Consumers in the US and Australia have sued Subway for cheating them out of 1 inch from their foot long subs. I know what you think – you hate these suits and the lawyers who bring them. It’s one damn inch and these people should get a real job. I know you think this, because I’ve seen your complaints on Facebook and the web. And, you are just wrong. If we had more people willing to pick fights with companies cheating their customers, we would have a better, more competitive marketplace.
Subway may be cheating its customers. There are now dozens of claims and pictures of subs shorter than promised. Some franchise owners have admitted that Subway is directing them to cut back on the amounts of ingredients. For God’s sake, someone from Subway Australia simply admitted that “12 Inch Footlongs” isn’t a promise, just a marketing gimmick. Maybe shorting you an inch isn’t a big deal, but what if they do it everywhere, with every sandwich? It may be cheating you out of $.40-$.60 per sandwich. But, that means tens of millions of dollars profit to Subway. So, what is a small con to each customer is a massive con across the whole customer base.
Look, a popular way to cheat consumers is to nickel and dime them knowing that the amounts are too small for most people to fight about. But, those nickel and dimes add up to a hefty profit. It may mean the difference between bonuses and enormous bonuses for company brass. It may mean a competitive advantage that helps bigger companies squash little companies. If you are one of those little companies getting squashed by a bigger company, then this is absolutely your fight.
The only way for consumers to fight back against the nickel and dime con is to sue the cheaters. Then what happens is big business organizations (the Chamber of Commerce, Business Roundtable and their ilk) launch a coordinated media attack, blaming the character and motives of people that sued. The lawyers are greedy and scheming; the plaintiffs are lazy, corrupt and haven’t got anything better to do. At that moment, you have a real choice. Either you can support the big business schtick that ducks accountability and demonizes fighters. Or, you can understand that, though certainly not perfect, these suits keep big business more honest than they may be without them. And, then bring a ruler to the sandwich shop.
February 11, 2013
Jacqui
Just read this blog and absolutely loved it and agree…..many do not think anything will get accomplished because they are such a big company, but who else to make examples of if not them??? I came across your site from a posting you had looking for an assistant…..ideally I would have asked you to pick me, minus the WordPress, and some of the other criteria you listed….good luck with the search and kudos to this site!
February 13, 2013
Coco
Thanks, Jacqui. Come back often!
February 14, 2013
Jill
This would mean that the 6 inch subs are actually 5 – 5 1/2 inches… so they raise the prices *and* reduce the product… and Americans are used to this. Which is why, perhaps, people do not complain more often or more legally. How we got “used to” this kind of tactic is another story…
I think we should sue Subway for the misleading product information, re: fresh ingredients, and for what is really in the “healthy” whole wheat and multi-grained bread, which includes chemicals banned most of Europe, Australia and Singapore. http://www.amisplacedtrust.blogspot.com/2011/10/truth-about-your-food-subway-9-grain.html.
There are about 16 ingredients in these health breads — I’ve made whole wheat bread and multi-grained bread and I’ve never used high fructose corn syrup… or the host of other questionable ingredients. One of them is used to make the bread turn brown so it “looks like” whole wheat bread. I read that only four or 5 ingredients are used in the Subway breads sold in Europe. So *why* is it okay to feed Americans junk?