For Want Of A High Chair, A Meal Was Ruined At Subway

If anyone is in dire need of a highchair, Tabitha, it is you. Your
letters to various companies regarding this issue and demanding
complete compensation are childish and immature.

I don't know what the Subway stores in your part of the world are
like, but here they are primarily takeout shops with less than ten
tables. In that sort of configuration, one highchair is more than
sufficient in most cases.

Perhaps a little more common sense is required on your part. If you're
on the lookout for chairs, it does not require much in the way of
extra effort to ask the counter help before you order to secure one
for you. But of course, then you wouldn't be able to write your
dramatic letters demanding free food for your anguish.

You do not deserve any sort of compensation in this matter. You might
be in need of an apology or a "thank you for your feedback" letter
from the franchisee, but that's about it.

Stop trying to play the gimme game, Tabitha.

Oh my goodness! If this ruins your meal then I would have to say you
have some problems. Just get over it and move on. The subway employees
are not their to monitor who is using the highchair. If something
like this ruins a meal for you, then bring your own chair. I wouldn't
want my kids eating off of public highchairs anyway; lord knows what
kind of germs lurk on them.

Sounds like someone has a highchair fettish.

A man named Josh Delp, Director of Operations of this Fremont, Ohio
Subway, has contacted me and appologized for any inconvenience that I
was caused. I have been sent 4 tickets for free 6" subs as well as 4
tickets good for Kids Paks to rectify the situation.

Just thought I should let you all know since you decided you wanted to
reply so negatively. You all act as if one should only complain if,
for instance, you are injured in a place of business or the like
extreme circumstance.

I do -not- give planetfeedback a bad name. I utilize it as it was
made to be used. When I have a bad experience that is significant to
me, NO MATTER HOW TRIVIAL IT MAY SEEM TO YOU, I will come here and
let that company know. It is up to them on how they pursue my
complaint. The only reason I suggested compensation for my meal is
because when filling out the complaint form there is a box that
clearly asks the question: "What is your ideal solution for this
company to rectify the situation?" or something to that effect. So, I
just put the best possible scenerio. Sure, I would have been pleased
to get even just an appology.. but just because I merely suggest
compensation doesn't mean I'm twisting anyone's metaphorical arm for
them to comply with my request.

The fact that each company I have sent a complaint to has completely
compensated is proof for you that I am just in my reasons for
complaining. If they didn't think so, they would just never
respond... the same as so many other companies on this website that
people complain about never hearing back from.

Lets see, you stated yourself that you looked around but didnt see
any. That would mean that if there were any they are occupied and if
there weren't any, there weren't any.

The employee you talked to doesn't really have to babysit the high
chairs.

Plus, I don't think I'd want to grab ANY highchair from ANY
restaurant, considering you dunno WHERE and WHAT kinds of germs are
all over them!

Hmm, portable high chairs eh? gotta look into that!

You stated you glanced around, yet you didnt notice one being used,
nor notice there was no more available. you could have taken your
order to go.

Hmmm, then maybe everytime I eat out with my 6 kids, I should get
compensated. You know, seeing as how it's hard to enjoy myself and
all.

I've never seen a high chair at a Subway--only booster seats--and I
live in NE Ohio.

Get it to go next time.

Then please, stay home. It's SUBWAY for goodness sakes. It's fast
food! I've eaten many a meal -- both at home and in a real restaurant
-- with a squirming toddler on my lap. It's part of being a parent.
So please don't inflict such drama into your life claiming your fast
food lunch was ruined. Get a life.

A few years back, I wrote to Subway about how child unfriendly their
stores were. Fast food and children just seem to go together.

My specific issue was a lack of highchairs, lack of changing centers
("Koala Bear Care"), and generally unclean bathrooms (so that a change
on the floor would be totally unacceptable).

Basically, the stores are franchises, so corporate will do very little
about stuff like this. Although they do mandate cetain signage and so
forth, they have no guidelines about high chairs, etc. They leave it
up to the individual store to decide if they want to cater to people
with babies or not.

Bottom line, here, is that this store just don't care to have more
than one child their at time. Therefore, don't eat their with your
child. I think it's short-sighted of a fast food place to ignore a
key demographic (parents), but that's the choice they make.

On the other hand, this weekend I ate at a restaurant that wasn't
fancy, but certainly was catering to people without kids (it was a
trendy kinda wine bar place). Yet, they had 3 high chairs, 2 booster
seats, and a half dozen extra high chair trays! My mistake to think
they didn't want kids.

And, yes, I agree with the other posters... you need to go get the
high chair yourself before you commit to eating there. At the very
least, make sure it's not dirty, broken, etc.

It does suck that the girl behind the counter didn't quite "get it"
(DUH!) that you needed a high chair, but if I walked in and didn't see
one, I would have to assume that they didn't have any and make my
decision to eat there or not based on that.

If this were a slightly higher establishment, even Applebees or
Denny's, I'd almost agree with you that they should have highchairs
available. But Subway is primarily a "take out" food chain, which
means, they aren't especially concerned with your comfort while you're
dining there.

High chairs get broken, they get dirty - there are any number of
reasons why only one high chair existed in the restaurant. But at the
end of the day, you could have invested $10-15 and bought a portable
booster seat for your child. Personally, I would prefer that because
at least I know where it has been and that it has been cleaned
properly.

I am sorry, but you said you looked around yourself and didn't see a
highchair. Did you think that when the clerk said they had them, they
were hiding them somewhere?

I am blown away at the things people complain over. No restaurant is
required to have high chairs, I always ask and if they don't, or only
have one, that's usually a sign they are not child friendly.

Subway is fast food anyway, just get your sandwiches and go home or
eat with the kid in your lap. I've got three kids and I've done it
with all of mine. Not the most comfy thing but baby is happy and you
and daddy can switch off.

It's not the counter girl's job to police who is using the high
chairs. The only problem I see is that she didn't specify, "We only
have one so see if it's available or if someone is using it"

Highchairs in subway? Subway is overpriced anyways and only has Pepsi
go to wendys

I will chime in with the other posters in asking: why didn't you just
take the food to go and eat it at home? I love Subway but it's hardly
fine dining... not the kind of place I go for a relaxing evening. My
kitchen table is a lot more comfortable than one of their booths. I
really don't think most Subways get enough eat-in diners to warrant
keeping many high chairs on hand.

Oh, and you absolutely do not deserve free food. Grow up.

I have to agree with everybody else, either keep a portable high chair
in your car or learn to eat with your baby on your lap.

My son is personally too small for high chairs but can sit up on his
own, most of the time if I'm eating out with him he's sitting on my
lap and I just deal with him grabbing for my food.

If you didn't want to possibly eat with a squirmy baby in your lap you
shouldn't have had children.

Your meal was ruined? Too dramatic. Yes, all of the Subways that I
have been in only have 1 high chair. Deal with it. You obviously are
not a new parent, so you should know the tricks on how to eat with a
squirming 13 month old (I, as a first time parent of a now 14 month
old know 'em well). Go to Target and pick up the chair that clips
onto the table edge. It will cost you $19.99 plus tax. And, like
others have said, it's fast food. Take it home. The sandwiches are
cold anyway.

Unfortunately, this may come off as mean, but please understand that
its not meant to be harsh, but...

You had the children. For the rest of your life, you are going to be
the parents to your children. What an example you are setting up by
complaining when the slightest thing goes wrong and you don't get your
way.

Subway is fast food. If the other family was already eating when you
were just ordering, they probably were done before you finished your
disturbed meal.

Put the kid on your lap, and laugh about the situation. Your
grandparents didnt have high chairs when they went out to lunch.
Think of it as a blast from the past.

And lastly, your meal probably cost 20 dollars. You dont deserve
compensation because they did not hold your arm and make you eat
there. The way subway is prepared, its portable. They come wrapped
in paper, not on plates. So even if you were planning on eating
there, you could have taken it to go.

If you dont know how to eat our with your toddler without a highchair
then you should have taken it to go. You arent required to eat in at
Subway. I dont think they are required to have high chairs and only do
so as a courtesy. They had one that was being used. The issue here
should be with the family who got there before you did.

Personally, I never put my son in a high chair except at home. Those
are are rarely, if ever, cleaned and who knows what kind of germs are
on them. GROSS! I think they did you a favor.

Your meal wasnt ruined. Your dining experience might have been
disrupted a bit but come on. This is something you should have taken
into consideration before having kids. It is YOUR job to take care of
them and plan for any situation. it isnt the job of every business you
go into to cater to your child.

"This may seem trivial to some..."

It sure does. If you couldn't enjoy yourselves, then you should have
taken your food and left. The Subway employee shouldn't have to be
concerned with the inventory of random things in the store.

Get a life.

I was neutral on your letter (I thought that you had a point but was
it really worth writing a letter about it) but you negated the
effectiveness of your letter by asking for compensation.

http://www.thefirstyears.com/products/product.asp?pValue=3368

This will solve your highchair woes (I read your letter to Ryan's, and
I see the highchair was also an issue there). I keep mine in the trunk
and we are never without a highchair. It's also great for visiting
friends and relatives that don't have one at their house.

The Subway should have two highchairs, I agree. But if I'm the girls
making the sandwiches, I hardly feel it a priority to monitor
highchair use.

Two words for the future: take out. That's what I'd do, or you could
have gone back out to the car, put the baby in the carseat, and eaten
there.

Also, I can't resist to school you on a pet peeve I have. It's "My
husband and I" NOT "Myself..."

Gee Tabitha, you're really on the prowl for freebies tonight. Once
again, for someone who normally doesn't complain, you're sure on a
roll. Subway, Ryans...who's next???

What really gets me with people like you is that you're not even
embarrassed to post such foolish letters for everyone to see. You do
realize you don't have to 'share' your letters, right? Have some
pride.

Oh good grief get over yourself. If you didn't enjoy your meal so much
leave the baby at home next time. But don't try to con subway out of
free food. That's just lame.
P.S.- I have never in my life seen a high chair in a subway.