Backpedal: Arby’s Immediately Regrets its Decision to Block Customers on Twitter
- Posted on April 9, 2012 at 9:00pm by
Becket Adams
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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.
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.
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Comments (188)
vindocusa
Posted on April 9, 2012 at 9:27pmIf 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 Post »FreedomPurveyor
Posted on April 9, 2012 at 10:19pmAs 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 Post »lukerw
Posted on April 9, 2012 at 10:23pmBetter, yet… if you really are Liberal Socialists, then Give Away your Product… or, if just Incompetent, then Resign!
Report Post »IndyGuy
Posted on April 9, 2012 at 10:23pmStick a fork in Arby’s…It’s done…
Report Post »TheCoffinMaker
Posted on April 9, 2012 at 10:34pmI 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 Post »DownWithDems
Posted on April 9, 2012 at 10:49pmNo Arbys, No Kraft, No Home Depot, No Progressive Insurance
Report Post »@leftfighter
Posted on April 9, 2012 at 10:58pmWhat 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 butt 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 Post »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 Post »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 Post »rawmilker
Posted on April 10, 2012 at 12:25amSupport 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 Post »Smokey_Bojangles
Posted on April 10, 2012 at 12:51amIf You Eat at That Crap house,You deserve to get sick. THEIR RUBEN SUCKS!!!!
Report Post »db321
Posted on April 10, 2012 at 1:24amHey 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 Post »MCDAVE
Posted on April 10, 2012 at 2:44amIt 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 Post »wolverine
Posted on April 10, 2012 at 6:49am@Freedompurveyor
Report Post »If your idea of a good reuben sandwich is the one Arby’s produces your sick
lillymckim
Posted on April 10, 2012 at 8:57amArby’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
Report Post ».
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!
jujubeebee
Posted on April 10, 2012 at 9:54amI won‘t support Arby’s. I won’t go there now.
Report Post »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.
Sarah Nicole
Posted on April 10, 2012 at 11:11amDon’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 Post »Gonzo
Posted on April 10, 2012 at 11:16amWolverine, amen brother. If you can‘t live without Arby’s, I feel sorry for you.
Report Post »riseandshine
Posted on April 10, 2012 at 12:59pmI 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 Post »txn4justice
Posted on April 10, 2012 at 1:03pmCapitalism always wins!
Report Post »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 Post »Calamity Jane
Posted on April 10, 2012 at 1:42pmDownWithDems……No Home Depot?……I thought that Bernie Marcus (HD co-founder) was a conservative.
Report Post »bombshelterbob
Posted on April 10, 2012 at 9:48pmI 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 Post »hogtrashhd
Posted on April 9, 2012 at 9:24pmtoo 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 Post »Baddoggy
Posted on April 9, 2012 at 10:03pmI dont eat crap carbs so all the fast food places can suck it…Gimme a steak…Hold the tater.
Report Post »jujubeebee
Posted on April 10, 2012 at 10:15amI’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.
Report Post »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.
TRILO
Posted on April 9, 2012 at 9:23pmThese 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 Post »kangaroo
Posted on April 9, 2012 at 9:23pmIt 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 Post »coldarkstare
Posted on April 9, 2012 at 9:23pmscrew you arby’s lame food, lame management
Report Post »Docroxall
Posted on April 9, 2012 at 9:21pmGood, perhaps I can continue to purchase your good product…I hope you FIRE the political ignoramus that made this decision…PUTZ!
Report Post »rlewispitt
Posted on April 9, 2012 at 9:21pmGood 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 Post »angelcat
Posted on April 9, 2012 at 9:57pmI’m with you. I have permanently blocked Arby’s unless there is an apology forthcoming as well as the suggestions you made.
Report Post »Epic Fail
Posted on April 9, 2012 at 9:21pmSubway 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 Post »possom
Posted on April 9, 2012 at 9:41pmYou got that right arby‘s con move to pakistan for all I care but subway’s gotta stay.
Report Post »avgconservative
Posted on April 9, 2012 at 10:53pmThe 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 Post »objectivetruth
Posted on April 10, 2012 at 9:51amYou 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.
Report Post »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.]
deron
Posted on April 9, 2012 at 9:17pmTheir 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 Post »kangaroo
Posted on April 9, 2012 at 9:27pmGood grief! Thats what that stuff is. I ate there once and saw the meat looked very dodgey never ate there again.
Report Post »Smoovious
Posted on April 10, 2012 at 4:51ammmmmm…. chicken beaks…. yum….
that‘s some good eatin’ there
Report Post »appleii717
Posted on April 10, 2012 at 8:47pmI kinda though it was Soylent Brown. They maybe going after a contract with Obama to help the death panels dispose of their work.
Report Post »Smokey_Bojangles
Posted on April 9, 2012 at 9:17pmGee,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 Post »Laus Deo
Posted on April 9, 2012 at 9:17pmStupid capitalism..
Report Post »ebw1957
Posted on April 9, 2012 at 9:17pmif 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 Post »Smokey_Bojangles
Posted on April 9, 2012 at 9:19pmI have gotten sick both time I have ate there.I was dumb enough to try again.
Report Post »chips1
Posted on April 9, 2012 at 9:15pmThey 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 Post »chasegrace
Posted on April 9, 2012 at 9:14pmFirst Coca Cola (defunding ALEC), now Arby’s……..bye bye!
Report Post »hogtrashhd
Posted on April 9, 2012 at 9:29pmyeah.. 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 Post »FloridaFarmGirl
Posted on April 9, 2012 at 9:13pmToo late! Enough is enough!! Never purchase anything from Arby’s again.
Report Post »Magyar
Posted on April 9, 2012 at 9:11pmThis 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 Post »Stoic one
Posted on April 9, 2012 at 9:11pmCorporations 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 Post »Psychosis
Posted on April 9, 2012 at 9:11pmarby’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 Post »Darmok and Jalad at Tanagra
Posted on April 9, 2012 at 9:14pmNot 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 Post »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 Post »mottdahoop
Posted on April 9, 2012 at 11:35pmYah, 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 Post »bm1967
Posted on April 9, 2012 at 9:09pmStay out of politics and stick to your burgers.
Report Post »jzs
Posted on April 9, 2012 at 9:23pmProbably 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 Post »dugirl232
Posted on April 9, 2012 at 9:44pmJZS 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 Post »SoupSammich
Posted on April 9, 2012 at 9:52pmJZS
Report Post »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.
jzs
Posted on April 9, 2012 at 10:30pmdugirl232, 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:
Report Post »http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/plum-line/post/rush-limbaugh-losing-more-advertisers/2012/03/12/gIQAUNRm7R_blog.html
Darmok and Jalad at Tanagra
Posted on April 9, 2012 at 9:09pmSorry, your food still sucks. And at King Soopers, Ed McCaffery‘s Horseradish Sauce is very close to Arby’s, I found a substitute.
Report Post »copatriots
Posted on April 9, 2012 at 9:19pmColorado Proud! :-)
Report Post »Darmok and Jalad at Tanagra
Posted on April 9, 2012 at 11:15pm@COPATRIOTS
Report Post »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.
whatthecrazy
Posted on April 9, 2012 at 9:09pmNo matter, thier food leaves alot to be desired.
Report Post »000degrees
Posted on April 9, 2012 at 9:07pmStill going to Subway……..
Report Post »Epic Fail
Posted on April 9, 2012 at 9:05pmAdd Arbys to the don’t buy list…
Report Post »copatriots
Posted on April 9, 2012 at 9:05pmToo late
Too late
Too late
Too late for Arby love.
Next time, Arby’s……. aim first, then shoot.
Report Post »Treaty
Posted on April 9, 2012 at 9:04pmNope, 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 Post »Jenny Lind
Posted on April 9, 2012 at 9:12pmyes to that, though I wasn’t their fan anyway. Any meat that has a multicolor sheen is not goin in my mouth.
Report Post »Plan B
Posted on April 9, 2012 at 11:56pmAgreed!
Report Post »JACKTHETOAD
Posted on April 10, 2012 at 12:10amArby’s would make a hyena puke…
Report Post »