Can free food really win back customers?
By Yuki
@yukimori (10193)
United States
February 8, 2016 1:27pm CST
In addition to the free burger coupons that Jack in the Box is emailing or texting to customers, it seems that Chipotle is giving away freebies today, too. Where Jack in the Box is running their deal to promote a new burger, Chipotle is making up to its customers for closing all of its restaurants today at lunchtime for a national food safety meeting--something that, in the wake of all of the food safety issue the chain has had this year, certainly seems like a necessary step to be taking.
All a person has to do to get a free burrito from Chipotle is text the word "raincheck" to 888-222. Within a few days, they'll send the coupon for the free product.
But this raises an interesting question: will free food really help a chain whose issues have potentially chased away thousands of customers? I'm sure that many who were already planning to visit Chipotle will be taking advantage of this offer. Some of us who don't eat there so frequently probably will be, too--I almost certainly will, and my husband practically bounced out of his seat when I told him about the offer. If I don't use it, he definitely will! Considering that our local Chipotle locations weren't affected by the safety issues, I don't feel uncomfortable with the idea of eating there.
So... if you've decided to pass on Chipotle or another chain for reasons like the food safety problems they had, would you be willing to give them another chance? Would seeing their explanation of how the quality of their produce and other ingredients is ensured make you feel more comfortable and confident that you'd be getting high-quality food when you ate there? Or would you figure that past incidents are a good indicator of what can be expected in the future and just pass on eating there from now on?
13 people like this
15 responses
@yukimori (10193)
• United States
8 Feb 16
That does make sense!
I think a lot of it depends on employee attitude, too. Some employees don't care--others bend over backwards to make sure they do things right. But with corporate being so focused on the cleanliness and food safety issues, it probably is a good time to assume everything is okay.
@kevin1877uk (36987)
•
8 Feb 16
@yukimori Cool that you've not been there too. I don't really know maybe free food could in customers and once they are in they may buy.
1 person likes this
@yukimori (10193)
• United States
8 Feb 16
@kevin1877uk Well, if you get the burrito you obviously need a drink to go with it, and that's a pretty high-profit item... it probably works out okay for the company in the long run. 
1 person likes this
@celticeagle (189792)
• Boise, Idaho
8 Feb 16
If I originally really like their food and then this happened---Yes, they could get me back. I am always big on giving anyone a second chance. But, if I am not pleased with their continued service and food then I am a gone girl.
1 person likes this
@much2say (57760)
• Los Angeles, California
8 Feb 16
I am torn with this one. I love Chipotle - and a lot of people I know do too. Ours was not affected yet I'd be scared to eat there. I'm not so sure I would even get a free burrito there - not until everything clears anyway. The good thing is, I have found copy cat recipes online where I can pretty much make the same stuff at home (I love the rice!) - the only thing is it's just easier to go pick up some real Chipotle especially when there are a few of them around locally. For now, I think I'll pass on this offer - yah, it's completely different from that Burger King one. Say - this is off topic, but if there is a Yogurtland in your area, it's free today Feb 8 from 4-7!
1 person likes this
@yukimori (10193)
• United States
8 Feb 16
Oh, darn! We don't have one of those here, and in fact I've never heard of it before.
I love copycat recipes so freaking much. I need to find the one I was using for the Outback Steakhouse's Wallaby Darned cocktail and make a few of those soon. Sure beats paying $8 apiece for them (if I'm remembering the price correctly)! 
1 person likes this
@Mike197602 (15504)
• United Kingdom
8 Feb 16
Don't know about the issues that you've described but I think free food may get back some customers.
Depends how good the free stuff is.
you may think if there have been issues in the places before then they're maybe being more careful now so give the food a try...if it's nice then they may get back an old customer or gain a new one.
For some, once confidence in a food outlet is gone it doesn't come back.
1 person likes this
@Mike197602 (15504)
• United Kingdom
8 Feb 16
@yukimori here we've got a thing called environmental health rating...every food place has to have one and it must be displayed.
Ratings go from the best which is 5 to the worst which is a 1.
I personally avoid any place with less than a 4.
@shaggin (74988)
• United States
17 Feb 16
I think it depends on a lot of things. It depends on what the safety issues were recently if I would want to eat there again even if it was free. It also depends on the location as there are no Chipotles near us. A lot of times I try a new product and then do go out and buy it. I think that due to that it is pretty smart for companies to offer free products to draw people in. But they also could lose a lot of money this way as well especially if people do not like their product.
@irishidid (8687)
• United States
8 Feb 16
We stopped going to Chipotle before the safety issues simply because the food was not that good. Found Pepperjax makes a better burrito,although they need to add avocado to their menu.
1 person likes this
@SIMPLYD (90717)
• Philippines
10 Feb 16
I think i will have second thoughts getting those free foods from a restaurant that formerly have food safety problems .
@FourWalls (86580)
• United States
8 Feb 16
I think it really depends on the reason you stopped eating at a place. I had some terrible service at a McAlister's Deli and was given a free meal. The service wasn't any better with the free food than it had been when I paid. On the other hand, I was given a comp meal after complaining about another restaurant over the service, and they did win me back.
In the case of Chipotle, where serious health issues are involved, it would also depended on a number of things. Was the restaurant proactive? I don't think Chipotle truly was all that proactive; rather, I think they closed restaurants for a few hours just to get the federal health inspectors off their backs.
The other thing is that Chipotle is pretty expensive (as fast food restaurants go). You can go to Moe's or Qdoba and get equal or better quality food for less.
I can't say "I'll never again," but I'll definitely have to wait and see in their case. So, no, the free food wouldn't bring me back in this case.
1 person likes this
@yukimori (10193)
• United States
8 Feb 16
In this case, the brand had some very big issues.
There were a lot of people that got sick from eating their food. It happened several times, with at least three different foodborne illnesses that I can think of right off the top of my head.
While I agree with what you've said about judging a brand through others' statements, in this case there is a lot of fact-based evidence that Chipotle had serious issues.
@Marilynda1225 (91013)
• United States
8 Feb 16
With all the problems Chipolte has been having with the health dept lately I'd be skeptical to eat there even for free
1 person likes this
@Morleyhunt (21741)
• Canada
8 Feb 16
Will a coupon make me visit a restaurant, maybe, maybe not. There are too many variables.
1 person likes this
@Fishmomma (11658)
• United States
9 Feb 16
I have to pay for every text, so that wouldn't be free food for me. Second I won't eat there to many cases of sick people and why take a chance on your health for a free item. You also need to consider gas, as its not free if you have to drive to another city or town. The only way this could be free is no fee for texts and your already going to the place or a place close enough to visit.
