The Subway Sandwich franchise could learn a lot from other sandwich chains like Jimmy John’s, Quiznos, Zero’s, Sub Station, practically everybody.
Subway sandwiches are a rip off. After eating one, I’m still hungry. And it’s not because I’m a pig, it’s because Subway skimps on everything they put on their sandwiches. I swear Subway trains their “sandwich artists” on exactly how many veggies to put on them. On an average foot-long sub, they put about 6 olive pieces, a few strands of lettuce, a couple of bits of onions, and a tomato here and there. Honestly, how much does lettuces cost? The employees count the pickles as if they are quarters and they are coming out of their paychecks. They put about 3 strings of green peppers on a large sub.
And the cheese….there is no other sandwich or fast food chain that puts less cheese on their foot long hoagies. Subway puts exactly 4 small 1/4 pieces of paper thin cheese on a foot-long sub. It’s not even equivalent to one piece of normal cheese when put side by side. How can a “veggies and cheese” foot-long have one piece of cheese on it?
The whole Subway marketing campaign, where Subway preaches about how you can lose weight by eating at Subway, is a farce. You’re not going to lose weight because Subway’s food is more nutritious- if it was more nutrition it would be LOADED with vegetables. No, you are going to lose weight because they have smaller subs than the other places. Jared, who probably made millions on those Subway commercials, lost weight because of Subway’s “portion control” (and the huge monetary incentive he had to do it). Subway has figured out that they can sell EVERYBODY (not just the people who want to lose weight) smaller subs than the competition and if they market it the right way people will associate their sandwiches as being healthier than the competition.
If you want to lose weight, try eating less food and exercising more, not by paying Subway more money to give you less food.
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Yes! A thousand times - Yes!
Subway is a ripoff. You said it, I live it.
I stopped in a Subway with Mrs. Bacca and the little Bacca’s to get a quick lunch and wound up spending 27.00 on lunch for a family of four. I could have gone across the parking lot and had fun at BK for half the price and a playzone. Sure, I would be consuming twice as much fat as Subway but the kids are young, they can handle it. Hell, burn it off in the playzone.
Yes, a billion times over.
Have you ever seen them working in the back of a subway. they wiegh out everything to the microscopic miligram. They even pull the peices of chicken apart to make the correct wieght.
Hell they are even so skimpy they dole out the napkins as if they are made of gold. Have you ever spilt something at a subway and had to ask for extra napkins? Its like goint to the gates of fort knox and asking for a gold brick.
One time after buying a sandwich for my wife and myself I went out to the car to get a soda since they didn’t sell my flavor in the cheap a$$ subway. They promptly asked me to leave….. I havn’t been back!!!!
yep one of the worst examples of a business plan I can think of but how do they succeed????
mark on January 7th, 2008 at 4:59 pm | Link
Ok I have 2 stores in tampa Florida and guys I know what you’re saying….THERE IS in fact a formula that ALL SUBWAYS are to foollow for meats and veggies….HOWEVER we are told by corporate that these are ony guidelines (the veggie formulae) - the meats are set unless u get double meat - BUT the CUSTOMER gets the final say on how much veggies go on the sub. Think about it…instead of complaining on here how about if the next time youre @ SUBWAY when the guy has not placed a satisfactory amount of toppings on your sandwich….you say “Can I have more ________ on there ?” YOU DON’T even have to pay more for however much be veggies you want…..I MAKE SANDWICHES every day and I have many people who ask for extra olives etc . It is never and SHOULD NEVER be an issue….trust me at the prices I have I DEFINITELY make money even if it’s loaded with veggies! As for the comment above about WEIGHING the meats (chicken/steak etc) that goes on sandwiches….WHAT DO YOU THINK other chains are doing???? THEY DO THE EXACT SAME THING! McDonald’s,Blimpie’s,QUIZNOS,they all portion their meat. Anybody who is in the restaurant business will agree with me that there HAS TO BE portion control in place to control food costs so the prices of the sandwiches don’t get too high out of hand….also so that ONE SUBWAY FRANCHISE does not have a competitive advantage over another as far as customers thinking they’re getting MORE FOR THEIR MONEY.
So I hope this clarifies things a little on here
Amin on January 28th, 2008 at 10:50 pm | Link
Nah not really, subway is just cheap a$$.I mean why dole out the napkins, just to piss off your customers? And I have never seen any other restaurant with a scale set up to weight bits of chicken. yes protion control, like 3 pieces not 3.68454394Grams. And believe me I have been in a lot of restaurants. Now don’t get me wrong I realize the retail food bus is very hard and thankless job. You get it from all sies when everything is not just perfect and never really get the praise when you do ok. It does not however take an expert to see what cheap a$$ practices subway implements. And if the veggies are free why not post a sign to such? Why you ask? Well don’t you know? I mean what are we talking about here? Yeah subway being cheapa$$! Yes that’s it and that’s why they don’t post the sign saying extra veggies no extra charge so people will not know and people will not ask for extra veggies, save 3 napkins and 3 olive slices = 4 cents savings…. times how many million served = how many 40 thousands of dollars saved? Don’t think we don’t understand the economics here. It really is all about the bottom line and as long as poor business practices can be overcome by some other facet such as the alleged good nutrition of the subway sandwich which subway sandwiches certainly are not.
mark on January 29th, 2008 at 2:28 pm | Link
I SO AGREE with everyone. I don’t eat out much, but remembered recently how great a Subway sub used to taste, so went to get one. Well, knock me over, but the sandwiches today are NOT what they were a few years ago. I remember, as a teen, going into Subway and getting a sub that was so packed with filling that you couldn’t even keep it in the sandwich, it would just be falling out everywhere. Tons of meat, cheese and vegetables. And for way cheaper, too! The sandwich I recently had was laughable. As someone already mentioned, there was barely any cheese or meat at all, and as for vegies- HA! The bread actually sunk in when you grabbed the sandwich because there was NOTHING INSIDE. Okay, so not wanting to be too judgemental, I thought, hey, maybe it was just a fluke. A new worker or something. Tried it again today- same or worse. So that is it for me with Subway. I have heard pretty good things about Quizno’s, so from now on, I’ll give them my business.
Joni on February 11th, 2008 at 7:35 pm | Link
wow you guys are a bunch of complainers with no life. i work at subway and we do follow formulas because it is a standard. if you guys want subway to give out more veggies, all the chains across the world will have to give out more veggies. if you are complaining about gettin 6 olives, maybe you should just ask nicely for EXTRA olvies for free, they will double it for you. So maybe you should stop complaning
J.R on February 20th, 2008 at 9:50 pm | Link
Do you know how much money your franchise owner is making off your counting the olives? Maybe you should think about just why you are working at subway before suggesting others have no life!!!
And Ye know why I don’t ask for extra olives at subway its cuz I don’t eat at subway cuz I have to beg for napkins to wipe the slop of my face oh yeah but I forgot they wont put enough of it on your sandwich for you to get it on your face!!!! Hence no need for napkins now is there?
mark on February 25th, 2008 at 7:50 pm | Link
Oh yeah and JR did yo by chance stop to look at the title of this forum? It Called my biggest complaint. Of course your going to find complainers on here.
mark on February 25th, 2008 at 7:52 pm | Link
Subway like all other restaurants have portion control. Just ask for more veggies, they don’t cost extra. If you want more meat, just say double meat and pay it. It’s still comes out cheaper than quiznos.
Napkins are made of natural resources, and should be conserved to be environmentally friendly and aware. Yes, the franchisee will make more money if you use less napkins. This is not a non-profit business, these franchisees have put in their own money, commitment and time. They deserve to make money off you. Most people tend to waste if you put all you can eat or all you can use. You can always ask for more or just get over it.
Subway on April 9th, 2008 at 11:02 am | Link
Has anyone noticed that their meat has no taste. I just ate there today, and I got a BMT. I pulled a piece of salami off the sandwich to eat it separately, and it tasted like nothing. It had zero flavor. I doubt the sandwich would have tasted much different if all I got were the bread, veges, and oil/vinegar with no meat.
The napkin comment above made me laugh. I didn’t realize until now that they don’t have any napkin dispensers. They give you 2 napkins in the sandwich bag. You guys are right about measuring everything to the milligram. I suggest trying Firehouse subs. Their meat is tasty and they put a lot of meat on their sandwiches. They have napkin dispensers, cut lemons for iced tea, and other things that make them seem less stingy.
Ralph on April 13th, 2008 at 9:19 am | Link
@subway if you truly are a rep of subway then wow suck to be you hey? Not by any means saying you have no right to make money from your customers I’m just saying if you don’t start treating your customers as the reason your I’m business then you will no longer have customers and will no longer have a privilege to dole out the napkins. So you say your doing this for the environment well quit serving beef if thats your goal after all they are the #1 contributor to global warming so say some.
Ok as for asking for more I once spilled my soda in a subway and proceeded to the checkout to ask for napkins to clean up and was greeted with a very rude your napkins are in your bag! The clerk literally had to pull the cork out of her ass to release a few extra napkins.
So my comment to you Mr. subway (who by the way continues on here to show the rude pompous attitude your chain displays). Let us have our napkins and extra olives or go out of business. (you have already lost mine!!!!)
mark on April 13th, 2008 at 7:12 pm | Link
i am a subway employee. yes, we weigh everything out. it’s subway policy to follow the formula. “how much does lettuce cost? how much does a more olives cost? etc, etc” with as many sandwiches that are made, if each person has lots of extras, food cost sky-rockets. many workers’ jobs hang on the line if they do not follow protocol. so stop complaining about the workers and how much they are putting on your sanwiches. complain to corprate. every restaurant weighs their food, you just don’t usually see it.
alicia on April 18th, 2008 at 1:22 am | Link
My complaint was not about Subway workers. The Subway employees that have chimed in here all have supported my original post.
Of course all restaurants weigh food, and of course putting more on decreases profit margins. Subway trains their sandwich artists according to what corporate wants. My complaint was about the quantity of food that Subway provides and how they market it so that it seems like not getting enough food on the normal sandwich is a benefit to the consumer. Subway has made a choice about their business model and I was pointing out how this affects the consumer.
I have no beef with Subway employees. My recommendation is to chose another sandwich provider if you want real nutrition and real value for you money.
Sorry Subway–my nephew was an “artist”….
Other restaurants may measure, too, but no one skimps on sandwiches like Subway. I refuse to go there anymore. All you get is bread.
Is it true that they’re refusing to let elementary-aged Homeschoolers enter a writing contest? How lame is that?
Wibbing on May 27th, 2008 at 8:37 am | Link
Although I can’t argue on the cheese, I do have to speak up for my place of employment.
In case you intelligent folk haven’t noticed, you can pile on the veggies as much as you like. We ARE trained on how many to start with, but if you ask for more we’ll keep piling them on until you say to stop. We’ve had people put entire containers of pickles on their subs, and they’re more than allowed. Although I do agree that stuff like cheese and bacon could be piled more (without the extra cost), those ingredients are costly to the franchise. And look at a Subway Club… there’s 18 pieces of meat on a footlong! And that’s just in Canada, I hear the states have higher portions.
I get what you’re saying for sure, and can’t argue that they could be healthier in their portions. But if your subs are really that “skimpy” it’s really not entirely Subway to blame. If you want the extra pickle, all you have to do is ask…
Katie on May 31st, 2008 at 10:23 am | Link
Katie,
Its not the portion size so much as it is the general attitude of the shop that bothers me. I think the subway business model is one which drives people away and they will ultimately suffer their demise as a result.
mark on June 2nd, 2008 at 5:39 pm | Link
SUBWAY SANDWICHES ARE A TOTAL JOKE.Have you ever seen one that looks like the comercials? NOT.No meat at all.My buisness goes to a local family run buisness where one sub can feed two people there is so much meat in them and they apprieciate the buisness.Ive been going there for 10 years.When will the american people realize big chain store no matter what type are a total rip off!!!They give you nothing and we pay a ton
RAY on June 7th, 2008 at 11:05 am | Link
I have to agree, a couple tiny triangles of cheese is not enought for a 6-inch sandwich. I didn’t know I could ask for more.
If you REALLY want to go to a great sandwich shop. A relative of mine owns GENEROUS JOE’S in Greenbelt, Maryland (near Washington, D.C.) It is a family run business - Dad’s name is Joe and son’s name is Joe. They are Italians and Italians like to EAT. Hence the name Generous Joe’s. The restaurant is not much to look at (it needs a major renovation) however, when it comes to good, large sandwiches and TONS of good food - they are very good!!! My favorite is the steak and cheese sandwhich - melts in my mouth!
My Two Cents on June 9th, 2008 at 2:19 pm | Link
“I swear Subway trains their “sandwich artists” on exactly how many veggies to put on them.”
That is correct. I currently work at Subway and we are trained to put a certain amount of vegetables on a sandwich unless directed otherwise by the customer. Sometimes I can barely tell if two slices of cheese are stuck together because of how thin the slices are.. If a customer says something about the amount I’ll throw on extra cheese/meat at no charge.. the manager frequently gets upset that I’m throwing on an extra piece of ham on the club.. (Two slices of roast beef that are even thinner than the cheese, two slices of turkey, and one piece of ham) just doesn’t seem right. Subways alter the amounts from store to store, though..
I get a free 6 inch sub at the end of my shift, but rarely take it. Why? I see how the food is prepared. Enough said.
Also, the new double stacker peppered crusted turkey is also a rip off. It’s the regular turkey you would normally be served except the edges are rolled in a peppered spice. You get charged the full amount whether you want the 6 pieces or not. It’s not pepper crusted, it’s pepper rolled. Watch the bread as well.. I’m always pulling out a piece of bread that has a little mold or questionable specs. I would not recommend eating at Subway. Though I’m only 17, I’m not oblivious to the way they’re running the store..
If you want convicts making your sandwich, Subway is the place to go!
Avada on June 18th, 2008 at 12:22 pm | Link
I have worked at Subway for three years, and I have heard people complain about the lack of vegetables for…three years. But most people (the ones with common sense) politely (or sometimes impolitely) ask for more veggies. And guess what! We don’t charge for extra veggies. If you don’t like veggies on your sandwich, it’s not a good deal, but if you do, I highly recommend Subway. The store I work at is much cleaner than what seems to be described in the above post…We don’t serve moldy bread or anything. And we are trained to put a certain about of veggies on a sandwich (three of everything on a six inch, doubled on a footlong). But you can always ask for more! Yay for being assertive!
Sandwich Artist on June 18th, 2008 at 9:34 pm | Link
The corporation is the one making the $$$$ not the franchise owner. The mom and pop stores can give you more because they dont have to pay for expensive advertising. If you want something better and cheaper, pack your lunch. I am a little ticked because they wouldnt take my last card that I put all those stamps on.
Vickie on June 26th, 2008 at 8:13 am | Link
Vickie, im not sure what you are talking about its the copr not the franchise owner making the money? The franchise owner simply buys from the corp. The more stuff they put on the sandwich the more they have to buy and therefore the corp makes more money. Owell, subway sucks that all that can really be said and is the entire point of the post.
mark on June 26th, 2008 at 12:57 pm | Link
How fat are you!? A foot long sandwich and you’re still hungry! I’m an active 180 pound man, and a six inch plus a small carton of milk is plenty when I have subway for lunch.
Hobart on June 29th, 2008 at 8:14 pm | Link
Hobart,
6′1″ 178lbs. I don’t really eat that much, either, which is a testament to how skimpy subway Sandwiches are. When I eat at any of the other restaurants I mentioned, I am stuffed.
Mark,
I am saying as with any corporation that is franchised out, the corporation is making the lions share most of the money. I looked into buying into a Subway francise in the 1990’s. A mom and pop store doesnt have to buy the subway brand meat, lettuce, tomatoes, and specially marked salt packets, napkins, etc from the corporation. So, the mom and pop can get their inventory much cheaper and give you more to eat for the same price.
Everytime I go to subway I feel like I have been ripped off and don’t even get me started about their employees.
Vickie on June 30th, 2008 at 7:43 am | Link
@ vickie, Ok sorry i totally misunderstood your post. However I would question wheather franchise pdts are not cheaper than the typical sysco pdt as they produce and buy in great voumes. At least they would be cheaper to corp even further screwing the franchise owner.
mark on July 1st, 2008 at 2:09 pm | Link
I agree about the undesirables who work at Subway. I got a job there between semester breaks and was humiliated for the customers to see me in the line with those women. They didn’t care who heard them speak of their children being arrested or their husbands being on parole. One woman talked constantly about a coworker who was over weight. If I ever went into a business and heard that sort of vile filth I would leave. I worked one day and politely told them it wasn’t for me. I’m still waiting for my pay which they said was in the mail six weeks ago. Isn’t that illegal?
Chiming In on July 12th, 2008 at 4:57 pm | Link
I work at a Subway and totally agree except would have to say my store is much worse thanks to my boss. He is so cheap he rips people off. You think the meat portion is bad elsewhere, well he knocks off more weight than required by Subway. He also cuts back how many slices of meat you are supposed to get trying to pinch pennies. He won’t accept all coupons and only allows you to pick from a small list of subs when using coupons(i.e. the cheapest subs!). If you ask for extra veggies he gets pissed and without customers knowing he adds a $0.30 extra cheese charge to your bill to make up for his losses. He uses meats that are out of date, rotten veggies, and food that has fallen on the floor, all to avoid wasting money!
He totally disgusts me and should not own a business. However he is very clever and avoids being caught because he is the bggest liar I have ever met. He is also not even paying most of his employees minimum wage. As of 7/08 min. wage went up to $6.55 and he’s still paying some of them $6.15. Which I thought is illegal???
I would not recommend anyone to go to Subway it is a huge rip off. They charge way too much for nothing! They are obviously not a good company anyway because they let people like my boss run a franchise and screw people out of their hard earned cash!
Lynn on July 18th, 2008 at 9:13 pm | Link
subway (where the beef) ??? waste of money and time
helcope on August 15th, 2008 at 1:14 pm | Link
I agree that Subway is way to cheap with toppings for the money paid. Heres a good story: One time I went into a subway that had only been open a couple of weeks. The “sandwich artist” making a sandwich for the guy ahead of me realized he put an extra piece of meat on the sandwich so he actually picked it off and put it back in the meat bin for the next sandwich! That really spoiled me on the subway experience. I quit going there to eat. The staff is either scurvy or gangster with their asscracks hanging out. One sandwich artist was making a sandwich and actually yelled at her kids while they stood in line fighting. They do very nicely put extra veggies on their sandwich if you ask them. I always ask for extra pickles and they are generous when asking for extra. But the staff is horribly nasty, there is never a clean table,and I would feed a family of four for the cost of one of their skimpy sandwiches so now I give my money to Jimmy John’s. If you want a good sandwich and napkins that flow freely go to Jimmy John’s!
new-wife on August 19th, 2008 at 9:21 am | Link
Im 14 years old and my favourite place WAS subway. Now that i’ve grown up into a young lady i need more food to fufill my hunger.
Im not one to eat alot, im like 7 stone. But whenever i go into a Subway store i just get like 2 strips of bacon and some cheese. When i eat subway all i can taste is the bread as its got so little inside.
And, some people saying they work from subway say you just have to ask for a bit more and they’ll give it to you. Well… I asked for some more in a polite manor, and what do they do? They start screaming at me, eventually they gave me two bits of extra cheese and charged me £1!!!! Long gone those days i eat from subway!
Danni on August 26th, 2008 at 10:58 am | Link
Hi all.
im from australia. and yes the same as every other country we weigh the portions. yet no one that has ever complained about our portions, and we done need signs to say we can ask for more. and in regards to tem not looking the same as the ads, i have never had a perfect big mac! get over it or dont eat it. i had a subway diet and exercised and i lost 11kg in 2 weeks. you guys are more pathetic and ridiculous then what your complaining about!
Stuffie on September 1st, 2008 at 4:43 am | Link