My lonely boycott hasn't hurt In-N-Out Burger, but our small decisions do add up

[Zorro]

In-N-Out Burger is the most popular fast-food restaurant in California, according to a data-tracking site.

Maybe it’s a great burger, and maybe that’s why it’s so popular. I wouldn’t know, because I’ve never had one. For that matter, neither had my grown daughter, for the first 12 years of her life, because I refused to sign her up for the In-N-Out Burger truck that showed up at her elementary school on Fridays to give parents a break from packing lunch.

Not me. The other kids got burgers and fries, but my daughter got pasta and an apple. It made her feel left out, which made me feel bad, and yet I did not fold.

I was a one-woman boycott. In-N-Out prints Bible verses on its packaging and is proud of its conservative politics, so I had long since decided to vote with my wallet, knowing full well that my actions had no appreciable impact on the chain’s bottom line. The company did just fine without me, as it still does, as it has for decades.

https://www.latimes.com/opinion/story/2022-12-11/in-n-out-politics-anti-gay-anti-vax-boycott-oscars

[tanyev]

1. We tried them once after they opened a few here and the initial frenzy died down.

I don't think we ever went back. It was OK, but we like Mooyah's better. I didn't realize they were into conservative politics. Even more reason to stay away.

[padfun]

7. Mooyah's is one of the best hamburgers around.

There are a few non chain burger joints that match but they rank right up there with them.

[jimfields33]

16. I wouldn't do that to her daughter though.

Talk about a rip off. An apple? I just think it’s too hard to ban every damn thing in the world that we don’t agree with. to be honest, the time I want to go to Chick-fil-A is on Sunday. I think that’s funny.

[MurrayDelph]

23. I tried them once. Wasn't impressed. Never went back

Tried Five Guys twice. The first I was unimpressed. The second, after I told them of my sensitivity to onions, I discovered they used the same spatulas to assemble my order that they'd used to try up their onions.

But I can't say I'm boycotting them when the nearest In-n-Out is 100 miles from home. And what was the nearest Five Guys was fifty miles away. It had opened across the street from a beloved mom-and-pop burger joint. The Guys failed before the pandemic. Nipp's is still going strong.

And while I did enjoy Chick-fil-A before I found out about them, they are also geographically undesirable. And I prefer Popeyes anyway; it's a better sandwich, doesn't come with a side of hate, and you can get one on a Sunday.

[tanyev]

24. Oh yeah, we also tried Five Guys once and weren't impressed enough to go back.

Chick-fil-A used to have a chicken salad sandwich I liked and I think even a carrot raisin salad. It was a nice option when every other fast food place only had burgers or something deep fried, and fries. But even then I didn’t go there very often because Sunday is the day I am most likely to go to a restaurant or get food to go. And then the right wing fundies started blaring their support of CFA as a badge of honor. Oh well. I don’t think the items I liked are even on their menu anymore.

[msfiddlestix]

2. I knew they were conservative, but I've never seen bible versus on the packaging

Just didn't bother looking, I guess.

[agingdem]

3. I'm with you...

my parents were Holocaust survivors..they refused to buy anything German made...my mother said no Coke when the company expanded into Egypt...as for me: no Chick-fil-A, Papa Johns, In-N-Out, Hobby Lobby, Home Depot and more...I do drink Coke, but under protest..and yes I still hear my mother's voice admonishing me...to this day I will not buy a German car (yes, I know, they said they were sorry)...

[hlthe2b]

5. You mean because Egyptian Coke is bottled in Germany?

I don't follow... The pharmacist who invented it in 1886, John Pemberton was a Confederate army veteran i, so that is bad enough, but not sure about the German connection...

[agingdem]

6. it was the Israel/Jewish connection..

relatives who had immigrate to what was then Palestine (Israel) after WWII were killed in the Israeli war for independence...

[hlthe2b]

8. I get that, but what is the connection between Coca Cola and WWII Germany?

[agingdem]

10. nothing with WWII..

when I was a child Coca Cola was not multinational...but when they expanded they went into the Egypt market and that was enough for my mother to say oy!...I was a child of survivors..everything was personal...

[bamagal62]

4. Tried to go once when visiting

San Fran. No fast food is worth waiting in a line like that.

[childfreebychoice]

9. Did the same with Aldi. They use to print bible verses

Underneath lid of eggs. Don't know if they still do...never went to hobby lobby or that chick place either.
An aside, yrs ago, gay friend went home to sc to take care of ailing parents, while there he opened florist business, same as he had in NY. Put big sign in window that said it was christian owned business. Laughed all the way to bank, as not only was he gay, and donated heavily to pp, ACLU, LGBT causes, but he was atheist. As soon as his parents died, he moved back to ny

[Better Days Ahoy]

11. That's why Chik Fil A and the well-named Cracker Barrel are on my shit list, too

And I have a few Dem friends and family members who give me the "Yeah, but ...." crap about why they still patronize those places. Ugh, tone deaf and half-committed.

Individual actions add up. Thank you, Zorro!

[childfreebychoice]

17. Have "progressive" friends who still vacay in floriduh. Smh

[Better Days Ahoy]

25. Ugh. Feeling you on that one.

My only sister, my favorite brother-in-law (there have been a handful), and all three of her kids are still in Floriduh. Really good people in a stupid place.

[NBachers]

19. Well, I guess that makes my girlfriend and I tone deaf and half-committed. She comes from far from

the USA and espouses no religious beliefs, but she likes In 'N' Out burgers and gets them with all veggies and no meat. I go into In 'N' Out and enjoy them with her. It's a pleasant break from her hectic two-job schedule.

Sorry for our auditory and commitment shortfalls.

[Better Days Ahoy]

26. No worries, DU friend

I like In-N-Out, too. Just here in this post found out about In-N-Burger's RW positions.

I was referring to the obvious Chick-fil-A and Cracker Barrel fixations by my specific orbit. I was not referring to your GF nor do I care about her culinary preferences. Unless your GF loves those places, too, there likely is no need to come at me. Take a shot at the original author of this post if you're really game. Go for it.

As a gay person, I'm just a tad offended by restaurants and other businesses that support anti-LGBTQ people and causes, like Cracker Barrel and Chick-fil-A.

Always good to know why you're replying to someone, my DU friend. Walk a mile in my shoes. Then choose which silly hill to die on.
Bless your heart.

[Paladin]

12. Tried their burgers once. Underwhelmed. Never went back.

Avoidance of their conservative politics is a bonus.

[GreenWave]

13. The old In n Out quotes the Bible?

Where have i seen the phrase in n out elsewhere?

[ratchiweenie]

14. Well that's a bummer. When we travel in California they are my husband's

favorite fast food. I have to admit, I also find their burgers very tasty. Sigh, another thing to give up.

[rokar]

15. Decidedly mediocre

I had one of their burgers in California during a visit and then tried one here in Houston when they opened in Texas. Both burgers were mediocre at best, the fries were bad, and the service was slow. Won't try them again, particularly after learning about their politics.

[luv2fly]

20. I've boycotted Walmart for decades

Maybe they are cheap, I don't know. I won't shop there because they've destroyed small town America. I know it's a one person boycott too, but I don't care.

[LetMyPeopleVote]

21. One of my former partners represents the In-and-Out franchise in Houston

He left the firm two years ago to go back to a larger firm. I still have not made it to In-and-Out in part because I really love Whataburger

Link to tweet

Link to tweet

[Skittles]

29. see my post below

I try almost all burger places....not impressed with I&O

[MicaelS]

22. Why I (mostly) don't boycott.

This article says it all for me. https://www.thefrugalgirl.com/why-i-mostly-dont-boycott/

[BigmanPigman]

27. I don't need to boycott since I don't eat fast food.

I have boycotted other companies, products, whole states, etc though. I keep up with which companies support "so and so" and which do not. I think boycotts have a limited impact since the media doesn't promote the information and the majority of people are unaware of the issues.

[Skittles]

28. I tried them once

not impressed, I'll take a Whataburger any day over THAT

[LetMyPeopleVote]

30. It is not hard to get me to go to Whataburger