The Frosty Devolution
The Frosty is one of the greatest fast-food desserts on the market today, for only $0.99 you can get a very satisfying ’small’ frosty - and have been able to do so for years. It has long been tradition to get one of these with my meal and put it in the refrigerator when I got home. By the time I finish with my Spicy Chicken Sandwich and Jr. Bacon Cheeseburger, I have long since forgotten about the treasure in the freezer. Just when I think I’ve run out of Wendy’s-food-goodness, Surprise!
Recently, Wendy’s added a Vanilla flavored Frosty - a move that has my unequivocal approval. Yet, my wholesale pleasure with the Frosty line of products came to a halt yesterday with the purchase of the latest permutation of the dessert.
Behold, the Fix-n-Mix Vanilla Frosty, the latest in Frosty products from Wendy’s (TM). I pulled up to the window seeing this and thought that I had hit the jackpot. This appeared to be a cross between a Frosty and a Dairy Queen Blizzard - a Frosty with toppings. Potentially Amazing. My expectations were sorely undercut by the actual eating experience. What’s wrong with the Fix-n-Mix?
1. The Advertising Is Misleading
The picture above is essentially the same picture I saw at the drive through. Don’t let it fool you, there are a couple of things you must know. Fact A: displaying ice cream at an angle makes it seem like you are getting more. The size of this dessert is insanely small, especially considering how much you are used to getting for your money when you buy a Frosty. I’d say that it’s roughly 1/4 the size of a regular medium Frosty. Fact B: The toppings are not actually on the desert. What’s this you say? They’re already on the Frosty in the picture! Yeah, well, see my second point:
2. You Have To Do The Work Yourself
Imagine my horror when I was handed a small little cup of frosty with no topping, seconds later to be provided with a separate bag of pre-crushed M&Ms. We live in an era where even McDonald’s will pre-mix your toppings; it seems a little medieval to expect your customers to prepare their own desserts. Suddenly my after-dinner surprise has turned into an after-dinner chore.
There is absolutely no indication that you’re going to have to make your own Frosty dessert, but the “Fix-n-Mix” title is just enough to mock you after you’ve already bought it. They should title it the “You Fix Your Own Frosty, We’re Busy” Dessert. After doing some quick economics, I disdainfully realize that it would be cheaper for me to negotiate with a Wendy’s staff person to mix it for me rather than expend the time to do it myself.
As an aside, I found it amusing that Mars is able to find a market for defectively crushed M&Ms.
3. It’s A Ripoff
OK, so you’re getting 3/4 less Frosty, and you’re mixing your own toppings. How much do you expect to pay for this privilege? $1.39. The same price as a medium Frosty. Sucker.
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why can’t they simply allow us to purchase a regular frosty, and then buy a ten cent pack of candy crumbs? Because some kid is going to harass their parents into buying the “fix-n-mix” special. Parents need to straighten up and grab the reins. Your children don’t understand the mistake they’re making; that’s why you are there to parent them, and say “no.” I’ve got an even better idea for Wendy’s. How about they charge you extra and give you less frosty for a “fix-n-go buy the mix-and crush it yourself.” See, it would be a frosty in which you A) got a lot less, and then B) you stop at the nearest convenience store and purchase your favorite topping, and then C) you crush the topping, then add it to your frosty. SO MUCH FUN!!! There are so many benefits for the consumer using this method. First of all, a plethera of topping possibilities open up! There is a only a very small selection of crumbled candy toppings at Wendy’s. But with the shelf of your local convenience store, who knows what crazy combinations you could devise! Second of all, you have the ability to say hey, you know, I don’t really want to crush my candy, I think I’ll throw it in my frosty whole. I don’t see anything bad here.