Jason D.
Yelp
My family normally loves Chick-fil-A, but the Manatee Avenue location in Bradenton? Completely dropped the ball.
First, imagine you're a kid who gets excited about a free birthday gift only to be told you must have a phone to redeem it. No phone, no gift. What about kids who don't have phones yet? That's not just disappointing--it's exclusionary. Chick-fil-A markets itself as a family-friendly place, yet here's a policy that punishes children for not owning a smartphone. Disheartening.
Second, let's talk about military discounts. At this location, you must be in uniform to qualify but a military ID isn't enough. So if you're a veteran, reservist, or simply off duty, no discount for you. That's not how respect for service works. Compare that to Starbucks, where military discounts are offered consistently--whether you're in California or North Florida, uniform or not.
Chick-fil-A can do better. This location in particular needs to re-examine how its policies impact real people, especially children and veterans. Until then, I'll take my waffle fries and respect elsewhere.