July 11, 2006
D.C. Residents Forced to Pay for Their Slurpees
Today, on the 11th of July, or 7/11, the convenience store by the same name celebrates its birthday. On a day that ranks right up there with free Ben & Jerry’s cone day, Krispy Crème Kreme donut day, and Starbucks Coffee day, hoards of people flock to the ubiquitous corner store to receive a complimentary, yet surprisingly small dose of frozen sugary goodness: the Slurpee. Upon reading a recent press release, we got excited to step out on our lunch break and pick up a slushy cherry-coke, or maybe try the new flavor with the enticing, though somewhat nauseating marketing slogan, “Looks purple,” but “Tastes vanilla.”
This year is 7-Eleven's 79th year in business, longer than any other convenience retailer in the world. To celebrate, participating 7-Eleven® stores across America will serve up 3 million free 7.11-ounce Slurpee® drinks in special "Happy Birthday!" cups to customers as long as the cups last.
But don’t run out the door just yet. With a little investigating, we discovered that the D.C. stores are not "participating" in this free-for-all. There haven’t been any signs or advertisements, and an anonymous, angry local 7-11 worker with whom we spoke over the phone shouted that we would have to buy our Slurpees just like everyone else. So we went straight to the source and contacted the 7-11 headquarters in Dallas, Texas. Apparently, as the customer service agent explained, only the corporate stores in Texas, Florida and Canada are taking part in the birthday celebration, while franchise establishments such as those in D.C. force us to suffer and--GASP--actually pay for our icy beverage.
A message to 7-11: our mouths are dry, and we aren't moving to Canada. We'll let you find a way to make it up to us, just not in the form of "Free Day-Old Taquito" or "Free The-Last Shriveled Up Big Bite on the Grill" Day.
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I don't understand DCist's fascination with free product days. You generally wait in a long line for a trial or kid's size of a product that is less than $5.
Also, as someone who has been on the other side of the counter during these promotions, I can say that it totally sucks for the workers. You get people who think that they are entitled by the Constitution to their free whatever. And of course it's the employees' fault when supplies run out.
Wait, what planet are you from? Who doesn't love free stuff?
Wait, what planet are you from? Who doesn't love free stuff?
You certainly mean "Krispy Kreme." There is certainly no pretentious grave accent in the branding of a good old Southern donut. That said, the 7-Elevens in Michigan did the free Slurpee promotion.
That is horrible! Offering a free slurpee day and then not executing is the biggest neckbone of all time. And yes, it is the employees' fault when supplies run out. They should have been better prepared for the day. I mean, this is like the 711-equivalent of Christmas. It is your fault if you don't get enough presents on Christmas, and the same applies here! The fact that D.C. Sevies aren't celebrating the holiday makes me both angry and sad.
I'm sure you're just playing the part.. but in most of these places, the counter employees do not decide how much supplies should be ordered.
As they say, time is money. Standing in line on an 85º day for 7 ounces (a mere 57 drams).. not worth it to me. By all means, if that pleases you, go ahead.
What confuses me is why these blatant marketing gimmicks are always given free air on DCist (even when they don't actually occur!)
Hee - I remember two years ago, within a few months of the Gtown Chipotle opening, they had a free burrito day. Rumor got around that the manager had decided to offer the free promo purely to either punish or at least put his employees through hell to make them more efficient. With lines of college kids stretching over two blocks down, I guess he made his point.
Maybe just the calls and harassment about free slurpie day are enough to punish the 7-11 employees?
Geez do any of you know how to take a joke on here? Believe me, everyone can relate to the plight of the poor 7/11 employees. Sheesh. Get over it, theyre adults, I'm sure they can handle a few free slushy requests without having a mental breakdown. When I worked in food service, we'd get the occasional wackjob expecting a free ride for whatever reason, but those kind of people will always be around, whether or not there's a stupid promotion to get them excited or not.
The author was just making an observation about how 7/11 made a strange marketing decision by excluding DC in their little promotion. That's all.
7/11 didn't make that marketing decision. The independent franchise operators did. It's not some slight towards DC.. the post notes that a vast majority of the country was not included in this promotion.
Yes thank you for telling me how a franchise works.
Also, to make a correction, 7/11 excluded DC as well as other areas. Is that OK now?
Yes thank you for telling me how a franchise works.
Also, to make a correction, 7/11 excluded DC as well as other areas. Is that OK now?
Yes thank you for telling me how a franchise works.
Also, to make a correction, 7/11 excluded DC as well as other areas. Is that OK now?
Yes thank you for telling me how a franchise works.
Also, to make a correction, 7/11 excluded DC as well as other areas. Is that OK now?
Yes thank you for telling me how a franchise works.
Also, to make a correction, 7/11 excluded DC as well as other areas. Is that OK now?
This is a horrible, unforgivable transgression. We've ALL been slighted!
Yes thank you for telling me how a franchise works.
Also, to make a correction, 7/11 excluded DC as well as other areas. Is that OK now?
Ha, i got my free 7.11 ounces of frosty goodness at the Takoma sleven. And I am pretty sure it is less than 50 yards inside the DC line.
non-slurpee SUCKAAS.
Thank You! Come Again!
Yes thank you for telling me how a franchise works.
Also, to make a correction, 7/11 excluded DC as well as other areas. Is that OK now?
Yes thank you for telling me how a franchise works.
Also, to clarify: they excluded DC as well as other areas. Is that OK now?
Taxation without Slurpeefication! I'm outraged!!!!
Yes thank you for telling me how a franchise works.
Also, to clarify: they excluded DC as well as other areas. Is that better?
Whoa balls, sorry everyone, I just tagged "Post" a million times because the stupid server was down. My bad.
that is absolutely hert. I am sitting here in alexandria and there is a sevies that i could walk to in literally two minutes, and after hearing about the free slurpee day (aka sevies christmas) I was like, "i'm not surprised because sevies is freaking amazing." Then when I heard the promotion was only taking place in a handful of states I couldn't do anything but go out and get high on drugs.
Sevies should realize their resposibility to the communites not just in their major states, but all around the world. Please don't discriminate against me sevies, I am one of your most loyal customers.
One love.
Contgratulations xr3! You're officially the first nonuple poster in DCist history.
Got my free slurpee at 7-11 in Ballston. It's slightly larger than a dixie cup but so delicious since it was free.
I went on a free slurpee spree today in Tenleytown, somewhere on Lee Highway in Arlington and one of the 7/11's off of Wilson around Clarendon.
Then I slurpeed my pants.