A&W Canada — Restaurant in Medicine Hat

We usually go to this A&W every time we pass through Redcliff; however, after my last incident there, I will not be returning.

On December 27th, give or take 2 days, every electronic payment system stopped working. This meant that no debit machine was working.

Originally, the cashier and I thought that it was my card. So, we tried all 4 of my cards, along with my family members cards. None of them worked. The cashier started to try all the different debit machines; and 15 minutes later, he told us that they were only accepting cash-only options.

We admitted that we do not carry cash, but had mentioned that the food was already prepared, and asked if they were just going to throw it away. The cashier said, “yes, we just have to throw it away,” which didn’t make sense because the food was worth $60. We kindly asked if they could give us the meal, since it was neither of our faults, and because we waited patiently while the A&W workers had tried to figure out what the issue was.

I’ve only had one previous experience with a debit machine crashing DURING my order. It was at a Wendy’s and the staff happily gave me my meal for free considering they didn’t want it to go to waste.

So when this similar incident happened years later, I was disappointed in A&W.

No, they absolutely should not give everyone in the drive-thru free meals. Albeit, we were alone in the drive-thru for 10 minutes before other cars started appearing.

We contributed our time into figuring out what went wrong with the payments, yet were treated with so little respect.

Either way - if A&W gave us that meal for free, or if they threw it in the garbage, they would be losing $60. Unless they kept the burgers; waited for somebody to come along and order the same thing, and give them non-fresh items. Trust me, at that point, it’d already been 15 minutes.

The people behind us were already informed that it was cash-only at that point, and therefore, no food was made. We were the ones who waited in that drive-thru, and ultimately ended up discovering the problem alongside the staff.

We ended up leaving the location, disappointed, and went to McDonald’s. The McDonald’s is literally directly across from A&W, and we had a happy experience there - as always.

The incident at this A&W has lost my family and...

19 Oct, 2025 Time: 6:05pm Day: Sunday

The girl at the counter was very rude and seemed like she was discriminating because I am not Canadian. The first experience in any branch of A&W. I said discriminating because she helped other customers to serve food on table except us. She didn't gave any smile and spoke barely unlike other customers. When I requested to change my drink, she rudely said, "Whatever is other side of the counter, it's yours. You have to pay extra". There was no politeness in the word. I understand that it was my mistake to order wrong but that doesn't give her any authority to be rude and discriminating. The girl's face is round, short little curly hair and without glasses. Besides, the poutine gravy was too less. I decided to not complain as she already have so much attitude. Worst A&W. Better NOT...

As a worker, when something goes wrong with an order or an experience with customers you try and fix it the best you can. You want your customers to come back. Father's Day our son goes to get food. Comes home with an order that was short of burger even though they had said it was correct at the window. So they figured no need to check. Three packs of onion rings. All half full what happened to feeling to the top. We all work out good money and get half the food. So son has to go back get a burger and eat by himself on Father's Day. Commented about the onion rings and were laughed at in his face. Next time after a little respect maybe give a free voucher for the time that was wasted for a Father's Day meal. And gas to have to come back and...