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Burger King Lies to Its Customers

oregoncatalyst.com — It is time to take Burger King to task. Let them know you don’t appreciate being lied to and that you don’t allow spyware on your computer. Let the state attorney general know you don’t like this invasion of privacy. Let the Better Business Bureau know, too. Visit www.consumeraffairs.com and let them know. Stop by www.complaints.com and leave

Who dugg this? Made popular Dec 28, 2008

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  • mbelleghem, on 12/28/2008, -0/+175Any evidence it was actually spyware, ie that the software is connecting to anyone or reporting anything?
  • inactive, on 12/28/2008, -2/+170This is Digg! Do we look like we need evidence?! Haul 'em away!
  • inactive, on 12/28/2008, -23/+142They had me until they said:

    "Stop eating at Burger King."

    Man, ***** that *****. All the spyware in the world doesn't change the fact that whoppers taste awesome. Whoppers. <3
  • msaleem, on 12/27/2008, -5/+100I never trusted that gold-crowned, brown-bearded, 'king'!
  • hawkeye22, on 12/28/2008, -3/+94Am I the only ***** person who realizes that THERE IS ABSOLUTELY NO EVIDENCE OF SPYWARE? Jesus Christ, you ***** lemmings should learn to think independently for once. Someone test this ***** quickly before the likely innocent Burger King gets burned at the stake of retarded Digg users.
  • TheAirLoom, on 12/28/2008, -0/+71Good thing this article points out what this software actually does.

    Uh oh wait, it doesn't.
  • Troy64, on 12/28/2008, -0/+69That was my thoughts, it may be to make sure you don't print 100 copies of a coupon.
  • gbudavid, on 12/27/2008, -2/+69Have it Your Way??
  • Ymeg, on 12/28/2008, -14/+79If they accept the Terms and Conditions, then they should not complain.

  • michaelpinto, on 12/27/2008, -2/+64It's not spyware it's just that the king likes "to keep tabs on his not so loyal subjects".
  • Troy64, on 12/28/2008, -2/+45I thought the article was going to be about the whopper virgins being a lie.

    Say it isn't so.

    Honestly who goes to the Burger King website.
  • Ysabetwordsmith, on 12/27/2008, -8/+44More and more companies are spying on their customers, demanding or simply stealing various personal information. This is wrong, and should be fought at every turn.
  • BrainInAJar, on 12/28/2008, -3/+38and who made him king, anyways? I didn't vote for him...
  • inactive, on 12/28/2008, -3/+38See, I really hate those Whopper Virgin commercials. Why? Because the logically don't make ANY ***** sense. The last person I want recommending me a burger is a person who doesn't know the first thing about burgers. It's like asking a tribesman to recommend a computer. If anything, they should have extremely fat people (obviously burger experts) to weigh in, because at least they know what they're talking about. Goddamn burger newbies.
  • inactive, on 12/28/2008, -0/+34Stop it with your mad logic! You're going to make Digg have less sensationalism!
  • TWiThead, on 12/28/2008, -2/+35So...this person interprets Burger King's statement that special software is required to print the coupon *not* as the offer condition (intended to prevent people from printing it multiple times, as various coupon websites have done for years) that it obviously is, but as a bizarre claim that it's technically impossible to print barcodes without special software Then he ASSUMES that the software contains spyware (and urges people to complain to Burger King, the Better Business Bureau and their states' attorneys general), with no evidence beyond the aforementioned "lie." And then this makes Digg's front page?! Wow.
  • ileftfark, on 12/28/2008, -2/+35Yeah, but have you *had* the steakhouse burger? I'd rewrite my eeprom to all zeroes for that *****.
  • Archer007, on 12/28/2008, -1/+31Burger King Lies to Its Customers
    by Jerry Dawson Saturday, December 27. 2008

    Something very, very wrong is going on at Burger King. If you sign up to receive promotions from them (www.bk.com) they will email you occasionally with special offers. The most recent special offer was for a free steakhouse burger with the purchase of any BK Value meal. There is one catch, though, and it is a whopper! You can only print the coupon for your free sandwich if you download a spyware application from Burger King first. They call it a “coupon printer”, but it is an invasion of your privacy and your computer. No special software is ever needed by anyone to print anything, including their coupons.

    To compound this ridiculous “requirement” even further, Burger King blatantly lies to you and says that the “special software” is needed in order to print the barcodes that are scanned at the store. I wonder how stupid they must think we all are. No special software is needed to print barcodes or anything else. It never has been needed and never will be needed. Airlines print boarding passes with barcodes by the thousands every hour without any software downloads.

    Burger King has chosen to lie, deceive, and mislead. And you have to wonder why. There has to be more in the coupon printing software – otherwise why would they choose to lie to their own customers?

    It is time to take Burger King to task. Let them know you don’t appreciate being lied to and that you don’t allow spyware on your computer. Let the state attorney general know you don’t like this invasion of privacy. Let the Better Business Bureau know, too. Visit www.consumeraffairs.com and let them know. Stop by www.complaints.com and leave your thoughts. Stop eating at Burger King. Don’t print their coupons. Don’t allow them access to your computer by installing fake software.

    Now we know why they call themselves “Home of the Whopper.” Caveat Emptor!
  • inactive, on 12/27/2008, -3/+29well..that really sucks..guess the Whopper is off my new diet plan!
  • Ymeg, on 12/28/2008, -6/+31Does that matter? If you agree to a contract, you are bound to it. You can't just go back and say "well, I did not understand it"
  • Vhaeos, on 12/28/2008, -1/+24I was hoping this article would be a bit more technical. How is this spyware? What's it tracking? The only relevant thing that comes up when you type Burger King Spyware into google is this article. Unless more detailed technical information comes up I'm not sure I believe. I'd settle for it being classified by Spyware by a big anti-spyware vendor.
  • inactive, on 12/28/2008, -1/+23I smell a WITCH! Prepare the stake and the fire!
  • Archer007, on 12/28/2008, -0/+19That's the FULL post above, no other supporting details.
  • AmyVernon, on 12/27/2008, -2/+19The creepiest of all fast-food icons, really.
  • ZebZ, on 12/28/2008, -1/+18So whats your proof of an invasion of privacy, or that it is even spyware? Jump to conclusions much?

    It probably just logs the number of times a coupon is printed, or limits the number of times it can be printed.
  • Pecheckler, on 12/28/2008, -1/+18Has anyone proven that their software monitors and uploads data collected about the computer it's running on? If not, I dont see how it's spyware.
    It is just advertisement software, a type you benefit from.
    Little different than the HP Ink monitoring software that is included with every HP inkjet printer on the market. Warns you of low ink levels, and provides estimated dates when they'll be empty, in exchange for providing you with advertisements of where to order from, those vendors prices, and availability.
    Burger king's software will just determine when you need a Whopper, and provides you with a coupon.
  • WhoDoneIt, on 12/28/2008, -4/+20It's 9:30pm here in BC. Getting drunk and knowing that Whoppers will, ***** that, are already on my mind.
  • inactive, on 12/28/2008, -1/+17No Jared is.
  • Caligatio, on 12/28/2008, -1/+17Did the article just assume it was spyware? Never is it mentioned what it does that qualifies it as spyware.
  • Klisk, on 12/28/2008, -0/+15My fault -- I requested it at the drive-thru.
  • DDDavinnn, on 12/28/2008, -2/+17I feel like everything I see about Burger King now (good or bad) is some really clever viral marketing campaign.
  • sexybobo, on 12/28/2008, -2/+17Any evidence BK sent out the email? It might be spyware but it might also be some one phishing pretending they are BK.
  • 11oops, on 12/28/2008, -2/+16Where's your evidence of BK spying? You must know something we don't, since this article (and the web in general) provides no proof that this software is malicious.
  • norman619, on 12/28/2008, -0/+14No *****. The article is pretty light in details. Who would sign up for spam from BK to begin with?
  • phosphor112, on 12/28/2008, -0/+14@ Rikkochet

    Not everyone is that smart..trust me.
  • crapolatime, on 12/28/2008, -0/+13Collection of Personal Information
    We only collect personal information (which may include first and last name, gender, birth date, home or other physical address, e-mail address, home or mobile phone number, number of children in the household, frequency of visits to BURGER KING® restaurants, credit card information, online account numbers, and password) when you voluntarily submit it to us or voluntarily register as a user of a BKC Website. For example, you may choose to provide us with your personal information in order to participate in a sweepstakes or contest, purchase gift certificates, gift cards, or other merchandise, provide content submissions, make suggestions for the operation of our site, or participate in an online interactive activity or marketing research.

    Use of Personal Information
    Burger King Corporation or Service Providers acting on its behalf may use information collected from website visitors to for any of the following purposes: (1) to send marketing and other communications to our visitors; (2) to allow visitors to communicate with others, such as their friends, (3) to allow us to notify visitors of upcoming events, promotions, or activities on our site; (4) to conduct internal reviews of our site (e.g., to determine the number of visitors to the site); (5) to help us better understand visitors' use of our site; (6) to fulfill prizes, awards and purchases; (7) to respond to specific requests from our visitors; (8) to provide any necessary notices to our visitors; (9) to conduct marketing research; (10) to protect the security or integrity of our site; and (11) in connection with inquiries regarding becoming a franchisee of a BURGER KING® restaurant or selling real estate to Burger King Corporation. To opt out of emails or SMS communications, please follow the instructions in the email or SMS message.
  • jdcole1978, on 12/28/2008, -0/+12Link no longer goes to this article - it goes to the home page for OregonCatalyst.com
  • AoiTakuma, on 12/28/2008, -1/+13The Whopper was young and he needed the money. He doesnt want Jr to live the same life that he did. He went through all of that stuff to build a better life for his kids, so Jr wouldnt have to whore himself out for a dollar or hang out with the punk Spicy Chicken Sandwich. Don't hate the Whopper because of his past, he's only looking out for his kid.

    Also I dont think the two other people who commented on this get sarcasm.
  • inactive, on 12/28/2008, -5/+16Well DUH!
    i would be more interested to see a US company who does not lie to their customers
  • inactive, on 12/28/2008, -4/+15Hmm maybe. The legality and enforceability of click-through agreements is dubious at best.
  • orcusfelinus, on 12/28/2008, -0/+11WTF!? Article links to oregoncatalyst.com and there's no mention of Burger Puke... er... Burger King anywhere. Buried for wasting my time.
  • STARTSOMETHING, on 12/28/2008, -1/+12http://www.flickr.com/photos/sa_steve/2760055381/s ...
  • jftitan, on 12/28/2008, -0/+11I found this article lacking, in information.
    like evidence, and pretty much actual reason to believe this coupon program does what it does when I can't find it. I'm sure, I'm not looking in the right places yet, but I wanna know whats so proprietary about BK's bar code for its free coupon for something.

    Someone on Digg could quite possibly generate a PDF file of said bar code, to get a FREE steakhouse burger. I certainly could use a free burger when I buy my super large BK meal with onion rings, and........ mmmmmm onion rings.
  • klij, on 12/28/2008, -0/+10im upset that mcdonalds took the double cheeseburger off the dollar menu
  • xboxusr666, on 12/28/2008, -0/+10I do not see any article on the site relating to Burger King.
  • ronk, on 12/28/2008, -0/+10Even though I absolutely HATE the coupon printer software that you are required to install, it is done for one simple reason - To prevent users from printing more than one copy if it and to prevent users from redistributing the copy to others (if they distributed a PDF).

    Each coupon that is printed with the coupon printer software contains a code that allows a store to check its authenticity and it contains "extra" information that makes it unique to the person who the coupon was issued to originally.

    In addition, I do not know what kind of crapware the software installs on your machine.

  • Rikkochet, on 12/28/2008, -4/+14Well that's nonsense. What stops me from printing to a PDF printer and then printing 10 copies of the PDF? Or just copying the printouts?
    There are plenty of ways you can enforce one coupon per person, but you can only ensure that each code is used once by integrating it into the point of sale software, and they're too cheap to do that. You get printable coupons from Dairy Queen and cinemas this way - the browser window only lets you print once and the ticket is consumed.
  • Archer007, on 12/28/2008, -3/+13Expand this thread for the "story" so you don't have to visit the slow-ass website
  • nealyng, on 12/28/2008, -0/+9***** yeah dude. you cant beat mashed potatoes on a burger. that thing is ***** good.
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