Why Do We Need To Pay More For Upsized Drinks We Did Not Choose ?

Posted on Feb 9 2016 - 3:16pm by tweenselmom

This is not a rant. It’s just that I want to be enlightened why in the usual fast food restaurants that we go to, when I want to order a regular iced tea with my meal, they’d say that it will be automatically upsized and I have to pay more.

I know you noticed it but since we usually go to these places, ordering “fast food”, we usually just shrug our shoulders and ignore it when the cashier tells us, “Ma’m, your pineapple juice/iced tea will automatically be large.”

But shouldn’t we have the freedom to choose what we want and if they can’t serve it because they don’t have an available cup with the regular size, why do we have to pay the additional cost? It has been like this for years and in that span of time, why weren’t they able to fix this seemingly unjust system?

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Some may think, “drinks lang yan”, “kung ayaw mo magbayad, wag ka umorder.” But when you are a mom, you know how hard it is to keep a budget. Spending more for something that you are just forced to because of the circumstances can be just irritating. Most of the time, half of the large pineapple juice or iced tea I order goes to waste. Or sometimes, even if I don’t want to order softdrinks, I’d just choose to order them kasi yun lang ang mauubos namin.

I don’t know. I didn’t actually do any research about this. This week I decided to ask one cashier in Chowking about it, if they were informed about anything in case a customer will ask. She wasn’t able to answer anything. It’s just the way it is. Ganun na lang ba yun?

If we try to compute the cost, it will still boil down to being “lugi” in the part of the customer. And that shouldn’t be the case. We’ve always patronized these restaurants and I think somehow, we deserve at least an answer about this. If I want to have a regular iced tea with my meal and they can’t give me one, I don’t have to pay more for the alternatives they give.

What about you? What’s your say on this?

41 Comments so far. Feel free to join this conversation.

  1. Mommy Mecheel February 9, 2016 at 10:16 pm - Reply

    Exactly my thoughts, why should we be the one sacrificing the cost if they don’t have the avalability of the regular size. Fastfood Chains should be the one shouldering the cost if the regular size is unavailable. When they offer upgraded drinks, they should have no additional charge.

    • TweenselMom February 9, 2016 at 10:31 pm - Reply

      Yes. I really don’t understand this. Pero bayad pa din tayo ng bayad kasi our only choice is that you order or not. Ang unfair naman non.

  2. macdimayuga February 9, 2016 at 10:52 pm - Reply

    I have the same sentiments, kasi di rin kami nag sosoftdrinks… what we do tuloy is order a meal with the upsized juice drink, and the rest are ala cart 😛 kasi nga di namin nauubos so lugi talaga… I don’t know why they have to upsize it nga… Please do update us when you get answers! 🙂

    • TweenselMom February 9, 2016 at 10:59 pm - Reply

      I hope I do get the answer, that’s why moms like us should talk about it in public in some ways. Para they will know naman na we are aware of this and it’s not good.

  3. Berlin Maynigo February 10, 2016 at 1:51 am - Reply

    Same sentiments here. Perhaps fast food chains are thinking otherwise. Their intention might be to give us value for our money by offering sweetened juices in bigger servings than regular sizes for minimal upgrade cost. But yes, most of the time I also order softdrinks instead because I can’t consume all the pineapple or iced tea. Sayang pera.

    • TweenselMom February 10, 2016 at 1:58 am - Reply

      They may have a point there, minimal nga siguro kung upgrade, pero dapat we have the option to upgrade or not diba 🙂 Ang hirap kaya magtipid ngayon.

  4. May De Jesus-Palacpac February 10, 2016 at 2:27 am - Reply

    Ah yes, I get you. It seems like a little concern but yeah, it is unjust to impose a size on your customers. Parang if ayaw mo eh di wag mo na lang ijuice, magsoda ka na lang – as if it should be our only option.

    Syempre as moms we want to try to order the less unhealthy on the menu…like juice over soda.

    Having worked in a fastfood, I know that these things are automated and uniformed with the main office. Wala talagang magagawa ang staff, not even the managers because they have to follow the set standards of the store. Pero they should start considering making smaller sizes available naman.

    • TweenselMom February 10, 2016 at 2:47 am - Reply

      Yes, you got it. O kaya wag nalang pineapple juice or iced tea, yung healthier choices, hindi lang softdrinks. Siguro dapat DOH ang makipagusap sa kanila about this.

  5. Fred Erick February 10, 2016 at 3:08 am - Reply

    Gosh! I feel you!!! I want my pineapple juice just to be regular size!!

  6. petitemomma February 10, 2016 at 3:20 am - Reply

    My thoughts, exactly. Bakit nga ba they have to automatically upsize? Hindi naman maubos ubos ng anak ko. So what I do is to have my meal on ala carte so I can share his drinks. Sayang kasi. I hope DTI or any appropriate government entity can look into this.

  7. Veeyah Penero February 10, 2016 at 4:29 am - Reply

    Wow, I didn’t know this is a thing! Our drinks are never automatically upsized here regardless if it’s a soda, juice, or iced tea – they ask me if I want a reg or a large, but they never force me to get the bigger one. 🙁 I wonder why? I agree, having to pay more for drinks imposed upon you isn’t right at all. Hopefully, I don’t experience this in the future. Thanks for this.

  8. Paolo Ruel February 10, 2016 at 5:50 am - Reply

    They always do that its part of there marketing Strategy you say Yes for Pineapple or iced tea they will reply mag add lang po kayo ng extra payment. kaya every now nad then hindi na ako sumasagot pag tinatanonbg na nila ako about drinks, 🙂

  9. Celin Hiwatig Mendoza February 10, 2016 at 8:13 am - Reply

    True Mommy Lani! Kahit ako hindi ko maubos ang 1 glass of pineapple but since highblood ako napapabili ako hehe. But seriously, it’s their strategy eh para kumita in the expense of others. How sad =(

  10. Mommy QueenElizabeth February 10, 2016 at 10:23 am - Reply

    Oo nga noh? Honestly, ngaun ko lang narealize ‘to upon reading your blog… marketing style nila yun, but it shouldn’t be that way..Good thing when we eat out i don’t order drinks frequently, i would ask for water or bottled water if they don’t have distilled top water to be served.. i’ve been conscious about my sugar lately…

  11. Madz February 10, 2016 at 11:02 am - Reply

    I agree.There should be choices.And I remember there were also times when the only other drink available besides water was iced tea so you need to pay more.I wonder if it’s a scheme.Let’s hope not.

  12. Nheng February 10, 2016 at 12:20 pm - Reply

    I agree! Kaya minsan hindi na ko nag oorder ng drinks water na lang or ala carte na lang.

  13. Ten February 10, 2016 at 1:28 pm - Reply

    Tapos sasabihin nila wala ng softdrinks. Naexperience mo na ba na sinabi sayo na wala ng Softdrinks tapos pinapili ka pa kung Ice Tea o Pineapple Juice. Pagtingin mo Pineapple Juice na lang. Pinapili pa ako.

  14. Milton Coyne February 10, 2016 at 2:16 pm - Reply

    My first job was a counter in a fast food chain and i think they’re doing an upselling , trying to encourage the customer to upgrade their drinks and yes it’s unfair strategy kasi they can use the larger glasses nman but input the same volume… in fairness i had a great experience dun sa isang fast food na pinagkainan ko kasi we ordered regular drinks and since wala pang available na regular size glasses, they placed it on a larger glass na lang (pero they asked us first kung gusto namin i-upsize yung drinks haha)

  15. Nurse Alpha February 10, 2016 at 2:27 pm - Reply

    I think because these type of drinks are less ordered or either it only has a short life span thus they need to upsize these drinks automatically with an added cost. When I say short life-span, it simply means it can expire sooner than the other beverages like soda, which can impose a health threat to your children. Why not opt for a cheaper alternative, like water instead?

  16. Ann Balisbis February 10, 2016 at 3:33 pm - Reply

    This made me think! What do I usually do whenever I am forced to upsize my drink? But yeah, it will make a lot of difference nga siguro if you’re already a mom. Ako kasi, fan ako ng pineapple or tea so nauubos ko talaga sya. Hehe nabibitin pa nga ako when I get the regular lang kaya it doesn’t matter to me. But I agree with the comment of Nurse Alpha that maybe they do that to minimize spoilage of drinks since maybe the left overs can no longer be served the next day unlike sodas. Just maybe. Whatever reason, lugi nga for those who opt to have regular size and forced to get the upsize.

  17. Yan February 11, 2016 at 12:18 am - Reply

    I must agree with Nurse Alpha, it could be a matter of the product’s life-span (in the case of pineapple juice). Kung nasa menu nila na may regular, tapos bigla na lang inimpose na ila-large ka, that I would mind. 😉 Pero kung naubusan sila ng regular cups and could only sell large drinks, I would understand cos it’s a matter of inventory. Some restaurants actually have to balance the # of cups sold with the amount of drinks dispensed 😉

  18. ASKSonnie February 11, 2016 at 1:34 am - Reply

    I always bring 2 liters of water (1 is always left in the car) w/ me so I will not be forced to buy a soda or sugar drink in disguise as fruit juice or ice tea, haha!

    Kidding aside, it’s a sales ploy to take advantage of people who are avoiding sodas in favor of what they thought as healthier option. It’s like SM or Robinsons requiring all their food tenants to sell “only their in-house bottled water”- while they are free to sell any drinks but the bottled water is theirs.

  19. Airina Desuyo February 11, 2016 at 2:00 am - Reply

    I think we should just drink water. No sugar and its free! 🙂

  20. MrsPCuyugan February 11, 2016 at 3:05 am - Reply

    I’m admittedly a bratty customer. I never let order-takers push any desserts or upsizes on me, especially in fast food stores. It’s just wroooong! And I always make sure to pack water for my son and myself when we go out. Even nga coffee, I make at home and pack it in a tumbler. Mabigat sa bag, but ok lang.

  21. Meikah Ybañez-Delid February 11, 2016 at 5:09 am - Reply

    I think they should give what the customer orders. What they can do is to just offer an upsize/upgrade but if the customer prefers otherwise, they shouldn’t insist. Me, I really insist on my preference. ha ha!

  22. Kharla Ramos-Canta February 11, 2016 at 8:14 am - Reply

    This is why I choose NOT to add any drink to my meals as I bring a jug of water with me everywhere. Healthy and I won’t be forced into something I didn’t want in the first place.

  23. Donna February 11, 2016 at 9:36 am - Reply

    I normally bring water with me whenever we eat in restos. Nakasanayan nlng cguro. Pero I think hindi nmn tama na you don’t have the freedom to choose.

  24. Roselle Jean Dancel February 11, 2016 at 12:16 pm - Reply

    Water for the win. 🙂 But, yeah, medj unfair naman yan.

  25. Nini Perez February 11, 2016 at 1:05 pm - Reply

    I wondered about this too. I was eating at a fast food near my former workplace and they told me that my orange juice is automatically large. But yes, I didn’t bother to ask why. Maybe I should the next time kasi the small cup is enough for me naman.

  26. Lady Anne Louise ☺♥ February 11, 2016 at 5:50 pm - Reply

    I agree with you. I worked in a fast food company at ang sabi nila malaki ang tubo nila sa ice tea and pineapple juice drinks. Maybe that is the reason why they upsize it.

  27. Louise of Tales & Escapades February 12, 2016 at 1:52 am - Reply

    True! I really hate it when we have to pay extra for just a drink. Isn’t that exactly the whole point? It’s a just a drink. Why do we have to pay extra when its the easiest to make anyway? I’m glad someone have already spoken up regarding this issue. And I hope companies would be able to explain the reason for these charges. I do hope too this reaches DTI or whichever government department is responsible for this concern.

  28. Melisa Centino Sanchez February 12, 2016 at 5:25 am - Reply

    I agree with you mommy, tayong costumers no choice nalang kasi tayo lalo na pag wala nang iba. kaya nga minsan nag wawater nalang ako eh.

  29. Mommy Pehpot February 13, 2016 at 3:42 am - Reply

    oo nga no.. baka hindi talaga sila nag o offer ng ganung size for that drink? Have you tired ordering ala carte then order a regular drink?

    Pero pag sa fast food resto, mas mahal pag hindi “value meal” no? buti pa pag hindi fast food, you can opt for service water hehe

  30. Ayi Dela Cruz February 13, 2016 at 10:19 am - Reply

    This is the reason why I always go ala carte or refuse to order drinks when I eat out. I just have a water bottle with me everywhere I go. I prefer water and healthier pa :))

  31. Maria Louisa Mae P. Mercado February 13, 2016 at 10:46 am - Reply

    I guess just the inconvenience of questioning it makes us not ask. It’s so bothersome but it should be addressed.

  32. Cindy Cortes February 15, 2016 at 6:18 am - Reply

    I chose not to upsized na lang the drinks if I eat out on fast food chains. Lugi nga talaga at sometimes mas madami pang ice tubes kesa sa juice. Hahaha.

  33. Denice Joyce Diaz February 16, 2016 at 3:06 am - Reply

    My opinion, different supplier for soft drinks versus the ice tea and pineapple juice – so upkeep and maintenance might be different?

  34. Peachy @ The Peach Kitchen February 18, 2016 at 10:13 am - Reply

    I think each customer should have the option to choose the size and the drink no matter what. But let’s be honest customer rights here in this country is BS.

  35. Pink Nomenal (queenofthebangs) February 18, 2016 at 12:59 pm - Reply

    Right! Why does a pineapple juice get an automatic large size while softdrinks don’t? Di naman from individual cans nila kinukuha but from dispensers as well. Napakaweird lang.

  36. Anna Plaida February 22, 2016 at 5:55 am - Reply

    I worked in Jollibee before, honestly they don’t have any explanation also ang sabi lang even in restaurant kasi mas mahal daw ang ice tea and juice compare to softdrinks

  37. Six February 11, 2018 at 1:48 am - Reply

    I always demand not to get upsized and even request for a manager kung ayaw ng cashier. Kung ayaw ng manager. Sinasabi ko na mag rereport ako sa customer service.

    Next time na pumunta ako pwede na regular size +10 nlng instead na +27.

    Nde na ganun kalugi.
    Minsan pumapayag agad minsan matitigas.
    Chambahan lang.

    Most of the time sa chowking pumapayag

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