When taken for a ride @ KFC

Appapan (my dad) came for a one day business at Trivandrum, like most other visits while at work , he hardly got time to spend with his grand children, so as a patch up he takes children to KFC (every visit) for dinner before boarding his train/bus . This time also he did the same. So we all were going to KFC Kesavdaspuram (just 2 Kms from our home ) after 4-5 months. And I don’t think I would want to go there again . In one of my posts before I had mentioned even though we are not big fans of KFC but I respect KFC for some good work in setting examples specially for differently able people and go there once in a while. But after our visit on March 4^th , no more KFC.

The moment we entered KFC, there was too loud music inside. While looking at the menu displayed , there was no ‘Wrap’ items . When asked don’t they have Wraps the answer was they have stopped ‘Wrap’ items. After making our Orders and specifying one Rice item as a Take Away , Appapan, kids and me went to our seats and Anil came with the food after sometime. We needed extra sauce- so I asked my daughter to take some from the Self help counter – I also asked her to collect some tissues and  a disposable spoon (for the take away) . She came back immediately saying there is nothing at the self-help counter.  

I went and checked , as she said there was nothing – I had to go to the main counter and ask for each and every thing , including water !

The fried chicken was definitely not upto the KFC mark both the regular Chicken Fry and the ‘Fiery’ one, on top of that we were billed 3 Rs extra for Carry bag, but we were given only a brown paper cover for the take away (the paper cover you get when you buy envelops). I finished my dinner fast , as I knew I will have to stand in queue to get the water, spoon, and to ask for carry bag . So while patiently I waited in the queue I indicated a fellow standing at the kitchen counter for water to be given at the table. And then after couple of minutes wait got the Spoon, Carry bag and picked a handful of tissues.

Feeling irritated and annoyed when I reached back at the table, Anil asked –‘Did they give you balance’ I had a bog question mark on my face – then Anil said , they are suppose to give us 2 Rs back the bill was 1308/- and they have not given the balance back …. Grrrrrr … I then checked the bill in detail – we paid 14.94% VAT (Value added tax) and 4.95% Service tax  on the Total bill amount for lousy service (and not so great food , loud nosy music ambience) and ended up not getting back the balance which rounded off the tax % to 20 ! And next month onwards we have to pay almost 2% more on service Tax (Swacch tax!!) . I am not sure if it is wrong to expect some real ‘Value’ or ‘Service’ when you go for a Branded Food/clothes /accessories shop. And is there no value for 2/- , I mean would it be ok if as a customer I pay them 2/- less for the convenience of saving ‘Change’! They are charging 4.95% instead of 12.5% for Service tax since they don’t serve you on Table, but is it ok that you don’t keep anything on Self Help counters ? and then also charge 15% Value added Tax ….…. Value add my foot !! After all the thinking – decided ‘No more KFC’ Have promised children that I will check out good recipes and will ,make for them ‘Crispy Fried Chicken’ !