Comments on: Airing of Grievances: “Mr. Softee Screwed Me on My Birthday!”

By: Harry

Harry — Mon, 13 Jul 2009 15:30:28 +0000

Did you see this article? It was posted the same day this complaint was posted. It’s about “imposter” Mr. Softee trucks that go by similar names.

http://weblogs.amny.com/entertainment/urbanite/blog/2009/07/cracking_down_on_immitation_tr.html

By: Chip Beef

Chip Beef — Fri, 10 Jul 2009 16:48:15 +0000

The Good Doctor is coming to NYC? I think we need to organize a ML happy hour meet-up at the Times Square Applebees.

I may be alone in this, but after the countless hours of entertainment DocChuck has provided me, I feel the least I can do is buy him a beer at his restaurant of choice.

By: nycviarachel

nycviarachel — Fri, 10 Jul 2009 15:38:07 +0000

ALWAYS ask any vendor how much their products cost, if prices aren’t listed. I often get a can of soda from hot dog guys and they WILL charge $2 for it (should be $1). If they respond anything over $1, I’ll either walk away or dictate to them “$1 – do I look like a tourist?”

By: SteelTown

SteelTown — Fri, 10 Jul 2009 14:13:00 +0000

BAN ALLL MR SOFTEE trucks in Midtown..as the photo shows, they mostly park in the crosswalk and often block a fire hydrant as the guy opposite MSG at 32nd & 7th Avenue does every evening. Numerous complaints to local precint has yielded zero results.

By: Yvo

Yvo — Thu, 09 Jul 2009 23:30:20 +0000

@Goats – not to make this an issue but really, if you enter their truck, and there are witnesses, that’s also… I dunno if that’s trespassing or breaking and entering, and I’m just so not interested in having a record. Sure the cops might not take Mr. Softee’s side, but if Mr. Softee *really* wanted to pursue legal action, you’d be in the wrong… Also in this digital age someone’s bound to be snapping pics or video! I’d watch a YouTube video of Mr. Softee fistfighting someone :)
Of course letting them throw the first punch also runs the risk of roshambo… If you’re a guy you’re screwed!

Then again, Mr. Softee being a business, if you appeared to actually be about to act violently, they would probably just give you your money back instead of hitting you.

By: jake

jake — Thu, 09 Jul 2009 22:44:54 +0000

They all try this crap. Always get prices up front. I needed to take a cab today and was in such a hurry, I let a damn gypsycab pick me up. He tried to charge me 20 for a 5 cab ride. I gave him 10 and told him to be thankful.

If you have the money, you have the power… And they are much less likely to even try if you ask up-front.

By: adamprato

adamprato — Thu, 09 Jul 2009 22:20:30 +0000

DocChuck, i have no malevolent (or homoerotic) intentions. So if you’re afraid to relay your whereabouts when your in NYC, feel free to contact me directly if you’re actually interested in meeting up.

By: Goats

Goats — Thu, 09 Jul 2009 21:39:43 +0000

Hey now–let’s keep the hostilities towards those who deserve it–those goddamn good for pretty much nothing crooked hot dog cart/Mr Softee vendors (of course there are a few cool hot dog vendor cart exceptions to this generalization–some are ocassionally honest and not total jerkoffs)!!!!

@ Yvo: True, self defense would protect you if they throw the first punch, but in the case described above, I think it was justifiable to open the back of the truck (or go in through the side door) and rip the money out of the asshole’s hands….and if you happened to punch the loser in the mouth, no foul called…Not too many cops would take the side of a Mr. Softee vendor–at least the ones in my neighberhood.

By: benjamin

benjamin — Thu, 09 Jul 2009 21:38:00 +0000

Doc Chuck, you’re in NYC in two weeks? I was planning on dousing you in kerosene and accidentally dropping my cigarette in Maryland, but since you’re in my neck of the woods…where exactly will you be staying?

By: adamprato

adamprato — Thu, 09 Jul 2009 21:36:23 +0000

Incidentally, are we going to meet up next time you visit NYC?