Sonic Drive-In — Restaurant in Jacksonville

Fun fact, Jacksonville, AR has 2 Sonics! 😊. I suggest going to one on W. Main Street! Avoid N 1st Street.

2 weeks ago went through the drive-thru, ordered a route 44 coke. Pulled up to window and waited patiently for the anticipated sweet nectar found in Sonic cokes. Time had passed (longer than usual…) Apparently the drive thru attendee charged me for the meal of car in front of me, who was asked pull aside a wait. The manger reversed it, told me the deets about the cancel charges and how it may appear on my statement. Great, lovely, people make mistakes, no biggie, all was good.

20 minutes ago, 12/16, went through the drive-thru ordered a route 44 coke, pulled up to the window, the same drive thru attendee took my card and walked away from the window. Didn’t think twice about it. She came back with my receipt and coke in-hand. The hand off was great and short. Drove off, looked at the receipt, and here we go again. My Route 44 turned into a $17 and change meal.

Pulled up my bank app, just to make sure… welp $17.78 is sitting there on my recent transactions. I called the Sonic, someone picks up, I explain the situation I explain I have the receipt and transaction pulled up. She asks the guy in the drive thru if his order, it matches my receipt, and then proceeds to ask for the last 4 digits of his card… (not mine, but his). I can hear his verbal response “ma’am I paid with cash, I gave her a $20”. She then asks for the last 4 of my card. It matches her paid receipt.

It gets better… she explains the cancellation process, I said, “yep, I know, went through this 2 weeks ago”. I explain I’m on my way back to get the canceled receipt. She said it’s on the counter. “Perfect!”

Pull into stall 5, buzz in, explain I’m needing the receipt I just hung up about 2 minutes ago. The voice said “okay!”…

10 minutes later I buzz in again. I see the heads pop up in the windows. Eye contact is made, no words were exchanged. Non-verbal cues are my strong suit. She comes out with the receipt. “Thank you ma’am”.

I grew up in Jacksonville, when this Sonic was the only Sonic around. It was better times then. I loved this Sonic, I loved this town. Just seems like this particular location has lost its pride, specialness, customer service. Errors are one thing, they happen, but being mindful of customers (especially wronged ones), should always be at the forefront...

This place is absolutely trifling and 100% the reason why I won’t be supporting Sonic anymore, adding then to the list with McDonalds now. I spent nearly $30 on two adult meals and a kids meal. BLT combo: they initially came out with a damn foot long. Then told me “well you already paid for it so do you just want to keep it” NO! I want what I ordered. At this point I shouldve kept the hot dog because the blt had ONE PIECE OF BACON THAT THEY CUT IN HALF on it. It was a tomato and mayo sandwich and a complete waste of money! Double cheese combo: they actually got this one right 3: wacky pack: the tenders were small like onion rings and they “ran out of toys”. Didn’t say one think until I checked and asked, but then offered an Icecream. Wouldve been nice to know they were out to start with. We got 2 strawberry slush and an ocean water. The ocean water was okay. The slush was trash and we didn’t drink them. A complete waste of money. Moral of the story, try and eat/shop local. These major chain fast food places really don’t give a damn and inflation is too high, times are too hard to waste your money. Jacksonville has some awesome local eat spots and food trucks that would actually value your money and the food is better! And sonic if you are reading this, the only thing you could do for me is give me my money back. Wish I had a receipt, but the lady attached it to the chili dog bag...

Let me be clear, I like the Sonic Drive-In franchise particularly because I have so many good memories of eating at Sonic drive-ins. This location, however, I feel doesn't do much credit to the franchise. The first serious concern was the actual drive in payment method. Their computer was broken which meant I had to check my order to make sure they clearly heard me over the intercom and had to hand them my card which worsened the experience since the whole point of paying through the terminal is to reduce the risk of spreading any sort of sickness around. They didn't appear to have included some items in my order I know they heard since they repeated it back to me. My Nerds Grape slush appeared to lack a lot of the grape flavouring. My number 12, chicken popcorn with sauce didn't have the sauce included.

Now, I'm willing to consider the possibility that today was just an off day and every bad thing that could happen did happen but I cannot in all fairness to the other Sonic drive-ins give this one a high rating. The Sonic drive-ins in Sherwood and Cabot have provided better service. After such a lack luster experience I'm just not sure how comfortable I feel...