.

Discrimination? yup, but it's not limited to the blind or infirmed, but to anyone outside of a vehicle.

Stumble into Denny's, or the bowling alley...oops.

Maybe all drive through windows should be coned off after 8pm, everyone could be served through the window. It would be interesting seeing drunks step out of their car to stumble up for a taco fix.

Posted 11 months ago #
Ballardguy

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cloudblues is correct,Liability issue. Drive thru, not walk thru, if someone got hit
(which does seem unlikely)they could sue and probably would.

Posted 11 months ago #
Nora Bell

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Are you talking about trying to go into the actual restaurant or up to the drive-thru? I know they close the restaurant side but leave the drive-thru open. For cars. I always assumed it was a staffing thing. They didn't want to hire people to stay late serving in the restaurant, but have one or two people handling the drive-thru. Federal policy, or not, it's up to Taco Bell who they let in where and when.

Posted 11 months ago #
pandabur

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At first, I thought you meant walkers like from the Walking Dead... Sigh, I miss that show.

Posted 11 months ago #
onederfullone

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Walking Dead preview next weekend! yippee

Posted 11 months ago #
NW Native

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Is this post a joke? Walkers have been barred from drive thrus since Moses wore short pants.

Posted 11 months ago #
pandabur

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@Oneder - really!?!? I've been going through withdrawals. YIPPEE!!!

Posted 11 months ago #
onederfullone

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I wouldn't lie to ya ;-)

Next weekend, think it's Sundy night, 3rd season launch, plus, black and white version of first episode. Check your guide for AMC.

Posted 11 months ago #
Alferd Packer

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Back in the Dark Ages there used to be a TV show, Candid Camera, hosted by Alan Funk. They had a skit where a bunch of folk stood in line with the cars and ordered from a drive-up window.

Yeah, the liability thing is probably the killer in this day and age.

Posted 11 months ago #
Miss Radish

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So the doors to the restaurant are locked and they don't allow anyone in (in other words, the dining room is closed) but the drive-thru still open? I've seen signs stating that people on foot will not be served at the drive-thru, but I've always assumed people on foot could buy food inside. However, usually buy fast food at breakfast or lunch, not at dinnertime or later.

Rebecca, you might want to check with other fast-food places with drive-thrus, and see what their policies are. And, check with other Taco Bell restaurants in the area. Sometimes individual stores pull rules out of their hineys, and try to tell you it's a law.

Posted 11 months ago #
Boris

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In 92 I saw guy pleasuring self in Moscow taco bell. Have not been back since. Good store policy would be to keep doors locked always.

Posted 11 months ago #
BuddyCianci

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Before I owned a car, I tried to do this at the McDonalds on Market St. They said they "don't serve walk-ups."

So I went to Denny's and ate the worst meal I'd had in years at the 3x the price of that I wanted at McDonalds.

It doesn't seem fair. It doesn't seem to make any sense. It just is.

I feel for you, OP!

Posted 11 months ago #
wolfden

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if I were blind or suffered from seizures and was unable to obtain a drivers license; therefore not being able to legally drive a car I would not be able to get a taco, late night at the 15th and 59th Ave NW Taco Bell (store #017769). Wouldn't the Taco Bell being in violation of the ADA at that point?

Seriously? You are serious? Late night and a hypothetical disability scenario? Are you goddamned serious? Are you f'ing serious? They don't allow walkers because it's a goddamn liability issue. What if the store served you, a walker and a huge pickup came from behind not expecting a puny walker and ran over you?

Like wow. You didn't think of this? Jesus.

Posted 11 months ago #
Amy J

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Wolfden -- thank you for making this thread purely enjoyable.

Posted 11 months ago #
gracie

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Yep, Micky D's has a sign that they don't serve walk ups. It is a liability thing. I've been in line at drive thru & some drunk accelerates & knocked out the sign at Jack in The Box (if someone was standing in front of the car they would have been seriously injured. I couldn't believe the idiot) and then at McDonald's on 15th a woman was hit w/her baby in stroller. Maybe could have a "walk up" window but don't think the various places are going to invest in the money to install it.

Posted 11 months ago #
Mondoman

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Wolfden FTW. Almost as much fun as this entity: http://amanfrommars.blogspot.com/p/little-bit-about-what-all-here-is-about.html

Posted 11 months ago #
great idea

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let's say I went through the drive-thru on my bike.

am I gettin' a chalupa or what?

Posted 11 months ago #
Edog

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Not if you order a taco salad.

Posted 11 months ago #
gracie

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Funny Edog!

Posted 11 months ago #
teigyr

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I've never seen any place with a drive-thru that served pedestrians from the drive-thru. If they choose to have the restaurant portion closed, that is their right.

As mentioned above, Dick's is walk-up only. I suppose a fast food place could do what In 'n Out does, which is have a walk-up window, drive-through window AND some of them have inside eating areas but not all.

So is it a human right to get a taco at 1am? I think more people need to think that sometimes life isn't fair, sometimes you can't have what other people have, and that's ok. I always wanted to be a jockey...til I grew up to be 5'11".

Posted 11 months ago #
BuddyCianci

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"So is it a human right to get a taco at 1am?"

No. But if you ask me that question at 1am, and I will give you a different answer.

Posted 11 months ago #
Edog

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I for one won't rest until the drive through menu is in braille.

Posted 11 months ago #
pixlpete

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I simply could not resist this one lobbed slow right over the plate…

As others have pointed out, it is definitely an insurance issue which Taco Bell’s employees and local managers can do nothing about. It is lame to cite a federal law as the reason, but seriously, what do you expect from a wage earner (probably minimum wage), lowest person on the totem pole, stuck dealing with the late night drive through nightmare – at Taco Bell? They are doing what they are told to do. To give them any grief is to ask them to potentially get fired to satisfy your taco craving, would you risk your job for that?

Invoking ADA is a straw man argument, they wouldn’t serve you no matter how you got to the drive thru window if you are not in or on a motor vehicle. The fact is, even if they did allow it, they can still refuse to serve anyone, whenever they like (let’s say someone is slightly drunk and being irrationally argumentative), as long as they are not discriminating against you because of race, gender, etc. Just ask anyone who has ever been "86'd"… no reason required. “We reserve the right to refuse service to anyone”. I don’t know that you actually argued your point at the time but it sure sounds like you have a bee in your bonnet over it, and might do it later.

Fortunately, there is a solution to future self-righteous indignation! Fine dining is *always* available to anyone who can walk, drive, crawl, or white cane their way to it, just a couple blocks away… http://www.7-eleven.com/ (#25525). The food is every bit as wholesome, nutritious, and delicious as Taco Bell. Plus you can wash it down with a blue flavored Slurpee, pick up some Advil, and something special for breakfast while you are there:

Pancake, sausage and maple sweetness all rolled into one delicious bite. It's almost like Corn Dog Roller woke up one morning and said, 'Boy, I wish there were a breakfast version of me.' Wish no more, Corn Dog Roller, Maple Pancake Sausage Roller is here.

/end sarcasm

PS – Ballard Market is open 24/7 and has a great deli (you must have walked right past it)

PSS – Luckily, Taco Bell does actually care about your customer experience, so take the survey and let them have it with both barrels: https://confirm.opinionport.com/wix/p6638395.aspx?l=9 You might even get a free greasy taco out of them for your trouble. (you would still have to pick it up while front doors where open though)

PSSS – Taco Bell = worse than dog farts.

/end petulant rant

Posted 11 months ago #
phoo

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This isn't new. In the early to mid-90s Taco Bell had this policy (it may have been newly put in place?). As others have mentioned, it is a liability issue. Someone could pull through at night and hit you and TB is scared they'll get mixed up in it.

I used to love eating at Taco Bell until something changed and after making a run for the border 3 times in a row after eating there, I will no longer touch their food.

Posted 11 months ago #
teigyr

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Back to the true walkers, we ended up switching from Dish to DirecTv just due to the risk of losing Walking Dead. And as far as whether or not true walkers are served at Taco Bell, might be fun to see next time there's a zombie function :)

Posted 11 months ago #
BuddyCianci

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Musical Interlude

Posted 11 months ago #
great idea

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we used to go thru the drive-thru on foot all the time when I was in high school. my friends thought it was pretty funny.

these days I will use the drive-thru ATM at Bank of America when the adjacent pedestrian unit is occupied. there's no one there to stop me (although I guess they could holler over that intercom). haven't been hit yet!

Posted 11 months ago #
pixlpete

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Thanks BuddyCianci, nothinig like a catchy tune to get one thinking "Outside the bun".

1. Calmly back away from the drive through window (no pouting)
2. Call a taxi. (a zombie driver if that makes you happy teigyr)
3. Run in place until taxi arrives (pre-burns the grease before you even eat it!)
4. Instruct cabbie to *drive thru*, order taco
5. Purchase taco from the safety of the cab
6. Exit cab/pay fare (you could tip with a chalupa and tater tots, zombies love tots)
7. Enjoy well-earned taco!
8. Walk home (watch out for zombies, they can smell taco farts a mile away)

Posted 11 months ago #
SeaSpider

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+1 Pixlpete

Do have to admit that Taco Bell is a guilty pleasure. I know it's so wrong and yet...

Posted 11 months ago #
JoeInBallard

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There are sure a lot of stupid people.

Posted 11 months ago #
stopgo

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Frankly I once tried to eat a nachos bell grande on crutches, and i can assure you that they are doing you a favor. Taco bell and crutches do not mix.

Posted 11 months ago #
BuffaloHawk

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Stopgo

I heard you can supersize the " Depends" ... Good Times

Posted 11 months ago #
Novalis

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Maybe they could add a walk up window, like Dick's has, possibly ?

A place out of the way of the cars, different side of the building.

I wouldn't use it, not that hungry, yet, for that food.

Though do like Wendy's.

Posted 11 months ago #
Nora Bell

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Guilty pleasure, indeed. I used to live just up the street from Taco Bell and became addicted to the mexi-fries. Battered potato cubes drowning in gooey cheese sauce. My arteries are very happy I moved.

+1 for 7-11. Open 24-7 and you can get pretty much anything there.

Posted 11 months ago #
great idea

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"Back in the Dark Ages there used to be a TV show, Candid Camera, hosted by Alan Funk."

@alferdpacker-- minor correction--Alan Funt.
that was the original reality TV show wasn't it?

Posted 11 months ago #
Alferd Packer

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thanks gi, memory fails sometimes.

Indeed it was the original reality show. Many good memories of that show.

Posted 11 months ago #
Sunset9

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"It's a Federal Law" reminds me of the time a customer WOULD.NOT.STOP arguing about the wire cut off time at the bank.
"You can't send a wire after 1pm"
"But I want to"
"But you can't" mulitply that by 10

Finally I said "You can't send a wire after 1 pm because of the international date line, it's tomorrow where you want to send it so we have to wait until tomorrow."

Customer leaves.

Sometimes when you deal with the public you have to make something up to shut them up.

Posted 11 months ago #