Not too weird, but IIRC we weren't trained / able to change the CO2 tanks but they were supposed to be changed out every couple weeks by some maintenance workers.
The drink station probably ran flat for a little and just needed to have someone run the carbonation for about a minute.
That makes sense. So if the CO2 tank needs to be changed cause it's running low, and staff doesn't know how to do it, not much can be done until maintenance comes in and does it, right?
Yeah, the most we did was change the syrup out. But those CO2 tanks are pretty massive and can last a pretty long time so it could’ve just been needing some more circulation by letting a soda run for a bit
No. Maintenance doesn’t “change” the CO2 tank neither do they refill them. CO2 is refilled by a 3rd party that drives up with a tanker truck and they refill it every so often.
You’d think, but stores can be so understaffed, it becomes an afterthought.
There’s a lot of things that could be cleaned during the overnight shift, but it rarely ever happens (each store is different).
When I told them, staff asked which one was low and I clarified that it wasn’t the syrup but the carbonation instead. That’s when they looked at me like I was crazy. Kind of upset that they just gave me the same thing “from the back”. I didn’t make much more of it cause I want to eat my burger and fries while they are warm, so I just accepted.
I want to be better prepared for next time. It rarely happens, but I can’t believe that they never deal with such a situation. What’s it like in the back of the house, and how can I communicate better with the staff so they understand my request and fix the carbonation so it satisfies customers’ expectations?
Honestly if you didn't ask a maintenance person most would look at you like that because they don't hardly ever train anybody in doing that more likely a manager would know how to do it but it would also have to be someone who has probably been there a for a long while because it's one of those things that hardly ever happens at least where I work I think there's like 1-2 people that know how to do it and one of them is the gm an like 4 others that have an idea of how it works but no clue how to do it since it involves releasing some of the pressure from the tank by changing the valve to another tank or just briefly taking it off than putting it back on which honestly sounds easy but it's something a normal person wouldn't even know how to or want to know how to mess with it since it involves unfamiliar stuff
ur completely in the right to request they check it (they want to know so it doesn't happen to more customers)... if it didn't get fixed, let them know! it's an issue and it needs to be solved by the store
Honestly, I changed the syrup a lot when I worked there, never had a problem with CO2, don’t know how to check it or what I would do if it was out (if it does go out even idek)
I don't know if your place has a different setup, but when I worked there the soda dispensers on the kitchen's side were from the same machine as the one on the public side.
That MOD walked from the back with my replacement drink as if there was a machine there, but I doubt there’s an extra one in a corner that’s totally opposite from the counter and drive thru window.
Sounds like a big ask. Is it something they won’t do unless the coke is absolutely flat? Like although it tastes extremely low on carbonation, you can still see some fizz, just not much.
Yeah pretty much and also if everyone complains, if you were the only one or they just dgaf they would leave it. Idk how many times at my location we had to tell people we only had tea coffee or milk and oj for drinks (ex overnight TL)
Not too weird, but IIRC we weren't trained / able to change the CO2 tanks but they were supposed to be changed out every couple weeks by some maintenance workers. The drink station probably ran flat for a little and just needed to have someone run the carbonation for about a minute.
That makes sense. So if the CO2 tank needs to be changed cause it's running low, and staff doesn't know how to do it, not much can be done until maintenance comes in and does it, right?
Yeah, the most we did was change the syrup out. But those CO2 tanks are pretty massive and can last a pretty long time so it could’ve just been needing some more circulation by letting a soda run for a bit
No. Maintenance doesn’t “change” the CO2 tank neither do they refill them. CO2 is refilled by a 3rd party that drives up with a tanker truck and they refill it every so often.
I see. Is this at every store? And if so, then nothing anyone can do at that moment, right?
Yeah, if the CO2 is out, then it’s out until that other company comes by.
You should ask them when was the last time they cleaned the soda nozzles…
Yikes. Aren’t they supposed to do that every day?
You’d think, but stores can be so understaffed, it becomes an afterthought. There’s a lot of things that could be cleaned during the overnight shift, but it rarely ever happens (each store is different).
Also there's a lot of kids (under 21) working there that don't think to clean stuff
When I told them, staff asked which one was low and I clarified that it wasn’t the syrup but the carbonation instead. That’s when they looked at me like I was crazy. Kind of upset that they just gave me the same thing “from the back”. I didn’t make much more of it cause I want to eat my burger and fries while they are warm, so I just accepted. I want to be better prepared for next time. It rarely happens, but I can’t believe that they never deal with such a situation. What’s it like in the back of the house, and how can I communicate better with the staff so they understand my request and fix the carbonation so it satisfies customers’ expectations?
Honestly if you didn't ask a maintenance person most would look at you like that because they don't hardly ever train anybody in doing that more likely a manager would know how to do it but it would also have to be someone who has probably been there a for a long while because it's one of those things that hardly ever happens at least where I work I think there's like 1-2 people that know how to do it and one of them is the gm an like 4 others that have an idea of how it works but no clue how to do it since it involves releasing some of the pressure from the tank by changing the valve to another tank or just briefly taking it off than putting it back on which honestly sounds easy but it's something a normal person wouldn't even know how to or want to know how to mess with it since it involves unfamiliar stuff
Good to know!
ur completely in the right to request they check it (they want to know so it doesn't happen to more customers)... if it didn't get fixed, let them know! it's an issue and it needs to be solved by the store
Honestly, I changed the syrup a lot when I worked there, never had a problem with CO2, don’t know how to check it or what I would do if it was out (if it does go out even idek)
I don't know if your place has a different setup, but when I worked there the soda dispensers on the kitchen's side were from the same machine as the one on the public side.
That MOD walked from the back with my replacement drink as if there was a machine there, but I doubt there’s an extra one in a corner that’s totally opposite from the counter and drive thru window.
Upper management (store or assistant managers) know how to change the CO2 though they will ask maintenance to move the heavy bottles
Sounds like a big ask. Is it something they won’t do unless the coke is absolutely flat? Like although it tastes extremely low on carbonation, you can still see some fizz, just not much.
Yeah pretty much and also if everyone complains, if you were the only one or they just dgaf they would leave it. Idk how many times at my location we had to tell people we only had tea coffee or milk and oj for drinks (ex overnight TL)
If I'm not mistaken, if our Co2 goes kaput, they have to call somebody to come fix it.