What Actually Happens If You Say 'My Pleasure' To A Chick-Fil-A Employee
One of the things that makes Chick-fil-A so popular is their great customer service and friendly staff. Recently, a rumor has been circulating that claims, if customers utter the phrase "my pleasure" at any Chick-fil-A location, they will be rewarded with a free item or discount on their meal, and thanks to Chick-fil-A's famous customer-first attitude, this doesn't necessarily seem that farfetched. It's also not totally unheard of for the chain to give out free food from time to time. However, according to Snopes, there is unfortunately no such company policy regarding customers repeating the thoughtful phrase.
The rumor gained popularity in early December 2020, when TikTok user and notorious mischief-maker Jordan Lewis pranked followers on his account @driftyjayy. In the short video, Lewis filmed himself ordering a meal through the Chick-fil-A drive-thru, and responding to the end of the interaction with the words "my pleasure," to which the employee replies, "Your total is $0." The clip quickly racked up close to 4 million views. However, Lewis, who features many prank videos on his TikTok account, cannot entirely claim credit for this rumor.
The Chick-fil-A 'my pleasure' discount is a myth
Some version of the "my pleasure" discount has been floating around the internet since at least 2019. The earlier myth stated that customers were entitled to the discount if they said "my pleasure" before the Chick-fil-A employee did. Still, others claimed that you would only receive a free ice cream or dessert for saying the phrase.
However, customers who tried the tactic out were quickly disappointed, as evidenced by a February 2020 tweet by user @amsentio. "I was at @ChickfilA and the worker gave me my food but i said 'my pleasure' before him," they posted. "i asked him 'don't i get a free ice cream or something if i say it before you do' he said that's fake." Similarly, Twitter user (and possibly frustrated Chick-fil-A employee) @alaynawalter pleaded "...chick fil a is not gonna give u free icecream if you say my pleasure before us, pls no more." Another Twitter account, @katiadlosreyes, criticized those gullible enough to fall for the free food myth, writing "there's a tiktok going around saying that if you say 'my pleasure' before a chick fil a employee you get free ice cream, it's not true it just makes you look dumb lmao."
Despite the persistence and longevity of this claim, it has been repeatedly debunked. So be warned: If you say "my pleasure" on your next trip to Chick-fil-A, you will not actually receive any free items. The only thing you should expect is the regular, friendly Chick-fil-A service.