I worked at an Arby’s back in high school (over 20 years ago). They told me free refills were a thing because most customers don’t refill more than once, if at all. Also, the soda water costs pennies and the bags of concentrated soda syrup were only like $10 (at the time). A single bag of syrup, mixed with soda water, could fill customer’s soda cups for maybe 2-3 days before it needed to be replaced. Fast food restaurants make insane profits on soda, so they don’t care if customers refilled multiple times during their visit.
McDonald’s USA has free soft drink refills.
“Free” tm
In Canada we don’t, but you still fill your own cup. Is that not typical?
Uhhh… we don’t? If so I’m probably going to jail.
Lol, we can’t both be right, unless it’s regional. Someone here is in the lucky 10,000. If it’s me at least that means no crimes have been committed.
Here in Australia they fill it and give it to you, no refills.
I’m always torn on this. God bless America, but it also feels irresponsible.
I worked at an Arby’s back in high school (over 20 years ago). They told me free refills were a thing because most customers don’t refill more than once, if at all. Also, the soda water costs pennies and the bags of concentrated soda syrup were only like $10 (at the time). A single bag of syrup, mixed with soda water, could fill customer’s soda cups for maybe 2-3 days before it needed to be replaced. Fast food restaurants make insane profits on soda, so they don’t care if customers refilled multiple times during their visit.
Currently. Iirc, this is being removed company wide. I know the ones near me recently renovated and no long have customer accessible drink machines.