Mr Shh
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|  #1 Posted on 12.1.05 0851.48
Reposted on: 12.1.12 0852.32 | Here in Manhattan, I have seen so many commercials in the past year alone for Sonic, the fast food joint, that it would make sense to assume that there are Sonic locations in the area, right? Maybe not necessarily in NYC, but perhaps Jersey or Long Island. Nope. Not one. In fact, according to their website (sonicdrivein.com), there are no Sonic locations in the entire *Northeast.* I'd have to make a trip to the Virginias to find one. This bothers me because I've been hooked by the commercials. I am craving their food...the burgers, the breakfast burritos, the blue soda. I'm hoping that somebody who knows their food will tell me it sucks - that will make me feel at least a little better. There are about 20 states that don't have any Sonics - seems kind of stupid for a national ad campaign. | Promote this thread! |             | Grimis
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| #2 Posted on 12.1.05 0915.50
Reposted on: 12.1.12 0918.54 | But not if they are planning on expanding to other markets its not. That means that once they expand farther north, there is already and established brand identity and you will almost have to try it out.
I went to Sonic's while I was on the road for work in Florida and Colorado, and I've been jonesing for one to open here. That and a Steak 'n Shake.
(edited by Grimis on 12.1.05 1016) | vsp
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| #3 Posted on 12.1.05 0934.25
Reposted on: 12.1.12 0934.30 | As someone who used to work for an advertising-monitoring company, let me jump in...
There are essentially three kinds of ads -- local, regional and national. Obviously, the bill goes up as your audience goes up.
Regional advertising is most often used by companies that own similar franchises that run under different names in different places. (I'm trying to think of a really good example. A few department store and supermarket chains come to mind.) The same commercial will run in different regions, with little if anything changed beyond the name of the store that's mentioned. Not all networks offer regional buys to advertisers in all programs.
Sonic, on the other hand, is Sonic everywhere. They're not in every state, but they're in more of them than they aren't. If Sonic has a choice between negotiating to buy time for a handful of identical commercials in various regions or simply making one purchase that'll cover their entire base, the simple approach is easier on the paperwork AND possibly more cost-effective.
Plus, as was noted, Sonic may look into expanding further north. We used to wonder "What the hell's a Quizno's?" around Philly for years, and now they're popping up around here like dandelions.
| Matt Tracker
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| #4 Posted on 12.1.05 0958.29
Reposted on: 12.1.12 0959.01 | Originally posted by Mr Shh
I'm hoping that somebody who knows their food will tell me it sucks - that will make me feel at least a little better.
It sucks. Hot and Now was* MUCH better and cheaper by far.
*I say 'was' because I haven't seen one in the Carolina Upstate in years. | bash91
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| #5 Posted on 12.1.05 1039.48
Reposted on: 12.1.12 1044.43 | Originally posted by Matt Tracker
It sucks. Hot and Now was* MUCH better and cheaper by far.
*I say 'was' because I haven't seen one in the Carolina Upstate in years.
I'd have to disagree with that in every way possible.
Plus, Sonic is still around and, as far as I know, Hot and Now declared bankruptcy and folded the vast majority of their stores. I think there may still be a couple of independent stores bearing that name but I'm almost certain, read I'm too lazy right now in the limited time between classes to go look it up, that Hot and Now as a chain is gone and has been for a couple of years.
Tim | Mr Heel II
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| #6 Posted on 12.1.05 1049.55
Reposted on: 12.1.12 1051.07 | Hot n' Now started out as a Michigan chain, which was bought by PepsiCo in the days of the "double-drive-thru" craze, expanded quickly nationally, declared a failure, sold back to some Michigan dudes, and all the stores nationally closed (save for a bunch in Michigan and a couple in neighboring states.)
Sonic is awesome. Second best (to Wienerschnitzel) chili dogs that I know of, best popcorn chicken that I know of, decent burgers, and an absolutely obnoxious line of drinks. I pull through for a Rte 44 Strawberry Slush on the way to work in the morning at least once a week.
Plus, they'll customize anything you can think of if they have the ingredients on hand. I get them to make me a Chili Breakfast Toaster once in awhile (replacing the usual breakfast meat with chili.)
Although I too would like to have a Steak n Shake around here...
Speaking of smaller exposure chains going to national advertising, I noticed Jack in the Box was running ads on ESPN during the bowl games.
(edited by Mr Heel II on 12.1.05 1055) | whatever
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| #7 Posted on 12.1.05 1058.06
Reposted on: 12.1.12 1059.01 | | We've been getting the Sonic ads here as well, with no franchise in sight. I agree - they sound pretty yummy! Lukcily, we do now have some Steak N' Shakes popping up in the area. Man, their chili and their Oreo shakes are sublime! | jfkfc
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| #8 Posted on 12.1.05 1107.06
Reposted on: 12.1.12 1108.04 | Originally posted by Matt Tracker
It sucks. Hot and Now was* MUCH better and cheaper by far.
*I say 'was' because I haven't seen one in the Carolina Upstate in years.
I would disagree also. I spent a year living in NC, between Raleigh and Fayetteville, and there was a Sonic about a half mile down the road from us. We ate there every now and then, and thought the food was better than average for a fast-food place. The whole drive-in thing adds to it also, not that I could possibly need more ketchup stains on my floor mats. I get the same cravings seeing those Sonic commercials, but even White Castle burgers look somewhat appealing on TV. | SchippeWreck
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| #9 Posted on 12.1.05 1120.22
Reposted on: 12.1.12 1123.29 | | We're bomabrded with Sonic commercials here in the L.A. area as well. I decided one day to see where the closest one was and the only one even remotely nearby was Anaheim, a good 45 minute drive away. The next closest location is in Bakersfield, where oddly enough there are THREE Sonics all within a few minutes of each other. | Wolfram J. Paulovich
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| #10 Posted on 12.1.05 1342.22
Reposted on: 12.1.12 1342.40 | Originally posted by Mr Heel II
Speaking of smaller exposure chains going to national advertising, I noticed Jack in the Box was running ads on ESPN during the bowl games.
I saw those here in Florida, despite the nearest Jack in the Box restaurants being in Louisiana and South Carolina. I guess it's only a matter of time, and I'm dreading it. I grew up with Yack in the Box in California, and I couldn't stand it even as a kid. But something... KEPT... DRAGGING... ME... BACK. They'd change a burger, I'd go try it. They'd make taquitos, I'd eat them. A couple of kids would die from e. coli from Jack in the Box... eh, I think they have a new chicken sandwich. I felt like Portnoy from "Bloom County" dragging himself out of his house in the dead of night to get a "#@%&*! Boo Boo Burger." I don't think I ever enjoyed a thing I got from there, but I couldn't stop saying, "One more try." Guess what I'll say when they open a place in Tampa?
Of course, what kills me is that Jack in the Box will probably be here in 5 years, whereas I'll be about 60 before there's an In-N-Out Burger in Tampa... if they even get here by then. There's no freaking justice. | Mr. Boffo
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| #11 Posted on 12.1.05 1509.19
Reposted on: 12.1.12 1511.30 | | Yep, ads, but no nearby restaurants for me too. I guess the closest is either Iowa or Ohio (not sure which). | JayJayDean
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| #12 Posted on 12.1.05 1528.53
Reposted on: 12.1.12 1529.01 | | I see the Sonic ads all the time, and the closest is just over 500 miles away in SW Idaho. | CRZ
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| #13 Posted on 12.1.05 1552.30
Reposted on: 12.1.12 1555.10 | | Hey Aaron don't forget to hit the 7-Eleven for me kthx | estragand
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| #14 Posted on 12.1.05 1630.01
Reposted on: 12.1.12 1630.19 | I feel your pain somewhat. Every now and then, I'll catch a Checkers ad, which are nowhere to be found here in Denver. But we have Good Times, which is similar (although their burgers taste like old lunch-room food). It's stupid, but I always get a kick out of travelling around and seeing the different fast food joints and TV ads. Whattaburger, Hot Dog on a Stick, Miami Subs, Steak n' Shake, etc.
I've always thought Denver was on the low-end of the food chain, so to speak. In 2000, Cingular ads were all over the place, and the service didn't arrive here until 2002. I had never heard of "IKEA" until it was featured on the "Amazing Race"...and I guess those are quite abundant. As a kid, I was haunted by Toys R' Us and Lionel Playworld ads, and those joints didn't arrive here until the mid to late 80's. | DJ FrostyFreeze
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| #15 Posted on 12.1.05 1701.56
Reposted on: 12.1.12 1706.37 | | Damn, there aint NOTHIN in Denver! | Quadruple HHHH
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|  #16 Posted on 12.1.05 1914.04
Reposted on: 12.1.12 1925.24 | its like here in canada -when "pizza pizza" sponsors RAW or Smackdown - do they know that they're ONLY in Ontario, though tsn is all over the country?
nope | Zeruel
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| #17 Posted on 12.1.05 2310.01
Reposted on: 12.1.12 2311.27 | There are no Jack-in-the-box's, White Castle's, nor Sonic's in the DC area.
I feel like I'm missing something. | Lise
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| #18 Posted on 13.1.05 0055.59
Reposted on: 13.1.12 0056.26 | We get Sonic ads all the time, but we have to go visit the Parents Zim to get it.
I miss the cherry limeaid and tater tots.
| Whitebacon
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| #19 Posted on 13.1.05 0317.23
Reposted on: 13.1.12 0322.27 | Originally posted by Zeruel
There are no Jack-in-the-box's, White Castle's, nor Sonic's in the DC area.
I feel like I'm missing something.
Jack in the Box - You're not missing anything at all, except maybe the eggrolls on a late night run.
White Castle - I can't say...I've only had the microwave burgers.
Sonic - Never eaten there, even though we have two in the area. Maybe Friday. | Grimis
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| #20 Posted on 13.1.05 0647.37
Reposted on: 13.1.12 0647.53 | Originally posted by Zeruel
There are no Jack-in-the-box's, White Castle's, nor Sonic's in the DC area.
I actually got to a Jack-in-the-Box in El Paso, of all places.(How come I only get to try these places when I'm on the road for work?). It wasn't bad, but no different really than Hardee's/Carl's Jr. |
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