What’s up with the new Burger King guarantee? Do other fast-food places have similar policies?

Digital Curator

Burger King is offering a new promotion that might sound too good to be true.

It’s called the “Whopper Guarantee.”

According to the fast-food company’s press release, if a Whopper, Burger King’s flagship sandwich, does not meet a customer’s expectations, they will not only receive a remade Whopper that meets their standards but also a coupon for a free future Whopper.

“When Guests choose us, they expect high-quality food, orders made the way they asked, and a team that’s there when they need us,” said Tom Curtis, president of Burger King U.S. and Canada. “That’s what these changes are about. We’re raising the standard in our restaurants, so every Guest feels like they made the right choice.”

Dissatisfied customers can retrieve the coupon for the free Whopper by scanning a QR code on the inside of the box. They will receive a six-digit code that can be used in the future for a free burger.

The Whopper Guarantee is part of the company’s renewed push to improve customer satisfaction. Burger King is also introducing a new position at its restaurants called a “Your Way Champion.” The managerial position will focus solely on customer service.

While Burger King’s new promotion seems bold, it is not a new practice.

In the 1990s, McDonald’s offered a similar promise, extending the money-back guarantee to its entire menu. The company eventually phased it out.

In the 1980s, Domino’s infamously offered a “30 minutes or less” promotion that guaranteed a customer’s order would be free if it took longer than 30 minutes to deliver. That promotion was ended after several fatal traffic accidents and ensuing lawsuits.

Today, most fast-food restaurants will replace an item or provide a refund if a customer has a real problem with the food, but none have an explicit money-back policy.

The only food service companies that rival Burger King’s promise are some grocery chains.

Aldi offers the “Twice As Nice Guarantee,” which promises 100% satisfaction or your money back and a replacement item. Giant Eagle, a Pittsburgh-based supermarket chain with stores throughout Pennsylvania, Ohio, West Virginia, Indiana and Maryland, pledges that with its store-brand products, if a customer is not satisfied, the store will give them double their money back.

Trader Joe’s also offers customers their money back or a replacement if they aren’t pleased with Trader Joe’s private label products.