Tim Hortons sues Tim Hortons for $2 billion

[Resolute 14]

http://www.canada.com/calgaryherald/...6-191edc2d6294

Given the lineups every morning in Calgary, I really wonder if these Ontario franchisees have actually lost much, if any, revenue.

That said, if it forces the parent company to go back to on-site baking, I'm all for it.

[ken0042]

Franchisees say they were told the cost of doughnuts would jump from nine cents to 12, but that sales would also increase.

OK, how exactly would sales increase by bringing in an inferior product? I pretty much saw that move as them saying "You know, we really don't care about donuts any more. We are a coffee store that happens to also sell donuts."

[Swarly]

well the price of flour has about tripled over the last year, cant blame head office Tims for that. I'm sure that's helped the donut price rise to 20 cents.

[Maritime Q-Scout]

I make no bones about it, I love Tim Hortons through and true. I think it's one of the greatest franchises on the planet. It became so iconic that it's consistently listed as something that is truly Canadian.

That said, I'm not a fan of the flash freeze process of making donuts. I every rarely if ever buy a donut from them, whereas prior to the switch I'd buy the occasional chocolate dip. Mind you before the switch I didn't drink coffee nor had the cash to shell out like I do now.

The flip side of this is that I live in the Maritimes. Owning a Tim Horton's franchise here is better than winning the lotto. So I can't imagine having trouble making money running a Tim's. From my narrow point of view it's not about making money but more money. Which I suppose is fair in and of itself.

Ever since reading Ron Joyce's biography I kind of have a distant for Wendy's Corp (yet I do love their food). I'm sure Ron's reading this article and laughing as he's stated that the flash frozen method of "baking" is definitely not the direction he would have taken the company.

[Boblobla]

It was so nice when they made donuts fresh. I used to study in the Tims but the U of C and it was awesome to have a fresh from the oven apple fritter.

[Locke]

Ah, the lawsuit, what a marvelous invention, what cant they solve?

You know, war is overrated, countries should just sue each other, then the lawyers could tie the process up in courts forever until everyone forgets what the problem was in the first place and nobody dies.

The downside is that the lawyers would take over the world, but meh, its not such a great world to begin with, it really is time to trade up.

[Bobblehead]

I was disappointed a few years ago when they "standardized" the doughnut sizes. Suddenly, the old boxes, which used to be straining to fit a dozen, now had room to spare. So they changed to those hard to carry boxes with all the doughnuts laying flat. Sure, they don't get the icing on each other, but they are also much harder to carry.

[GreenTeaFrapp]

I used to really like Tim Hortons but that was 25 years ago. Now it is just a crappy place for pretty much anything. There's nothing special at their outlets and a lot of crap, like their lunch menu.

[Resolute 14]

Ice caps are the nectar of the gods.

That alone sets them apart from every other donut shoppe.

[Moose]

I used to get coffee at Tim's every morning. I don't know if its just me, but I think the quality of coffee has gone dramatically downhill. I'd say once every 5 or 6 times I get a coffee it tastes burnt, and the times when its not burnt it tastes more watery and weak than I remember. I drink coffee either black or just with milk, so the change in taste has been noticeable since its not masked by sugar and cream. Plus with all their new food and lunches, it seems like I'm waiting in line so much longer since orders don't take 30 seconds anymore, they take like 2 minutes.

I drove up to Montreal last weekend and actually found myself looking for a McDonalds to get a coffee instead of Tim's. McDonald's new coffee is actually not that bad, and so far I've haven't got a cup from them that tastes burnt.

[Bobblehead]

I think McDonalds it really trying to compete with Tims for the morning crowd.

And I know what you mean about Tim's coffee - some outlets it is always good, but others (the one nearest me) it is hit or miss, with weak, watery coffee as often as good stuff. To make it it is just a filter, packet and press the button - it should be the same every time. The variance in the flavour seems strange to me.

[TurnedTheCorner]

The only growth in fast food sales domestically for years has been with the breakfast crowd. So McDonalds and everyone else is definitely aiming for this segment.

[arsenal]

I used to love getting donuts from Tim's when I was growing up.
Nothing beats freshly baked goods. The quality was significantly reduced when they went to a freeze / microwave solution. That was a dumb dumb move.
I hope they go back to the old way. I might actually get donuts from them again.

[McMack]

I found the comment about the low margins on the sandwiches interesting. Personally, I have found that the service times at Tim Hortons have gotten really slow. I generally avoid the place now.

[Resolute 14]

Service times depends on where you are, and what time of day, imo.

There are four Tims between home and work. Three of them I can walk in, order a bagel and an ice cap, and walk out within 5 minutes because 90% of their customers are wrapped twice around the building in their cars.

The fourth usually has lineups out the door for walk-in service as well, but it still moves alright, all things considered. The only real problems are the guys ordering 48 donuts and 16 coffees for the office. But, that's part of going to Tims.

[ken0042]

Originally Posted by Resolute 14

The only real problems are the guys ordering 48 donuts and 16 coffees for the office; picking each donut individually and insisting on getting each person's coffee the way they want; instead of cream and sugar on the side. But, that's part of going to Tims.

Fixed.

[Boblobla]

Originally Posted by ken0042

Fixed.

If you get cream and sugar on the side you don't get the 18% crack cream that makes timmy's what it is...

I do hate it when people tell the person what timbits they want.

[dissentowner]

I don't go to Timmies anymore because it has gotten ridiculous with all the other crap they sell. They should sell coffee, tea, ect.. and doughnuts and that is it! I got tired of waiting in line for people to get their soup and sandwiches and crap. That is for restaurants to serve, serve doughnuts and coffee for god's sake!