Watch Live: Obama’s Counterterrorism Speech

Watch Today’s BlazeCast With Your Questions, Comments & Live Chat!

Business

Backpedal: Arby’s Immediately Regrets its Decision to Block Customers on Twitter

Apr. 9, 2012 9:00pm Becket Adams

When Arby’s announced last week that it was pulling its ads from the Rush Limbaugh program, several (likely) conservative customers criticized the fast food chain via Twitter, The Blaze reported.

Backpedal: Arbys Immediately Regrets its Decision to Block Customers on Twitter

Arby’s responded to these critics by straight-up blocking them on Twitter. Not the smartest move: many customers viewed the Twitter-blockings as amateurish and childish.

Now it looks like the fast food restaurant is desperately trying to undo its self-imposed PR nightmare by unblocking the critical customers:

However, as unprofessional as it was to block customers in the first place, Arby’s isn’t doing itself any favors by quietly unblocking them.

See, usually if you tick off your customers, you should publicly apologize or release some sort of official statement. Nope. Not for Arby’s. The “unblockings” have gone unannounced and largely unnoticed.

“Arby’s does damage control as effectively as it handles social media outreach,” Twitchy reports, “No announcement, no apologies, and no offers of all-you-can-eat curly fries.”

Unsurprisingly, covert “unblockings” haven’t done much to help win over already annoyed customers:

What do you think?

Do you think Arby’s decision to unblock customers is sufficient? That is, will this be enough to win back people who were already irritated with the restaurant’s decision to jump on the “Censure Rush Limbaugh” bandwagon?

Click here to see more Tweets from customers who were blocked and then unblocked.

In CONTROL, Glenn Beck presents a passionate, fact-based case for guns that reveals why gun control isn’t really about controlling guns at all; it’s about controlling us. Find out more HERE.

Back to The Blaze »

Comments (187)

vindocusa
Posted on April 9, 2012 at 9:27pm
If you won’t listen to your customers, you won’t be in business. Knee jerk reactions kill companies all the time. Arby’s should have taken it slow. Several of Rush Limbaugh’s sponsors are losing customers quickly. Carbonite stocks dived from our last sell off, and more are dropping service. Companies must be patient, and wait for the wave to calm down before reacting.

Report this comment
Log in to ReplyReply
- FreedomPurveyor
  Posted on April 9, 2012 at 10:19pm
  As ridiculous as this is, I’m still going to go to Arby’s when I get a hankering for a Reuben sandwich or curly fries. The decisions of some doofuses in PR do not affect product quality.
  
  Having said that, I totally understand the sentiment. Companies like this are falling for this goofy liberal campaign to silence Rush. It is really absurdly pathetic.
  
  Report this comment
- lukerw
  Posted on April 9, 2012 at 10:23pm
  Better, yet… if you really are Liberal Socialists, then Give Away your Product… or, if just Incompetent, then Resign!
  
  Report this comment
- IndyGuy
  Posted on April 9, 2012 at 10:23pm
  Stick a fork in Arby’s…It’s done…
  
  Report this comment
- TheCoffinMaker
  Posted on April 9, 2012 at 10:34pm
  I tried one of their sandwiches at the Hillsborough St. location in Raleigh.
  
  I got so sick I never went back.
  
  That was over 6 years ago but I remember it like it was yesterday.
  
  Report this comment
- DownWithDems
  Posted on April 9, 2012 at 10:49pm
  No Arbys, No Kraft, No Home Depot, No Progressive Insurance
  
  Report this comment
- @leftfighter
  Posted on April 9, 2012 at 10:58pm
  What do I think about it?
  
  Well, having been an adversary of Angelo Carusone AKA @StopBeck AKA @StopRush AKA admitted Soros-signs-his-paycheck-geek-in-his-mom’s-basement for only about 4 years now… probably back to inside my first 1000 tweets.
  
  The guy is a joke. A minor blogger, Dem operative, and ultimately a herpe on a mite on a tick on a dog’s **** in the grand scheme of things.
  
  He’s still claiming “victory” from when Glenn left Fox (umm… he’s only got his own network now, loser) and now he’s claiming victories because he got advertisers who don’t advertise on Rush’s show to not advertise on Rush’s show, just like he did with Glenn’s show.
  
  Whooptie freakin’ doo!!
  
  I can’t honestly remember the last time I ever even heard an Arby’s commercial on Rush or a Walgreen’s commercial at all, on either TV or radio.
  
  I don’t know why Arby’s even bothered giving him any time. All he succeeded in doing was make them look terrible to people who used to eat their food, and at the end of the day, he’s just costing them money because they p*ss*d people off enough to stop eating there. In other words, he’s succeeding in keeping an American company from potential future profits. That is, afterall, the Dems’ way.
  
  Report this comment
- riseandshine
  Posted on April 9, 2012 at 11:41pm
  @Freedom Purveyor……I’m with you there, and I’m sure most of the people viewing this are too, including 1/2 the people who said they wouldn’t eat there anymore, I would guess. Maybe I’m wrong, who knows.
  
  Report this comment
- Servant Of YHVH
  Posted on April 10, 2012 at 12:06am
  @DownWithDems
  “No Arbys, No Kraft, No Home Depot, No Progressive Insurance”
  
  Don’t forget “No Wendy’s” because they were fairly recently bought by Arby’s so they are an Arby’s company now.
  
  Report this comment
- rawmilker
  Posted on April 10, 2012 at 12:25am
  Support your local Mom & Pop Barbeque joints. In the next town over, we have a place called “Big Guys BBQ” it blows Arbys away AND that garbage they serve @ Sonny’s…..yuuk,,,,Arbys & Sonnys are GARBAGE!
  
  Report this comment
- Smokey_Bojangles
  Posted on April 10, 2012 at 12:51am
  If You Eat at That Crap house,You deserve to get sick. THEIR RUBEN SUCKS!!!!
  
  Report this comment
- db321
  Posted on April 10, 2012 at 1:24am
  Hey Arby’s – you just now took the top spot away from Zippo Lighters for Marketing Suicide – Zippo turned down the Disposable lighter – so the designer of the plastic lighter when to Big Pin company and they said yes. Zippo is a great lighter – but stupid Marketing people. Are they still around!
  
  Arby’s your in Bed with Obama and when his Occupied movement gets finished with you – Arby’s will be run by Obama’s drunk brother.
  
  I witnessed Rush single handedly save Am Radio – one of my AM Radio Reps came in one day and said – the hottest Talk Show program on Radio is Rush. I replied what’s a Rush. She showed me the Rating and I was blown away. What is even more increadable is that the majority of Rush Listeners tune in the whole time – unprecedented. Been buying Rush programing since. It is the best place to reach up scale audience in the 35 to 64 age group.
  
  Report this comment
- MCDAVE
  Posted on April 10, 2012 at 2:44am
  It is mistake for any business to publicly choose a political side…you are going to be damaged either way…keep the politics out of your business..I don’t eat at Mc Donalds because i can’t stomach the CNN on the wide screen TV..
  
  Report this comment
- wolverine
  Posted on April 10, 2012 at 6:49am
  @Freedompurveyor
  If your idea of a good reuben sandwich is the one Arby’s produces your sick
  
  Report this comment
- lillymckim
  Posted on April 10, 2012 at 8:57am
  Arby’s its become very apparent you do not believe in this great countries freedom of speech first with Rush and now with “twitter”!
  Twitter where people go to express”freedom of speech”!
  
  This is the USA ARBY’S and we are still free to speak!
  
  Well.. at least and it depends on who is elected in 285 days
  .
  Arbys aligns themselves with OWS radicals and a self avowed communist the radical
  Van Jones/Color of Change and they think its good for their brand to cave to threats, blackmail and harassment?
  Ok!
  Shareholders feel the same? VERY doubtful!
  
  Report this comment
- jujubeebee
  Posted on April 10, 2012 at 9:54am
  I won’t support Arby’s. I won’t go there now.
  In the last 4 years I am taking my own personal stands against supporting those who bring politicals into the workplace……… dumped Oprah…hope her cable station O fails!…..not supporting films either. I am tired of the bullying and that is the ONLY way for me to fight back.
  If companies take positions to side with the bullies trying to run conservatives out then this is all I have at my disposal to do.
  There are other places to buy a sandwich. I don’t care if it was one executive’s decision. Let them fall on it.
  
  Report this comment
- Sarah Nicole
  Posted on April 10, 2012 at 11:11am
  Don’t forget no Pepsi. After I found out what Pepsi and Kraft does with aborted fetuses…never again. Disgusts me. Such an evil world.
  
  Report this comment
- Gonzo
  Posted on April 10, 2012 at 11:16am
  Wolverine, amen brother. If you can’t live without Arby’s, I feel sorry for you.
  
  Report this comment
- riseandshine
  Posted on April 10, 2012 at 12:59pm
  I can live without Arbys, like I can live without any other fast food. But if I feel like having some Arbys food, I’ll have me some Arbys food.
  
  Report this comment
- txn4justice
  Posted on April 10, 2012 at 1:03pm
  Capitalism always wins!
  
  Report this comment
- riseandshine
  Posted on April 10, 2012 at 1:25pm
  …I DO boycott products by the way…..I haven’t bought a Levi’s product since they quit donating to the Boy Scouts of America (remember why they quit donating?) The Boy Scouts of America is of God in my view. I don’t rate Rush Limbaugh so highly.
  
  Report this comment
- Calamity Jane
  Posted on April 10, 2012 at 1:42pm
  DownWithDems……No Home Depot?……I thought that Bernie Marcus (HD co-founder) was a conservative.
  
  Report this comment
- bombshelterbob
  Posted on April 10, 2012 at 9:48pm
  I like Arby’s food and was a regular customer, but now that the fit has hit the shan, I don’t knowingly do business with socialists-or their toadies, so b-bye Arbys. And by the way, this isn’t a boycott, they chose their side, I’m simply choosing mine.
  
  Report this comment
hogtrashhd
Posted on April 9, 2012 at 9:24pm
too late.. i had my grandkids today and took them to lunch.. we passed an arby’s and we all like arby’s but i said it’s a bad company and went to a chili parlor instead.. you shot yourselves in the foot arbys.. my grandchildren will not frequent you ever.. there are just too many other alternatives that are better than yours.. dummies..

Report this comment
Log in to ReplyReply
- Baddoggy
  Posted on April 9, 2012 at 10:03pm
  I dont eat crap carbs so all the fast food places can suck it…Gimme a steak…Hold the tater.
  
  Report this comment
- jujubeebee
  Posted on April 10, 2012 at 10:15am
  I’m with baddoggy on this. I have not eaten at Arby’s for a very LONG time but if I was eating that kind of food I would choose another fast food place.
  I know others talk big and don’t follow through but I do. I have had enough of the liberals and their pushing their stuff on us and I refuse to support their projects……I won’t turn on Oprah, or Bill Maher, or go to the movies of some of the outspoken ones shoving their stuff on us. This is the ONLY power I have against it. The propaganda has gotten really bad over the last few years. These people have made millions with capitalism and are influencing alot of people with their views. Let them keep their millions or stick it in Obama’s pocket but I refuse to support them. I wrote to Beck’s sponsors when that whole contraversy came up. I am just sick of the bullying. That is what the left does and it is time to push back and give them what they have shoved upon us. Van Jones should not be winning this battle. There are enough people who disagree with his views to do the same boycotting back. Let the fight begin because I will fight back.
  
  Report this comment
TRILO
Posted on April 9, 2012 at 9:23pm
These people need to realize that while some of their customers call themselves liberals there are plenty of others that do not. These companies need to get out of politics and just sell their preservative filled products they call food.

Personally I could care less how it impacts them. They are fast food and I do not eat the poison that any of these companies sell.

Report this comment
Log in to Reply Reply
kangaroo
Posted on April 9, 2012 at 9:23pm
It boggles the mind that alot of people just don’t read the news or relize what is going on around them. Did Arbys miss the memo of DON”T boycott Rush. Geeze it was only a few weeks ago companies that did that grovelled to the lovable little fuzz ball, plus he got bookoo more listeners.

Bloody hell Odictator may have half a bloody chance of getting reelected cause of these clueless twits.

Report this comment
Log in to Reply Reply
coldarkstare
Posted on April 9, 2012 at 9:23pm
screw you arby’s lame food, lame management

Report this comment
Log in to Reply Reply
Docroxall
Posted on April 9, 2012 at 9:21pm
Good, perhaps I can continue to purchase your good product…I hope you FIRE the political ignoramus that made this decision…PUTZ!

Report this comment
Log in to Reply Reply
rlewispitt
Posted on April 9, 2012 at 9:21pm
Good bye Arby’s. The only way I’ll ever set foot in your restaurants again is when I hear that your CEO and the board of directors have all been fired and replaced by non-biased, non-political, members that want to run a restaurant, not stick your nose into politics. I went there to have lunch, not to voice or to hear a political opinion. You should all be ashamed.

Report this comment
Log in to ReplyReply
- angelcat
  Posted on April 9, 2012 at 9:57pm
  I’m with you. I have permanently blocked Arby’s unless there is an apology forthcoming as well as the suggestions you made.
  
  Report this comment
Epic Fail
Posted on April 9, 2012 at 9:21pm
Subway please don’t remove adds from Rush!! I don’t know what I’d do if I had to add Subway to my do not buy list!!!

Report this comment
Log in to ReplyReply
- possom
  Posted on April 9, 2012 at 9:41pm
  You got that right arby’s con move to pakistan for all I care but subway’s gotta stay.
  
  Report this comment
- avgconservative
  Posted on April 9, 2012 at 10:53pm
  The good news is that Subway is owned by individuals who don’t give two flips about politics. They want to run a business and can’t afford to hack off anyone. Liberals money is a good as conservatives. Black money is as good as hispanic, white, Indian, asian.
  
  Get a clue, Arby’s. You best fire the incompetent knucklehead that may close your franchise.
  
  Report this comment
- objectivetruth
  Posted on April 10, 2012 at 9:51am
  You might want to consider Subway on your no go list.The company is owned[unless its changed hands]by foriegn nationals[mid eastern].Its a franchise and some of the local owners are american born and bred.True hometown.However they are just as likely as not to be foriegn nationals.In my area almost all are owned by foriegn nationals[95 % mid easterners.I won't eat at them nor work for them for that reason alone.
  I don't trust that the money I pay them for a sandwich won't end up being laundered .I don't trust my id not to be smuggled over seas for nefarious purposes either.[Its why I won't work for them.]
  
  Report this comment
deron
Posted on April 9, 2012 at 9:17pm
Their signature roast beef is actually chicken beaks dissolved in beef fatty acids. Hence the monochromatic look and texture.

No lie. i stopped eating there around 16yrs ago when i found out.

Report this comment
Log in to ReplyReply
- kangaroo
  Posted on April 9, 2012 at 9:27pm
  Good grief! Thats what that stuff is. I ate there once and saw the meat looked very dodgey never ate there again.
  
  Report this comment
- Smoovious
  Posted on April 10, 2012 at 4:51am
  mmmmm…. chicken beaks…. yum….
  
  that’s some good eatin’ there
  
  Report this comment
- appleii717
  Posted on April 10, 2012 at 8:47pm
  I kinda though it was Soylent Brown. They maybe going after a contract with Obama to help the death panels dispose of their work.
  
  Report this comment
Smokey_Bojangles
Posted on April 9, 2012 at 9:17pm
Gee,What Do We Do..Act like Cry baby Commies or Figure out that most of our customers are conservative,,,,hmmm.When Arby’s was militant Anti-Second Amendment the Gun rights people got them to change to Local and state laws instead of being Pro-Criminal.You would have thought that they had learned their lesson.

Report this comment
Log in to Reply Reply
Laus Deo
Posted on April 9, 2012 at 9:17pm
Stupid capitalism..

Report this comment
Log in to Reply Reply
ebw1957
Posted on April 9, 2012 at 9:17pm
if I ate at Arby’s I’m sure I would get sick,
instead I’ll head to Subway- that will do the trick.

way too little… WAY too late.

Report this comment
Log in to ReplyReply
- Smokey_Bojangles
  Posted on April 9, 2012 at 9:19pm
  I have gotten sick both time I have ate there.I was dumb enough to try again.
  
  Report this comment
chips1
Posted on April 9, 2012 at 9:15pm
They are doing the same that Obama does. First he says he is muslim, then he back tracks. That doesn’t work in America. Try Arbys in Kenya!!!

Report this comment
Log in to Reply Reply
chasegrace
Posted on April 9, 2012 at 9:14pm
First Coca Cola (defunding ALEC), now Arby’s……..bye bye!

Report this comment
Log in to ReplyReply
- hogtrashhd
  Posted on April 9, 2012 at 9:29pm
  yeah.. it’s rough.. no more coke or kraft mayo for me ever.. sorry it’s over.. Hellmann’s mayo is it i guess.. crap… i love my bacon, tomato, lettuce with kraft mayo.. boo hoo.. i mean it.. i love my blt’s with kraft mayo.. and coke is my favorite cola… oh, well it’s for a good cause..
  
  Report this comment
FloridaFarmGirl
Posted on April 9, 2012 at 9:13pm
Too late! Enough is enough!! Never purchase anything from Arby’s again.

Report this comment
Log in to Reply Reply
Magyar
Posted on April 9, 2012 at 9:11pm
This is what happens when some STUPID low level liberal makes a company decision and the news finally reaches corporate headquarters! Too bad—This is quite easy to counter–DON’T eat at Arby’s! ..You won’t miss anything—.the food sucks!

Report this comment
Log in to Reply Reply
Stoic one
Posted on April 9, 2012 at 9:11pm
Corporations playing a dicey game with putting out PC opinions. These opinions are a minority within the shareholders and their customers. Sound principles would make a far better platform from which to run a public relations program.

Report this comment
Log in to Reply Reply
Psychosis
Posted on April 9, 2012 at 9:11pm
arby’s sucks

i wentthru the drive thru yesterday, placed a 50 dollar order, then when i got up to the window i gave them a boycott post card and drove off

boy the manager was MAD lol

Report this comment
Log in to ReplyReply
- Darmok and Jalad at Tanagra
  Posted on April 9, 2012 at 9:14pm
  Not cool. To go there and order that food and drive off puts you in the same category as the OWS POS. Don’t buy food from them, but don’t directly cost a company money like that. Shame.
  
  Report this comment
- Psychosis
  Posted on April 9, 2012 at 9:28pm
  @ darmok
  
  point taken
  
  but im tired of being nice its about time they got a taste of their own medicine
  
  Report this comment
- mottdahoop
  Posted on April 9, 2012 at 11:35pm
  Yah, not cool, my friend. We do stuff like that we are no better than they are. I gotta admit it would be tempting, but all it does is to help destroy the food cost at the local level. The Manager of that unit pays the price, not the corporate folks who make the stupid decisions.
  
  Report this comment
bm1967
Posted on April 9, 2012 at 9:09pm
Stay out of politics and stick to your burgers.

Report this comment
Log in to ReplyReply
- jzs
  Posted on April 9, 2012 at 9:23pm
  Probably the best business decision Arby’s has ever made is to stop advertising on Rush. Sad for the store here or there where costumers actually listen to Rush and are offended by Arby’s dropping their advertisements. There could be some I admit.
  
  But Arby’s knew what it was doing when it dropped Rush, as did IBM, AOL and the 65 other companies that have withdrawn their advertisements. Face it folks, the is capitalism. When you advertise on a show that offends more of you customers than it pleases, and especially when show makes remarks that offend almost everybody, then you pull your ads. Simple economics. Stay or go? Which makes you the most money? Very few have stayed after Rush’s most recent remarks.
  
  I love the free market system! Don’t you?
  
  Report this comment
- dugirl232
  Posted on April 9, 2012 at 9:44pm
  JZS below doesn’t understand that where his 65 he thinks left just meant there were 130 ready to tke their place? Arby’s sucks. my hubby always thought I was crazy but now that they were stupid enough to drop rush I never have to go back!!!
  
  Report this comment
- SoupSammich
  Posted on April 9, 2012 at 9:52pm
  JZS
  When you do your little searches for Rush’s markets and you see the numbers, do you get an anti thrill up your leg, or just straight forward lib type thrill? Who knew JZS was a ditto head. Wonders never cease.
  
  Report this comment
- jzs
  Posted on April 9, 2012 at 10:30pm
  dugirl232, Arby’s has a deal going where you can get a beef and chedder, fries and a drink for $4 (plus tax). Tell you’re hubby that. It’s a steal!
  
  Did I say 65? Looks like it’s closer to 100:
  http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/plum-line/post/rush-limbaugh-losing-more-advertisers/2012/03/12/gIQAUNRm7R_blog.html
  
  Report this comment
Darmok and Jalad at Tanagra
Posted on April 9, 2012 at 9:09pm
Sorry, your food still sucks. And at King Soopers, Ed McCaffery’s Horseradish Sauce is very close to Arby’s, I found a substitute.

Report this comment
Log in to ReplyReply
- copatriots
  Posted on April 9, 2012 at 9:19pm
  Colorado Proud! :-)
  
  Report this comment
- Darmok and Jalad at Tanagra
  Posted on April 9, 2012 at 11:15pm
  @COPATRIOTS
  Try his stuff. He has 3 kinds of mustards, very tasty and the Horseradish sauce. That really is almost like the Arbys horsey sauce. Excellent on burgers, prime rib, what ever. And it doesn’t overpower you. The mustards are also very excellent. And the money supports his charities. If you like BBQ sauce, Terrel Davis has a line at King Soopers. It is Southeast style, very Georgian. He uses his Grandmas recipe. There are some gems at King Soopers if you look. What I like is it supports local charities and buisnesses. Not Kraft.
  
  Report this comment
whatthecrazy
Posted on April 9, 2012 at 9:09pm
No matter, thier food leaves alot to be desired.

Report this comment
Log in to Reply Reply
000degrees
Posted on April 9, 2012 at 9:07pm
Still going to Subway……..

Report this comment
Log in to Reply Reply
Epic Fail
Posted on April 9, 2012 at 9:05pm
Add Arbys to the don’t buy list…

Report this comment
Log in to Reply Reply
copatriots
Posted on April 9, 2012 at 9:05pm
Too late

Too late

Too late

Too late for Arby love.

Next time, Arby’s……. aim first, then shoot.

Report this comment
Log in to Reply Reply
Treaty
Posted on April 9, 2012 at 9:04pm
Nope, not enough. Too little too late. I’ll never step foot in Arby’s again now that I know they are hostile to Conservatives.

Report this comment
Log in to ReplyReply
- Jenny Lind
  Posted on April 9, 2012 at 9:12pm
  yes to that, though I wasn’t their fan anyway. Any meat that has a multicolor sheen is not goin in my mouth.
  
  Report this comment
- Plan B
  Posted on April 9, 2012 at 11:56pm
  Agreed!
  
  Report this comment
- JACKTHETOAD
  Posted on April 10, 2012 at 12:10am
  Arby’s would make a hyena puke…
  
  Report this comment

It appears that you have Javascript Disabled. Please enable Javascript in your browser preferences for a better user experience on TheBlaze. You can not comment without Javascript enabled.