The `W’ - Tried Three Times - The Opinions
I had seen the billboards, but had somehow missed any TV ads for the new Wendy’s `W’ Burger. So, when I eventually did see the TV ad, and it showed the `special sauce’, - my mind instantly went off as a lover of the Big Mac for nearly 50 years. When aware of that fact, the sauce, - which I did not pick up from the billboards - in only days I stopped to try the `W’.
Now, interestingly, only days before I had paid 3.91 including Tax for a Wendy’s single at a drive thru - my visit having been since the `improvement’ - therefore I was tasting, to me, a new offering.
And indeed, the single was `upscaled’ in my opinion (and I’ve been eating singles since the early 70’s in Ohio) - but, in all honesty - 3.91 is a stretch for the product. So, with that in my mind - I went IN this time and ordered the W (making it a combo) for only a little over a buck more than the Single alone.
I was immediately impressed with the sandwich and LOVED the `positioning between the Big Mac and the Whopper’ (even moreso if any BK’s still have the `King’ - their version of the BM) — LOVED the positioning. Indeed, my mind thought, WHY are they not positioning it that way too?
Indeed, the sandwich, HASN’T what McDonald’s I’m sure would love to be able to dump - the extra slice of bread between the two patties; thereby giving lots of meat ratio in every bite in comparison. Wow.
Yet, the sandwich was uniquely targeted at the whopper too - with the larger lettuce piece(s) and tomato. And, at that time of eating the `W’, I thought that McDonald’s better have some concern about this sandwich, - pulling from it’s very core oldtime base customer. All in all - I was impressed.
My second time was nearly as good as the first and was only two days later,- but, I got this one to go, with no sides or drinks - paid less than before - had a better sandwich value in my mind than the Single OR Big Mac; - but realized that for WENDY’s the tradedown would have to be a hit to the bottom line IMO; especially in comparison to the probable profit margin on the Single. (Then wondered, is that why they aren’t pushing this product?)
Then, weeks later, I went inside for another combo, and by chance, it was while a unit was having operation problems (At Trickum In Woodstock, on a Saturday) - the manager on duty was yelling loudly at the crew about being prepared in advance. It startled the folks in line it was so loud. I hoped no one would walk off the job as the place seemed understaffed and the wait was already mounting.
However, the real letdown was upon opening the `W’ - gone were the lettuce and tomato - (I had asked for some extra sauce on it and it was swimming in it) - one little slice of onion, NOTHING else. It was a total turn off and problems were only mounting at the line and counter so I simply ate it.
Interestingly, I said to the counter girl - `how much would it cost if someone asked for the sauce on a Single’ - she said it would be FREE as all toppings are free. For some reason the answer surprised me - could some just as easily ask for Big Mac sauce on a dollar hamburger? Or, the Wendy’s 99cent offerings?
So, I haven’t been back - it’s been a few weeks and probably a bit longer than normal for my Wendy’s visits (prior to W usually a single combo): and as you can see from the link - others are not so impressed with Wendy’s either as in this recent article saying it would http://www.dailyfinance.com/2012/01/12/why-wendys-will-never-be-great-again/?icid=maing-grid10%7Chtmlws-main-bb%7Cdl3%7Csec1_lnk3%26pLid%3D127010 never be great again.
I wouldn’t go that far - but - the positioning of the W could have been structured a lot better to attract actual new customers from their main competitors IMO. Heck, SELL the sauce in the store in jars - like Big Boy.
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These Two Guys Had The Same Impression As Me On First Tasting http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sYK1La1bdHA
