If customer response is any indication, Wendy's new fries are this generation's "New Coke." People tend to be loyal to their burger chain, with people who favor McDonald's almost never going to Burger King and vice versa, and people who favor Wendy's hardly ever going to the others. But the response to the new fries, with the skins left on and a large amount of sea salt added, suggests that customer loyalty has been stretched to the breaking point.
In my previous blog entry (Wendy's New Fries - Love 'Em or Hate 'Em) each of the first 60 comments was critical of the new fries, some of them intensely so. Words like "disappointed," "awful," "disgusting," "horrible" and "disaster" were used. Once-loyal customers said things like, "It makes me sad to think I can never enjoy another meal at Wendy's." One said, "They are practically salt licks now." Another, "They actually look dirty with the skin still on them. They may be 'trendy,' but they are certainly not tasty. Give me taste over a fad any day."
It gets worse. One said, "The new fries are the worst fries I have ever tasted." Another, "These new Wendy's fries are worse than Burger King's, and that is saying something!" Yet another, "Well, I guess stopping at a Wendy's is now out of the question. I could stomach the cold burgers because of the fries now there is no reason to go there." Two commenters suggested that Wendy's founder Dave Thomas must be rolling over in his grave. One went all the way to suggesting true doom for the company: "Is Wendy's trying to go out of business? Seriously."
And that's just the responses to my previous blog post on the subject. Facebook now has pages with titles like "Wendy's new fries SUCK!" (the largest, it has 187 members), "Protest the new Wendy's fries," "Screw the new Wendy's fries! Bring back the old ones" and "Change Wendy's fries back!!! The new ones suck." There's even one titled "Wendy's Classic Fries."
Wendy's broke one of the cardinal rules of business: "If it ain't broke, don't fix it." Too many of their customers haven't liked the way their fries have been "fixed." If Wendy's doesn't go back to their old fries, they may end up "broke," in more than one sense of the word.
Wendy’s old fries were wonderful – if they were fully cooked. Problem is they almost never were. I got really tired of getting fries that were cold and raw inside. That being said, the new fries are awful! No amount of cooking is going to save these foul-smelling and foul-tasting fries! I didn’t know potatoes could be so bad. I rarely go to Wendy’s now but when I do I sub a baked potato or chili for the fries. I’d get a salad but Wendy’s doesn’t know enough to have French dressing – even though they have French Fries! Whoever is steering this ship is headed straight for the Bermuda Triangle.
Why would you change your french fries!!!! The “classic” Wendy’s fries were my favorite fast food french fry by far, even over McDonald’s sugar-loaded, addictive fries. I don’t understand why a company would change a product that everyone liked – it’s a great way to alienate loyal customers.
I had Wendy’s last night with my fiancee – normally the first thing to go is the fries (we each get a large), but not this time. The new fries are so salty we could barely choke them down. I went through several glasses of water and my entire Frosty and still hadn’t finished the salty fries. I ended up throwing away the second half of the box, because not only were they salty but the taste was gross. They are bland potatoes. So you bite the outside, get an acrid, stinging salt taste and then chew the inside and get no flavor at all. Leaving the skins on was a bad idea too, they stick in your teeth and taste like dirt (leading me to believe they don’t wash off these new “natural” potatoes prior to cutting and frying them). The new, so-called natural fries actually made my mouth feel like it was burning and eroding away the inside layer of my cheeks and gums. Talk about nasty, disgusting and unpleasant.
I used to love Wendy’s and would always pick it over the other chains – even when they were right next to each other. A big part of that was the delicious fries. I tend to choose my fast food based on the fries. Now, with the new and utterly repulsive fries, I will no longer be choosing Wendy’s for my meals. I’m actually going to go to McDonald’s where they at least have some marketing sense enough to know not to mess with a good thing and lose their customers. What a dumb choice Wendys! Please bring back the old fries so I can eat at your restaurants again.
My heart broke the day I tasted the ‘new’ fries. I loved the orignal fries MORE then the McDonald’s fries that I liked as a child. I lived up in Toronto Ontario Canada and loved how the original fries didn’t sog and get gross when the vingar was placed on them, they were the PERFECT french fry meaty and melt in your mouth good. I’d have thought that they’d give the option of which fry you wanted and not just push the awful sea salt crap only. Damn Wendys for doing something stupid!
The day my father died wasn’t as sad as the day that I had the new Wendy’s fries.
After eating 3 full orders of them (to make sure that I really hated them) I drove to NY, climbed out to the edge of the GW Bridge and pondered how cold the rushing water below would be when my bloated stomach (full of those damn fries) hit it.
Thankfully, I was talked off the ledge by a guy in a Mister Frosty truck. Overtime and with therapy, self help tapes, and medication, I may learn to live and love again, but not anytime soon.
This whole event made me die little inside.
I concur. These are the absolute worst fries in the world. I think they were maybe going for a “New York Fries” look/taste, but they failed miserably. I have yet to hear ONE person say anything good about them, everyone hates the damn things. I’m hoping Wendy’s will realize this and make the change. Half the reason I craved Wendy’s was the FRIES!! So plump & fat, perfect! Please Wendy’s, bring back the original fries!! I have no idea why they’d even do this, it’s not like a lot of people were always bitching about how awful the old ones were. Maybe it’s only temporary…..
Wendy’s new fries are just gross. Change up your burgers, not your fries, dummies.
You people are crazy. Wendy’s old fries were the absolute worst things in creation…i wouldnt even go to wendy’s because their old fries had no flavor and never had any salt on them. They were always overly greasy and floppy. The new fries are amazing, I actually think they taste better than McDonald’s and are right up there with 5 guys.
i actually really like the new fries. yes they’re a bir more salty, but they taste more real then the origionals. also, sea salt reminds me of the beach and going to the beach is the high point of my year.
i personally think steak n shake has the best fries in the industry, followed by checkers, the new wendy ones, and mcdonalds fries belong in the lowest circle of hell.
The new fries are hella nasty. i like the old ones.
These fries are rancid. I went to the busiest Wendy’s in the city and at noon the place was empty. This is a sign. These new fries leave a bad taste in my mouth literly! I am done eating food at Wendy’s and if they have to advertise their new fries several months after they have been introduced. GET THE NEW G** DA*N FRIES OUT OF THE RESTAURANTS!
When I first heard about Wendy’s new fries, I was excited. I thought they might be right up there with 5 guys as an earlier commenter claimed. Unfortunately, they were terrible. Ok, not Burger King bad, but far worse than their old fries. I actually liked their old fries. I though McDonald’s were better, when hot, but once they cooled down, McDonald’s are kind of gross. But I didn’t mind eating Wendy’s old fries cold. Maybe it’s just the particularly Wendy’s establishments that are near me, but the fries I’ve been given have been cold, soggy, and disgusting. I already have no urge to ever go to Burger King because their fries are so bad, but now I’m losing any desire to go to Wendy’s. Although, at least at Wendy’s I can substitute fries for a small chili or something.
I think that Wendy’s is trying to compete with Burger King for having the most horrid french fries in the market. Before it was McDonalds Fries 1st, Wendy’s Second. Now these “things” they are trying to schlep off on us don’t even count. I refuse to pay a premium price for an uneatable product. Wendy’s COULD sell the real french fries along with these compost fries, but they refuse.
I keep going there, forgetting that they are trying to swindle us, and after waiting in line, I have to drive away empty handed. They will not get a dime from me until they stop trying to rip me off with the compost fries.
These fries are garbage. Won’t touch Wendy’s until they get rid of them. I am also sick of the “sea salt” craze. I think it is a plot to sell more soft drinks.
I cannot stand the new fries. They are horrible by themselves, and dipping them in a Frosty they are horrible. I have tried to make a go of it, but i cannot eat thier fries ever again. What good is a value meal if you toss the fries? I will avoid Wendy’s unless they bring back the old fries.
First, Lucas tried to ruin my childhood memories with his three new “Star Wars” films; now Wendy’s ruined my favorite fast food joint. These new fries are so nasty and discussing that I just threw my entire meal in the garbage without eating it. I even threw away my perfectly good high-fructose soda.
I’m done with you Wendy. I was their loyal fan, now I hope this scum-bag corporation goes out of business!
Also, GOOGLE: “DailyTech – Wendy’s New ‘Natural’ Fries Caught Using Chemical Stew.”
These things aren’t “natural” (they deceive simple-minded folks by implying this with the phrase “natural-cut.” These new fries have three chemical baths before you eat them (see above).
Go to HELL Wendy’s!!
Back in the 1980’s I loved the burgers and fries served in McDonalds, Wendy’s and Burger King. They were all good.
In accordance with my own personal taste preferences Wendy’s had by far the best burgers while McDonald’s and Burger King had better (crispier) fries.
As the years passed by, these products all became far less enjoyable reflecting pressure from the “busybody” class to ban anything that tastes good. I was not aware that Wendy’s had changed their fries until I stopped in one today for lunch. The restaurant was surprisingly devoid of customers at what is usually a busy time of day. Needless to say, I will not return to Wendy’s again as I detest fries with skin remaining on them.
I’ve had just about enough of the the veggie munching crowd. They should all shut up, eat their lettuce and stop messing with my fried food.
I really do not like the new fries! The first batch I got tasted like it sat under a heating lamp for a few hours. I took these back for fresh ones and they weren’t much better. I haven’t been back to Wendy’s since. I used to love their fries. Everyone has those thin, crispy ones… I liked the “fat” ones at Wendy’s. But they are no more. I’m sad.
I also miss their old salads, and the ciabatta sandwiches – again gone. I have no reason to go back now. Notice how all these changes happened after Dave Thomas’s death? Who’s in charge now??
Stupid idea to change from the thick-cut delicious fries Wendy’s used to server. My kid is sensitive to food changes and does not like skin on fries, so we will never eat at Wendy’s again together. Really Dave’s daughter Wendy is going to run the chain into the ground with all this gourmet nonsense they are pushing these days. Big Dave must be rolling in his grave. He wanted to server food that people wanted to eat, not please government bureaucrats.