Did Chuck E. Cheese Give The Middle Finger To My 4-Year-Old?

[Ralph Wiggum]

Last Sunday, Corbin went with his family to celebrate his birthday at a Chuck E. Cheese's eatery. He even got to pose for a picture with the restaurant's namesake rodent. But when Corbin's parents got home and uploaded the pictures to Facebook, they noticed something peculiar; it looked like nice ol' Chuck was flipping off the camera.

Corbin's father Jesse tells Consumerist that the family took their concerns about the photo to Chuck E. Cheese's HQ but were given the brush-off. "If they had just said 'We're sorry' it would have ended right there," he says.

A rep for the eatery tells the Las Cruces Sun-News that things are not what they appear to be in the photo.   "He has big wide paws, like a glove, and they're lumpy and not clearly defined," the rep says about the mascot's costume. "His glove is a thumb and three fingers, so what you see is his index finger extended — not his middle finger."

Jesse, who maintains a sense of humor about the situation, tells Consumerist that — if it was wardrobe-related — Chuck E. Cheese's might want to rethink its costume design or how they tell employees inside those costumes to pose for the camera.

He explains to Consumerist that his intention in going public with the photo was to stir up some debate and maybe make some other parents more aware for when it comes time to take their kids' photos with the big mouse.

LINK

[JohnnyReb]

A job for rude cali may be opening up..."rodent-n-chief".

[SSG Snuggle Bunny]

"Hey kid! Pull my finger and see how Chuck E. cuts the Cheese."


srsly? Personally I think the corporate reply is truthful and therefore adequate.

[Evil_Conservative]

The picture is too blurry.  If the family would invest in a newer camera, maybe Chuck E. Cheese wouldn't seem to be flipping the bird. 

[DumbAss Tanker]

...He explains to Consumerist that his intention in going public with the photo was to show to one and all what a whiny attention-whore acts like.

FIFY.

[Splashdown]

cali got a new job already?

[thelaughingman]

Molehill ===> mountain.

[Wineslob]

Chuck_Up_Cheese is the debil. They no longer serve beer.

[Chris_]

Chuck_Up_Cheese is the debil. They no longer serve beer.

Neither does Pizza Hut.

[Ralph Wiggum]

Neither does Pizza Hut.

Really?  Is it just a regional thing?

I can't set foot in a Pizza Hut.  We had one on campus where we could use our student meal card.  I overdosed on that stuff, still can't stand the smell.

[Ralph Wiggum]

Sonic, Burger King Try Booze to Boost Sales (Pizza Hut too)

Sonic(SONC_) and Burger King are among the quick-service food chains joining ranks with Starbucks(SBUX_), Yum! Brands'(YUM_) Pizza Hut and Chipotle Mexican Grill(CMG_) which are selling alcoholic beverages to help boost sales, particularly in the evening hours when traffic tends to be slower.

Expanding menu offerings to include beer and wine can help differentiate fast-food chains and bring in customers at times of the day when they may not otherwise consider quick-serve options.

"For consumers, it's basically about having it your way -- even if it's having a beer with your burger," Ron Paul, president at restaurant consulting firm Technomic, told USA Today. He added that offering booze helps quick-service restaurant operators better compete with those in the casual dining space, chains like DineEquity's(DIN_) Applebee's and Brinker International's(EAT_) Chili's.

Sonic will soon offer customers at two of its South Florida restaurants the option to purchase beer and wine with their burgers and fries. Beginning later this summer, a Miami-based Sonic will offer customers who dine on the patio -- but not those who are in their cars -- a choice of three draft beers, 25 bottled beers and 10 varieties of wine. At a Fort Lauderdale unit, alcoholic options of beer and wine will be limited to those who dine inside the restaurant.

[Chris_]

Really?  Is it just a regional thing?

I can't set foot in a Pizza Hut.  We had one on campus where we could use our student meal card.  I overdosed on that stuff, still can't stand the smell.

It may be regional or it might just be that particular store.  That PH has been there for at least thirty years... I remember going there with my parents and my father being able to order a pitcher of beer.  Now you can only get soft drinks.