Need help changing restaurant policies

Sorry this is loooong but.... It has recently come to my attention that Old County Buffet will not allow gastric by-pass patients to be charged less than full adult price. I sent them an email, which I have copied here. I also copied their response as well as my reply to that. PLEASE consider sending/telling this to anyone you know who has had a gastric by-pass and encourage them to send an email of their own. You will need to go to [email protected] and click on frequent questions. Down at the very bottom in tiny print is "Answers" click on this to get their question submission form. My next step will to be to try and contact the president of the company and I sent an email to the Today show (GO AL ROKER!!). Thanks for your help. ************************************************************ I am very disappointed in your St Cloud Old County Buffet. We have always gone there for special occasions as well as just a nice family dinner out. My kids love the selection and the food is very good. However we will not be back to your store. The problem is that I have had surgery to reduce the size of my stomach. I have several friends who have also had this done. Recently one of them went to the St Cloud Old County Buffet. We all have cards from our surgeons asking that we be charged for a child's portion. My friend had used her card at this location before. However this time she was told by the clerk and the manager that they no longer honor the card per an email from the corp. office. How sad!! The gastric by-pass surgery reduces the stomach to the size of your thumb. It can only hold a few bites of food. The maximum is usually less than a cup. There are many many foods that can't be eaten at all including anything with sugar. The last time I went out to eat I was able to eat one chicken wing segment and 3 slices of cooked carrot. Do you see why I have a problem paying $7-$10 for my meal? My 3 year old eats at least 4 times as much as I do. I don't expect to pay the price of a 3 year old, but at least allow me to be charged fairly such as the price for oldest child level or seniors. I don't mind paying for an adult meal at a regular place because I get THAT amount of food and can take it home and have several meals from it. However at a buffet this is not an option. People are not allowed to take leftovers. It is grossly unfair to those of use who have had this procedure done. No one is out to cheat you for 1/2 the price of a meal. The cards come from a surgeon and are only given to patients who have already had the surgery and are cleared to eat regular food. It is sad to see that you have lost the money my family and friends would have paid you because you didn't want to charge me a fair price. Not only did you not get the cost of my meal but theirs as well. I will be posting a copy of this letter on a gastric by-pass web site that has over 148,000 members and sharing it with my local support group. I hope you see this situation in a different light and make some changes. ************************** Dear Ms. XXXXXX Thank you for taking the time to email us regarding your concerns on our policy of not giving discounts to our guests who have had gastric bypass surgery. We strive to provide all of our guests with a superior dining experience at a fair price. As you can imagine, the individual preferences and needs of our customers differ considerably, yet we have found overwhelming support for the notion of pricing consistency and predictability. In fact, our one-price approach is one of the central features of our buffet-style of service and it is a key reason why customers frequent our restaurant in lieu of establishments that charge on a per-item basis or one tied to portion size. As you can see, we cannot honor your discount request. Again, thank you for taking the time to write us. We value your opinions and feedback. Sincerely, Michelle Miller Guest Relations Representative Ref # 20533 ************************************************************************************************** You and your company disappointment to the extreme! If you "have found overwhelming support for the notion of pricing consistency and predictability" and "strive to provide all of our guests with a superior dining experience at a fair price" then you darn well better start charging the SAME PRICE FOR EVERYONE INCLUDING ALL CHILDREN AND SENIORS! By charging them less you are in fact practicing age discrimination based on the age of your guests. Why should a 48 year old man be charged more than a 4 year old or 86 year old??? Fair price my eye! My guess is your response is going to be that they don't eat as much as an average adult. Well guess what? People who have had gastric by-pass surgery can't even eat 1/2 as much as a 4yr old and are much less likely to waste unwanted food. We know what we can and can't eat as well as how much. In the past when we have been your "guests" I have seen countless plates of uneaten food that children think they want or their parents think the child wants. In the end it gets thrown out because the child can't eat any more or refuses to eat it. You need to wake up and smell the roses! This refusal to accommodate someone with a medical need will cost you a lot of business. I will be sure to share your shallow minded uninformed policy with everyone I know.

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