Hungry Jacks set to arrive in Hervey Bay

4th Oct 2007

Hungry Jacks Logo A reader of benmay.org has let me know that Hungry Jacks is set to come to Hervey Bay. Hungry Jacks will be going where a few have guessed, which is at the Bunnings / Main st / Boat Harbour Drive corner. The coming soon sign will be installed there today!

To read my older post on the Hungry Jacks rumor, click here.

125 comments

I want to work at the new hungry jacks

Artem Bond on 18th March, 2008 at 6:09 pm
My husband and I visited the Hervey Bay store yesterday for the first time and sadly it will be a long time before we visit again. We ordered 2 Aussie burgers, onion rings and small fries as we have done on previous visits to the Maryborough store. Sadly after eating our food from your store both my husband and I became ill with vomiting and diarhoea. As this in the only thing we ate the same for the day we can only conclude that it was the burgers or the onion rings that caused this.
Maybe one day we will return as we have enjoyed Hungry Jacks in the past,
but I can assure you it won’t be for a while Angela

Angela on 18th May, 2008 at 8:39 am
Hi Angela,

Wow – that is not good… I went there for the first time the other day, it was OK…. I have only gone just now as there as the first 2 weeks there was nothing but traffic and thousands of people..

There was just usual new staff problems taking forever to get served etc etc.. but nothing too out of the ordinary for a fast food outlet

Ben May on 18th May, 2008 at 3:49 pm
Hi,
i work at hungry jacks in brisbane, browns plains and it really isnt that bad! Yu know, we have to go through alot as well. all yu have to do.. is order yur food, pay and wait. while we keep serving, and the guys out the back have 20-50 burgers to make at once, before impatient customers start abusing us because they have waited for 5 mins. think of the people that work there before yu get impatient and shitty. we get ignorant self absorbed customers everyday..yu just get friendly service. if not, its because of the customers. and Angela, i am sincerly sorry to hear about what happened to you and your husband and i hope yu bothe recover

Random :] on 21st May, 2008 at 9:25 pm
I have been looking forward to Hungry Jacks coming to the Bay for so long and I must say now that they are here, I am not so fussed on the food that is served. It took me ages to make the young girl serving me to understand what it was that I was asking for and then it wasn’t right when we got home. That is so frustrating. They needed to be better trained before opening.

AngelaE on 22nd May, 2008 at 3:34 am
Hello, can you please tell your staff at hungry jacks in hervey bay to wash there hands before they handle food? as I do not like food poisoning!!!

Tony on 23rd June, 2008 at 10:01 am
ii think that the hungry jacks in hervey is PATHETIC!! Me and my friend went there one day and we were waiting half an hour just for two burgars!! ii mean two plain burgars and they served 3 other people with big meals for their family before they managed to give us our burgars! And as for the drive through, do not ever go through the drive through as they did not set the ground properlly and one day its all going to collapse in! Which is not good… Every other hungry jacks is good besides hervey bay! So just watch what your eating and doing when you go there ok! Thnks

Rosiee BeTTch!! on 25th June, 2008 at 12:27 pm
I too also work at Hungry Jacks and some people with in the town are just so rude and impaitient you need to understand these are 14 15 year old kids and for most of them its there first job, as for the the staff washing there hands i can assure you they do i have never worked for a company that is very big on food safety before, sorry Angela you were sick but i can assure you it would not of been food poisning as i have worked in the food industry for many years and if you claim to have got food posioning from eating that than i am 100% sure the other 200 people that eat that same burger that day would off got sick as well maybe you need to take a look at your own food preperation at home. and please give them a break i am sure you would not like people talking about your kids like that.

Steven on 21st April, 2009 at 8:11 pm
omg people give them a break no wonder people dont want to open business in hervey bay the town is full of scabs some people have nothing better to do than complain, i got to Hungry Jacks in Hervey Bay Every Day and i think the people are great the food it fantasic yes the service may be slow some times but for crying out loud look around you and see how busy the are.

casper on 21st April, 2009 at 8:37 pm
Steven, thanks for your comments, I can see you are also casper

It isn’t an insult to the young people who are working there, but more to the managers who hire all younger people who have limited abilities .

Look at McDonalds, they know what they are doing, because I have NEVER waiting anywhere near as long there as I do at Hungry Jacks.

Ben May on 25th April, 2009 at 5:02 pm
Sorry Ben I Don’t think its a insult to the managers and i am not being rude in any way but the way i see it is at least they are giving these young kids a go and teaching them some skills but i do think people need to calm down a bit i was there the other day and i saw this customer yelling at this girls because she asked what size meal he wanted now she was only doing her job and no i am not casper my uncle also wanted to make a comment but used email address to do so.

Steven on 5th May, 2009 at 9:12 pm
Steven,
I’m sorry, but I spat my coffee all over my computer keyboard in laughter when I read your comment about Hungry Jacks giving these young kids a go and teaching them some skills. The reason they employ these dropkick kids is because they are cheap. That is the one and only reason. You’ve been brainwashed if you think otherwise.

Patricia on 9th May, 2009 at 1:06 pm
Well Patricia good to see you have faith in today’s
teenagers, so you don’t think any one should give them a go, may be they do hire them because they are cheap but at least they a working not hanging around the streets doing drugs and drinking.
I also understand these so call dropkick kids as you call them go to some of the best schools in the bay. we all have to start some were at least they are not on centerlink..

Steven on 11th May, 2009 at 8:02 pm
I don’t disagree with you at all in relation to these kids having to start somewhere – and good on them for trying. What I object to is your suggestion that Hungry Jacks are somehow doing the community a huge favour by employing them and providing them with valuable skills. There is only one reason they are employing them, and that is because they are cheap.

Patricia on 13th May, 2009 at 8:29 am
Everyone has once been in a new job not knowing what they are doing, getting confused, shy and bewildered.

Grow up people, if you want to complain on the service, why dont you go and get a job there and see how overwhelming it is.

Yes sometimes it may be slow, but those kids are trying and I commend them for what they do.

All i can say about everything on here is Ben, get a god given life and stop ya bloody whinging

Duffa on 2nd June, 2009 at 2:30 pm
Once again, I am not saying that it’s YOUR fault… HJ should employ more experienced staff..

How do you explain that McDonalds you can be served in a minute and on your way, and at HJ it is a 10 min wait or what ever? McDonalds hire young people…

Ben May on 4th June, 2009 at 11:50 am
Who r u talking to Ben, YOUR FAULT????

Duffa on 4th June, 2009 at 12:25 pm
I’m talking to you.. who else would I be talking to? What’s my fault

Ben May on 4th June, 2009 at 2:11 pm
How would it be MY FAULT anyway, Im sticking up for the people who constantly get critisized for trying, get over yourself and grow the fuck up

DUFFA on 17th June, 2009 at 9:56 am
Hey DUFFA,
I think the point that we are trying to make is that these kids are NOT even trying. They don’t care, they aren’t interested in learning, they know they are being used, and it won’t get any better. Ask yourself this – WHY is the service so much better at Macca’s? Surely the job description at both outlets are roughly the same. So why is service almost non-existent at one outlet, and fine at the other? If you don’t know the answer, please feel free to ask.

Patricia on 19th June, 2009 at 2:14 am
I would like to make a point do you notice you never see different staff at mcdonalds? No or if you do they arent on during peak rushes. also have you ever noticed there are atleast 2 managers on the counter at Mcdonalds or in Drive Thru at all times. Do You Notice This At Hungry Jakcs? NO i work there and you are lucky if there are 2 managers on at a time this normally happens when its shift change time also staff are always changing at hungry jacks which means we are working towrds having a unified team to get the customers served and improve the service while giving young people ago unlike mcdonalds where you are lucky if you see different staff to the usual ones they have on or if you actually get to see a staff member and not a manager also if our service is so crap and patheic as you are stating why do the customers keep coming back??? why? also if you are telling duffa to ask you about how to do service does this mean you work for mcdonalds? and by that meaning you have a vested interest in trying to get more sales for mcdonalds? also its FAST Food NOT INSTANT !

HardWorkingYoungPerson on 25th June, 2009 at 9:06 pm
I like Cheese.

Richard on 25th June, 2009 at 9:20 pm
Ben,

Your nothing but a nit picking asshole, you seriously dont understand at all. U do work for the other fast food outlet, but myself I work at neither, but I did work at pizza hut when it was dine in. Now as a young person there I know how hard it is sometimes. get off the subject of hungry jacks already i mean do u have a life???

Ill choose HJ’s over that piss weak maccas anyday

Duffa on 7th July, 2009 at 1:31 am
This has been a terrific dialog between yourself and others.. I don’t know why you think I work at McDonalds for? I have my business and NOTHING to do with the fast food industry.

I have written this post as a customer of probably every single fast foot outlet in town, and they were my thoughts and still are.

Nitpicking? No, I don’t think so.

Have a terrific day

Ben May on 7th July, 2009 at 1:45 pm
Wow. Ben you sure seem to have stirred up some people. Haha funny stuff. I love how they think you work at Maccas? How did that even happen? And I love how they feel the need to keep coming back to YOUR website to bag you. Funny funny funny. Truth be told, Hungry Jacks fails on service, and food quality – at least in Hervey Bay. Enough said. For whatever reason that may be, they just don’t meet the standards of the other fast food joints in town. I guess you could just put it down to poor management.

The Cheese on 9th July, 2009 at 6:17 pm
I remember when Hungry Jacks in Hervey Bay first opened, and I was SO excited, because I loved it so much and was getting sick of driving all the way to Maryborough just for a meal. But when I did go to HBHJ the food was terrible. It has improved since, but not too greatly. I wouldn’t recommend it to anybody. The service is horrible, I have never recieved a smile or a ‘Have a nice day’ while purchasing food there. Last time I bothered (huge mistake) the two 16 year old girls serving me in the drive through were covered in makeup, piercings and were swearing like sailors to each other, while I sat in my car and waited for my food. When it was ready, they just handed it to me, and turned away and kept arguing. I’m fine with makeup and piercings, by all means, but to that extent? I think it just proves that management doesn’t give a shit about the service, the food or the customers. All they care about is the money. And they’ve lost me as a customer for good. I think they need to seriously sit down and think about whatever it is they’re doing with their staff. I have a very gutsy feeling that they don’t allow for much training.

Also, Ben, you look familiar
I think we may have gone to school together.

MissTerra on 18th July, 2009 at 9:46 pm
hey, just thought i’d add to your comments. in relation to McDonald’s, they have a rank called the crew trainer, which also help staff to become more proficient at their jobs, and to assist the managers in training. HJ’s has no such thing, and due to this, customers find that trainees are often not as “up-to-speed” as McDonald’s staff. this has nothing to do with the particular store in question, but management further up makes all the rules, so why not have a go at them??

It is also an apparent requirement that female staff wear make-up, however, with hearing these comments, changes will be made. The piercing issue will also be addressed, as the girls have been told several times to remove all facial piercings before commencing work, but refuse to listen.

And in relation to the attitude on front counter, this issue will also be addressed in the next meeting, as this is unacceptable, and i apologise for subjecting you to the rudeness/ bluntness in the crew’s manner.

Splitinthree on 28th July, 2009 at 5:25 pm
Splitinthree,

If you really are from HJ’s, I’m afraid it’s a case of too little too late as far as I’m concerned. One can only be ignored, insulted and given very very bad service for so long until the customer gives up. I’ll wait until I hear many and various good reports about HJ before I will ever return to that store. Even the staff of Bunnings next door seem to be avoiding this particular store – even though it’s right next door and have no other option other than their in-store cafe. Now THAT is very sad.

Patricia on 2nd August, 2009 at 1:48 pm
Patrica,

If Bunnings Staff Are Really Avoiding Hjs Then How Come We Are Still Serving Countless Bunnings Employees Every Single Day Of The Week? Also Patrica What Would Someone Who Works At Bunnings Know About Running A Fast Food Store? Also If Our Service Is as Crap As You Say It Is Why Are Our Sales Increasing Every Single Week? And Why Are Customers Coming Back Again And Again? Also Why Are We Getting Told Daily By Customers That We Are the BEST Hjs Store They Have Visited The Service Is Great and The food is the Same and that our stores are better than mcdonalds whose service seems to be slipping further and further down hill and so much for mcdonalds make to order with them still holding a level of burgers? Hjs Will Proudly Go Make To Order Soon And IT will Actually Be Make To Order Not A Big Cover Up To Make People Think There Burgers arent old and gross

HardWorkingYoungPerson on 2nd August, 2009 at 4:32 pm
There are a lot of questions there….. (Answering for Patricia)

a) Surely there is an amount of Bunnings staff, as there there is not “No Limit” to Bunnings Staff..

b) What would they know? THEY ARE THE CUSTOMER. Business Rule #1 – Customer is always right.

c) All Fast Foods turn overs are rising- in tough times people choose to eat cheap food.

d) People come back (Inc Me) Because I like what BURGER KING in the USA have developed. If I could get it somewhere else, I would.

e) I’d like to see how many people really do say that about your service and food, I sure know a lot of people who’d say the opposite

f) I think McDonalds are getting better and better, and always improving their selections etc. Hungry Jacks Stock.

HJ’s share price is about $17 a share, while McDonalds Corp is worth about $55 a share. So McDonalds are worth almost about 3x as much.

—-

I actually don’t care either way, I go to both places..

Ben May on 2nd August, 2009 at 4:52 pm
ben,
point b in your post was a personal hit at patrica as she is trying to tell us how to run a fast food resturant when she works at bunnings she would know nothing about what goes on behind the scenes. and over the last week there have a very large amount of customers asking to speak to the manager then telling the manager what a great job the staff are doing and how good the store is. also if people took notice of hungry jacks they would realise that we have new promotional items every few weeks and adding new items based on what customers want when was the last time mcdonalds had a decent promotionl burger? also what does the share price matter? also mcdonalds is owned by Mc Donalds Corporation in America, Hungry Jacks Is A Franchise Off Burger King a seperatly owned private company which is goverened by burger kings menu and franchise agreement only not the whole company being a direct american import

HardWorkingYoungPerson on 2nd August, 2009 at 5:23 pm
I’m most certain the reason you say you serve “countless” Bunnings employees each day has more to do with an inability to count than anything else. If the store employed more adults than dropkid kids (who can’t read, write or count), perhaps this would go a long way towards addressing its poor customer service problems.

Patricia on 3rd August, 2009 at 9:45 am
Patricia,

I think you are the only one who cant read write or count as you put it cause frankly ive never heard the term “dropkid” i think you mean dropkick. also have you ever met many adults willing to work in a fast food resturant ? also would you like to try and pay the wage that would be required for them and also then how would we be able to give young kids experience so places can hire experienced kids like you refered to in previous posts maybe you should make up your mind of what you actually want and maybe take a literacy and numeracy class at tafe.

HardWorkingYoungPerson on 3rd August, 2009 at 9:57 am
“also have you ever met many adults willing to work in a fast food resturant ? ”

Er yes I have – at Macca’s just down the road.

Patricia on 3rd August, 2009 at 10:42 am
“then how would we be able to give young kids experience so places can hire experienced kids like you refered to in previous posts”

Nobody is suggesting to not employ the young ones – only that they need some adults to supervise them and make sure they are doing their jobs.

Patricia on 3rd August, 2009 at 10:45 am
what as managers, in the cafe or on midnight shifts not normal staff and we do have adults on staff not just as managers one of our staff memebers is 28 or are they are “dropkid” as you put it?

HardWorkingYoungPerson on 3rd August, 2009 at 10:46 am
patrica,

thats why we employ managers who are adults
this is what you said If the store employed more adults than dropkid kids (who can’t read, write or count), perhaps this would go a long way towards addressing its poor customer service problems. thus implying that we should only have adults as employees not employing young people maybe you should remember what you are saying

HardWorkingYoungPerson on 3rd August, 2009 at 10:51 am
What part of “MORE adults than dropkid (sic) kids” don’t you quite understand?

The word “more” would suggest to anyone with even a grade 3 education that the number of adults employed is larger in number than the amount of children – and that it doesn’t mean that NO children be employed.

Patricia on 3rd August, 2009 at 11:25 am
“…we do have adults on staff not just as managers one of our staff memebers is 28 or are they are “dropkid” as you put it?”

So you have ONE staff memeber who is 28? That’s exactly the problem people are trying to get through to you. Just one adult out of a whole store full of dropkid kids is simply not enough. And would I be right in assuming this one 28 year old staff memeber is hoping to finish secondary school next year?

Patricia on 3rd August, 2009 at 11:29 am
i was making an example that one of our staff is that old 99% of the day crew is 18yrs plus and about 35% of the night crew is 18yrs plus and no you would not be right in assuming that this particular staff member finished yerar 12 when at the correct age and would i be correct in assuming that you have but 2 brain cells to rub togeather because unless you have not been redinging my posts you would realise that dropkid kids is incorrect grammer unless you are implying that all hjs staff were dropped on there heads at birth or is that just what happened to you? and by your comment more adults than dropkid kids it implys we should have for example if we had 60 staff 50 of them should be adults which would not be viable cause if we had to pay each of them to work 7 hrs a day 5 days a week at $20 perhour would be $35000 a week just to pay thoese staff and what kind of fast food buisness would you expect to be able to pay that much in wages then the wages for managers and crew under 18 and buy stock do matinence and allow for any wastage penalty rates ect that would be able to make a profit? NONE that is your answer NONE you might want to learn a bit about the logistics of a fast food buisness then make comments like that

HardWorkingYoungPerson on 3rd August, 2009 at 11:41 am
It sounds like I’m going to have to give you a simple maths lesson. Half of 60 isn’t 50. If there are 60 workers, to have more than half as adults, you only need to have 31 adults, not 50. And presumably there will be a few managers/supervisors on duty, so that means more children needing working experience can be employed.

Also, I think we may also disagree on the meaning of “adult”. A kid over 18 isn’t what I’d refer to as an adult. Perhaps I should have said “responsible adult” and I can tell you right now that there aren’t many at all at HJ’s in Hervey Bay.

Patricia on 3rd August, 2009 at 12:07 pm
I’m sure that we are never going to agree, so there’s probably not much point continuing this conversation except for the fact that it’s funny watching a dropkid kick like you make an even bigger fool of yourself than what you already were before contributing to this thread. However, let me ask you this – and please be totally honest about the answer.

If you printed out this discussion and showed it to every person who works at HJ’s and then I came into the store, told you I was the author, and ordered a burger – how many of the workers would volunteer to spit in my food? I’m guessing each and every dropkick who works there – including you. Am I right? Be honest.

Now try explainng to me again why you think Hungry Jacks employ the right sort of people? Let’s be honest here – the only reason most of them work there is because they couldn’t get the job next door at Bunnings collecting the trolleys in the carpark. Don’t believe me? Well here’s the ad that your beloved HJ’s posted when it openned and was looking for assistant managers.

Assistant Managers
Hungry Jacks – Hervey Bay, QLD
ASSISTANT MANAGERS – RETAIL We offer our Managers….. • First Class Training Programs • Competitive Salaries starting at $36,000 (negotiable) • Opportunity for advancement • Great team environment We require people with….. • An ability to work shift work (including nights and weekends) • Great communication skills • Own vehicle and licence • ASSISTANT MANAGERS – RETAIL We offer our Managers….. • First Class Training Programs • Competitive Salaries starting at $36,000 (negotiable) • Opportunity for advancement • Great team environment We require people with….. • An ability to work shift work (including nights and weekends) • Great communication skills • Own vehicle and licence • Fast food or Retail experience preferred but nor essential. So, do you have a positive attitude,…

So they expect their assistant managers to work a rolliing roster including shit work, have their own vehicle and licence, retail experience, yet only pay them $36,000. Look on the internet for the Bunnings award, and you’ll find that that guy who pushes the trolleys in the carpark is on something like $37,000 per annum. You know what they say about paying peanuts? If they only pay their managers $36K, I can see why they can only attract dropkick kids who can’t even finish school for the other jobs.

Patricia on 3rd August, 2009 at 1:46 pm
[...] you now Google Hungry Jacks Hervey Bay my little post comes up first. And after writing this post, I have had a slow, but constant stream [...]

Sitting back and Watching | The Home of Ben May, Hervey Bay, QLD, Australia. on 3rd August, 2009 at 1:57 pm
You’re right Ben, this is quite fun to read.

My whole take on the “dropkick kids” is – yeah alot of the younger employees don’t yet have the experience or right work ethic yet, hell i know i didnt when i was 16-17. But given the conditions and wages in a fast rood place i dont blame them.

Having said that there have been numerous occasions where a younger worker has been rude.

ALso one more complaint about hungrys, several times i went in when their grills werent working and i couldnt by any beef products!
The burgers are better at hungry jacks, IF YOU CAN BLOODY GET ONE!

All in all, its hungry jacks, you expect to served by a 15 year old and dont expect 5 star quality food or service.

I think the only dropkicks are people who work at this shit jobs like fast food or supermarkets and the like, and end up staying there for life!
Talk about no ambition!

Cheers to Ben for stirring the pot.

Now i’m off to comment on the one about motorcycle riders……

twisty on 3rd August, 2009 at 3:12 pm
patrica,

I can Guarentee you 100% that if i did what you said not a single person would spit in or do anything else to your burger we pride our selves on serving quality so we wouldnt do anything to a customers burger such as you have suggested it is not oinly against several health and safety standards and company polices and would result in instant termination of employment it is morally wrong and i think you are wrong for suggesting that would happen at any reputable fast food resturant in australia. also patrica managers are paid what they are allowed to be paid under the howard govenments fast food retail award which is in the process of being changed. also patrica did the person pushing trolleys around bunnings carpark graduate school to get such a great job? probablly not they were probablly a dropkick kid maybe you should be doing that you i think you are worthy of it have a nice day

twisty,

we are fast food workers, not electricians, mechanics, qualified trades people or god so it isnt our fault if the meat cooker broke we remained open to give customers to still have quality chicken products, drinks, deserts or fries, you should also remember that every shift someone was out side informing customers that we had no meat products available and appologised for ny inconvinence to the customer the people who had to do that job also got abused and heckled by customers as if it was there fault but they still had a job to do which they did.

and yes the Burgers ARE Better

HardWorkingYoungPerson on 3rd August, 2009 at 4:46 pm
“patrica managers are paid what they are allowed to be paid under the howard govenments fast food retail award ”

Er, the award stipulates MINIMUM rates of pay. They are NOT fixed in stone.

I am however impressed that you wouldn’t spit in my food – you must be so proud of your work ethic. Good onya.

Incidently, I was at Bunnings today buying some more rope,, and I asked at the service desk how many employees they have working at any one day – and they said “about 40″. So I’m wondering, even if all 40 staff members walked over to HJ’s to buy a meal, and you try to count them, at what point is it that you classify it as “countless”? Can any of the other dropkick Einstein’s who work there count them for you perhaps?

Patricia on 3rd August, 2009 at 5:24 pm
We won’t go back – been there for breakfast and they ran out of hotcakes, next time no syrup, next time hotcakes were like cardboard (plastic knife couldn’t even cut them), next time was xmas and it was feral – rubbish all over the floor, etc, next time grill not working. That’s enough crap for me – at least with McDonalds I know that they’ll have what I want.

Julie on 3rd August, 2009 at 5:27 pm
That”s a common complaint Julie, but the management don’t seem to want to listen, and those children who work there just simply don’t care.

Patricia on 3rd August, 2009 at 5:36 pm
im sorry but we do care but we also cant help manufacturing errors at companys like tiptop can we? i thought you would of just been doing a shift there patrica cause from your vast knowledge of bunnings its completely obvious that you work at bunnings . the reason i said countless was be cause we have a fair amount of bunnings staff coming in front and drive thru and it would be impossible to count due to staff not being able to record the bunnings staff they served also not all bunnings staff wear there uniform in

HardWorkingYoungPerson on 3rd August, 2009 at 5:47 pm
It sounds to me that you’re very good at blaming everyone else for your own short-comings. First it was the oven’s fault, now it’s Tip Top’s fault.

How about taking at least SOME responsibility for these complaints – or at least acknowledge that not everyone is so impressed with the service offered at your store as you misguidedly seem to think they are.

Oh, and no, I don’t work at bunnings – I’m a bit too old for that – but it does make me wonder why you say that some Bunnings staff use the drive thru to buy their lunch. It’s only a 30 metre walk for goodness sakes. This fact seems to indicate there may be other problems within your store if people don’t even want to even enter the store to buy their food.

Patricia on 3rd August, 2009 at 6:00 pm
Ben, as always, good thread – always fun to read.
HardWorkingYoungPerson, SHUSH!!!! Every post you make continues to make you seem more and more stupid. Hungry Jacks Hervey Bay sucks – end of story. Of course you’re still going to get customers because people need to eat and take-out is a simple option. This doesn’t put you at liberty to say Hungry Jacks’ customer service, food quality etc. is superior to any other fast food joints, BECAUSE IT’S NOT!
Patricia, you continue to hit the nail on the head. I’m enjoying reading your posts

The Cheese on 4th August, 2009 at 12:23 pm
Hi Mr Cheese. Speaking of nails, I was again at Bunnings today buying some more rope, and when I was leaving, I decided to go buy an ice cream at HJ’s to check out the staff and service. I thought to myself, they surely can’t stuff up an ice cream order. How wrong I was. The young girl (I think she was a girl) who served me took my money, and then used the same hand to select my cone and proceed to fill it with ice cream.
Mmm, so much for HardWorkingYoungPerson’s claim of being highly trained in hygiene practices etc. Of course I only ate the ice cream and threw away the cone into the bin, and I couldn’t help but notice a number of other discarded cones in this bin. So I can only conclude that this is common practice and not just an isolated mistake perpertrated by the girl/boy who served me today. At least I gave them a go. but I won’t be going back.
Perhaps THIS is why the Bunnings staff go through the drive thru – what you can’t see can’t hurt you.

Patricia on 4th August, 2009 at 1:50 pm
Seriously if you hate hjs so much dont go there. also bunnings staff have lives and may not feel like walking over before or after a shift especially if they are just getting a coffee or something. also patrica if you had a problem with the making of the ice cream you should of asked for a new one also if the cone had a serviette or a cone sleeve around it that is correct procedure also the girl that served you probabally used alcohol based sanitizer on her hands before she made you cone which is standard procedure. also id love to know which bin you saw all the cones in cause seriously unless you stuck your head in the bin you wouldnt of been able to see whats in there

HardWorkingYoungPerson on 4th August, 2009 at 2:09 pm
A few points – why would Bunnings staff who have just finished a shift go through the drive thru and buy a coffee/ Surely they’d use the coffee machine at work (which is free) and clearly much more hygienic.

Also, NO she didn’t wash her hands after handling my money, and she only selected the serviette AFTER she touched the cone. The reason I didn’t make a scene is because this is what Hervey Bay residents have come to expect from staff from your store. Complaints fall on deaf ears – as is clearly evident from this blog where over 50 complaints have been made and yet you STILL maintain there is no problem. And what would be the point of complaining? These kids who work there only work there because nobody else will employ them. They are basically unemployable. So what’s the alternative? At least while they are working at HJ’s they are not graffitiing our public buildings or mugging old ladies in the street – or whatever other activities you and your ilk do for “fun”?

Patricia on 4th August, 2009 at 2:18 pm
Pat, I’d give up.. Ryan (Hard Working Young Person) obviously won’t see anyone else’s opinion and maintain the fact that HJ is simply perfect.

Ben May on 4th August, 2009 at 2:21 pm
i dont maintain hj is perfect problems do need adressing but some of the stuff she has come up with is completely obsured also she is now accusing me and other staff at hungry jacks of being criminals she is seriously a low sheltered woman who likes to stick her head in bins to see what rubbish is in there and seriously if were as unhygenic as she believes why have we not been closed down by the health department? she should go back to her bunnings surrounded life and if she hates it so much get over it and dont go there

HardWorkingYoungPerson on 4th August, 2009 at 2:26 pm
Hey Ben, I don’t mind. With his attitude and horrible food handling practices, it’s only a matter of time before the health department steps in and closes the joint down until they are forced to employ people who are willing and able to perform even basic hygiene techniques. He’ll eventually lose his job and will finally see how pathetic the service really was.
At the moment, he is simply brain washed. It’s not his fault because he is clearly uneducated, and probably left school at 14 while he was still repeating year 8. (I’m being kind here – I suggest it was probably year 6 because of his grammar and spelling).
As for his nickname “Hard Working Young Person”, he doesn’t seem to get many shifts at HJ’s. He’s been on this site for two or three days straight.

Patricia on 4th August, 2009 at 2:27 pm
Hey Ryan, you said this, “she is now accusing me and other staff at hungry jacks of being criminals”

What specific criminal activity have I accused you and other staff of committing? You’ve lost me.

Patricia on 4th August, 2009 at 2:30 pm
At least while they are working at HJ’s they are not graffitiing our public buildings or mugging old ladies in the street – or whatever other activities you and your ilk do for “fun”? thats where you accused us of being criminals and its called rostered days of patrica we are only allowed to do a certin amount of hours and work so many days a week also 5 shifts a week and 35 hours isnt many shift is it? go back to bunnings

HardWorkingYoungPerson on 4th August, 2009 at 2:33 pm
OK, I’ll do you a favour. Let me know the next shift you are working, and I’ll come in and order some food, and I promise to give you a completely honest critique of your performance, hygience practices and customer service – and post it back here. Think of me like a secret shopper. I promise to give you a fair go, and if you are as good as you think you are, I’ll honestly report it back here. That’s fair don’t you think?

Patricia on 4th August, 2009 at 2:39 pm
fair enough patrica then as soon as its approved by my manager ill let you know

HardWorkingYoungPerson on 4th August, 2009 at 2:45 pm
I said, “At least while they are working at HJ’s they are not graffitiing our public buildings or mugging old ladies in the street – or whatever other activities you and your ilk do for “fun”?”

You replied, “thats where you accused us of being criminals”

I will now have to give you ANOTHER basic English lesson. Did you happen to notice the part of my post where I said, “OR whatever other activities you and your ilk do for “fun”?” Not EVERY activity that kids like you do for fun are “criminal activites” – surely? It’s a fact of life that SOME kids do graffiti public building and some others mug old ladies, and some do OTHER THINGS for fun. I’m confused as to why you would immediately jump to the conclusion that I was linking YOU to the first two examples and not the last one (which was more broad). I hope that isn’t because you have a guilty conscience? You tell me.

Patricia on 4th August, 2009 at 2:49 pm
Ryan said, “fair enough patrica then as soon as its approved by my manager ill let you know”

You need “approval” from your manager to serve a customer using proper food handling practices and good customer service? Surely that should be the way you treat ALL customers? Why do you need “approval”? That just sounds weird to me.

Patricia on 4th August, 2009 at 2:52 pm
Patricia, a bit off topic, but why do you need to keep buying rope?

The Cheese on 4th August, 2009 at 3:12 pm
I just thought if I kept buying my new friend HardWorkingYoungPerson from HungryJacks more and more rope, he’d eventually hang himself with it. He’s doing a pretty good job even without my help.

Patricia on 4th August, 2009 at 3:16 pm
Hahahaha. Hilarious. This thread is rather amusing.

The Cheese on 4th August, 2009 at 3:21 pm
It certainly is rather amusing, but also quite concerning at the same time. Especially since Normie’s latest comment about needing a managers approval to serve a customer using correct hygiene practices. That particular statement really threw me for six. I hope he can clear up exactly what he meant by that statement.

Patricia on 4th August, 2009 at 3:27 pm
One can only hope so. Doesn’t really matter to me though, the massive amounts of MSG in their food gives me allergic reactions hence do not eat there anymore. Quite contradictory of their quality statements.

The Cheese on 4th August, 2009 at 3:40 pm
Funny you should mention MSG allergies. Keeping with the theme of Ryan NEVER taking reponsibility for his own actions, I’m sure that if you made this comment to him, he’d make the following reply – except of course, his reply would be in broken english (year 6 level) -

“Many studies have shown that additives such as monosodium glutamate (MSG), the sugar substitute aspartame and several food dyes do not cause allergic reactions. Studies of MSG have shown that most symptoms attributed to MSG cannot be reproduced during blinded MSG challenges. However, in some sensitive people, food additives can cause an adverse reaction. This sensitivity is almost always an example of food intolerance, rather than true allergy. So it’s not our fault, and if you don’t like it, don’t buy food from us you moron.”

Patricia on 4th August, 2009 at 3:51 pm
My apologies. Yes sensitivty is correct, allergic reaction is incorrect. However it’s still causing an undesired reaction, thus no longer eating their food. Surely it can’t be that hard to make good tasting food without adding products to stimulate your taste buds?

The Cheese on 4th August, 2009 at 4:06 pm
So you are trying to blame Ryan and his drop kick crew members for YOUR sensitivity problem? You’re as bad as he is

Patricia on 4th August, 2009 at 4:15 pm
Not quite Patricia. Was simply explaining why I no longer eat there

The Cheese on 4th August, 2009 at 4:16 pm
Well it seems you are not alone. By the number of complaints about the food, and more specifically about the poor hygiene practices and unforgivable customer service, it seems the ONLY customers they are getting are visitors for other areas. That’s the problem with living in a tourist area. No matter how bad the service is, people visiting for the tourist season don’t know any better and prefer to shop at a “Brand” which they know. And the worst thing is that people who work there, like our friend Ryan, incorrectly believe that what they are doing is acceptable to the wider community. I fear for the future of these young people. I really do.

Patricia on 4th August, 2009 at 4:21 pm
HardWorkingYoungPerson said, “and by your comment more adults than dropkid kids it implys we should have for example if we had 60 staff 50 of them should be adults which would not be viable cause if we had to pay each of them to work 7 hrs a day 5 days a week at $20 perhour would be $35000 a week just to pay thoese staff and what kind of fast food buisness would you expect to be able to pay that much in wages then the wages for managers and crew under 18 and buy stock do matinence and allow for any wastage penalty rates ect that would be able to make a profit? NONE that is your answer NONE you might want to learn a bit about the logistics of a fast food buisness then make comments like that”

OK, I’ll address this comment now. I did a little research on your store. It was sold in October last year for $2.15million with a claimed net profit of 6.2percent per annum. Now that equates to a net profit AFTER wages, and all the other costs you mentioned of $2557 a week. Now please explain again why they can’t replace some of the children they currently employ with responsible adults? How much EXTRA per hour would they have to pay? $5? $8? I really don”t know, but it would be less than $10 per hour EXTRA. That’s a cheap price to pay to get responsible people to run and supervise your business. After all, that’s what McDonalds down the road do, and their turnover is about 30 percent higher than yours is. Perhaps if you did spend that little extra income to employ the appropriate staff, your turnover would also improve, and as a result, so would the bottom line profit.
After all – the burgers really ARE better at Hungry Jacks – just NOT at your store. You do the math. Oh that’s right, people from your store can’t do math because they left school at 14. Sillly me for asking that question.

Patricia on 4th August, 2009 at 4:32 pm
By the number of complaints about the food, and more specifically about the poor hygiene practices and unforgivable customer service, it seems the ONLY customers they are getting are visitors for other areas. That’s the problem with living in a tourist area. No matter how bad the service is, people visiting for the tourist season don’t know any better and prefer to shop at a “Brand” which they know.

I would say differently. Surely a business like Hungry Jacks cannot survive on the ever-changing tourist seasons? I would believe that most of its’ profit comes from locals. Despite the fact that alot of people are unhappy with service quality, it’s still a fast and easy way to eat food so people will continue to return to the store. Just look at yourself for example, how many complaints have you posted on this page yet you still returned to Hungry Jacks TODAY to buy ice-cream. You stated you were at Bunnings, thus making Hungry Jacks the closest and easiest place to get food from, so that’s exactly what you did. This is how fast food joints work. We all know they lack in quality but at the end of the day if we want a quick hunger fix, we’ll go buy whichever shitty burger we’re craving at the time from the closest place possible. Simple as that.

The Cheese on 4th August, 2009 at 4:49 pm
Yeah, but I ONLY went there today to see if the service had improved any. I only decided to buy an ice cream because I had to buy something to evaluate the service, thinking that an ice cream would be the only thing they couldn’t stuff up. How wrong I was. As I said, I won’t be going back – except perhaps if Ryan can get permission from his manager to allow him to serve me using correct hygiene practices so I can critique his performance (or lack thereof). But I do accept your point. Perhaps the management already know this, and that’s the reason they don’t care about the complaints. People will return whether or not they get acceptable service and food or not. Perhaps you have just hit the nail on the head.

Patricia on 4th August, 2009 at 4:56 pm
Hey Ryan,
As I said, I stupidly said, “You do the math”, not thinking at the time of your capabilities – so I’ll do it for you. Even if they had to pay responsible adults an extra $10 an hour to what they pay the current children they employ, and if they put 2 responsible adults on each and every shift, 7 days a week, that would only cost them an extra $200 per week. That means that if only ONE extra family came into your restaurant each day, they would make up that amount. I’d suggest that heaps of families would return if they were confident that some idiot unsupervised kid wasn’t going to give their entire food poisoning. It’s a win-win situation.

Add to that the extra benefits – during the quiet times when there aren’t many customers, the responsible adults could teach you to count – referring to your comment yesterday that you can’t count up to 40 (relating to the number of Bunnings employees eat their each day).

Patricia on 4th August, 2009 at 5:12 pm
Whilst some a points you’ve made Patricia are right, you seem to be eager just to have petty little digs at everyone for no apparent reason. There’s really no need to put donw people. I vote Ben closes this thread, and opens a new one titled “INTERNET MATURITY – The things people say when they can remain anonymous”

The Cheese on 4th August, 2009 at 5:25 pm
“Whilst some a points you’ve made Patricia are right, you seem to be eager just to have petty little digs at everyone for no apparent reason. There’s really no need to put donw people. I vote Ben closes this thread, and opens a new one titled “INTERNET MATURITY – The things people say when they can remain anonymous””

You’re right, of course, it’s so wrong to put donw people. You’re not the first person to tell me this either – you’d think I’d learn. As for remaining anonymous, in all fairness to my good self, I HAVE offered to meet Ryan in person and critique his performance – good or bad. That’s hardly being anonymous is it?

Who knows, he might be the exception to the rule, and be an exceptional employee, and I might just even offer him a real ;job. Somehow I doubt that will happen, but I will try to keep an open mind.
In the meantime, I’ll take your advice and try NOT to put donw any more people. Thanks for the heads up. Sometimes it needs people on the outside to point out our faults. Cheers for that Mr Cheese

Patricia on 4th August, 2009 at 5:33 pm
Patricia I can’t quite tell if you’re being serious or having a go at me now for mispelling “down”. I have two questions, a) may I ask how old you are b) what exactly is wrong with not finishing highschool?

The Cheese on 4th August, 2009 at 6:14 pm
Of course I’m not being serious. I’m only stirring the pot – just like Ben and Mike are doing. What sort of idiot would get so upset about some Hungry Jacks store that I’ve only been to once in my entire life. As for age, I’m almost 62 – why do you ask?

As for not finishing high school, well that’s probably fine if you have something better to go to, but to just leave school because you’re “bored” and have nothing else to fall back on then yes, I DO have something about that. Earn or learn – that’s my thoughts. I

Patricia on 4th August, 2009 at 6:21 pm
Been to the store once? Well that puts a few of your comments out of validity.

The Cheese on 4th August, 2009 at 6:26 pm
Of course it does. What part of “stirring” don’t you quite understand? Seriously though, my grand daughter Skye works at HJ’s and she knows HardWorkingYoungPerson very well. He’s not all that bad really – for a dropkick kid, that is.

Patricia on 4th August, 2009 at 6:29 pm
Wow. The vanity of some people in this town will never cease to amaze me

The Cheese on 4th August, 2009 at 7:24 pm
You think the vanity of some people never ceases to amaze you? I think that the gullibility of some people never ceased to amaze me. Never, Ever, believe what you read on a blog.

No offence meant Ben – this has been the best thread ever. It’s put you on the map.

Patricia on 4th August, 2009 at 7:30 pm
agree 100% – Blogs are nothing but personal opinion and rarely ever cover fact.

Ben May on 4th August, 2009 at 7:32 pm
Except when the blog discusses your opinion on motorcyclists right?

Patricia on 4th August, 2009 at 7:35 pm
Spot On!

Ben May on 4th August, 2009 at 7:37 pm
Mr Cheese, it seems time to address YOUR issues. You seemed to be quite happy to go along with me having a digg with “Ryan”, but as soon as you found out I was in my 60′s, you backed off big time. You asked what I have against young people and those who don’t complete school, so it’s only fair to ask YOU what YOU have against people my age? Don’t I have a right to an opinion in your eyes?

Patricia on 4th August, 2009 at 9:00 pm
Actually Patricia, I backed off as soon as you started having a go at me for “Blaming Ryan and his dropkid/kick crew for MY sensitivities”. As for people your age, one can only expect such courtesies as you have displayed. Age = bitterness. Whilst what Ben and yourself have said about blogs rarely being based on facts may be true, I wonder how boring your life must really be to have to make up stories so you can debate about a product/service that you really know nothing about. Way to get thrills by insulting a fast-food worker a third of your age. Two thumbs up

The Cheese on 5th August, 2009 at 11:35 am
The Cheese,

Patrica Brown (yes i know who you are) is only bitter because when she used to work at Mc Cafe Some One Could Make Better Coffee Than Her and People Came Back for Their Coffee And Not Hers, She Went As Far As Requesting Not To Be Rostered With That Person, She Then Left and Went To Work At Bunnings (buying rope would have to be the most lousey cover story) Bacause She Couldnt Hack Some One Being Better Than Her. Oh and Patrica Ill Be Working Tonight You SHould Probabally Come In About 515 So you Dont Get Stuck In Dinner Rush, What Will You Be Ordering So I know Who you are? also Patrica Kristin Says Hi From Her New Job At HJs As One Of My Managers

And i Cant Believe You Called Your Own Grand Daughter A Dropkick Kid

HardWorkingYoungPerson on 5th August, 2009 at 12:00 pm
OMG. What part of my previous post about gullibility didn’t this moron read?

Patricia on 5th August, 2009 at 12:08 pm
I wish my Grandma knew what OMG meant

The Cheese on 5th August, 2009 at 12:17 pm
patrica for this comment you made here is a bit more information OK, I’ll address this comment now. I did a little research on your store. It was sold in October last year for $2.15million with a claimed net profit of 6.2percent per annum. Now that equates to a net profit AFTER wages, and all the other costs you mentioned of $2557 a week. Now please explain again why they can’t replace some of the children they currently employ with responsible adults? How much EXTRA per hour would they have to pay? $5? $8? I really don”t know, but it would be less than $10 per hour EXTRA. That’s a cheap price to pay to get responsible people to run and supervise your business. After all, that’s what McDonalds down the road do, and their turnover is about 30 percent higher than yours is. Perhaps if you did spend that little extra income to employ the appropriate staff, your turnover would also improve, and as a result, so would the bottom line profit.
After all – the burgers really ARE better at Hungry Jacks – just NOT at your store. You do the math. Oh that’s right, people from your store can’t do math because they left school at 14. Sillly me for asking that question.

here is the extra info for you patrica the store its self was never sold only the block of land the store is on was sold the store its self is the property of hungry jacks pty ltd. and is run by hungry jacks qld not a private franchise

HardWorkingYoungPerson on 5th August, 2009 at 12:36 pm
Cheese, Pat and Young Person – stop commenting.. you’re all going around in circles and not getting any where..

Ben May on 5th August, 2009 at 12:41 pm
New thread with new topic? This ones veered way too far from the subject of the OP

The Cheese on 5th August, 2009 at 12:52 pm
On the contrary Ben, as I have been invited to test and critique their food and customer service at 5.15pm today, I find these comments FAR from going round in circles and especiallly not “getting any where”.

Ben, you need to have more faith in your own blog – and the power it may achieve. Stick with it buddy. Other businesses in the bay are taking notice of this wake-up-call as well. It’s not all about HJ’s. Trust me on this.

Patricia on 5th August, 2009 at 1:05 pm
Perhaps I should come down with my video camera and film it.. And Watch Ryan cook up a storm.

Ben May on 5th August, 2009 at 1:06 pm
Ben, this is where you let yourself down

Everyone knows that you can’t “film” on a video camera. A video camera may tape, or record, but as it doesn’t contain “film”, it can’t film.

But if Ryan can get permission from his manager to serve two customers at 5,15pm using correct food preperation procedures, than I’m more than happy for you to “film” it. Geez but – as Mr Cheese said – get a life.

Patricia on 5th August, 2009 at 1:12 pm
OK, my mistake, I could RECORD it

I would – but am already committed to other engagements this afternoon.

Mr Cheese Knows Me, and would also know that you probably have more of a social life than I do.

Ben May on 5th August, 2009 at 1:14 pm
Oh I have a BIG social life – I can assure you. Just this month for example – I have an “appointment” to meet a young man at 5.15pm today at Hungry Jacks who is going to PERSONALLY make me a burger WITHOUT spitting in it. I feel pretty special, but I also feel that I deserve it. Can YOU honestly say that your life is so full?

Patricia on 5th August, 2009 at 1:18 pm
For the record if your camera uses a tape, then there is indeed film being used.

And Ben, social life or not, you are the most succesful person of our age group that i’ve ever met. So kudos. And as always, thanks for the controversy

The Cheese on 5th August, 2009 at 1:35 pm
See ya then pat, you are going to have to understand for me to serve you then personally prepare your meal is going to take longer than a normal customer though filming me do this would be illegal one because I don’t give you my permission 2 video and pictures of hungry jacks stores and their staff are not permitted to be taken other than that I welcome you to come in this afternoon can I suggesst you try a bacon deluxe ?

HardWorkingYoungPerson on 5th August, 2009 at 1:59 pm
Here we go wiith the legal thing again. Please tell me what law prevents me from filming (or videoing) you or your staff without your permission? Unless you are a minor (under 16yrs) I can’t see a problem. Or is this the REAL reason HJ’s employ minors? So people can’t film their poor food handling practices?

If it helps, I can always use the new Apple 3G-s, because the video on that is rather pathetic and is blurry. I feel sorry for those who payed good $$ to buy one of those.

Patricia on 5th August, 2009 at 2:47 pm
Well for 1 you have to obtain permission from the person you intend to take photos or videos of and I don’t give my permission and 2 hungry jacks doesn’t allow people to video of take photos in their stores of the staff , customers or the store. That’s what prevents videoing in hungry jacks stores. Are you actually coming in ?

HardWorkingYoungPerson on 5th August, 2009 at 3:31 pm
Patrica if you do end up comin in you will be served by my manager and I’ll make your burger so service of normal customers can still flow smoothly

HardWorkingYoungPerson on 5th August, 2009 at 4:08 pm
“normal customers”? By referring to the other customers as “normal”, does that mean I am abnormal in your eyes? Is it common policy for you to refer to customers who expect good customer service and proper food handling practices as “abnormal”?

Patricia on 6th August, 2009 at 7:47 am
“so service of normal customers can still flow smoothly”

By saying “still flow smoothly” suggests that you think it flows smoothly on other occasions. I can assure you it does not. That’s the whole point of this thread. You now have over 70 complaints about how things do NOT flow smoothly at your store, yet you STILL refuse to acknowledge there’s a problem. How can you fix a problem if you refuse to acknowledge the problem exists? We may as well just bang our heads against a wall.

Patricia on 6th August, 2009 at 7:51 am
Pat, I was driving to work this morning and wondering why I hadn’t seen you comment back.. did you indeed go to HJ yesterday?

I thought, it had been over 12 hours, perhaps you’d actually EATEN something there and that was the end of you

Ben May on 6th August, 2009 at 8:29 am
Hi Ben, no I didn’t die of food poisoning overnight. I went tto HJ’s yesterday arvo, and I sat back for a while and watched how the staff interacted with the customers. After reading Ryan’s post that it is actually the manager who serves the customer, and that he will be making the burger, I was really interested in seeing how the manager handles food. To be honest, it wasn’t that bad. It took something like 8 or 9 customers before someone dropped the scoop they use to pick up the chips, then put it aside. Then just as I moved forward to order my food, another staff member picked up the same scoop and used it serve some chips. I’m afraid that was too much for me. If they do that in front of customers, I can’t imagine what Ryan and his fellow crew do behind the scenes where nobody can see them. I couldn’t go through with it – and I left the store.

Patricia on 6th August, 2009 at 8:46 am
QUOTE “You now have over 70 complaints about how things do NOT flow smoothly at your store, yet you STILL refuse to acknowledge there’s a problem.” – PATRICIA

One would suggest that a good percentage of these complaints are from you Patricia. Perhaps it’s time to give it a rest?

The Cheese on 6th August, 2009 at 3:46 pm
Especially considering your complaints are only going to one employee whos place in the company appears to be quite low.

The Cheese on 6th August, 2009 at 4:03 pm
Never underestimate the power of the internet. While Ryan may be well down the pecking order, any business worth its salt does a google search on its own company name from time to time. As the great Ben May pointed out, if you do a google search on Hungry Jacks Hervey Bay, this discussion comes up first. While the management at the HB store may not give a shit about their customers, the bigwigs at HJ HQ might, I would suggest.

Patricia on 6th August, 2009 at 4:12 pm
In all honesty Patricia, the majority of this thread has been between you and Ryan, so it is my belief that really the company must not really get that many complaints. I am also an employee of this company and I know that when I am on shift I very rarely receive any complaints at all and that is something that I can pride myself on. It also bothers me that you just assume we are all dropkick kids. I completed Year 12, I also completed some study at university before myself and my husband started a family. What does concern me is that a woman of your maturity has nothing better to do than find faults with our store? Why is it that the town of Hervey Bay cannot give as much positive feedback as they do negative? And maybe now I shall give you a little maths lesson. If we were to hire and roster 2 adults per shift as you said that would mean we would roster 4 adults on per day (day shift and night shift). If they were to be an extra $10 per hour and they did 5 hour shifts than that would be an extra $200 per day rather than per week as you tried to explain to Ryan.
Patricia, all I really want to get through with my comment is that we all do have our bad days, believe me, I have had my fair share, but all we can do is learn and improve from our mistakes, but how do you honestly expect us to do that when all we receive from people is harsh criticism? If you do have problems like this in the future, whether it be Hungry Jacks or any other retail outlet, show some goodwill and give them a call, it’s really not that hard, give them the opportunity to apologise for their mistakes. Show some compassion, because I really hope that old age isn’t about becoming a bitter person.

~E~ on 7th August, 2009 at 9:08 pm
Good Evening Patricia,
I find it very funny that you carry on with this crap
i wonder how your employer (Bunnings) would feel about your comments, I say give it a rest you all sound very stupid and may i say Yes I am a Manager at Hungry Jacks and I yake my job serious and work my ass off and for you to say I don’t I take offence to that comment.
may be you should come down a speak to these kids and there parents and tell them what you think of them, being a parent myself you make me sick seeing the things you are calling these kids. You seem to be the wanker go back to your little coffee shop in bunnings and work on your own customer service.

SR on 8th August, 2009 at 12:50 am
The staff and management at Hungry Jacks’ response to date to the many and various complaints encapsulate all that is going wrong with the that particular outlet.
Instead of taking aim at the source of the information they should be asking ‘Why do the people feel this way?’

Such a large level of dissatisfaction does not spring from usual gripes about “which is better – HJ’s or Macca’s?”. There has to be some underlying serious issues.

Could it have to do with the fact that their customer services has been reduced, their food hygiene practices have been let decrease to a completely unsafe level, their maintenance not up to scratch, or is it being run like a secret society.

Address the issues Mr Jack, don’t shoot the messanger.

Ronald McDonald on 8th August, 2009 at 4:22 am
Again – people in this discussion, have changed their focus from the argument that has arisen by a number of people. That HB HJ is very ordinary when it comes to service and quality. I Don’t care, and nor should you, what Patricia does at work.

I agree Ronald McDonald with you, but it is obvious you have a bias towards McDonald’s !!!

I might go the HJ today or tomorrow for lunch, just to see what it’s like for the 100th time.

Ben May on 8th August, 2009 at 1:35 pm
I think these latest points show the extent and specifics of the problem. We have both SR and E, who work at the outlet -one being a manager. One calls me a bitter old lady because I DARE have an opinion. One tells me to shut up and if I have a problem, then too bad because these are only kids trying to learn, the other tells me to let them know if there is a problem – because if I don’t – how will they learn. So which is it? There seems to be no policy whatsoever to handle problems.

And it doesn’t answer the problem why no OTHER food outlet in the bay have the same issues.

Also, is it normal policy for a manager to call a customer “a wanker”? No wonder there are so many complaints about this joint.

Patricia on 8th August, 2009 at 3:04 pm
“E”, I’m a little confused by your post. first you said this, “I am also an employee of this company and I know that when I am on shift I very rarely receive any complaints at all and that is something that I can pride myself on.”

But then later in the very same post you say this, “we all do have our bad days, believe me, I have had my fair share, but all we can do is learn and improve from our mistakes, but how do you honestly expect us to do that when all we receive from people is harsh criticism?”

So what is it? Do you “rarely get complaints”, or do all you get is “harsh criticism”?

The reason I ask is that your store seems to be in denial. You think that if you ignore the problem it will just go away.

Patricia on 8th August, 2009 at 4:06 pm
Patricia, it is obvious to me that you just need to have the last word. I was honest in saying that I rarely receive any complaints, I wouldn’t say that I never do because we don’t live in a perfect world like you seem to think. And I’m happy to admit I probably worded my last comment poorly, but as you seem to be picking on all the HJ’s staff for their grammatical errors, I’ll correct myself in saying that all we receive from you is criticism. Have you actually taken note on how many comments you’ve posted through this thread? Almost 50!! So of the 120 comments posted, almost 2/3 of them are from you, about a dozen comments are opinions of others and then the rest are my wonderful staff sticking up for the company they work for. For me this is the 4th Hungry Jack’s store I have worked at and probably my favourite! Upon opening it was the manager’s at this store that gave me my chance to succeed and for that I am eternally grateful.
You stated in an earlier comment “By the number of complaints about the food, and more specifically about the poor hygiene practices and unforgivable customer service, it seems the ONLY customers they are getting are visitors for other areas.” It might actually surprise you to let you know that we have a number of regulars visit our store thus not only having customers from out of town, and that myself nor any other manager of this store have had a complaint made about poor hygiene practices. Why is it that you have such a vendetta against our store? What is it that you really have to gain?

~E~ on 8th August, 2009 at 6:20 pm
“E” said, “Patricia, it is obvious to me that you just need to have the last word.”

First of all, that seems a strange comment seeing that YOU have just replied- hence YOU are wanting the last word. But that aside, I’m glad you have responded because at last there is some communication regarding the problems at this particular store.

But this particular comment you made really does surprise me. You said,
” It might actually surprise you to let you know that we have a number of regulars visit our store thus not only having customers from out of town, and that myself nor any other manager of this store have had a complaint made about poor hygiene practices.”

Are you certain about that? You criticise my comments on this blog, but you seem to have totally ignored the comments of other posters. There is one very early in the discussion who complained about food poisoning. But seriously, that is not the issue. The point you and everyone from your store is missing is NOT the actual food poisoning, but the POTENTIAL for food poisoning. Crew members handling money and then NOT washing their hands before handling food is a potential disaster. You may not agree with this, but it’s true. And you even have a staff member who said he needed permission to wash his hands before handling food (you’d know that if you actually read the previous posts instead of attacking the messenger).

Patricia on 8th August, 2009 at 7:44 pm
For f**k sake Patricia! Don’t f**king eat there if you don’t like it!

The Cheese on 8th August, 2009 at 8:18 pm
hi Cheese,
It’s always good to process your well considered input. But I’m wondering, what would YOU do if, for example, you got a ticket for having your “P” plate sticker only just 3mm outside the correct spot on your windscreen? Would you expect me to have sympathy for you? Probably not.
You have previously stated that YOU don’t eat at HJ,’s, so you don’t actually care either way about the service. Well, I do – even though I don’t often eat there. If that makes me a wierdo in your eyes, well so be it. But IF you ever get that ticket for a “P” plate being 3mm from where it should be displayed, give me a call, because I WILL back you up – and fight for your rights.

It’s a matter or rights and principles. People have NO rights to set up a business and treat us with disrespect and totally disregard the safer food handling practices. People like you who say, ‘I don’t eat their so it doesn’t bother me”, or even worse, “If you don’t like it, don’t eat their”. aren’t doing any good for anyone. Surely you can see SOMETHING in that?

Patricia on 8th August, 2009 at 8:32 pm
[...] the last month, my recent post about Hungry Jacks in Hervey Bay that I wrote back in 2007. The general swing of the comments have been, like many people I know, [...]

Hungry Jacks vs McDonals – Round 1 | The Home of Ben May, Hervey Bay, QLD, Australia. on 8th August, 2009 at 8:35 pm
Comments on this thread have now closed and in my infinate wisdom have created this thread; http://benmay.org/hervey-bay-news/hungry-jacks-vs-mcdonals-round-1

Ben May on 8th August, 2009 at 8:36 pm