I really like Wendy’s. Really, REALLY like Wendy’s. They have really good chicken sandwiches, their hamburgers are amazing (although I haven’t eaten one in over 3 years), and they have Frescata sandwiches that the dairy-challenged can eat. So, when Tom suggested that the kids and I meet him for lunch at Wendy’s today, I was excited to go.

When we got there, Tom had not arrived. So, I shuttled the four monkeys inside and we waited in line. I waited in line with the kids for about 10 minutes. That should have been my first clue that something was awry. But I guess I’m thick that way.

When we approached the counter, the girl behind it said “Cash only.” Hmmm…. I had planned to pay with a debit card. So, I asked if I could write a check, instead. Her reply was classic: “No. I said cash only.”

I snapped. Oops.

“You know, this is crazy. You seriously mean to tell me that because your credit card machine is down, and you didn’t put up any kind of sign telling people that it was down, I now have to leave because I don’t have any cash on me?”

“Yes”

“Let me talk to your manager. “

“Fine.”

The manager comes out (well, actually he tried to stay behind the counter, but I pointed at my four kids and told him it was best if he came out to speak to me).

“What can I help you with?”

“Well, I’m a little frustrated. I was just told that your credit card machine is down. You have no signs ANYWHERE letting people know this. Instead, I took my four little kids out of the car and waited in line for 10 minutes, and now I’m being told I have to leave because you won’t take checks even though your credit card machine is down. My kids are looking forward to their special lunch, but now I have to leave because I don’t have cash and your advertised payment method doesn’t work!”

“Our credit card machine just went down a few minutes ago.”

“And we’ve been in line for 10 minutes. Someone could have mentioned it to us.”

“When this happens, we can take checks. “

“I was told, by your cashier, explicitly, that you will not accept checks, even when your machine is down.”

“Well, tell her I said you could write a check.”

AARGHHHHHHHHHHHHH!

This is the point at which I was starting to shake. I went back and ordered, and as I was writing the check, Tom came in. With cash. But I had already started writing the damn check, and I wasn’t about to let Tom pay with cash after all the shit I had to go through to get them to take the friggin’ check.

They wanted my phone number on the check. I am waiting for my 2 AM crank calls.

And, for my Minnesota readers, this is the Wendy’s on 212/Flying Cloud Drive, just West of Prairie Center Drive. I will not be going back.