I recently got this message via my contact form:
From: V Preboski <vpreboski@aol.com>
To: me@my.email.address
Sent: Tuesday, August 28, 2012
Subject: W(aL)D Feedback
Name: V Preboski
Email: vpreboski@aol.com
Message / Comment: Just wanted to address this issue I have with all fast food chains….Why can you make dipping containers for dipping sauces bit not for ketchup ????
How’d you find my blog?: Snooping around
Time: Tuesday August 28, 2012
IP Address: ##.##.##.##
Contact Form URL: https://aixelsyd13.wordpress.com/contact/
Sent by an unverified visitor to your site.
It’s a familiar subject to me. I have ranted on the same subject in the past, long before the Heinz dip & squeeze packets came out. Check out my old rant:
Ketchup / Catchup / Catsup / Katsup / Ketsup
Current mood:
contemplative
KETCHUP PACKETS ARE SO 1900’S!
Yup. You know what I’m talking about. I like it. However you spell it. I like Heinz Ketchup. I would like to know wht fast food places like McDonald’s, Wendy’s, Chick-Fil-A, and Burger King don’t serve ketchup in the same little cups that they use to serve the dipping sauces for chicken nuggets. WTF, fast food conglomorates? Your packets do not help me eat french fries or waffle fries. I usually have to make a mess on a napkin or tray paper to enjoy dipping my fries in sweet tomato and vinegar flavored heaven. Why should I have to do this? Get with the times! Stop using antiquated ketchup packet technology! It’s 2006, damnit!
I want to dip my fried salty potato product without making a mess!
Yes, I realize we still need packets for use on burgers and chicken sandwiches and what-not… but why not design a new container that can be used to dip in… or used to squeeze the ketchup out? Imagine if you were the fast food giant to jump on that first… you could patent the product and dominate the ketchup distribution industry. Other restaurants would have to bow to you once it caught on, and pay you for the right to use this space-age individual serving size ketchup containment and distribution system!
Okay. I might seem a little extreme in my verbalization of the idea here. But, imagine the possibilities.
How I would love to dip fries in ketchup that I did now have to squeeze out of a tube on to a piece of paper. I mean, really? Are you supposed to squeeze a drop out on to each fry individually, or what?
Wherever cheese is available for fries, it always comes in little dip-friendly containers. Can you imagine cheese in packets? The idea is just ridiculous you say? I agree! And, I submit to you the thought that ketchup in packets is just as ridiculous my friends. Inside your restaurants, you even serve it out of pumps into those little paper cups. What good do those cups do to a man on the go, or in the food court? No, good I say. No good indeed.
Think, my friends. Think of ketchup. Think of science. Think of dining pleasure. Think… of the future!
Here are some responses that I got from various sources…
The light bulb has been turned on…
Current mood:
pleased
Remember my earlier blog/rant about ketchup packets? Well, I e-mailed it to some fast food restaurants, and I have received some responses. I thought I’d share:
From: Gayle Goshorn
To: world.and.lunar.domination@gmail.com
Date: Feb 28, 2006 4:45 AM
Subject: TCF: Ketchup Container
TO: Eric Aixelsyd
FROM: Gayle Goshorn
Thank you for taking the time to write to us. I will pass your concerns on to our MTO Sales Manager about looking into ketchup containers. Thank you and we do appreciate hearing from our customers.
Best Regards,
Gayle Goshorn
From: McDonaldsCorporation@mcd.com
To: world.and.lunar.domination@gmail.com
Date: Mar 3, 2006 2:04 AM
Subject: Message from McDonald’s USA
Hello Eric:
Thank you for contacting McDonald’s and sharing your comments with us. We greatly appreciate this opportunity to address your concerns.
I’m sorry you were disappointed with our ketchup packets. At every McDonald’s we strive to deliver 100-percent Total Customer Satisfaction. With every customer, we’re committed to serving the highest quality products possible.
Because you are a valued customer, I have shared your comments with our Quality Assurance team. They work closely with our suppliers to ensure that all of our products are of the highest quality possible. Your complete satisfaction is our top priority.
Again, thank you for bringing this matter to our attention. We hope to have the opportunity of serving you again.
Tim
McDonald’s Customer Response Center
ref#:3441932
From: Chick-fil-A Cares
>Mailed-By: na.ko.com
Reply-To: Chick-fil-A Cares
To: world.and.lunar.domination@gmail.com
Date: 6 Mar 2006 10:05:21 -0500
Subject: RE: Chick-fil-A Web Form Message
Dear Mr. Aixelsyd:
Thank you for taking the time to contact Chick-fil-A CARES. Our customers are very important to us, and we appreciate their comments, questions, and suggestions.
Regarding your suggestion about offering ketchup containers, I hope you’ll find the following information helpful.
Every year we receive literally hundreds of ideas from customers regarding items they would like to see on our menu or offered at our restaurants.
We especially appreciate customers who take the time to share their thoughts and ideas with us. Thank you for the product suggestion. We will keep the idea of adding ketchup containers in our future product discussions.
We thank you again for your time and interest and look forward to seeing you in one of our local Chick-fil-A restaurants soon. As a token of appreciation for your time and effort, I’ll be sending you one “Chick-fil-A CARES” guest card which should arrive at your provided address in 7 to 10 business days. Don’t hesitate to let us at Chick-fil-A CARES know should you need our assistance again. Have a nice day!
Sincerely,
Kim W.
Chick-fil-A CARES
Chick-fil-A…We Didn’t Invent The Chicken, Just The Chicken Sandwich.
On the Web at www.chick-fil-a.com
P.S. Please retain your Thread ID in the message body. This will help us locate your information should you need us again.
[THREAD ID:1-EP8FBH]
Heinz’s ‘Dip & Squeeze,’ introduced in 2011 as a ‘true packaging breakthrough.’ The top portion can be torn off to apply ketchup; the bottom can be peeled back for dipping.
Basically, I had the idea… as did many others, but they didn’t want to pay any of us for it. At first, only Chick-fil-A had the new dip & squeeze packets around the ‘Burgh, but I believe the McDonald’s in Bridgeville just started using them, not sure about others.
So Mr./Ms. Pebroski, I can say the time has come… a new ketchup packet has arrived. More people just need to start using it.
I’m not sure if I have helped, how I could possibly help, or why you wrote to me, but I’m glad you did! I hope this answers your question(s).
Seems like I even contacted Heinz, but I can’t find the first message:
From: <Heinzconsumeraffairs@us.hjheinz.com>
Date: Tue, Feb 16, 2010 at 2:58 PM
Subject: Re: In Response to your Website Comments – Ref # 003141412A HEINZ/JNEEL
To: world.and.lunar.domination@gmail.com
February 16, 2010
Dear Eric,
Thank you for your comments about our Heinz Dip & Squeeze ketchup!
We understand your excitement – we can hardly wait for this breakthrough packaging to find Heinz Ketchup lovers, like yourself, so you can enjoy it even more on-the-go.
Heinz Dip & Squeeze is an exciting evolution of the ketchup packet which was introduced 42 years ago –-and a new, fun way for Americans to enjoy the ketchup they’ve loved for over a century.
Heinz Dip & Squeeze is just beginning to roll out into the marketplace with plans to have it nationwide by the end of 2010. It is currently available at select quick service restaurants in the Midwest and Southeast, with additional markets and partners planned for the coming months.
Thanks so much for sharing your comments – we’ll certainly make sure they are passed on to our Packaging and Marketing staff.
Heinz Consumer Resource Center
Heinzconsumeraffairs@us.hjheinz.com
When contacting us, please refer to the following reference number: 003141412A
HEINZ/JNEEL
I must have submitted that via webform, so I wrote back:
From: ERiC AiXeLsyD <world.and.lunar.domination@gmail.com>
Date: Wed, Feb 17, 2010 at 10:11 AM
Subject: Re: In Response to your Website Comments – Ref # 003141412A HEINZ/JNEEL
To: Heinzconsumeraffairs@us.hjheinz.com
Dear Heinz Consumer Resource Center,
Well, thank you for the response. I can’t help but wonder why the product wasn’t rolled out here in Pittsburgh? I mean, Pittsburgh certainly appreciates all things, Heinz… no? I mean, the the name brand is almost synonymous with the region. I love the animated neon sign now visible on my way from destinations north of the city toward my home in Dormont through the Liberty Tubes. I can’t count the times I’ve been to Heinz field for varying events. I have ketchup bottle & pickle pins somewhere at home. I even have a tiny Heinz ketchup bottle (“liberated” from a hotel in Knoxville, TN) in with my antique beer/pop bottle collection.
I’ve ranted at the turnpike plazas along the highway in Ohio on my way to Cleveland, because they have the audacity to serve some kind of generic “Fancy Ketchup” and not Heinz so close to the ‘Burgh. You can hardly buy Hunt’s ketchup if you tried in local stores… and really who in their right mind would try?
Why weren’t the yinzers given first access to this new ketchup delivery technology? Heinz and ‘Yinz‘ even end in the same 3 letters! Pittsburghers know ketchup, my friends. Why wasn’t this rolled out on the home turf for a test run or to show some Yinzer pride and appreciation?
Thank you for your time, I look forward to your reply!
Thanks,
-Eric
Of course they wrote back again…
From: <Heinzconsumeraffairs@us.hjheinz.com>
Date: Wed, Mar 3, 2010 at 2:06 PM
Subject: Re: In Response to your Website Comments – Ref # 003141412B HEINZ/JNEEL
To: world.and.lunar.domination@gmail.com
March 3, 2010
Dear Eric,
Thank you for your additional comments about the new Heinz Dip n Squeeze cups.
Unfortunately we have no time table for when the product is rolling out here in Pittsburgh. We are as eager as you are to find these in our favorite restaurants. Keep watching, they should make their debut by the end of the year.
You may like to know that there is a Heinz Ketchup facebook page. There are lots of interesting facts to be found there as well as comments by Heinz Ketchup fans from all over the world.
Thanks again for contacting us. We appreciate your interest.
Heinz Consumer Resource Center
Heinzconsumeraffairs@us.hjheinz.com
When contacting us, please refer to the following reference number: 003141412B
HEINZ/cl
From: <Heinzconsumeraffairs@hjheinz.com>
Date: Thu, Mar 4, 2010 at 10:50 AM
Subject: Re: In Response to your Website Comments – Ref # 003141412C KWHITE/JNEEL
To: world.and.lunar.domination@gmail.com
March 4, 2010
Dear Eric,
Thank you for your email to our Communications Team. They have asked Consumer Affairs to respond.
While not currently available in Pittsburgh, yinz should know that Heinz did test the product very first with some of our loyal consumers here at home during the Fall of 2009. People gave Dip & Squeeze a big thumbs up! It was a big hit.
Hopefully this makes you feel better because we do appreciate the hometown crowd.
Like you, those of us in Pittsburgh are waiting with bated breath to have the chance to get Dip & Squeeze and use it while we’re on the go. Stay tuned and thanks for being one of our loyal consumers. Have you friended us on Facebook? If not, please join in the fun.
Karen
Heinz Consumer Resource Center
When contacting us, please refer to the following reference number: 003141412C
KWHITE/cl
Crazy.
World (and Lunar) Domination 